Hi Everyone,

I am so glad I came across this topic. I've been in menopause for several years now and have been on the Combi-Patch for about five years. For the past six weeks, I have been experiencing internal tremors which are much worse when trying to sleep. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I've been to the neurologist who doesn't have a clue and my GP thought it could be stress. Now I'm bleeding which hasn't occurred for two years. The GYN said he never heard of internal shakes as connected with hormones/menopause. I sure hope someone can give me some reassurance that I'm not crazy and this will subside. I haven't had a good night's sleep for six weeks - trying to mask it with Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, you name it - the docs just give drugs. I think these may be making the symptoms worse! Also am taking magnesium 1500 mg a day with no help. Any help please!!

Cut out sugar and salt.I get these much worse when I have eaten sugar.Also limit caffeine to before 4:00 in the afternoon also drink lots of water.hope you feel better-GOD-bless

Deed - I too am on combipatch (for 2 years) and just had a relapse to no sleeping and shaking like a leaf. My anxiety is skyhigh again and actually wondered if it was possible to get a bad batch of patches. Anyway, I just gave in to Advil PM as I couldn't sleep, kept waking up and my back and side would kill me when I went to bed. After three nights sleep, I actually feel the best I have in about 6-8 weeks. I also cut out the caffeine (one snapple a day) and take 1/4 ativan when I need it. I also take magnesium and vitamin C. Best of luck to you.

Gosh, that's interesting. I wonder if it could be a bad batch - I actually just recently started getting them through an express by mail pharmacy through our company. Thinking back, that's about when all of this started. I will try reducing the sugar and try the Advil P.M. Take care of yourself too - glad you're feeling better. So glad we are here for each other. Doctors don't seem to have a clue.

Thank you - I will try cutting out sugar and salt. Already have stopped the caffeine. Have you had these internal shakes as well?

Oh yes,and I still get them when I eat a lot of sugar-just like earlier today when I ate that candy,big no-no.I tried to take a nap today and had some of those awful feelings,I am close to my period as well,which makes them worse.

I haven't visited this site in a while as I've been feeling so much better. I wanted to share some hope for all of you out there. My tremors have disappeared! It was like it happened overnight. After suffering for 3 years with the darn things they vanished as quickly as they appeared. I'd say that in the last 5 months I've had 2 or 3 very mild tremors, and I mean VERY MILD, at night but nothing more than that.

I have several theories. The first is that I'm back on Armour Thyroid (I'm hypothyroid). I hadn't noticed but Medco had changed my Armour to a generic brand some time back. When I caught this I called and had them change it back to Armour. It certainly pays to read the ENTIRE label on any Rx. I caught this because the mfg was different. I won't take a generic if I have started on the name brand originally. Don't know if this made the difference, it's just one of my theories.

Secondly, my stress level is waaaay down now. I've had a very stressful 3 years with my adult daughter who is an addict. She's finally in recovery and I'm attending 12 step meetings to heal me. I no longer feel like jumping off the roof. I think stress has so much to do with these tremors. When she was in crisis my tremors would be at an all time high. Some nights they'd be so bad that I felt like I had fed 1000 quarters into one of those bed vibrator machines from years ago.

I've drastically reduced my caffeine intake. I know if I overdo on the caffeine I really feel the tremors at night. If I have caffeine in the middle of the day, I would feel the tremors before I even finished the drink. Now it's not a problem when I have the occasional caffinated beverage or food.

I also take fish oil capsules. I take about 2 gms a day. I've read alot of studies that say it helps with anxiety along with other mental issues. I've been on them for just under a year now so it could be that it's taken some time to build up in my system.

Anyway, I just wanted to pass on some hope for those of you who feel like they will never come to an end. I felt the same way, but something changed and I couldn't be happier.

Take care,
Tiki

It's anxiety. I went to an internist- she said she's heard of it associated with anxiety or thyroid. When the stressor in your life goes, so does the internal vibrations/shakes. I have some bad stress chronically now too and I know it's what's causing it just like another writer wrote of her circumstance. This internist suggested Lexapro low dose. I tried and it does help the sensations feel not as intense. Too much benzos can get you hooked and then keep needing higher doses. Hope this helps!

Hi, Deed,

I finally found out the cause of my internal vibrations / tremors--hyperthyroidism from too much thyroid medication.

Colleen

Thanks Tiki - I'm so glad you're feeling better and that your daughter is better. I do agree that stress can play a part in this sensation. I was under stress but not now, yet still having the motor running through me. Glad yours went away - take care of yourself and God Bless.

Thank you - I'll try cutting out the sugar all together and see if that helps. God Bless you too.

I was told it was anxiety too. I was anxious about an upcoming piano recital but that's over and stress is gone, yet the symptoms aren't. How do you like the Lexapro? I'm trying to not take too much benzos - I've just recently tried Neurontin which seems to be helping me sleep. Glad you're feeling better. God Bless.

Hi Colleen,

Glad you discovered the problem. Docs tested my thyroid and all is normal. I'll keep searching. It's such a disturbing symptom and makes it difficult to sleep. Take care of yourself.

Dear Tiki

Just to say 'Hello' and hope that your dear daughter does really well.You have certainly been under a lot of stress and Anxiety and Menopause love to walk hand in hand!

I also take the fish oil supplements and agree they do work.Also no caffeine or sugar -except when having a weak moment-like yesterday when I stuffed my face with marshmallows.One hour later trembling like a leaf!

God Bless You and Your Family
Love
Elizabeth

Thanks for your kind words Elizabeth. There will always be some stress in my life because of my concerns for her. But I'm learning to deal with them.

Anyway, back in May I posted the following about L-Theanine. I tried it one night when my tremors were keepipng me awake. Here's what I posted:

I took a 200mg L-theanine last night and all I can say is WOW! Within 20 minutes I felt so incredibly relaxed. My mind was still very clear but it felt like all the tension that I've been carrying in my body for the last 3 year just vanished! I woke up during the night and felt a few tremors but this morning - NO feelings of anxiousness, NO tremors, NO twitching. I cannot believe how relaxed I feel.

My local health food store carries it in a 50mg chewable gum so if you start feeling anxious or twitchy during the day you can chew this and not get too relaxed. I may get some of that to have on hand.

Makes me wonder if all this tremoring, twitching and vibrating isn't all related to anxiety. Even when we aren't mentally feeling anxious maybe our bodies do....

Maybe this will help someone else out there.

Tiki

Thanks Tiki - I'l try it!

I am so glad I found this site. I've been feeling this inner vibration in my torso and brain since I got my first hot flash, which was just about two weeks ago. I was afraid it might be a tumor or something awful.

I will buy some L-theanine tomorrow.

I have internal tremors. I am actually on 26. I gave birth 8 months ago. This is my 2nd child. I got endometritis and was on iv therapy for 4 days. Right after that I experienced burning in my legs and then the internal vibrations. With it I have gotten soooo many symptoms including: Hoarseness,nervousness at times, metallic taste, whole body burning, pain in joints/muscles, feels like sand in my eyes, ear pressure and pain in neck. Mouth dryness and swelling of inside of gum. Plus the feeling of something stuck in my throat along with gastro probs. Numbness in hands,feet, throat and tongue. Lots eh????? I have had my TSH checked 3 times and was told it was in normal range. Had my estrogen checked due to inflamation in my nipples and came back fine. Have hot flashes also. Have had MRI done of brain and spinal chord and nerve tests. Had Holter test,ECG, numerous blood work inclduing, CBC, ANA,CRP, electrolytes. They keep telling me everything is fine but i know something is not. My periods are not regular with spotting in between at times. Just wondering if anyone thinks this is hormonal cause it seems like i have alot of the symptoms!!!!!!! Going to the doctor soon again and wold like some info of what i could request i should have done.

Hi there

You could have what is called postpartum thyroiditis. Ask you doctor about testing your thyroid again this time requesting TSH free T3 free T4 and antibodies and remind them that the TSH range should ideally be under 2 not 5 like it used to be. I had a similar thing happen to me after I gave birth to my last child it was a hormonal meltdown but I got over it within 8 weeks. I went many times to the doctor to find out what was happening to me as it hadn't happened before with my previous births but he knew nothing which is weird considering he was an obstetrician and should have come across this at some stage of his career. It was a visiting midwife that knew what it was and she advised me on how long it would last and she was right it went in 8 weeks but it was 8 weeks of pure agony.

If it is postpartum thyroiditis then it should clear up within 12 months but you can become hypothyroid within a few years afterwards. I know of a woman who had twins 2 yrs ago and she had a similar thing happen to her and she is fine now but does watch her diet and takes supplements to help her thyroid stay regular. Giving birth can wreak havoc on our poor bodies at times and it takes time to get back to some kind of normality sometimes a long time if ever

Rox B)

What kind of supplements does she take? ithought from the beginning this was hormonal and thinking it was my thyroid but was told its not from my TSH. What foods does she stay away from?

You could have what is called postpartum thyroiditis. Ask you doctor about testing your thyroid again this time requesting TSH free T3 free T4 and antibodies and remind them that the TSH range should ideally be under 2 not 5 like it used to be. I had a similar thing happen to me after I gave birth to my last child it was a hormonal meltdown but I got over it within 8 weeks. I went many times to the doctor to find out what was happening to me as it hadn't happened before with my previous births but he knew nothing which is weird considering he was an obstetrician and should have come across this at some stage of his career. It was a visiting midwife that knew what it was and she advised me on how long it would last and she was right it went in 8 weeks but it was 8 weeks of pure agony.

If it is postpartum thyroiditis then it should clear up within 12 months but you can become hypothyroid within a few years afterwards. I know of a woman who had twins 2 yrs ago and she had a similar thing happen to her and she is fine now but does watch her diet and takes supplements to help her thyroid stay regular. Giving birth can wreak havoc on our poor bodies at times and it takes time to get back to some kind of normality sometimes a long time if ever

Rox
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She just eats a healthy diet of fresh foods and not so much junk food or alcohol etc. The supplement she takes is a mixture of B complex vitamins, magnesium, 5HTP, St Johns Wort and a couple of other things I think from memory of what she told me was in it. She also was taking Iodine drops daily too to help support her thyroid. She has adopted a healthy frame of mind and doesn't let stuff get to her as much as it did back then which of course is easy for some and not for others like myself LOL. My biggest mistake was to ever look into stuff and research stuff so now I have gotten myself into a terrible fix with health anxiety but I'm far too scared to have most tests so can't even ease my suffering mind in that way. I'll just keep digging that hole and burying myself slowly in it

Rox B)

I hear you on the health anxiety. WHen i got the infection after i gave birth the first thing the doctor told me was that if I didn't take care of this infection it could be fatal!!!! After that I was terrified and rewearched as soon as I got a new symptom and was absolutely terrified! I dont' eat alot of junk food or alcohol so that is good. I was taking B complex vitamins and then told to stop so maybe i should start taking them again. My doctor also prescribed a beta blocker, haven't taken them yet but if my heart rate goes sky high i think i will start them. Where do u get iodine drops. I probably wouldn't want to do that till i knew for sure it was my thyroid. I just wish i could figure it all out!

Hi There, I notice you say this started after IV therapy. Were you treated with one of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics (Cipro, Avelox, Levaquin, etc.). I only ask because this class of antibiotics can cause a toxicity effect in some people that continues long past the administration of the drug and causes many of the symptoms you describe. If so, it is very important that you are NOT exposed to these drugs again in the future. Just thought I'd mention it because not many people realize this commonly prescibed class of antibiotics can have these dramatic effects in certain people and to be alert. Hope you"re feeling better!

I was on IV therapy for 4 days with Clindamycin and Gentamicin(sorry not sure how to spell them) and then on clindamycin for 10 day orally. Its been 9 months and still have them. I have a doctor who is testing all my hormone levels. SHe is retesting my TSH and checkingmy Free t4 and antibodies. Plus all the other ones. I am hoping this will tell me.

I have been suffering with horrible similar symptoms now for 2 years. The anxiety if the worst with daily headaches. I just went to a new endo who tested antibodies and found hashimotos and is now doing ultrasound and workup. I am hoping to god this is what the problem is for both you and me. Keep us informed! Good luck.

Was your TSH in the normal range? Mine has been but i swear that this is my thyroid!!!! What were yhour symptoms?

Yes my TSH has been normal these past two very rough years. I am so annoyed my first endo did not run an antibodies test. If I told you my symptoms you would think I am absolutely crazy.