I have been having weird rushes lately........its starts with a funny feeling in my stomach then I feel like I get numb and tingling everywhere...while this is happening my brain is mush (cant think or focus or have weird thoughts)........its all over in about 30 secs then I have goosebumps everywhere........I dont get a high heart rate when this happens......it happens even when Im just sitting there reading!..so its not anxiety related ....and they are so hard to describe to doctor (they look at me like I have 3 heads).....is this part of menopause?.........happening with anyone else? thanks valerie

I think that you will find that they are vaso motor episodes which are closely linked to hot flashes. I think that they are very normal for a 'pausing' lady. I used to find that silly things like the sudden ringing of the telephone could set them off. At one stage I suffered them many times per day and got rather scared of all the numbness and tingling. Several months later, here I am still alive and all the strange symptoms have gone. Wheeeee! I did not take any medication for the problems, I just let my body go through the natural process of transition. Your body needs time to adjust to a different hormonal profile.
It is amazing to feel so balanced and secure again. It is also very annoying when doctors appear to be so dim on the subject! There is light at the end of this tunnel, we just have to be patient!


Regards,

XIII

XIII.........thank you for the reply.........I been having then at least 2x daily for the past month........they just throw me off so much.......Valerie

HI Valerie,
Just to let you kow I hav had the same thing. Look back at some of my posts and you will see that. It starts in my waist, sort of around the sides and crawls up to the my head and sometimes goes down the back of m legs. It is so weird and hard to describe. I dont' say it out loud to many people because they would think I was nuts and doctors look at you like you are a loon. Yes, they also throw me for a loop. It does come and go so I figure after loads of tests, it is truly hormonal. I still dont' like it and try not to let it scare me, (although many times it still does)

Good luck and feel good today.

Gosh Valerie, I too have had those and I have had adrenal issues, so I do wonder if adrenals are involved too!

Hopefully XIII is right and it is a normal part of peri/meno....I am post now by 16 months and am 49 at xmas....arrrrrggghhh!

Caz

Yes, I found it to be due to low cortisol. When cortisol goes too low, it triggers noreprinephrine release, thus the surges. My cortisol has tested low for a couple of years now and since being on small amounts of hyrdrocortisone this does not happen anymore.

Another thing to consider is that falling estrogen levels also trigger norepi release. Are you taking estrogen? Using E also seemed to help with that for me.

I go to doctor on Weds to find out if my cortisol levels are low......my estrogen was tested in Oct and it was <32 so I know that my E is low.........but gyno said that since I was 16months post that she really doesnt want me to start on BHRTs......but maybe endo doc will........will let you know what tests showed.....thanks again for all the support.......Valerie

Just wanted to give a quick follow up.......all my test came back normal.......and believe me the endo doc ordered every test.........cortisol ,full thyroid panel with antibodies and tests that I have never heard of and Im a nurse lol......so on one hand Im happy nothing is wrong but on the other hand I wish there was something wrong that could be fixed if that makes any sense....Im still getting some adrenaline rushes but normally no more than 1 or 2 a day so I guess I will have to live with them,......gyn said she thinks I get them in place of hot flashes (since I never get them).........I guess for now I will continue to use my xanax and hopefully this will all pass.......sorry I havent been around in a while but my mom just had surgery for kidney CA (which went good)......and hadnt spread anywhere so no chemo or rad. needed......she will be coming home this week so I took some time off to stay with her .....so if Im not around its not because I have forgotten about all my wonderful sisters who have helped me so much to get through this mess!............love to you all and have a happy New Years!!!..............Valerie

I am so happy all your tests came back great. i am sorry for your mom's surgery. We know you haven't forgotten us, just remember we are thinking of both of you and hoping she has a speedy recovery. Goodluck and Happy New Year!!!

Hi Valerie,

I'm happy that your tests came back with good results. I hope you feel better soon. I'm sorry to read about your mom and praying for a quick, full recovery for her.

Hugs,
Karen

I just want to jump in to let you know that when I was as the height of perimenopause in 2005, the adrenaline rushes were a daily event for me. It seemed that during this time I was hit with an onslaught of symptoms such as rushes, dizzies, heart palps, nervousness. jelly legs, hot flahses, nausea (I could go on and on lol). I still get the adrenaline rushes, especially in the morning but they're not as frequent as they were back in 2005. I also developed a low tolerance to stress. Stress of any kind sends me over the edge. I never used to be this way. Maybe this is mother natures way of telling me to SLOW DOWN during this time in my life.

I'm glad your tests came back normal.

thank you all for the replies and good wishes and prayers fro my mom,,,,,,,,,you are all the greatest........Valerie