Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Janmaran on December 24, 2020, 09:04:39 PM
-
Hi,
I’m a new member so apologies in advance if I’m not doing things right.
I’m just so scared and could do with some reassurance, last weekend I had episodes of a racing heart over 150bpm and dizziness, I had an ECG Monday and one test showed an enlarged heart and the second was clear so they were happy it was just a blip with the machine, I have just had another episode this evening and don’t know what to do as I’m scared there’s something wrong with my heart, does anyone else have these experiences and should I just accept that it’s another symptom of the menopause or should I push for more tests.
I should also mention that at the beginning of this year I started having panic attacks and had 3 ECG’s which were clear, I had very bad anxiety after which lasted until June this is when I started taking magnesium and every thing was going fine until last weekend. I’ve also not had a period now for four months so there’s definitely a lot going on and with lots of other symptoms too.
Sorry for the long post, feeling so alone with this.
:'(
-
Hi
I’ve had so many ECGs and heart tests too. All ok. Anxiety deffo makes palpitations worse. Try very slow deep breathing techniques. 4,7,8 breathing is good. Breath for 4 seconds,hold for 7 seconds and breathe out slowly for 8 seconds. They’re definitely menopause/ peri related as drops and fluctuations in Oestrogen affects the rhythm but it’s ok. I’m not on HRT but considering it. I’m on anxiety medication at mo and it helps. Hope this helps. You are not alone. Put in palpitations into the search box and you’ll see. Xx
-
Welcome to menopause :(.
I haven't had palpitations but I did have anxiety and insomnia and it's awful so I do sympathise. Palpitations and dizziness can be meno symptoms but it's good you get your heart checked out. For me life was hardly worth living so I went on hrt. The anxiety has gone completely though it did take 3 months.
-
Thank you both,
The weirdest thing is I’m not getting any palpitations my pulse just starts beating faster and I can feel it pounding in my neck, mouth and chest and then I start to panic, it’s just so scary as I can’t stop it I just have to wait it out.
I really didn’t think this could get any worse and don’t think I can cope with another year like this one. I also had terrible insomnia and the magnesium really helped.
The doctors don’t help either, I asked them if my dizziness was to do with the menopause, they said no and that I have Labrynthitis 🙄
Think I’m going crazy ::)
-
Morning. >:( Hormones >:(
MayB keep a mood/symptom/food diary to see if there's a pattern? Try to breath regularly, do you sing?
-
R there 2 threads :-\
-
Merry Christmas
No I don’t sing but I used to be in a choir.
:)
-
Singing means that we breath correctly!
-
Hi Janmaran,
I sympathise with you because doctors are clueless.
For me, the worst symptoms started in 2018 but I didn't associate them to the menopause because I was still having my periods and I didn't realise one could have symptoms despite still having periods. It started with some stomach issues. Then I told my GP I had a cough which I couldn't seem to shift. He sent me for a chest Xray. Then by time the results came back I started experiencing moderate to severe dizziness. This was scary and I began to think that I had an incurable neurological disease. When the chest Xray came back, at first they told me that it was fine. Then they contacted me again to say that my heart was slightly enlarged. At that point I became anxious, thinking there was something seriously wrong with me but I did some additional tests for the heart and everything was fine. I even had a blood pressure monitor on for 24 hours as the docs thought my bp was a bit too high. For the dizziness I had my ears checked by an ENT doctor and had a balance test. Again, the tests came back fine. I've come to the conclusion that all of this is menopause-related. Sometimes I do have a pounding heart and palpitations but I believe that they are caused by anxiety. Apart from the above symptoms I have chilling sensations (cold flushes) but hardly any hot flushes or night sweats strangely enough. I turned 50 in October last and I haven't had a period for 11 months. I'm pretty sure I'm post menopausal but I'm not sure when my symptoms will disappear. The sooner the better though.
-
Hi Janmaran, just a quick thought - have you looked into hypoglycaemia as a possible cause of your racing heart & dizziness episodes? Low blood sugar becomes more common at menopause & can cause some very unpleasant symptoms, including racing heart, panic & dizziness as shown in the extract from the link below:-
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/122122-overview
"Neurogenic or neuroglycopenic symptoms of hypoglycemia may be categorized as follows:
Neurogenic (adrenergic) (sympathoadrenal activation) symptoms: Sweating, shakiness, tachycardia, anxiety, and a sensation of hunger
Neuroglycopenic symptoms: Weakness, tiredness, or dizziness; inappropriate behavior (sometimes mistaken for inebriation), difficulty with concentration; confusion; blurred vision . . ."
There are many threads dealing with hypoglycaemia if you search on it or "low blood sugar".
The key to managing it is to eat moderate sized meals rather than large & don't go many hours between - healthy snacks help if you are on the go. Choose complex rather than simple carbs (avoid white flour products, white rice, sugar etc), have adequate protein at each meal, together with varied sources of fibre, both of which help slow digestion, reducing the sugar spikes & troughs that give rise to symptoms. It's important never to exercise on empty either! There is more to it than that but I'm out of time this morning & there's plenty been written about it on the forum if you think this might be relevant for you.
Another thought is that supplementary magnesium can reduce blood sugar, so depending on how much taken, may not help any hypoglycaemic tendencies.
I hope you manage to get to the bottom of it & will soon feel very much better.
Wx
-
R there 2 threads :-\
Think there may be one in the forum guide section as well - easy to do.
-
Thank you for all your replies, it’s much appreciated.
Sorry that i put my topic in the Forum guide as well, I was a little anxious at the time and new to all of this.
Thanks :)
-
Tell us which 1 you would like answers in ;-)
-
This one, how do I move the one on the forum guide?
:)
-
You could ask Emma to move it. She may want to move it out of the forum guide anyway. Would you want her to merge it with this one if that is possible?
Edited
To try and help to simplify things I have shifted my posts from the other thread - they are pasted below - I have deleted them from the other thread
24 12 20
Hi Janmaran,
It's rotten you're having these episodes - it always seems worse at this time of year. If it were me I would push for more tests - it would be useful to find out more about what is going on. Menopause is not an explanation as to cardiac behaviour.
It could be that you, understandably, are having panic attacks.Pending getting to speak to someone it would probably be as well to use relaxation techniques to calm yourself down as much as you possibly can. Sending calming thoughts and hugs your way :hug:

25 12 20
Janmaran - As the others have said, meno can cause feelings of anxiety, which won't help at all with feelings of palpitations. I think the more you can use relaxation techniques the calmer and better you will feel in yourself.
-
;D. I can't keep up - blame my meno brain ::)
How R U this morning?