Hi, I learned about this site about a month ago. I have been reading a lot and the info has really helped but I am still scared to death to die. I still having my periods but I don't even know when they will come. Like today I had my period and I am having so many weird symptoms that I feel like going to the ER. My hands and feet are sweating, I'm feeling anxious, have nauseas, feel like I have to go the toilet (#2), feel like If someone is touching my chest from the inside and I wonder if someting is wrong with my heart. The palpitations come and go I am feeling kind of hot and my hands and feet goes from cold to hot from wet to dry. Sometimes I feel like some kind of liquid coming down from the back of my head and it scares me. Sometimes I feel so nauseous that I will not eat all day long. I went to my gynecologist and he ordered a test to check out my hormones, to my surprise they came out "ok" and he says I am too young to be perimenopause but at the same time I feel all these symptoms related to perimenopause. Sometimes I feel so sick that I get crancky. I do not recognized my life anymore. I do not have control over it. I have get to a point that I rather be home than going somewhere. I drink plenty of soy milk, use black cohosh and vitamins. I do not smoke or drink, neither consume caffeine, sodas or red meat. I also use natural progesterone cream(1000mg). As you can see I try to take care of myself as much as possible but I am still feeling miserable. I am 40 and had my first period was at 8. Please anyone, I'm desperate. I don't know if there is something wrong with me.
Casuja
Full Version: Scared with the symptoms
Oh Cas, we are here for you. Getting a hormone test at this point is, well pointless. You have more than enough estrogen, think estrogen dominant, and no test is going to tell you that you're peri-meno.
My guess is that you are like me and your ovaries are revving up for their last hurrah. Now, all this makes us ANXIOUS, and anxiety exacerbates the symptoms of peri, which is why you will see that many of us take anti-anxiety remedies or drugs/anti depressants. One way or the other, we need to get the feelings of anxiety under control. Do you have a goot rapport with your gyno? Can you talk to him about feelings of anxiety?
Also, ask him to give you simple tests like an EKG so your mind can be put at ease about your heart. It is true when we are feeling revved up our hearts feel like they are pounding in our chests, but they really aren't we are just hyper aware of them.
Listen, call your doc, either gyno or gp, get in for the heart palps, talk to them about your periods, what you know about peri, ask them to help you. It will be great peace of mind to have some tests done and being reassured that your heart is fine.
You are fine, you will live through this, and you will be happy, healthy and calm! I promise!
Peace and Love,
Bonnie
My guess is that you are like me and your ovaries are revving up for their last hurrah. Now, all this makes us ANXIOUS, and anxiety exacerbates the symptoms of peri, which is why you will see that many of us take anti-anxiety remedies or drugs/anti depressants. One way or the other, we need to get the feelings of anxiety under control. Do you have a goot rapport with your gyno? Can you talk to him about feelings of anxiety?
Also, ask him to give you simple tests like an EKG so your mind can be put at ease about your heart. It is true when we are feeling revved up our hearts feel like they are pounding in our chests, but they really aren't we are just hyper aware of them.
Listen, call your doc, either gyno or gp, get in for the heart palps, talk to them about your periods, what you know about peri, ask them to help you. It will be great peace of mind to have some tests done and being reassured that your heart is fine.
You are fine, you will live through this, and you will be happy, healthy and calm! I promise!
Peace and Love,
Bonnie
Hi Bonnie, I have had about 4 EKG in the past 2 years, this year I had 1 and also some heart exams, everything seems fine. But everytime I start feeling those bunch of symptoms in my heart I get scared. My doctors says I'm too young for menopause and when I describe all the symptoms I was having he suggested it was PMS, (for me I am having perimenopause symptoms). But at the same time he suggested to use progesterone cream because hormones because can't be giving because of the periods. Whenever I get my period I will be spotting for a week or week and a half until my period finally comes. During that time I will get nauseous, dizzy and headaches. Another thing is that my libido is for sure not the same 
and the dryness in my vaginal is another complaint. I have so many symptoms going on in my body that I feel very frustrated. I am not the same person anymore. I used to be very active and happy, now I rather stay at home watching TV. My husband is 4 years younger than me and because of the way I have been feeling I am worry that he gets tired of me and goes some other way even though he is very good to me.
Casuja
P.D.Another thing I get very crancky sometimes because of the sickness. HELPPPPP!!!
and the dryness in my vaginal is another complaint. I have so many symptoms going on in my body that I feel very frustrated. I am not the same person anymore. I used to be very active and happy, now I rather stay at home watching TV. My husband is 4 years younger than me and because of the way I have been feeling I am worry that he gets tired of me and goes some other way even though he is very good to me.Casuja
P.D.Another thing I get very crancky sometimes because of the sickness. HELPPPPP!!!
Hi Casuja
When you say you use natural progesterone cream 1000 mg what do you mean exactly? How much are you using per day?
I saw from the chat window that you've been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. Anxiety and palpitations are symptoms of mitral valve prolapse. A friend of mine was diagnosed with this around the time of her menopause and she felt anxious and frightened a lot of the time. She's fine now. However anxiety and palpitations are also symptoms of peri as many of us on this board can attest! It's so easy when you're in the throes of anxiety to seize on every bodily sensation and worry that it might be serious.
I agree with the previous poster, it's probably best to get your physical health checked out with respect to your symptoms to put your mind at rest. I don't know very much about mitral valve prolapse I'm afraid, or how it's treated, but I imagine if it coincided with peri it could make you feel worse. Perhaps if you get that under control you'll feel better?
When you say you use natural progesterone cream 1000 mg what do you mean exactly? How much are you using per day?
I saw from the chat window that you've been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. Anxiety and palpitations are symptoms of mitral valve prolapse. A friend of mine was diagnosed with this around the time of her menopause and she felt anxious and frightened a lot of the time. She's fine now. However anxiety and palpitations are also symptoms of peri as many of us on this board can attest! It's so easy when you're in the throes of anxiety to seize on every bodily sensation and worry that it might be serious.
I agree with the previous poster, it's probably best to get your physical health checked out with respect to your symptoms to put your mind at rest. I don't know very much about mitral valve prolapse I'm afraid, or how it's treated, but I imagine if it coincided with peri it could make you feel worse. Perhaps if you get that under control you'll feel better?
I am sorry you are so scared, you are in good company because alot here have felt that fear.
as stated earlier hormone tests now are pointless. They may come back showing something, but usually not. I had mine done several times over 4 or so years before they finally showed peri. and that being only because my fsh was high the rest even though low normal and I mean low they were still considered normal. For pity sake I am growing a beard how normal can they be...
I get a feeling on the back of my head as if something is crawling through my hair ever so gently and it will give me this tingly feeling on my head after. I am 40 also the difference is I went through puberty late.
Do get a good workup, even with that being clear though it is still hard to cope, that is what I have found. I still wonder when I am being bombarded. HUGS Mikki
as stated earlier hormone tests now are pointless. They may come back showing something, but usually not. I had mine done several times over 4 or so years before they finally showed peri. and that being only because my fsh was high the rest even though low normal and I mean low they were still considered normal. For pity sake I am growing a beard how normal can they be...
I get a feeling on the back of my head as if something is crawling through my hair ever so gently and it will give me this tingly feeling on my head after. I am 40 also the difference is I went through puberty late.
Do get a good workup, even with that being clear though it is still hard to cope, that is what I have found. I still wonder when I am being bombarded. HUGS Mikki
Dear Cas, It sounds like peri to me and the anxiety goes along for the ride. It sounds like you are doing all the right things and are taking good care of yourself. It wouldnt hurt to get on an antianxiety or antidepressant or both. Many of us here do and its ok. Especially if this is affecting your sleep, than your symptoms will be worsened by lack of sleep. I take something for anxiety and in the past have taken meds for both anxiety and depression. It makes a world of difference!
QUOTE (casuja @ Oct 24 2007, 09:38 AM) 
Hi, I learned about this site about a month ago. I have been reading a lot and the info has really helped but I am still scared to death to die. I still having my periods but I don't even know when they will come. Like today I had my period and I am having so many weird symptoms that I feel like going to the ER. My hands and feet are sweating, I'm feeling anxious, have nauseas, feel like I have to go the toilet (#2), feel like If someone is touching my chest from the inside and I wonder if someting is wrong with my heart. The palpitations come and go I am feeling kind of hot and my hands and feet goes from cold to hot from wet to dry. Sometimes I feel like some kind of liquid coming down from the back of my head and it scares me. Sometimes I feel so nauseous that I will not eat all day long. I went to my gynecologist and he ordered a test to check out my hormones, to my surprise they came out "ok" and he says I am too young to be perimenopause but at the same time I feel all these symptoms related to perimenopause. Sometimes I feel so sick that I get crancky. I do not recognized my life anymore. I do not have control over it. I have get to a point that I rather be home than going somewhere. I drink plenty of soy milk, use black cohosh and vitamins. I do not smoke or drink, neither consume caffeine, sodas or red meat. I also use natural progesterone cream(1000mg). As you can see I try to take care of myself as much as possible but I am still feeling miserable. I am 40 and had my first period was at 8. Please anyone, I'm desperate. I don't know if there is something wrong with me.
Casuja
Casuja
Hello. Was going to start a new thread somewhere, but caught this and had to join in since its close to how I've been feeling the last few days. I am 40 too (almost 41!!!), have had minor hormone problems for years with things going a little kookie a few years ago. Found out it was "spaztic" progeterone and there was nothing I could really do. This past March my system super spazzed. Went to a doctor or 2 almost everyday and had a bunch of tests. Months later the final conclusion was a mild gastroparesis and 'something else'. It wasn't till I started going to acupuncture the she said this sounded like perimenopause. Of course, recent tests have come back normal, but after discovering this site, I found home (and pretty much all my symptoms).
I totally understand how you're feeling. I'm still trying to get used to it. Some times I can deal, sometimes not so well. A work in progress
I do some yoga and acupunture, take a few supplements, and visit this web site.
My most recent is that my cycle has been getting shorter, and my usual "monthly" symptoms are now a free-for-all. Was expecting my period to start a couple days sooner than last, but it started 5 days sooner, and it has thrown my system into a tizzy. Have been feeling awful since Sunday (even though it started Saturday night), and not sure what to do to try now to ease things. Had to take alot of sick time again too.
Argh
I totally understand how you're feeling. I'm still trying to get used to it. Some times I can deal, sometimes not so well. A work in progress
I do some yoga and acupunture, take a few supplements, and visit this web site.My most recent is that my cycle has been getting shorter, and my usual "monthly" symptoms are now a free-for-all. Was expecting my period to start a couple days sooner than last, but it started 5 days sooner, and it has thrown my system into a tizzy. Have been feeling awful since Sunday (even though it started Saturday night), and not sure what to do to try now to ease things. Had to take alot of sick time again too.
Argh
I think I am one of the resident thryoid "experts" so in addition to any other work up (if you haven't had it already) you get, also get the blood work for thyroid hormones. Now it is a bit tricky so PLEASE (no matter what the doctor says) get all of these to start with: FT4, FT3 and then TSH. Keep in mind that the TSH should show a range of about 0.3-2.5 and anything above or below that may be suspect for a thryoid issue....and in this case you need to look more closely at the FT4 and FT3 results. Unfortunately any kind of thyroid problem has symptoms very similar to perimenopause! I know this from 7 years of experience....unfortunately!
Yes and 1000mg of progesterone...daily? If so this is WAY too much....that much in you would definitely cause lots of problems! If you want to use progesterone might be good to finid a doctor a DO or someone similar who deals with natural hormones and get the proper dosing. I hope this post does not sound to know-it-all....actually I know very little....but I hope this helps a bit! Joan
Yes and 1000mg of progesterone...daily? If so this is WAY too much....that much in you would definitely cause lots of problems! If you want to use progesterone might be good to finid a doctor a DO or someone similar who deals with natural hormones and get the proper dosing. I hope this post does not sound to know-it-all....actually I know very little....but I hope this helps a bit! Joan
QUOTE (slowbear @ Oct 24 2007, 06:50 PM)
I think I am one of the resident thryoid "experts" so in addition to any other work up (if you haven't had it already) you get, also get the blood work for thyroid hormones. Now it is a bit tricky so PLEASE (no matter what the doctor says) get all of these to start with: FT4, FT3 and then TSH. Keep in mind that the TSH should show a range of about 0.3-2.5 and anything above or below that may be suspect for a thryoid issue....and in this case you need to look more closely at the FT4 and FT3 results. Unfortunately any kind of thyroid problem has symptoms very similar to perimenopause! I know this from 7 years of experience....unfortunately!
Yes and 1000mg of progesterone...daily? If so this is WAY too much....that much in you would definitely cause lots of problems! If you want to use progesterone might be good to finid a doctor a DO or someone similar who deals with natural hormones and get the proper dosing. I hope this post does not sound to know-it-all....actually I know very little....but I hope this helps a bit! Joan
Yes and 1000mg of progesterone...daily? If so this is WAY too much....that much in you would definitely cause lots of problems! If you want to use progesterone might be good to finid a doctor a DO or someone similar who deals with natural hormones and get the proper dosing. I hope this post does not sound to know-it-all....actually I know very little....but I hope this helps a bit! Joan
Joan
My doctor did the whole work, CBC,Lipid Profile, Metabolic Profile, Hormones,TSH and also EKG. Eveything came out normal and with that I feel like going nuts thinking is all in my head. Tuesday I got my period and I was feeling so sick to my stomach that I barely ate. Wednesday(yesterday) I was feeling the whole picture of peri and I wonder if the progesterone cream (1000 mg) is really helping. I have been using it twice a week like a natural doctor recommended but my symptoms persist. I wonder if I also need testosterone. I am taking black cohosh also but to me when I tried Estroven I was feeling better even though both of them have 40mg of the extract. I want to feel better, to have less dizziness,nauseas and pals. Any suggestion? Another thing is anyone feeling like some kind of preassure from time to time on the chest? Just for a few seconds? I wonder if this is part of the breast tenderness.
Casuja (Carol)
QUOTE (jdog @ Oct 24 2007, 06:34 PM)
Hello. Was going to start a new thread somewhere, but caught this and had to join in since its close to how I've been feeling the last few days. I am 40 too (almost 41!!!), have had minor hormone problems for years with things going a little kookie a few years ago. Found out it was "spaztic" progeterone and there was nothing I could really do. This past March my system super spazzed. Went to a doctor or 2 almost everyday and had a bunch of tests. Months later the final conclusion was a mild gastroparesis and 'something else'. It wasn't till I started going to acupuncture the she said this sounded like perimenopause. Of course, recent tests have come back normal, but after discovering this site, I found home (and pretty much all my symptoms).
I totally understand how you're feeling. I'm still trying to get used to it. Some times I can deal, sometimes not so well. A work in progress I do some yoga and acupunture, take a few supplements, and visit this web site.
My most recent is that my cycle has been getting shorter, and my usual "monthly" symptoms are now a free-for-all. Was expecting my period to start a couple days sooner than last, but it started 5 days sooner, and it has thrown my system into a tizzy. Have been feeling awful since Sunday (even though it started Saturday night), and not sure what to do to try now to ease things. Had to take alot of sick time again too.
Argh
I totally understand how you're feeling. I'm still trying to get used to it. Some times I can deal, sometimes not so well. A work in progress
I do some yoga and acupunture, take a few supplements, and visit this web site.My most recent is that my cycle has been getting shorter, and my usual "monthly" symptoms are now a free-for-all. Was expecting my period to start a couple days sooner than last, but it started 5 days sooner, and it has thrown my system into a tizzy. Have been feeling awful since Sunday (even though it started Saturday night), and not sure what to do to try now to ease things. Had to take alot of sick time again too.
Argh
Argh is yoga really helping? I have been thinking about it, because anxiety is driving me nuts some days.
QUOTE (casuja @ Oct 25 2007, 09:00 AM)
Argh is yoga really helping? I have been thinking about it, because anxiety is driving me nuts some days.
Yoga does help a little bit...which is better than nothing! Since I never know when I'm going to feel well enough, got a 'kit' on line and have a couple beginner dvds. That way I can do as much as I want when I want, without stessing about trying to get to a class and the cost. Granted, I'm not very felxible, but I feel like I'm doing something! Its worth a try
Carol,
1000 mg of progesterone cream, sounds like a lot to me, are you sure it is 1000 mg? Sorry, I didn't see your other post, is the progesterone a prescribed cream from your doctor or are you getting it over the counter? I am taking 100mg of progesterone orally which I think is equivalent to 10-20 mg of progesterone in cream form; I get mine from my naturopath and compounding pharmacy. I also take .5 mg of estradiol orally (use to be 1.0 mg and cut it down to half starting last Jan.).
I take many other supplements but all are prescribed by my naturopath. For myself, I still have slight symptoms during ovulation and a week before or a week after my period but overall I feel so much better compared to my "melt down" in Dec. 2005.
Don't really know what to recommend for you, hormones are very confusing ...for me, I just consulted a naturopath that specializes in women's health. It did take time though, I would say it took over a year of trying different supplements and doses to find that works. My naturopath believes in using the smallest amount of bioidentical hormones for the shortest time (5 years max.), so she has been working with me to slowly wean from the hormones...she is very cautions and taking it slowly with me as I think I had every symptom in the book and then some.
Do take care and let us know how you are doing.
Plumeria
1000 mg of progesterone cream, sounds like a lot to me, are you sure it is 1000 mg? Sorry, I didn't see your other post, is the progesterone a prescribed cream from your doctor or are you getting it over the counter? I am taking 100mg of progesterone orally which I think is equivalent to 10-20 mg of progesterone in cream form; I get mine from my naturopath and compounding pharmacy. I also take .5 mg of estradiol orally (use to be 1.0 mg and cut it down to half starting last Jan.).
I take many other supplements but all are prescribed by my naturopath. For myself, I still have slight symptoms during ovulation and a week before or a week after my period but overall I feel so much better compared to my "melt down" in Dec. 2005.
Don't really know what to recommend for you, hormones are very confusing ...for me, I just consulted a naturopath that specializes in women's health. It did take time though, I would say it took over a year of trying different supplements and doses to find that works. My naturopath believes in using the smallest amount of bioidentical hormones for the shortest time (5 years max.), so she has been working with me to slowly wean from the hormones...she is very cautions and taking it slowly with me as I think I had every symptom in the book and then some.
Do take care and let us know how you are doing.
Plumeria
QUOTE (slowbear @ Oct 24 2007, 03:50 PM)
I think I am one of the resident thryoid "experts" so in addition to any other work up (if you haven't had it already) you get, also get the blood work for thyroid hormones. Now it is a bit tricky so PLEASE (no matter what the doctor says) get all of these to start with: FT4, FT3 and then TSH. Keep in mind that the TSH should show a range of about 0.3-2.5 and anything above or below that may be suspect for a thryoid issue....and in this case you need to look more closely at the FT4 and FT3 results. Unfortunately any kind of thyroid problem has symptoms very similar to perimenopause! I know this from 7 years of experience....unfortunately!
Yes and 1000mg of progesterone...daily? If so this is WAY too much....that much in you would definitely cause lots of problems! If you want to use progesterone might be good to finid a doctor a DO or someone similar who deals with natural hormones and get the proper dosing. I hope this post does not sound to know-it-all....actually I know very little....but I hope this helps a bit! Joan
Yes and 1000mg of progesterone...daily? If so this is WAY too much....that much in you would definitely cause lots of problems! If you want to use progesterone might be good to finid a doctor a DO or someone similar who deals with natural hormones and get the proper dosing. I hope this post does not sound to know-it-all....actually I know very little....but I hope this helps a bit! Joan
I've had hasimotos for about 5 years and TOTALLY agree with the thyroid tests you mentioned!!!! I didn't realize till I added an ND to my doctor 'posse' that if I go and have the blood draw done with her, everything gets checked. Through the endo, maybe just tsh and t4. I don't know why (insurance cost or snobbery?), but test it all...may even want to through in an ANA (for autoimmune) at least once too...just in case.
QUOTE (plumeria @ Oct 25 2007, 01:54 PM)
Carol,
1000 mg of progesterone cream, sounds like a lot to me, are you sure it is 1000 mg? Sorry, I didn't see your other post, is the progesterone a prescribed cream from your doctor or are you getting it over the counter? I am taking 100mg of progesterone orally which I think is equivalent to 10-20 mg of progesterone in cream form; I get mine from my naturopath and compounding pharmacy. I also take .5 mg of estradiol orally (use to be 1.0 mg and cut it down to half starting last Jan.).
I take many other supplements but all are prescribed by my naturopath. For myself, I still have slight symptoms during ovulation and a week before or a week after my period but overall I feel so much better compared to my "melt down" in Dec. 2005.
Don't really know what to recommend for you, hormones are very confusing ...for me, I just consulted a naturopath that specializes in women's health. It did take time though, I would say it took over a year of trying different supplements and doses to find that works. My naturopath believes in using the smallest amount of bioidentical hormones for the shortest time (5 years max.), so she has been working with me to slowly wean from the hormones...she is very cautions and taking it slowly with me as I think I had every symptom in the book and then some.
Do take care and let us know how you are doing.
Plumeria
1000 mg of progesterone cream, sounds like a lot to me, are you sure it is 1000 mg? Sorry, I didn't see your other post, is the progesterone a prescribed cream from your doctor or are you getting it over the counter? I am taking 100mg of progesterone orally which I think is equivalent to 10-20 mg of progesterone in cream form; I get mine from my naturopath and compounding pharmacy. I also take .5 mg of estradiol orally (use to be 1.0 mg and cut it down to half starting last Jan.).
I take many other supplements but all are prescribed by my naturopath. For myself, I still have slight symptoms during ovulation and a week before or a week after my period but overall I feel so much better compared to my "melt down" in Dec. 2005.
Don't really know what to recommend for you, hormones are very confusing ...for me, I just consulted a naturopath that specializes in women's health. It did take time though, I would say it took over a year of trying different supplements and doses to find that works. My naturopath believes in using the smallest amount of bioidentical hormones for the shortest time (5 years max.), so she has been working with me to slowly wean from the hormones...she is very cautions and taking it slowly with me as I think I had every symptom in the book and then some.
Do take care and let us know how you are doing.
Plumeria
Hi Plumeria
Well the progesterone cream that I am using is 1000mg USP and it is for transdermal use only and it has a bunch of natural stuff like wild yam that is known for its estrogen, evening primrose oil,ginseng root extract and so on. I bought it over the counter but it was recommended by a naturopath. It is to be use twice a day, morning and at night but since you girls think maybe it is too much I will be using it only at night to see if my nauseas get better. I will let you all know how does it work. I will also be starting some relaxation for the palps and anxiety that it provokes me.
Good luck you all, Carol
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