Hi All
Would be grateful for your opinions on some recent health issues I'm having - not sure whether it's pre-menopause or extreme PMS. I'm 37, 2 kids, no health issues up until May this year - periods have always been fairly normal, only problem has been migraines on certain days in the first half of my cycle.
End of April this year had an episode in the night where I felt like I had the flu, soaked through, aching all over. Mid May, again at night I had an episode of racing heart (no real anxiety/physical exertion beforehand), just spontaneous heart rate of about 120-140 for half an hour, thought my time had come, went to the ER. Chest x-ray, subsequent echocardiogram and 7 day ECG all normal apart from benign ectopic heartbeats. I've had a number of these episodes since, pretty much all in the week before and after my period, all spontaneous. In addition, I've experienced, again in the week before and after my period:
Tingling in my fingers/toes/scalp
Foggy thinking, bit like I'm drunk/dizzy but not enough to fall over
Aching joints/muscles, including chest, but mainly in both calves - feels like I've done a workout when I haven't
Upset stomach - normal for the rest of my cycle
Continuous anxiety and sensitivity to the symptoms above, but then mood swings in mid-cycle to buoyant mood bordering on euphoria for a few days (maybe so glad to get some relief from the symptoms!). Anxiety related to health issues can be really extreme - terrified I'm about to die and leave my kids
In addition my hairline is starting to recede between my forehead and temples, pubic hair slightly patchy. My periods are more frequent than they have been all my life, and lighter.
Having recognised a cyclical pattern to these symptoms at least is re-assuring me that it's probably hormone-related - doctor is next to useless, saying she's never heard of hormones causing palps and just referring me back to a cardiologist, so I'm left to try and self-diagnose.
Does anyone think it sounds pre-menopausal, or just PMS that's getting worse, or are they kind of the same thing?
Thanks for any replies (first post!)
Full Version: Premenopausal or worsening PMS?
Since you are 37 yrs. old it's most likely perimenopause....
You sound so much like me its scary!!I am 31,I just started reading a book about Early menopause,and see myself in a lot of the stories.I truly hope you can find answers and relief.Perimeno is hard,but GOD helps us,and this site is wonderful. 
Keep trying to find a doctor that understands peri-menopause. I called my local compound pharmacies that deal with bio-identical hormones and asked them for referrals. It's so reassuring to have a doctor that "gets it". My pharmacist is amazing.....she takes so much time with me. She went over my saliva tests and is always there to talk and try and tweak my hormones or supplements. It might take you awhile to find someone but its worth the time.
Thanks for your replies. This board is wonderful
Your at a young age but its a possibility its peri menopause.You have all the classic symptoms of it. Goodluck Lizardlover
QUOTE (Mrs Barista @ Aug 1 2007, 02:42 PM) 
Hi All
Would be grateful for your opinions on some recent health issues I'm having - not sure whether it's pre-menopause or extreme PMS. I'm 37, 2 kids, no health issues up until May this year - periods have always been fairly normal, only problem has been migraines on certain days in the first half of my cycle.
End of April this year had an episode in the night where I felt like I had the flu, soaked through, aching all over. Mid May, again at night I had an episode of racing heart (no real anxiety/physical exertion beforehand), just spontaneous heart rate of about 120-140 for half an hour, thought my time had come, went to the ER. Chest x-ray, subsequent echocardiogram and 7 day ECG all normal apart from benign ectopic heartbeats. I've had a number of these episodes since, pretty much all in the week before and after my period, all spontaneous. In addition, I've experienced, again in the week before and after my period:
Tingling in my fingers/toes/scalp
Foggy thinking, bit like I'm drunk/dizzy but not enough to fall over
Aching joints/muscles, including chest, but mainly in both calves - feels like I've done a workout when I haven't
Upset stomach - normal for the rest of my cycle
Continuous anxiety and sensitivity to the symptoms above, but then mood swings in mid-cycle to buoyant mood bordering on euphoria for a few days (maybe so glad to get some relief from the symptoms!). Anxiety related to health issues can be really extreme - terrified I'm about to die and leave my kids
In addition my hairline is starting to recede between my forehead and temples, pubic hair slightly patchy. My periods are more frequent than they have been all my life, and lighter.
Having recognised a cyclical pattern to these symptoms at least is re-assuring me that it's probably hormone-related - doctor is next to useless, saying she's never heard of hormones causing palps and just referring me back to a cardiologist, so I'm left to try and self-diagnose.
Does anyone think it sounds pre-menopausal, or just PMS that's getting worse, or are they kind of the same thing?
Thanks for any replies (first post!)
Would be grateful for your opinions on some recent health issues I'm having - not sure whether it's pre-menopause or extreme PMS. I'm 37, 2 kids, no health issues up until May this year - periods have always been fairly normal, only problem has been migraines on certain days in the first half of my cycle.
End of April this year had an episode in the night where I felt like I had the flu, soaked through, aching all over. Mid May, again at night I had an episode of racing heart (no real anxiety/physical exertion beforehand), just spontaneous heart rate of about 120-140 for half an hour, thought my time had come, went to the ER. Chest x-ray, subsequent echocardiogram and 7 day ECG all normal apart from benign ectopic heartbeats. I've had a number of these episodes since, pretty much all in the week before and after my period, all spontaneous. In addition, I've experienced, again in the week before and after my period:
Tingling in my fingers/toes/scalp
Foggy thinking, bit like I'm drunk/dizzy but not enough to fall over
Aching joints/muscles, including chest, but mainly in both calves - feels like I've done a workout when I haven't
Upset stomach - normal for the rest of my cycle
Continuous anxiety and sensitivity to the symptoms above, but then mood swings in mid-cycle to buoyant mood bordering on euphoria for a few days (maybe so glad to get some relief from the symptoms!). Anxiety related to health issues can be really extreme - terrified I'm about to die and leave my kids
In addition my hairline is starting to recede between my forehead and temples, pubic hair slightly patchy. My periods are more frequent than they have been all my life, and lighter.
Having recognised a cyclical pattern to these symptoms at least is re-assuring me that it's probably hormone-related - doctor is next to useless, saying she's never heard of hormones causing palps and just referring me back to a cardiologist, so I'm left to try and self-diagnose.
Does anyone think it sounds pre-menopausal, or just PMS that's getting worse, or are they kind of the same thing?
Thanks for any replies (first post!)
hi,
i'm 44 & have alot of the same symptoms that you mention. i probably started having definite symptom changes from my usual pms/cycle issues at about age 37. by age 42 the insomnia started & this year i've been collecting a number of more symptoms & having some of the others get a little worse, while others have gotten better.
most of the doctors i have seen wouldn't even discuss hormonal factors. i've had more than 1 this year tell me that i was too young to be perimenopausal. luckily i found this site a few months ago so that i no longer feel crazy or blindsided by the medical profession.
it has been hard to find a health care practitioner that understands this transition - i don't understand why so many doctors seem clueless at best & inept at worst. my only advice is to keep educating yourself & communicating with the women here at power surge & to keep looking for a good doctor who will listen to you & help you to rule out any other medical issues that could be impacting or underlying your symptoms.
you are so not alone.
good luck,
ellen
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