Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Justjules on August 12, 2016, 06:33:24 PM
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Lately have been getting some strange head whooshes, don't last long but freak me out a bit but on top of that, sometimes get a 'wave' of something that seems to work right up body up to head and makes me feel like I will pass out, then disappears....sometimes I then need to go to loo. Just had a bad one which really unnerved me. Was just leaning here on the settee on here reading posts so not sure if it's the fact that it's giving me anxiety reading everything. Yesterday spent most of the day reading up medical stuff which I was so mad with myself for. It's just since my breakdown, I can't recover any stamina and energy. Every day is a huge effort physically so I'm now really thinking something serious is going on with heart or brain tumour or something as dizzy weird head is something totally new. How can I stop myself from all this worry? I really can't see that this is anxiety now and I'm sick of people assuming that is what it is. Yet, I know I am not helping myself as my head is just totally concentrated on illness either thinking I have one or have caused heart disease with all the terrible anxiety I have put my body through. I can't see a way out if this at the moment, too scared if tests yet so scared of just dropping. When I felt the weird sensation before, I though "oh God, this is it' so just let it was over me but now I will be worrying all night what it is. Anyone else had anything similar?
X
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I sometimes feel like this, I put a thread on here as I thought it may of been the menopause but I think it's low blood sugar with me. It's like a wave going right from your feet to your head. Do you eat regularly JustJules?
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Some medications can cause what I describe as head 'zaps' ::) and instantly it's over.
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Yes, Linda was just reading yours before! I've been on a work training day today all day.... Have eaten loads as we had food and refreshments all day but didn't want tea as I'm not hungry. Yes, it's just like a weird deep wave from bottom to top or vice versa and then feels like it might carry on to a faint but then goes....
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Oh yes! And I know you really don't want this to be anxiety related, but this sounds very much like a panic attack to me (and trust me, I had them a plenty in peri menopause)! I didn't know I was peri at the time, and actually ended up in A&E twice. Yep. That bad, and totally scared me.
If you want to pop over to one of my favourite websites ever at Anxiety guru.com, the amazing Paul Dooley over there does brilliant posts and pod casts about all this stuff.
Oh, and also there are the nasty adrenal surges you get in Meno. too. There are posts about this here, so go check these out, along with 'feelings of doom'. Go ahead and type these into the search facility, have a read and I betcha you will find something to relate to and you will be feeling a lot more reassured.
Meno sure is one hell of a rollercoaster ride! And it could also be low blood sugar, which many of us ladies suffer from too in Meno. so be sure to take good care of yourself and make sure you eat regularly with healthy snacks between meals. Your body is going through some major changes, so you need to be kind to you! It's not going to kill you or do major damage no matter how bad you may feel (and I get severe symptoms as I'm in surgical meno. and am not on HRT at the moment, so I can tell you I have experienced most of the nasties)!
Most of all......... :hug:
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Thanks Tempest, I will have a look. I used to get panic attacks but they just consisted of typical racing heart and agitation and shaking...this is different but I know they can change. I've really tried to stop looking at anxiety stuff as I know it's just feeding it. I am post meno by about 7 years! Nearly 60 and just want to be well for once :(
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Hello Justjules.
I can certainly relate to wanting to feel well for once! I am also nearly sixty and haven't had a period for six years.
I have surges that involve internal shaking and quivering. My heart thumps and my bowels rumble and there is usually ahem, wind! I also feel very worried and panicky about everything, really want to cry but can't and I lose my appetite. This fun state of affairs usually lasts a few hours, most often occurs in the evening but can then disappear about 9pm.
I am using Evorel 50 mcg patch but how much difference it's making I wouldn't like to say.
The only suggestion I have is that tiredness and tension may conttribute to these awful sensations and I treat myself to an early night when necessary. I wonder if your funny turn was brought on by tiredness, or at least exacerbated by it?
I wish I had the answers but I do understand how horrible and frustrating it is and I wish you well.
Take care and sending hugs.
K.
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Oh my goodness, please excuse me for not realising you are well on your meno. journey!! Here's me prattling on like you're a newcomer to all this!
I can absolutely vouch for the fact that panic attacks can do this. But, if it helps, over at anxiety guru Paul Dooley does advise in his posts/podcasts on health anxiety (im not saying you are suffering from this, but I do to a degree since all this menopause business started and I found this helpful), that if you're at all worried, DO get yourself checked out. It's totally ok to do this, and can give you peace of mind.
He really is a smashing fella, and not at all 'doom and gloom' or preaching because before he became a qualified psychologist, he was a 10 year severe anxiety sufferer himself. The only reason I'm banging on about this is because the tips I've learned there have helped me with so many things that I am just generally worried about too - and boy, can I worry!! Things like booking a GP appointment, getting test results, am I really ill? All that kind of stuff that just churns away and makes you feel rotten on top of feeling rotten, if you get what I'm saying?
Go and have a wee chat with your GP if you can. It won't hurt, and they can hopefully reassure you and give you a check over. Hope this helps in a small way. :hug:
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Kathleen, it could be. I've had a long day. I am usually fine in the evenings, best part of the day for me. I've also had a lot of sweet stuff today as well which won't be good. I can't cry anymore at the moment due to the ADs and I've never taken HRT. I am so weary with it all. It makes me want to become a recluse! X
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Hello again Justjules.
Yep, I recognise the weariness too and becoming a recluse appeals to me as well. Just being with 'normal' people can be so difficult at times. I remember reading posts on this site where ladies talked about wanting to hide under a rock until all the horrible feelings go away.
Hopefully we will all come through this one day!
Take care.
K.
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I hope so Kathleen! I'd really love to know why some people suffer so much whilst others don't. I hope I get to sample normality before my old age :-\
X
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Hi justjules, gentle hugs
I wrote a thread about social anxiety caused by menopause, it's stopped me socialising , shopping, even being amongst family at times, I couldn't work out if the faintness/racing heart when standing was causing anxiety or vice versa
I started seeing a cognitive hypnotherapist as I didn't want to talk to GP about this as my belief is I need to replace whatever is causing this (be it a different hormone or something that is causing the faintness) but I needed to know how to cope with the feelings too
Yesterday was my 3rd visit, she put me into deep relaxation and got me thinking to healthier/more confident days, and to use my index finger and squeeze it in times of anxiety/faintness. She also wants me to see doc to explain the faintness in case my arrythmia is getting worse or I have a BP problem when upright
Today my fiancé took me shopping, I happily went off in shops without him (something that I'm not always comfortable with) and if I felt any wobble I squeezed my finger and immediately smiled at the pictures I had remembered in my relaxation state yesterday
I ate in a restaurant, usually I want to get out straight after eating but today I waited until OH suggested it
All in all, anxiety-wise it was successful, I doubt I'm cured, a pub night will be the test, my only dampener on the day (no pun intended) was my inability to empty my bladder properly when pee'ing so I think I ended up in most Loos that Cambridge city has
Don't suffer, get help, wherever that may be
<3
Annie x
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Thanks Annie. I too see a therapist, NLP and hypnotherapist and I get to experience the deep relaxation state. It all helps but I need to find some way to cope with these constant feelings of terrible fear of illness. I know it all but can't put it into practice and believe it. It's almost like this awful constant worry is more preferable to facing up to getting it sorted out so my head is constantly whirring between the two options and I wonder why I'm worn out! x
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I often get head whooshes, weird rushes etc. In fact I ended up being taken to hospital last week by a lovely off duty nurse as I just about keeled over with one in Neros. I suspect it's a combination of adrenal rushes , anxiety and BP fluctuations. I had yet another ECG and tests and best guess is that sometimes my BP drops too low when I stand up after sitting a long time. Years ago when my anxiety was also bad, i neraky took down two shelving units in the library with a funny turn and again I suspect BP just went haywire. I know there's a thing called POTS that can cause similar feelings and my mum experiences very similar things with her benign postural vertigo. That said, I do think a lot of it is just bog standard anxiety - you are agitated and have all this adrenaline racing round with no place to go except whoosh.
Try and hold onto what you have been taught by your therapists. What I used to do when something new and scary came along was book an appointment with GP for few weeks hence and the see how I went on. 9 times out of ten by the time it came round I'd moved onto some new ailment so would just cancel and rebook and so on. Weird but it helped to calm me and to learn to cope a bit on own x
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Thanks Coldethyl. This damn anxiety will just not diminish. Apart from the dreaded exercise, I do deep breathing, relaxation, read, try to say positive affirmations etc. and do take on board everything my therapist says.....until about two hours after I leave :-\. Like I say, I know it all, just have trouble putting it into practice. I'm getting a new car soon and even that is giving me anxiety! Just having to go to the showroom and sort stuff out, feels so stressful and yet it's something lovely, an early birthday present from my Mum. I think I'm just illness phobic, which is no good as not going to get through life now at this age without something nasty cropping up. I never used to bother going to the dr but now it's like a dog going to the vets! Terrifying. I hope you're feeling a bit better, that must have been horrible at the time. x
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I think the head turns are a separate thing from the anxiety. I had the head whooshes for awhile before anxiety kicked in with it. And they happened at random times. I could be sitting around with friends laughing and having a great time when my head would take a funny turn. It would unnerve me for a minute but only when it became more frequent and hot flashes piled on with it I became anxious as well. HRT has eliminated the head whooshes for now but the anxiety still hangs around. Of course those head turns may return as hrt eliminated the sweats and flushes but lately those are coming around again too.
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I could be sitting around with friends laughing and having a great time when my head would take a funny turn.
Ditto - Exactly ! :( >:(
I think it's this weird head thing that CAUSES the anxiety. I'm going to keep my blood sugar levels up and remind myself that this weird head thing is part and parcel of the meno and is therefore 'normal'.
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I get those too lizab at random times too, I can be engrossed in something alone or having a laugh with someone then it stops me in my tracks
Annie x
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That all makes me feel a bit better ladies.....of course, with my HA, I've gone straight to brain tumour :-\ !!!
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That all makes me feel a bit better ladies.....of course, with my HA, I've gone straight to brain tumour :-\ !!!
Oh if you had a brain tumour Justjules you know about it. Your 'normal' just like the rest of us. weird eh ! ::)
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I've done the whole" but I'm not anxious when they happen thing" but then it dawned on me that a) laughing and being excited aren't miles away physiologically from being anxious and scared b) I hyperventilate when I'm laughing so it's no different to a panic c) our breathing and bp often change when we sit or are relaxed and it's the changes and their effects on our bodies that we notice.
Mr Ethyl tells me he gets all sorts of weird sensations and head things but he doesn't attribute them to anything sinister so he gets on as if nothing has happened. Consequently he doesn't make them more likely by being anxious or on verge of panic attack most of the time.
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I know, probably so Lynda but my default is always 'death'!!!
Coldethyl, you're right there, when I am laughing with friends etc, I'm still aware I'm anxious even though I'm having a good time and it wears me out so I know I've spent all my energy just trying to relax and have a bit of fun, which is stupid. I felt faint again this morning on the way out and I'd only got washed and dressed and made the bed but that zaps my energy which is ridiculous, but I am getting anxious now because it's my 'new' symptom so worrying. Yes, my OH is the same, nothing bothers him like that but then they aren't struggling with hormones like us! x
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I don't know, coldethyl. The last time I recall it happening I was sitting at the table with my family talking, not feeling any positive or negative stress that I recall, and I was mid-sentence when my world shifted and it stopped me in my tracks for a second. Fortunately it hasn't happened in several months but anxiety comes and goes now.
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I think it's just a sudden fall in oestrogen that causes the nervous system to over-react. I've had so many different ones where face starts twitching, shaking and shivering or feeling like I'm going to pass out.
Before I knew it was my hormones, I called an ambulance once as I thought it might be a stroke (as had 3 family members have them without the classic signs) but it all stopped by the time it got to me an hour later, and they said they'd only heard of similar symptoms with stress, which I knew wasn't the case.
I suspect that, although it's more common in peri, you can still have sudden drops post meno until everything settles.
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It's just the not knowing when to take it seriously or not. This is happening most days now, probably because I'm worrying myself silly about it. If you mention it at GPs you'd be whizzed off for tests and with all the symptoms I've got I'd be never away from the hospital! After 7 years post meno, you'd think that something would settle by now surely!!!
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M in L had a brain tumour but never complained of what you describe. If you are worried about a brain tumour go to the appropriate regulated web-site.
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I don't know if this is technically correct but, as I would appear as one big anxious mess when I visited the GP - due to the nausea, weightloss and adrenal surges, they told me that if I had anything serious then it would show up in the blood tests. This didn't help me as I just wanted to stop feeling sick but it reassured me from becoming more anxious about it all.
Not sure which blood tests they did but think they were referring to the markers for inflammation and liver, kidney function etc., which were mainly done as standard when I went to A&E for fluids a few times. So perhaps you could check with your doctor if these are normal and then it will be more acceptable to you that its your hormones still settling.
I know how frightening it is, I once sat in my car outside the supermarket where the security guy could see me, as my family were living abroad and I was convinced I was about to collapse and didn't want it to happen when I got home and no-one would see! I also used to go back and sit in A&E after I'd been seen until I felt brave enough to go home, as I constantly had an about to faint feeling and a tachycardia that meant I would have to keep resting in between the 5 minute walk back to the carpark. Now my hormones are under control it seems like a big nightmare that couldn't have really happened!
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Thanks Dangermouse. I had full bloods done when my anxiety was at its worst....all okay. Then asked for my Vit D and Mag to be checked and that's when the D came back extremely low so had the megadose for a few months. Just got to go back and get it checked now. Oh I so hope this is still a mix of hormones and anxiety. I'm scared it's my heart as I feel on the point iof collapse if I so much as try to go for a walk so avoid it and now the fainty feelings happen in a morning, that together with the total lack of stamina seems to fit the heart problem profile. I don't get breathless and I'm not 'tired' as in I need to sleep but it's the constant worn out feeling I can't stand. It's surely not normal even after anxiety levels have dropped. I am going to ask for a full hormone and thyroid check and full bloods again but I am frightened that if I mention the inability to walk far and the worn out feeling and faintness, I will be sent straight off to the cardiologist! X
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Two things: one, when I took Vitamin D (as GP said a few years ago it was very low), as its a hormone, it caused me to bloat up as if I'd taken steroids and imbalanced me further so I had to stop. My last Vit D test was normal so I'm wondering if its linked to oestrogen levels being that's its actually a hormone and not a true vitamin. NICE seem to have had a campaign to get our D levels up as my friends were all told their's were unusually low when they were also randomly tested after visiting for something else. Or it could be that, like a lot of drugs including anti nausea meds, the Vit D is a stimulant and adding to the nervous system effects.
2nd thing: That does sound like a benign tachycardia. I was whisked off to stay at my aunts for a week when I was very bad and they took me to their GP and I could barely walk from the waiting room to the office. The doc wasn't even slightly concerned though, he took my pulse and it was about 120bpm and he didn't think this was a sign of anything sinister. I asked if I could be referred for an echo cardiogram and he said it was pointless as it was just a tachycardia. He did do an ECG as they had a facility there and it was all normal and he was the one who gave me beta blockers to take, as and when, and he told me not to take the Diazepam my GP had given me the week before as my issue was physical and not mental. At the time, I had suggested it could be caffeine withdrawal, as it was the only thing I could think of as I had not had any due to not being able to consume much of anything. He said it could be that or something else. If only he had mentioned hormones though!
I still get the worn out feeling and no motivation, but the over-stimulation tachycardia and adrenal anxiety has completely stopped (I just had a couple of tachy episodes for half hour a few days after stopping the pill) and so I'm trying HRT now to see if a small addition of oestrogen will bring my energy up.
Are you still on the beta blockers as remember you went back on them when we were discussing if you could have been going through withdrawal? Might be worth trying some HRT if that hasn't helped.
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Yes, still on the BBs. How can not being able to walk be tachycardia though? I seem to fit the POTS symptoms in a morning though as I have a real struggle to get ready and get to work and am useless until mid morning. My ECG was normal the other month but that doesn't show much apart from electrical stuff and any previous heart attacks. I am getting scared now and don't want to end up getting myself in a state over it.
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For me the tachycardia affected my stamina as the walking made it go extra high when starting from 120bpm resting, which was too much for me.
It came back down on the pill (to around the 80s) after a few weeks but where I normally walk fast, I would have to go slow or rest now and again mid cycle when oestrogen was naturally high. Now the surges have stopped its down to 60s and now I'm too relaxed as can't be bothered to do anything!
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Also you can test your own pulse or use a free app to know if its a tachycardia.
If not, it could be low blood pressure from the BBs.
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I have a fast heart rate normally without the BBs. Has always been a resting rate of 80. My blood pressure always is around 140/85 nowadays when the GP checks it.
Well at least you sound chilled Dangermouse even if you don't want to do much! :)
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Justjules, all of that seems so familiar. My heart would jump to 120 out of nowhere, I had no energy or motivation, and felt like I had no endurance to walk, sometimes even 50 meters seemed too much. Event thought the doctor assured me my heart was fine, I couldn't get over the ideal that he may be missing something. The hrt has helped significantly, but I still have blips of feeling like I can't handle any exertion. One thing that helps me is knowing that on good days I can handle aerobics, hiking, jogging, etc and have no issues at all. I feel like if it was anything besides hormones, I wouldn't have days that I can really exert myself with no problems. I wish every day was a good day. Heat intolerance has been another big one for me. Sometimes the heat seems to make it worse and sometimes it doesn't bother me at all. I know for sure my thyroid is under control, so I'm thinking it has to be the hormones.
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Lizard, sounds very familiar, apart from I don't honestly feel I could do any of those things! Even just a little jig to music makes me go 'whoah' and I then give up, could be part panic as I don't like the feeling. Was yours your thyroid? I used to go to Pilates but I am too frightened to go. Ridiculous really. I've head a few head thingys today, one was a weird sudden pain on the right and then a weird body feeling. I had my headphones in typing at the time but it then panics me. I just want to get to 60 in January feeling I have some sort of life and not feel like this every day.
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Mine was not my thyroid. Going off my symptoms, the doctor initially thought I was overmedicated on my thyroid although still in range, so we cut the dosage and well, I would just like to forget that little experiment. Now I'm back on my old thyroid dose, well within normal range, plus on hrt. Before first consulting my doctor about it, I was in bed most of the time for a week. After a week of trying to rest it away, I finally decided to go. I totally relate to not being able to do those things, even taking a shower made my legs feel weak and shaky. I get this shaky leg thing waiting to pay when shopping, and again it sounds like anxiety to everyone (including me), but it happened in the shower too and what's more relaxing than a shower? I'm rambling because the whole experience is overwhelming and difficult to describe, but I think it is all related to hormones.
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No, you're not rambling at all! It's helpful when someone has experienced something similar, although we all have a difference in symptoms slightly, it all sounds along the same sort of lines. The shower is a no no, I struggle to have a bath as I feel weird when the water moves about and just wash and get out when it should be a nice relaxing experience like you say. I just honestly thought that my blessed hormones weren't still a problem but if that's all it is, I will be thankful. I can reason with myself about how it all seems like good old anxiety etc but then it throws a new symptom at me and it causes a meltdown!
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Hi Justjules
Some of your symptoms match mine exactly!! I'm currently going through a really horrid patch of anxiety and weird physical symptoms. My GP thinks I started having some physical symptoms such as wacky heartbeats and adrenaline rushes due to perimenopause, which then "switched on" my health related anxiety (I've had it before)....so it's a catch 22, the symptoms make me anxious then the anxiety causes more symptoms. Like you, my heart is my biggest concern, despite having ECGs etc, and endless reassurance from my GP, I just can't shake the feeling that it's my heart making me feel so rotten, exhausted and miserable.
Like you, I take hours to come to life in the mornings when I used to be a real early bird who leapt out of bed full of life! Now I can barely speak or stand up for hours. It's making me so bloody miserable, I just wish it would end 😢
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Ambert, I told the Dr today that I still didn't feel any better anxiety or physical wise and about my funny head things but she basically didn't seem concerned and then started talking about psychological stuff....again. I want to feel better too. She looked over all my previous blood results and ECG and said all were good.....what she didn't tell me is why, like you, I feel so bloody rubbish and how much effort it takes just to get through a day some days and that makes me feel so bad knowing that there are people out there going through cancer treatment and I'm moaning about something that is supposedly caused by my stupid brain :beat: :bang:
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Well nearly all of us feel the same so you can't have a 'stupid brain' can you Justjules? :)
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Hello again Justjules.
I just wanted to say that I completely understand your situation.
I have had a weird pain in my side all day but I'm not concerned, in fact none of the physical problems of the menopause have given me more than a moments worry but anything emotional/psychological and I'm straight into panic mode!
Earlier today I heard about a lady who has just begun cancer treatment after being in France for two weeks with her husband and teenage daughter. My first thought was at least she can relax enough to enjoy a nice holiday! How crazy is that, I actually felt envious of the poor woman! As I've said before our concerns are not rational but they are real and it is exhausting and frustrating.
Wishing you well.
K.
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Well I suppose so Lynda but its so draining living like this.
Kathleen, thank you. It's funny to think that all these women I see walking around looking perfectly normal could all be going through this as well and nobody realises. Yes, we aren't rational at all. We are dealing with illness but in a different form but fortunately, however debilitating, not life threatening like some. Something to be thankful for at least. X
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Girls - are you eating correctly and at the right time? Also, feeling shaky in the shower maybe due to the water being too hot, steamy, even the pulsation from the shower head can cause woozy feelings. If being in the bath causes weird feelings, maybe the lights are too 'bright'? and as the water moves slightly, there's a reflection/refraction which can cause these feelings. It doesn't take much to become aware of weirdness - I can't sit in a theatre, years ago I noted that as the house lights dimmed, I had the feeling that my whole body needed to move forwards, accompanied by acute nausea. :-\. I talked to a Neurologist that I worked with and he couldn't understand what I was trying to explain ::)
Now I avoid theatres :sigh:
We are all suffering from some awful diesase, all at the same time, or it's part of the hormonal blips! ……
I do know that I have a nerve in the back of my neck which if I turn my head suddenly makes me feel woozy!
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Weird head thing again, last night and this morning. :(
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Horrible Lynda aren't they? I've not had as many funnily enough but probably because I've been concentrating on the 'faint' feeling I keep getting in the morning. I'm very anxious in the morning again at the moment and it spoils my day. I just kept saying 'oh for God's sake, do your worst then' when it happened as I'm so fed up of feeling like this >:(
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I get several a day then nothing for about a week - ten days, then it repeats this cycle all over again. (A bit like BBC tv programmes ?) ;D
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Ha, that's true CLKD! ;D