Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Sparkles1973 on March 31, 2023, 01:25:10 PM

Title: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on March 31, 2023, 01:25:10 PM
Hi all, I was just asking for some reassurance from you lovely lot ❤ you have been so brilliant in the past in helping me feel better.

I'm 49 and think I have been in perimenopause for since 44.  I still have regular ish periods and have tried 2 types of hrt, sequi patches and gel and Utrogestan, which didn't help..... I gave the hrt a good shot and adjusted it, but it still didn't help.  My worst symptoms have been horrible pounding heart and palpitations, throbbing hot face, usually happening together, nausea and lack of motivation.  I have been taking Fluoxetine since last September 20mg.... I was previously on Citalopram and Sertraline for years as I have suffered with anxiety in the past and was good for years, until peri set in 😭.  The Fluoxetine has helped me cope with the crappy symptoms and had been helping me with my facial flushes.

This month, I have been brown spotting between my period and my pounding heart has been awful again, along with my facial flushing.  Today I feel i'm going to explode and go mad, I feel frustrated and annoyed, sickly, hot face and feel overwhelmed with the symptoms.  I've always been a laid back person, so this is all alien to me.

I had Covid at Christmas and felt like had taken a few backward steps with this peri stuff a few weeks after.  Now I have just had Covid again about 3 weeks ago.... is it a possibility that Covid can ramp up symptoms? Are these symptoms normal for peri?

Please give me some reassurance anyone? I'm fed up now of not feeling my normal self for more than two weeks at a time, if I'm lucky 😭

Thank you xx
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: CLKD on March 31, 2023, 02:04:26 PM
Yep.  It was reported very early on in 2002 that Covid was upsetting hormones.  Did U test +ive this time?  It's mutating so stands to reason that it will impact on hormones thus far.  Viruses take their time to leave the body and for energy levels to return.  Be kind to yourself!

My periods waxed and waned for several years B4 disappearing.  'normal for me'.

Pounding heart hasn't killed you yet so it's probably 'normal for you'.  Occasionally I am aware of something in my chest area but it goes quite quickly.  Flushing is probably due to falling hormone levels.

Knowing why doesn't always ease anxiety though.  Fluoxetine - which dose?  If I feel low for more than 3 mornings in a row I up my escitalopram to 10mg at night and 10mg in the morning, which is 5mg extra at breakfast to my usual intake.

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use.  Let us know how you get on.
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on March 31, 2023, 02:16:58 PM
Hi CLKD! Good to hear from you ❤

Yes, I did test +ive again 😫 I'm a nurse so I think I caught it in the ward again.  Yes, this pounding heart is weird, it feels more 'physical' than anxiety and makes my face hot and pound too.... never ever had anything like it before.  I'm on 20mg Fluoxetine but did increase it to 40mg when I was on it years ago but made me feel terrible on the increase dose.  The multitude of different symptoms come and go and replace each other.   I've had numerous heart tests but all ruled out to be normal xxxx
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: CLKD on March 31, 2023, 02:25:18 PM
We have a thread about what we think we are dying of to day  ::)

Sometimes increasing any medication all at once can cause weird and awful side effects which is why it's probably an idea to increase little and often: i.e. every 3rd night with HRT and/or ADs.  So that the body/brain don't become overwhelmed.

Covid is mutating yet so the body won't recognise it.   >:(. It's difficult to decide what is the usual round of viruses or 'it' !  I'm tired this last 36 hours and keep wondering, whilst I don't know I won't feel any worse  :-\

Listen to your body.  Get those feet up, cuppa to hand ;-)
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on March 31, 2023, 02:47:50 PM
Thanks CLKD.  I won't increase my AD just yet, as I don't feeI depressed as such, just fed up with these stupid symptoms.  I'm not on any hrt, it made my peri worse 😫 I think I'll just see how I get on and hope I revert to some sort of near normality soon xxx 🤞 here's hoping.  Thank you so much xx
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: CLKD on March 31, 2023, 03:17:40 PM
If symptoms don't get worse ?  :-\.  VitD and thyroid function levels OK?

Let us know how you get on.
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on March 31, 2023, 03:34:19 PM
Oh god, I hope they don't get worse 😫 had quite recent thyroid and Vit D tests, all ok x
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: CLKD on March 31, 2023, 03:46:35 PM
Blood tests OK >☑️ <

Half a day at a time?
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on March 31, 2023, 03:56:24 PM
All blood tests good.... that's all I can do, I hate it though 😫 xx
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Claire MM on March 31, 2023, 04:12:55 PM
I believe there is an interaction between estrogen levels and covid and your immune system in general, estrogen increases immune response and covid potentially impacts hrt and hormone levels. Also in terms of SSRIs impacting menopausal symptoms there is a relationship between estrogen and seratonin, I believe estrogen boosts seratonin, so by taking an ssri you are maybe avoiding some of the symptoms of low estrogen. I am imagining from what you said you were on a good dose of estrogen when you tried HRT? I do hope things improve for you soon. I saw something which gave me some heart today which said just right before the actual menopause symptoms ramp up and then potentially ease with menopause. I have no idea if that's true or what is normal anymore but I'm voting hang in there and I'm sure covid takes a good bit of time to recover from, take good care xx
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on March 31, 2023, 04:18:22 PM
Hi Claire! Thank you for your reply ❤ I really appreciate it. It's so weird, a few says I could feel nearly like my old self, then have cycling weird and wacky symptoms 😫 they had dampened down for a while before Covid.... I've never had spotting in between periods until this month.

I hope you're coping ok with it all xx
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: CLKD on March 31, 2023, 05:56:04 PM
Tnx Claire - eloquently put!
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on March 31, 2023, 06:36:23 PM
Thank you so much both ❤❤

I hope things are starting to change period wise and I'm closer to the end of them.... and I just pray I'm not going to suffer worse post meno..... that's what I worry about too xxx
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: CLKD on March 31, 2023, 07:11:51 PM
Symptoms can be eased.  Some don't have any symptoms until they are well into menopause, due to variations in hormone levels.  Try not to worry too much, I've gone though peri and inter menopause with various symptoms - fortunately none, other than VA, lasted for long.  Although the itching of the insteps and down my back is a nuisance when I'm tired  ::)
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Smiley1012 on March 31, 2023, 10:12:01 PM
Love the positivity ladies! I believe I am late peri. My symptoms have ramped up again and have really struggled for years but 🤞 as we enter menopause hoping it calms down a little. I realise we are all different and some suffer more in peri and others more after menopause but we have to hope that once our bodies adjust to the lower levels we will have a little bit of peace and not everything will feel so manic! Hope you all have a great weekend 😊 stay positive x
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Toomuchstress on March 31, 2023, 10:57:35 PM
I'm 44 ill be 45 this year and I'm so glad I'm not the only one ,

It's so debilitating having to add another symptom and us women having to work out if it's our perimenopause or not ,

I've been worried because I too tried utrogestan and lanzetro spray and I felt worse and then tried the evri sequi patches , which I ripped off one night because I was sick of the feeling like im on edge , or something bad was going to happen ,

My anxiety is terrible , always health related , If I get anything unusual I think "I'm dying" (dramatic I know but my mind goes off on its on road ) ,

For me this time I was on the patches a month (halfways through the month I got my period) then when I ripped the patch off on the 23rd I bled 2 days later then stopped for a few days but now I've been bleeding for nearly a week

Is this normal. Because I'm freaking out having just had my period on the 16th ,
I did have a sore throat and felt awful like pressure on my heart , so was given antibiotics
I didn't think to check for covid ,

And now I've read your post , my husband has said he now has a sore throat and my mother in law (as we are visiting her) , but they have flu like symptoms ,
What covid symptoms did you get ?

And if anyone can help me with any advice if the bleeding is normal ,
I was only on the HRT patches a month

Any Advice I'd appreciate it so much , I'm New on here and getting any info from doctors is just hopeless,

Hi to everyone BTW 😊
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on April 01, 2023, 05:07:31 AM
Hi Smiley and Toomuchstress ❤ thank you for your replies and I hope you have peace of body and mind soon xxxx

My Covid symptoms Toomuchstress were like a heavy head cold and headache.  It took about two weeks to go xx
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: CLKD on April 02, 2023, 02:59:55 PM
How U feeling today?
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on April 02, 2023, 03:39:30 PM
Hi CLKD ❤ I feel absolutely horrible 😭 the thumping heart, clammy and generally anxious about it and jumping out of my skin 😫.... I'm really not sure what else to do as I'm running out of options xxxx
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on April 02, 2023, 04:45:03 PM
I think I need to hear some positive stories too ❤ but then again, I suppose ladies that feel a lot better either don't post that much or don't need the group anymore ❤❤
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Toomuchstress on April 03, 2023, 12:20:37 AM
Well the last few days I've felt a LOT better , so I know that coming off the HRT was the right decision for me ,

Apart from I'm still bleeding is worrying ,
And after having some great days tonight I went to see a movie with my husband and as we went in my heart started feeling funny again and I got home feeling weird ,
I took some diazepam for the anxiety , straight after I had aura migraine (I get zig zag lines in my sight and I have to lay down in darkness until my sight returns to normal,  20 mins

But I feel awful after them ,

It's like yay I was so happy to be happy and was on cloud nine and then tonight happens

If only someone told me when you hit your 40,s get prepared , if id known I would have lived it up in my 30,s lol x
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on April 03, 2023, 06:27:10 PM
Hi Toomuchstress ❤ oh bless you! It's mad isn't it, it's like a daily rollercoaster 😮.
I too feel better today, strangely enough after working a double night shift... heart has calmed down and less flushes 😮.  May feel completely different tomorrow 🤷‍♀️ very hard to keep up... lol! Much love xxx
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: CLKD on April 03, 2023, 07:03:32 PM
Sparkles - were you busy, on the go - maybe exercise helps?
Title: Re: Is this all normal?? Xx
Post by: Sparkles1973 on April 06, 2023, 07:53:22 AM
Hi CLKD, I think you may be right there, I was busy xxxx