Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: loonarider on April 14, 2021, 01:49:22 PM
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Hi,
Please put my mind at rest. I'm really feeling like I'm going to die and stop breathing right now.
I'm freaking out. Don't want to call 111 because scared to go to A&E because catching covid from other patients.
I'm 43 and my last blood tests were few months ago.
Thank you.
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Woah there my lovely,you're not going to die,you're most likely having a panic attack,lots of us on here have had them, I wake through the night sometimes thinking I'm taking my last breath but I'm still here,are you on any meds? HRT?
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Hi.
Maybe it’s indigestion Loonarider? .
Do you normally suffer from anxiety? I get an awful feeling in my chest when I have it.
Could you maybe describe how it feels, BUT if your struggling to breathe, you need to call 999.
Xx
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Hi loonarider, just read some of your previous posts. Hopefully it is anxiety or a panic attack and will pass but I think you should put your mind at rest by calling 111 and they will tell you what to do.
Or you could call your GP and ask for a phone or video call. Really hope you feel a bit better soon.
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Hi
Try not to worry - keep calm :(
Symptoms of blood clot or (PE) are shortness of breath, sweating, tightness in the chest. If you had a blood clot you will know about it and feel so bad you would call 999
It may be because it's in the media just now.
Wx
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How are you feeling now? Please call for advice. Don't be scared if sent to A and E. Rates of Covid are low now and you will be safe following precautions. I had to go to A and E in the Autumn when rates were higher and it was fine. You are fine I'm sure, but only medical advice can fully reassure you.x
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Thank you all so much for the responses and I apologise for the latent reply, life gets in the way, bla bla.
Still scared and have heightened health anxiety. In the end I just waited it out, and it passed. However, today its the same thougg this time I'm in my period which is usually heavy flow - might be the reason for shortness of breath.
Add to that, I am so apprehensive about having the vaccine the first dose of vaccine this Saturday and I'm so pro vaccine! I'm worried that it might be the Astrazeneca. I'm 43, blood clots and Dvt in my family history, non for myself but haven't been checked over recently for clots.
Just ultra worried since they say the clots have happened mostly in women in their 40s (correct me if Im wrong) and I know its unscientific to say this, but even if it is rare, what if I'm that rare data point.. I'm driving my self nuts worrying about it all. I hope I get offered the Pfizer/Moderna but seems the youngsters will have priority for that vaccine and obviously those who have health issues :(
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And how does one even get a vague idea what vaccine is being offered in your area, I wish there was a way to find out. Might calm me down a bit. :(
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Hope you're ok, it's very hard when anxiety levels are high.
I had the AZ last week and as far as I know there isn't a way of finding out in advance what you're getting.
I'm not sure that's right about the age profile - I think the people affected by clots have been all ages, although more women than men.
There are also stats that say people are more likely to have a blood clot after catching Covid than from have the AZ vaccine.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-04-15-risk-rare-blood-clotting-higher-covid-19-vaccines
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2058
So the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for sure.
It's worth remembering that every medicine on the planet, even paracetamol, has a list of side effects as long as your arm - it's just they don't get as much attention.
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Hope you're ok, it's very hard when anxiety levels are high.
I had the AZ last week and as far as I know there isn't a way of finding out in advance what you're getting.
I'm not sure that's right about the age profile - I think the people affected by clots have been all ages, although more women than men.
There are also stats that say people are more likely to have a blood clot after catching Covid than from have the AZ vaccine.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-04-15-risk-rare-blood-clotting-higher-covid-19-vaccines
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2058
So the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for sure.
It's worth remembering that every medicine on the planet, even paracetamol, has a list of side effects as long as your arm - it's just they don't get as much attention.
Thank you so much for remindning me to be rational! I guess it's only human to freak out a bit, even those who are usually quite pragamatic as myself (I guess hormonal imballance doesn't help either eh) Science in real time is what we're seeing - everyay updates on the latest data/studies with a bit of sensationalism thrown in from the media can make people fearful. I have to remind myself that even lemsip can have undesirable adverse effects, but it is bought over the counter and used by many without question all the time.
I am going to have a look at those links so at least my worries would've eased by Saturday.
Thanks again :)
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I think it's that in older age groups a certain number will have blood clots anyway and statistically there are no more amongst those who have been vaccinated than those who haven't. The younger ones hit the headlines because very few young people have them so the jab is implicated. If you think it may be you go and buy a lottery ticket, you're 7 times more likely to win the jackpot than suffer a blood clot from the jab :)
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I think it's that in older age groups a certain number will have blood clots anyway and statistically there are no more amongst those who have been vaccinated than those who haven't. The younger ones hit the headlines because very few young people have them so the jab is implicated. If you think it may be you go and buy a lottery ticket, you're 7 times more likely to win the jackpot than suffer a blood clot from the jab :)
I love a good dose of perspective. Thank you! :D
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Had the OAZ one too,the numbers who get clots are so tiny,I wouldn't worry too much about it,even without the vaccine the numbers are small
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Thank you Jaypo! :)
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Just wanted to throw something else in here...
Since I have health anxiety and the added bonus of being irrational since "the change", I feel getting Astra with all its controversy (and despite occurrence of blood clots being infinitesimally small) will cause me unwanted anxiety for the few weeks after jab, because unfortunately a lot of symptoms I experience right now are shared with symtpoms of blood clots - warm leg/arm, shortness of breath, throbbing and this usually happens around the TOM, however can happen randomly all the time too!
So how does one discern whether after their jab their symptoms are the usual malarkey they deal with or from the vaccine? This is what I don't want to deal with - the mental gymnastics for 2 weeks post vaccine wondering what if - I'm already exhausted mentally. I'm just sick of feeling like I'm on deaths door all the time.
Some thing has got to give, I'm only 43 and want to enjoy my life now :'(
So, if I can just find a way to find out what vaccine I'm getting I can know whether or not to cancel and try somewhere else that might be administering one of the mRNA vaccines because for me, I feel that knowing the specific risk factors for getting clots from the Astrazeneca is important and they have not yet been confirmed. :-\
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You poor thing,can totally relate to your HA,it's exhausting. With actual blood clots,you will have physical symptoms,hard swollen legs,really bad headaches etc of course not everybody has these symptoms but I fear regardless of which vaccine you get,your going to have anxiety as the others have also reported adverse reactions. My dad sadly died from a blood clot and this was on my mind before I got mine,it was a pure leap of faith but I did it,these poor people who died,dare I say would have died anyway regardless of the vaccine as their platelets were found to be impaired anyway,sorry, I know this probably doesn't help you but the majority of women on here have all had their vaccine and we're still all here :)
Much love
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Aww thanks Jaypo for getting back.
The thing is, I feel I've left it late, but I should try and ask my GP about my last blood test. I'm not sure if it included looking for risk of clots, low platelets, etc.
But I know there is a history there in the family of blood clot issues, so that's bothering me.
For the first time, I've been skepticalkf a vaccine, is it understandable to be cautious? I think it is. Considering that other countries babe paused or at least decided the Astra will be given to those over 50 (Canada), but over here in the Uk were throwing caution to the wind.
Anyway, I feel like this is something I'd need to speak to my GP about, so I may cancel my vaccination appointment for tomorrow if I don't get an answer today.
I think just knowing I don't have a propensity for clotting will be one hell of a stress reliever.
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You're many, many times more likely to get a clot from having covid than from having the jab. Unless you want to be a hermit the jab really is the safest option.
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Women are also more likely to get a clot from being on the pill than they are from anything else
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You're many, many times more likely to get a clot from having covid than from having the jab. Unless you want to be a hermit the jab really is the safest option.
To be honest hermit suits me fine. I'm an introvert. I rarely go out much unless it's outdoorsy stuff. Parties, gathering.... No way
But in all seriousness I see your point, and I'm aware that covid is way worse. Having health anxiety is messing with my rationale. :(