Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: J0J076 on February 02, 2023, 08:07:38 AM
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Morning 😊 I hope today is a good day for everyone. I’ve just joined the forum and I don’t feel so alone🥰 I’m getting used to feeling really crappy on a morning but I’m finding the pre-menopause experience extremely scary. I’m 46 and have just started the HRT patches on Monday, I’m also taking propranolol to ease my racing heart as Im having regular panic attacks. My chest is extremely tight and I’m having some awful pains in my arms and shoulders. I think this is due to anxiety which has completely taken over my body. My throat gets tight and I feel like my heart is going to come out of my chest - then I start shaking uncontrollably, then the tinnitus starts. I’ve had my heart checked out at the hospital a few days ago and I’ve been reassured that it’s not my heart but the pain I feel around my left breast and chest during these attacks is very real and leaves me in pain and discomfort for hours following them. I’ve lost 6lbs this week as my appetite has changed and I don’t sleep much on a night. Im trying my best to get through each day but these daily (1-2 per day) panic attacks are crippling me. Is anyone else having these awful chest pains?
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Thank you for your reply 🙏🏻 It’s good to know there’s hope. Im doing everything I can to ease the anxiety but unfortunately it’s taken over 😕 I can’t get out of bed today as my chest is so tight and Im worried it’ll bring the palpitations on if I move - which will cause the panic attacks. I’ll see how I get on with these patches 👍 it’s only early days. I need to remind myself that this will pass and that my heart is fine, deep breathe but all that goes out of the window when they start! Thanks again x
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Anxiety can at times over whelm me. Go down to your toes and stretch them: hold then relax. Work up the whole body muscle groups: stretch, hold, relax.
Then : draw a deep breath in through the nose, hold for 10 counts, then release as slowly as possible through the mouth. It can take a while to count to 10! Because anxiety causes us to breathe in a shallow way, the body doesn't get enough oxygen = panic. Do U sing?
I was supposed to practice! Even though I know it's the flight/fight response, it doesn't help when anxiety hits.
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Where does it start with you, it's around my belly button always. A sudden nausea = panic. In the 1990s my GP prescribed Valium - 10 mg 3 times a day for two days then 10mg at night. Once I found out that it worked I used it the night B4 an event that I was unable to get out of: 5mg then knowing that I could take 5mg the next day which I never required. It did make me sleepy mid-afternoon ::) which MinL hated when I dropped off ;-).
When do you take the Propranolol? I took it at night to ease the early morning surges caused by cortisol as jaypo mentioned. The waking hormone >:(. Huh!
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Hiya
Bless you!
Not to over complicate matters do you know whether you are iron deficient, or have a thyroid issue. These on their own can cause all sorts of whacky symptoms including anxiety, panic, racing heart, skipping beats, pounding heart etc, and shoulder and arm pain. Propranolol will affect your thyroid levels, as will introducting oestrogen.
Are any of these symptoms worse since you added the oestrogen? As some of them sound also like a histamine response (one way to check would be to take an OTC anti histamine and see if that helps), including anxiety, tightening throat and tinnitus.
A fair few of us ladies discovered around peri menopause that we had some other issues that were making the transition onto HRT really tricky, but with a bit of unpicking we were able to find a way to make it work. In my own case, going onto HRt massively triggered histamine overload and I had to come off, get the histamine under control, and try again. I also have long term issues with iron deficiency and correcting this also made a massive difference.
Reb
x
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Thank you everyone 💕 I’ve downloaded a good app to help with the anxiety. I’ve had my thyroid and my iron checked and have been told both fine..as well as heart checks were fine … I should’ve felt reassured but I didn’t. My dad died at 40 years old (1991) with a heart attack and my brother died when he was 43 (2017) with vasculitis so it’s possible that I’m over worrying when the panic sets in. Deep breathes and lots of prayers that this passes soon x
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However: GPs seem to think that if a thyroid function test is 'within normal limits' that no treatment is required, even when a patient continues to express symptoms! I'm sure that someone will be along with advice on that one.
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Hi and welcome. So sorry to see that you are suffering so much with the panic attacks. I really really feel for you as they hit me like a sledge hammer too - they are horrible and so scary. Very glad you have had your heart checked out and that all is well there but I totally understand that the panic attacks are causing you such distress. I have a mantra I say when I get one now ' It is what it is and it will pass and I am safe'. It probably sounds crazy but I keep repeating that and it does help me. I also meditate which helps as well. I have found that getting the HRT levels right is also a huge help in lessening the attacks and also anxiety. My Father also died suddenly literally overnight aged 60 when I was 14 so I understand so much about how your Sister's heart attack has affected you. Hope so much you start to feel better soon. Sending love and empathy xx
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I’m going to try meditation and yoga and see if I can get a good balance with my body and mind 🙏 The thoughts do get worse due to family history and reading all comments, this happens to others too.
I think I’ll ring the GP tomorrow and ask if I can have my thyroid tested again for peace of mind.
I appreciate all of your comments and don’t feel alone with this 💕 x
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Anxiety feeling in my body with palpitations shaking sweating and feeling very overwhelmed took over me I felt like I was in a constant state trying to cope I was waking up in the early hours sweating and feeling very strange this ruled my life for so long it was horrible .my brain kept telling me this is not normal to feel so Ill
I started HRT and kept having to up my oestrogen dose until it settled to a point where I wasn’t thinking about how my body felt and how fast my heart was beating .
I had a mountain of tests done and all normal but I didn’t feel normal. I would rush down to the doctors iin desperation crying in the reception area feeling like a vulnerable child but didn’t care what people thought sometimes even rushing up A&E I really thought I was dying
Today I am sitting here typing with sadness that women are experiencing these horrific symptoms and for me felt like I was slowly losing my mind ….BUT things have greatly improved for me some days not great but having more good than bad lately I smile more and can sleep.and morning are easier as I don’t feel like I am waking with a fast heartbeat and need to rush out of bed
Unfortunately it has effected my mental health and has given me health anxiety but waiting for councilling
I hope you can find reassurance from my words as I so needed reassurance on bad days .I wanted someone to tell me you are ok this will settle with the right HRT dosage ,but all the reading up and talking to people just didn’t get through to my brain because I suppose I couldn’t believe that my body could feel this bad with a so called natural process of menopause ……
I send you hope and hope things settle for you, x
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Anxiety feeling in my body with palpitations shaking sweating and feeling very overwhelmed took over me I felt like I was in a constant state trying to cope I was waking up in the early hours sweating and feeling very strange this ruled my life for so long it was horrible .my brain kept telling me this is not normal to feel so Ill
I started HRT and kept having to up my oestrogen dose until it settled to a point where I wasn’t thinking about how my body felt and how fast my heart was beating .
I had a mountain of tests done and all normal but I didn’t feel normal. I would rush down to the doctors iin desperation crying in the reception area feeling like a vulnerable child but didn’t care what people thought sometimes even rushing up A&E I really thought I was dying
Today I am sitting here typing with safeness that women are experiencing these horrific symptoms and for me felt like I was slowly losing my mind ….BUT things have greatly improved for me some days not great but having more good than bad lately I smile more and can sleep.and morning are easier as I don’t feel like I am waking with a fast heartbeat and need to rush out of bed
Unfortunately it has effected my mental health and has given me health anxiety but waiting for councilling
I hope you can find reassurance from my words as I so needed reassurance on bad days .I wanted someone to tell me you are ok this will settle with the right HRT dosage ,but all the reading up and talking to people just didn’t get through to my brain because I suppose I couldn’t believe that my body could feel this bad with a so called natural process of menopause ……
I send you hope and hope things settle for you, x
Sounds like me last night! I posted literally in the night been on hrt just over a month upped it once and miles better but still think when I speak next week will have to tweak a bit more. Glad to read u ok and it gets better xx
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Booroo sorry to read you are struggling
HRT is a process it definitely takes time and can’t be rushed .I started on a very low dose I pump of oestrogel and continuous Utrogestran with a 3 day break.with no effect I wasn’t bleeding on the break so…..
Changed after a few months later to continuous utrogestran with no break and 1 and half pumps but still felt bad ….
Then changed to Evorel 50 patch again a few months later still not completely there but I think my turning point was when I applied an extra pump in the morning to top up the patch,Which seems to have settled things down particularly my fast heartbeat panic attacks /sleep/night sweats and foggy brain
This is no easy ride and personally feel I was on a too small amount of oestrogen . I was extremely nervous about putting too much on.
Hope your day gets easier the way I felt would improve as the day went on x
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Mornings and night times are difficult - It’s good to know that things do settle down eventually but the process is scary 😟 I was in A&E last week and all was ok, but at the time, I thought that was it for me! You do feel very vulnerable and no matter how much you tell yourself ‘I’m ok and not going to die’ the overwhelming feeling of dread takes over as the panic feeling is so strong. I’m constantly reading about how I can combat mornings and feel less anxious on an evening - this forum has really helped 💕 At first I felt hopeless and completely overwhelmed with it all - Were all in it together 🫶🏻 x
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Booroo sorry to read you are struggling
HRT is a process it definitely takes time and can’t be rushed .I started on a very low dose I pump of oestrogel and continuous Utrogestran with a 3 day break.with no effect I wasn’t bleeding on the break so…..
Changed after a few months later to continuous utrogestran with no break and 1 and half pumps but still felt bad ….
Then changed to Evorel 50 patch again a few months later still not completely there but I think my turning point was when I applied an extra pump in the morning to top up the patch,Which seems to have settled things down particularly my fast heartbeat panic attacks /sleep/night sweats and foggy brain
This is no easy ride and personally feel I was on a too small amount of oestrogen . I was extremely nervous about putting too much on.
Hope your day gets easier the way I felt would improve as the day went on x
Yes was looking forward to getting up and putting on the gel!
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Yes jojo76 we sound very similar .
What HRT are you on ? What dosage ?
It’s just terrible that it gets to a point where you sit up A&E in desperation !, I have certainly been there .I literally couldn’t work for months BUT back to work now and feel more settled in my body.
It’s really hard trying to explain how you feel to someone aswell you feel lost lonely and scared .please take reassurance from my journey I really didn’t think I was ever going to feel myself again . I would be woken up most nights it was like a switch …woke up ..that dreaded feeling sweating and pulse racing my body literally felt so weird almost wired and had been drinking red bull or something ..it was impossible to get back into sleep mode… would get up feeling muzzled in my head like I couldn’t think properly and sometimes felt dizzy and a tight feeling in my chest .it wouldn’t matter what time I went to bed I just seemed to wake up at any time between 3 or 4 .I was sleep deprived .it really traumatised me I almost dreaded going to bed .
I am trying to explain how I felt to let you know I have lived it and really empathetic to the way you are feeling xxxx
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Almost exactly Honeybee2 - any time after 3.00 a.m. but no red bull involved ;-). Add to that bad dreams, I dreaded going to sleep. :'(
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Hi Honeybee 😊 I started Evorel 50 on Monday. I’ve had a rotten period that started on Monday too. I changed the patch yesterday- very early days for me. I haven’t had a panic attack for 2 days but I’m anxious that I’m going to have one 😕 I’ve been off work for two weeks as I feel so rubbish on a morning and I can’t think straight. I’ve purchased some peri menopause supplements, vitamin c, I’ve got some rescue drops for through the day and on night. I’ve been taking the propranolol for 8 days to ease my racing heart. I eat a banana and drink some water before I get out of bed - I take one of the beta blockers and then try and sort myself out. Once out of bed, I take a vitamin c tablet, have something else to eat and then take a supplement. I’m trying to control it instead if it control me! I’m crying (mostly on a morning) for no reason really 😞 other than just wanting to feel normal. If these panic attacks were at bay I think I could deal with things better, but, not knowing when they’re going to happen is scary. I’ve just ordered some Korean ginseng and some vitamin B5. Im drinking lots of water (something I didn’t do before) almost stopped smoking and knocked caffeine on the head….The burning chest pain is always there, mostly over my left breast and under my arm pit. I think I’m doing everything I can. I need to find out if I can take naproxen with the patches as I was taking these for joint pain and was told to not take them for a while x
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Ring a Pharmacist about any contra-indications re Naproxen?
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Hi Jojo76
I was also on propanalol it did ease my heart rate .I don’t need them now but think my stress levels have reduced lately and I feel more settled ,but still carry them in my bag just in case !
Keep persevering with the patch oh also I used to write in a little book how I was feeling day to day . There definitely was a pattern probably when I would have been ovulating or on a period ? I felt particularly bad about every 2 weeks !, and to be honest still get off days and sweaty nights when this is the case …HORMONES !
X
Good idea CLkD to ring pharmacy they are really knowledgeable x
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Great idea ☺️ I’ll start a book, then I can keep a check of possible triggers and when my period could be affecting me as well as certain times of day etc… Hopefully I’ll be able to come off the propranolol eventually and have them as ‘break glass’ medication in my bag 🙏🏻 Ive recently had a chest infection and I finished a course of 500mg Erythromycin (8 per day) a few days ago. I started them last Monday, had a huge panic attack on Wednesday and got taken to A&E. I’ve just been reading the side affects (although rare) these antibiotics cause chest tightness, fast heart rate, dizziness, diarrhoea, panic attacks! I was prescribed the propranolol by the Thursday evening. This week I’ve started the Evorel patches. It’s possible all of this has been far too much in the space of 7 days. One medication making my heart beat too fast and the other trying to slow it down. On top of this, I also began a very heavy period so have felt completely drained x
Im looking forward to the benefits of the patch, thanks very much for your support and keeping me sane during this scary time x
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Why worry about stopping medication if it helps :-\. Propranolol should be taken regularly, it's rarely used on an 'as necessary 'basis.
How is your diet overall?
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The propranolol has seemed to helped me 🙏🏻 I’m just hoping I’m not on it long term. I guess it ps getting a right balance with other things too - like my diet. Up until 1 week ago, my diet was very poor. Skipping meals, and eating at the wrong times. My appetite has changed a lot. Im eating a lot better now. More fruit and drinking lots of water each day. Cut back on caffeine and having regular meals. My mouth and tongue are sore at the moment so I could need some B12 in my diet so I’ve ordered some to see how I get on x
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My mouth is sore as I have a tongue constantly searching for food bits >:(. Also I brushed too hard on 1 side :o
Low blood sugar can cause panic attacks. Eating every 3 hours, 24/7 can help enormously. The idea being to spread the diet throughout the 24 hours ..... adding lots of fresh fruits, veg and nuts. My problem is that I 'go off' foods and find it difficult to substitute things.
I took Propranolol from 2002 until 2020.
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I actually did have a panic attack after eating 2 chocolate mini rolls 🙈 I do leave big gaps with eating too…Yep, I definitely need to eat every 3 hours 👍 Thank you 💐 All your advice is sooo sensible, I’ve just never stopped and looked at my routine until now! I need more fresh in my diet, every day, but like you, I go off things the Im back to square one again. I’m blending lots of fruit at the moment x