Hello all,

Firstly can I just say what a great website this is. Its so nice to read other peoples stories/comments, I dont' feel as if i'm completely on my own now. For the last year I've been experiencing anxiety problems around the time of the month. It normally starts mid cylce, lately it's been the 14th day exactly. Last Oct, Nov were the worst 2 months of my life, very tearful, had no motivation to do anything, couldnt even brush my 5year old daughters hair. Since then, it hasnt been as bad, but bad enough. Feelings of sickness,hot feelings in my stomach, tearful to mention but a few. When i have days llike this, its hard for me to go to work, or even take my daughter to school (thank God for good friends). I had blood tests done about 6 months ago, and they came back normal, they checked to see if i was possibly going thru the menopause. My doctor put me on some anti depressants for 5mths (citalopram 20mg) which i must admit helped me greatly, but i didnt want to be reliant on them for ever. My Dr took me off them, but never weaned me off them, so consequently I went thru hell and bk.I am currently seeing a Homeopath at the moment, he has been brilliant, and put me on a course of homeopathic citrolapram, which i found helped, but a week ago i finished the course, and of now, i'm having anxiety probs again. My homeopath is away for 4 weeks, so i'm hoping to see his replacement on sat (who is a woman) and she might have more of an idea of what to do. I just wondered reading the symptoms of peri, for which i have quite a few, if iwas going thru this, although it doesnt state that anxiety is a symptom of peri - or is this wrong? Sorry for the lengthy note, but saves me telling it again. I'm 38. and thanks for reading.

Hi Hartbox - Yes anxiety is a very common symptom of peri. See 34 signs of menopause on this site - number 10, although i agree there is not much detail on this one!

I have 2 types actually. The first is what I call general unfounded anxiety, the second is health anxiety.

I developed the general type 18 months ago out of the blue. It would be worse first thing in the morning. I have read it is caused by the body lacking estrogen and sending out adrebaline instead.Like you I couldn't operate properly, couldn't deal with the kids properly, was unable to drive or go shopping. Eventually, with the help of acupuncture, and learning not to fear the fear itself but accept it, I got it down to a copeable level.

The Health anxiety is still bad. I worry about every little twinge/ ache that I have or haven't got & can't stop myself believing it isn't serious. I worry not only about myself but for my kids and my hubby that we have serious diseases. However hard I try I get obsessive about these thoughts and cannot put them out of my mind. This seems to be so common for women on this site and that has been such a comfort. I am starting a course of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) soon which I have been told can help.

Hi Hartbox and welcome to PS

I believe that anxiety in our bodies can be part of peri - but not necessarily so - mine like your hits me hard on day 14 or 15 of my cycle - although my cycles are so odd (15 days at the mo...) that it is hard to say wity any certainty when it hits cos it is most of the time with 15 day cycles - ho ho!!!

My anxiety is not as bad as it was cos I KNOW that it is body first - head second - I now relax and ensure head does not follow body lead into anxiety cos then I do end up a mess...it is hard cos every sinew and fibre of my body is trying to kid me that I am tense and anxious - BUT I AM NOT - I feel it but I dont feel it...very frustrating and tiring - cos it just doesnt leave

I know exactly what you mean about not wanting to do anything - you just need to trug on - this is a sign of depression - but again - I think that has a hormonal/chemical basis in peri - how on earth my DR can sit in front of me and NOT realise that a major disruption to my body chemistry is going to potentially cause body sensaitons is quite beyond me...

On the Citalopram side - I had a very bad reaction to it and was suicidal and super agitated - it took me 2 months to wean off - I did it very slow under guidance from my herbalist - you DR is not good to take you off it suddenly - you just dont do that......you might want to consider seeing a herbalist cos mine has given me some wonderful nerve tonics and I feel so much more able to cope with all of this compared to how I was - he also gave diet and relaxation advice - basicllay totally holistic - everything my DR os not

If you want something over the counter try lemon balm or chamomile tea - very relaxing and calming - and look at diet to remove sugars and caffeine

Blood tests are notoriously unreliable for telling if you are going through menpause or not cos hormones are puslatile and vary over short periods of time...go by symptoms......I knew early on even though I didnt accept it cos the medical profession were busy testing me for every disease known to man

HUgs to you

Mele

Hi Hartbox and Welcome to PS

You are not alone anxiety is the worst for me, so I know just how you feel. When it hits hard, I can't make it to work also and have no energy to lift a finger. I take the whole week off from work. Peri hit me as soon as I turned 35. I take xanax as needed to take the edge off and I drink herbal teas. I know it's very had to relax when your body is out of wack.

hello,
i go on this brillient site called no more panic, it has loads of info on anxiety etc, i hope this helps, mandy

[quote name='hartbox' post='137290' date='Sep 6 2006, 05:22 PM']
Hello all,

Firstly can I just say what a great website this is. Its so nice to read other peoples stories/comments, I dont' feel as if i'm completely on my own now. For the last year I've been experiencing anxiety problems around the time of the month. It normally starts mid cylce, lately it's been the 14th day exactly. Last Oct, Nov were the worst 2 months of my life, very tearful, had no motivation to do anything, couldnt even brush my 5year old daughters hair. Since then, it hasnt been as bad, but bad enough. Feelings of sickness,hot feelings in my stomach, tearful to mention but a few. When i have days llike this, its hard for me to go to work, or even take my daughter to school (thank God for good friends). I had blood tests done about 6 months ago, and they came back normal, they checked to see if i was possibly going thru the menopause. My doctor put me on some anti depressants for 5mths (citalopram 20mg) which i must admit helped me greatly, but i didnt want to be reliant on them for ever. My Dr took me off them, but never weaned me off them, so consequently I went thru hell and bk.I am currently seeing a Homeopath at the moment, he has been brilliant, and put me on a course of homeopathic citrolapram, which i found helped, but a week ago i finished the course, and of now, i'm having anxiety probs again. My homeopath is away for 4 weeks, so i'm hoping to see his replacement on sat (who is a woman) and she might have more of an idea of what to do. I just wondered reading the symptoms of peri, for which i have quite a few, if iwas going thru this, although it doesnt state that anxiety is a symptom of peri - or is this wrong? Sorry for the lengthy note, but saves me telling it again. I'm 38. and thanks for reading.
[/quote]


Thank you so much to everyone that replied to me. You really are a great bunch of people, and so nice to know that you're not alone. I shall let you know how i get on, and good luck to everyone that's suffering too. Love to all xxxx
Hello all,

Firstly can I just say what a great website this is. Its so nice to read other peoples stories/comments, I dont' feel as if i'm completely on my own now. For the last year I've been experiencing anxiety problems around the time of the month. It normally starts mid cylce, lately it's been the 14th day exactly. Last Oct, Nov were the worst 2 months of my life, very tearful, had no motivation to do anything, couldnt even brush my 5year old daughters hair. Since then, it hasnt been as bad, but bad enough. Feelings of sickness,hot feelings in my stomach, tearful to mention but a few. When i have days llike this, its hard for me to go to work, or even take my daughter to school (thank God for good friends). I had blood tests done about 6 months ago, and they came back normal, they checked to see if i was possibly going thru the menopause. My doctor put me on some anti depressants for 5mths (citalopram 20mg) which i must admit helped me greatly, but i didnt want to be reliant on them for ever. My Dr took me off them, but never weaned me off them, so consequently I went thru hell and bk.I am currently seeing a Homeopath at the moment, he has been brilliant, and put me on a course of homeopathic citrolapram, which i found helped, but a week ago i finished the course, and of now, i'm having anxiety probs again. My homeopath is away for 4 weeks, so i'm hoping to see his replacement on sat (who is a woman) and she might have more of an idea of what to do. I just wondered reading the symptoms of peri, for which i have quite a few, if iwas going thru this, although it doesnt state that anxiety is a symptom of peri - or is this wrong? Sorry for the lengthy note, but saves me telling it again. I'm 38. and thanks for reading.
[/quote]


[quote name='mandy den' post='137324' date='Sep 6 2006, 09:39 PM']
hello,
i go on this brillient site called no more panic, it has loads of info on anxiety etc, i hope this helps, mandy
[/quote]
Thank you so much to everyone that replied to me. You really are a great bunch of people, and so nice to know that you're not alone. I shall let you know how i get on, and good luck to everyone that's suffering too. Love to all xxxx
Hartbox

Hi there!

I can so relate to this. Over the past couple of months, I have been waking up with the worst anxiety. I lie in bed, work myself up, my heart is racing out of control, and I just want to crawl out of my skin!!! By the afternoon, things seem to be so much better. It has gotten to the point where I dread the morning. I go to bed knowing it will be a horrible morning, I just hate my train of thought!

I wish I had some words of encouragement, however; I'm right there with you

(((((HUGS))))))
Karen

I have battled anxiety off and on since this started for me about 4 yrs ago. The anxiety is the worst peri symptom I have, and it came back a few weeks ago prompting me to go back on Lexapro.
The morning for me is horrible also. I am waiting patiently each day for the Lexapro to fully kick in so I can enjoy life again.

maura

crawling out of the skin is the best description for peri anxiety. I had this for two years straight. It was so bad, I was CHEWING, yes chewing xanax on a daily basis. Now I have long stretches of no period and my body calms down. However, I just had a period after five months and the anxiety is back

Welcome, by the way!!!!

I am very confused and depressed.

Over the last 3 weeks I have gone through so many medical tests for my fast heart rate. Initial ECG showed resting heart rate of 116 bpm and enlargement of right atrial. Was seen by a cardiologist and had been taking time off work for several tests : blood tests for thyroid, lupus, cholesterol, hormones etc. Also did Echocardiogram and treadmill. When all tests returned ok, cardiologist put me through a lung V/Q scan which indicated a "borderline" clot, meaning uncertain result. Then I went through a chest CT Scan to confirm. Turned up to be normal. Was then put through 24 hr holter test. Have not seen cardiologist for analysis yet (seeing him on 26 Sep), but was told that initial analysis showed that heart is ok.

Cardiologist did say that since most of the tests are ok, it may be perimenopause. However, when I visited my gynaecologist on 7 Sep, she said that my hormones are all in the normal range. Progesterone slightly elevated which means that I am ovulating. So she suspected that all my physical symptoms are not caused by hormones. She puts me on 1 month's HRT. If symptoms don't improve, she said that it would mean that they are not due to hormones but could be due to stress and anxiety.

Other than the fast heart rates (not palps, but higher heart rates all the time), I have cold sweaty palms, breathlessness, wobbly and weak legs, unsteady gait (both standing and walking), feeling daze and lacking energy. Often, I don't have energy to even lift myself off from my seat. Ah yes, I also have crawly skin which a TCM practitioner attributed to over-sensitive nervous system. I am also agoraphobic and have not been out of my house for months, except to and back from work. My symptoms get very much worse when I am in public places.

All along, I thought that all my symptoms are perimenopause related. But now, I am not very sure. Could they be anxiety/panic disorder instead ? Can anxiety cause such awful symptoms ?
Advice, anyone?

Doodle,

I was told hormone tests are pointless in ovulating women with normal periods. However, despite this, hormones can fluctuate throughout the day and you could still be in Peri. My doc won't do a hormone test on me as she says there's no point. My periods are still quite regular, though have got slightly closer together & i had one odd one recently that stopped then started again (never before). but I have developed palps, anxiety, health anxiety, gastritis, migraines & numerous other lesser peri symptoms over the last few years - I cannot think of any other reason for them. It is too much of a coincidence that I suddenly became like this and my body has started behaving strangely. I am 42.