Greetings everyone,

Well last Friday (October 3)I was introduced to my first "power surge" I think. Ended up at the ER for a few hours it spooked me so much, it just seemed to go on and on. I felt hot over my chest, arms, and hands, kind of tingling, prickly along with a mild throbing head ache. But after an EKG and blood tests they only found my blood pressure was a bit high. Chalked it up to anxiety, even though I’ve not had issues of uncontrollable anxiety before and sent me home, recommended I see my GP as soon as I could. I had a restless weekend with a few more of these “episodes”. Sometimes just a little warmth over my chest, to feeling hot and/or sweaty from the waist up. I'll be 43 in December, my mother was 60 before she hit menopause. Never suffered form hot flashes, was a bit moody, but very mild. The start to menopause was not even a thought to me, at the time, so of course I was worried about my BP all weekend. Which I'm sure did cause me some anxiety.

I made the trip to my GP just to be sure this was nothing serious. Took blood, a chest X-ray and the usual poking and listening. Blood pressure was a tad high for me, but nothing he wanted to treat yet, just keep an eye on. Suggested I work on loosing some weight to help with the BP. And just like taking your car to the shop, I didn’t have any symptoms while there. He said it could be anxiety and set up to see me again in 3 weeks. Since then I’ve given up caffeine and cut back on sugar, and watching my salt, more for my BP. My appetite isn’t what it was before this “scare” but when trying to loose weigh that isn’t a bad thing. I'm eating just fine, I just don't seem to get as hungry.

Since then they seem to be coming and going all the time. The very odd thing is they seem to last for a few minutes to an hour or more. I don’t sweat really, my skin on my chest feels like it has a very bad sun bum. They are uncomfortable, and sometimes feel prickly, but not unbearable during the day. At night though they are keeping me awake. I am only getting a couple hours sleep at a time for maybe 5 hours total in a night.

I hadn’t really had other symptoms prior to this that I noticed. But looking back, my periods have been very light or very heavy, with headaches, and I’ve been moody for me. I’m usually very even-tempered and easy going. These are things I’ll talk to my GP about when I see him.

So for you ladies that have been there, done that and have the T-shirt to prove it, what do you think. Does it sound like I’ve started the on the peri path? And if so do others have long lasting hot flashes like this?

Thanks everyone,
Val

Hi Val,
Welcome to Power-Surge. Its a great place to start looking for answers to your questions.

Like you Im 43 this December. It sounds like your in Prei allright.

I can relate to you as I have most of the same symptons as you do. The power-surges or hot flashes whatever you want to call them can drive you nuts. Mine can last from a few minutes to what seems like forever lol. When I have a flash my cheeks go all bright red and I get a throbing headache as well. I dont sweat either just feel really hot and uncomfortable.

I keep asking my Hubby is it hot or just me.

My Mother started her Prei when she was about 36 or so and I was about the same ago too give or take a year.

I dont suffer from anxiety so thats about the only diffence. Ive been told Im lucky as its not nice at all.

Sometimes my mood swings can have my family running for cover lol. Ive learnt to calm down before I say anything. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. Im kept awake at night too. Not often but every now and then.

When I missed my first period earlier this year I thought I was pregnant but all tests said I wasnt. I have 2 Children aged 10 and 12 years and dont want any more at my age.

The Doctor told me your too young to be in Preimenapause. Ha what do they know ah?

Well thats all for now. Stick around and you will get answers that you are hopefully looking for.

Take care from Deb

I think you're lucky to realize your are "on the journey" this early in the process. Early 40's doesn't seem that early and can take several years before technical menopause actually takes place. And to think you came to your own conclusions after an emergency room visit and a dr. appt. How is it that a doctor or nurse didn't mention this could be the start of peri for you?

I wish that someone had told me in my early 40's that much of what I was experiencing was due to the long process of peri/menopause. I think it would have saved me a lot of heartache and confusion. I think half the battle is in realizing exactly what is happening to your body/mind and why.

Valkiera, the kind of daytime heat you describe I call being on "low simmer." Read all you can about meno and peri. You have a great start with taking action already - good luck!

"Warn a gal"!!!! No frikin' joke! Noone prepared me for peri. so I feel like wring the necks of my sister(5 yrs older) and my Mom!

I stared at 41 and am now 47. I had no clue about hot flashes, or the other fun symptoms that come with peri. My gyn told me I was too young also and was dismissed. My bp went up, anxiety, depression, yada, yada, yada!

Did you feel like you were dying or atleast having a heart attack? I ran to the dr (an uncompassionate one at that) had an ekg during the episode and was fine. Just a fast heart rate-no duh!

Hot flashes can be so scary! i was having one at church when starting peri. I talked to a friend and she told me-you are peri menopause. I was like "peri-what????" Never heard of it!

All I can say is welcome and stick to these boards. And you are not going crazy. You do not need a psychiatrist like some drs will suggest. You are NOT!!!! too young as some drs suggest.

I was teaching piano the other day. The room is freezing and I had several cold flashes. Just went bone cold. they passed kind of quick. but scary, none the less. I just breath deep and tell myself they are cold flashes, they are cold falashes. And yes, there are such thing as cold flashes too. fun! arnt you excited!!!!!!!

Thank you for the welcome and words of encouragement.

I don't think my GP has dismissed the idea, I just don't think either of us thought about it. We WILL be talking about it my next appointment My periods have been as regular as always, just light or heavy, so my first real "symptom" was this slow simmer I had. But also like I said, I was having a few of the other indicators, just didn't connect the dots.

Another question, did your appetite change? I don't have any problem eating, but I just don't seem to get hungry lately. And I'm not eating as much, however I am eating better. More fruit and lots of water instead of coffee and soda. I'm sure some of my latest odd feelings are from stopping cold turkey on the caffeine.

Again thank you for the warm welcome and support,
Val

Hey Val:

Welcome, I hope you find lots of info and support here.

My appetite has changed somewhat too. Mostly I dont want to eat that much. I dont get hungry like I used to. Sometimes though I find that quite suddenly I will feel that if I dont eat right now I will pass out. Probably blood sugar crash. My usual way is that I will eat enough to do the job and forget about it. As I was reading your post, I had a thought. Maybe the reason you do not feel hungry as much and therefore not eating as much is because you are eating better therfore your body is getting what it needs when you do eat? Just a thought. I have heard this can happen when you finally find a "diet"(way of eating) that works for you.

I have had to cut back on caffeine because of my breast fibroids and it has been a good thing even though I LOVE coffee.

Take care and hugs to you,
Jeaninne

Hi Val,
My appitite has changed a little bit.

I dont seen to be as hungry as I was before. When I do feel like something to eat I try to grab something healthy instead of something full of sugar or fat.

Take care from Deb

Hi Val,

Welcome, welcome to Power Surge!

I too am so happy for you that you realized what is going on. The more you know, the better you will be able to deal with whatever comes your way. Please come around often. There is a wealth of information and support here.

Very best,
Marcy

My periods have been clockwork for years into the peri. My major symptom was the headaches that came every month. I have been having hot flashes for about 2 years, and just now my periods are starting to become irregular - my last one was 2 weeks late and I was hoping maybe I was finished - no such luck. I'm 54 and started getting the headaches in my 40's.