Hi Ladies:

Its been awhile since I've posted, I keep reading tho. I don't know if I'm in peri or not. HOnestly I don't know much anymore. I do know one thing for sure. I'm constantly afraid, afraid I have some awful disesase. I had an episode of some kind last week, I woke up after fallin asleep on the couch, walked to the kitchen then suddenly felt like I was going to pass out. My hubby helped me to the couch, where I preceeded to sweat so bad I had to get my clothes off, he had to get a towel to get me dry, then I got cold alittle, and during all this I had this awful ringing in my ears that was so loud I could hardly hear myself talking. THis all lasted about 3 mins, then I had problems focusing my vision for a few mins. I went to the doc the next day, he did blood test, all good and then a 24 hr heart monitor to see if I had any arrythmia's. Still waiting for the results. Well needless to say since that night all I can think about is what disease I must have now. He said it sounded like vasal vagal reaction, I guess this is some sort of fainting thing. Now I"m afraid to do anything, I won't even have a glass of wine because that nite I had 2 glasses and then had this happen. I walk around waiting to faint, how silly is that. I have lightheadedness now for about a year, I have the feeling of being disconnected from myself occationally, I get these warm flushes where I feel beeds of sweat on my upper lip and my forhead, I have anxiety out of knowwhere, I have skipped heart beats during ovulation and a few days before my period, I have increased headaches and neck pain, my calves in my legs hurt alot, nausea, muscle aches, I cant handle stress to well anymore, my ears have pressure and pop, and I obsessively think I'm dieing. I still have my period but its changed, one month very lite, the next extreame heavyness, next brownish for days then bleeding, it some in 23 to 30 day intravals. I think sometimes Im just going nuts. I have this awful fear that my heart is going to just stop and then I'll be gone. I don't know what to do now. How do I get this fear to stop.

THanks for listening and letting me vent.

Hugs, Patty

Patty,
It absolutely sounds like many of the perimenopause symptoms we all can get. I have had the palpitations, heavy periods, erratic periods (one lasted 21 days, then didn't have one for 4 months), dizziness, ringing in the ears, hot flashes and night sweats. Once your doctor rules out any real heart problems, you can relax a little. I did the heart monitor thing, too, and all was well.

Sometimes when you get the hot flashes, it brings on a 'fight or flight' feeling, and lots of anxiety, which can make your heart race and you get feelings of dread or sometimes an out of body feeling.

It's all normal for those of us in peri.

Keep reading this site and learn how we've coped with this stuff. I found taking 250 mg of magnesium helped the heart palps a lot. There is a supplement you can take called Natural Calm that has magneisum and either Vit D or calcium in it, I think.

Exercising, even just walking 30 minutes, on a regular basis, has helped me a lot. I also cut out caffeine, most sugar, and cut way back on wine. My doctor says only one glass of wine a day. More and you are at an increase for cancer. And he said you can't bank it. You can't have none during the week and then have 3 on Saturday night.

You will get through this. I have been to the ER for this and so have many others. And I'm not crazy! it's just our hormones spiraling and crashing.

Be good to yourself. Try to de-stress. Many find yoga a big help, too. You will get through this!

WriterMOm

Hi Patty, could it be that the wine caused your blood pressure to drop or possibly low blood sugar. I know alcohol tends to do that. I understand how you feel though. I do have night fears. I never sleep a full night anymore. I usually wake up 2-3 times a night thinking something bad is happening to my body and that is when I have total DREAD. I feel like something will happen to me in the middle of the night when no one is around to help me. I never felt like this in my 20's or 30's, so must be a thing about turning 40 and over, you know, when the ol' body is starting to change. Like you, I still have my periods but it has changed also. I also think am dying. Don't worry your heart won't just stop. You are just going through a change and your body is trying to adjust to it. I do like to drink red dry wine but I have not had any in a while because I think I was using it as an escape (from what am not sure, maybe my fears!?) and I was afraid I was becoming too dependent on it, which worried me and I wondered if it was not making my night dread worse. Anyway, hang in there. You realize that so many of us on here have the same symptoms? You are definitely not alone in this. Happy Holiday!!

Oh Patty,
I feel for you. Let me say this. So many of us are going through the exact same thing. Really. I am not just saying this to make you feel better, just read all the old and new posts and you will see you are not alone. I am 48 and have had these moments since 46 and some days are better than others, but none seem perfect. The old me is gone and this new one doesn't thrill me much. I started bcps to help relieve the symptoms and for he most part, they are better, but still they linger there. They pop up loud and clear some days too. I also take xanax when I am at my worst, I have no choice anymore, it's a quality of life thing for me. Do whatever you need to do and keep posting and asking questions. Feel free to vent whenever you need to. I just posted yesterday under general issues and said laot of the same things you are saying. Read there and it may help.

Hang in there.

Thanks so much for your replies, its nice having others to talk to. Sometimes the overwhelming feeling just gets me so down that I start to spiral out of control. I've just made an appt with my gyno to speak to him about all this. I think I just need to know I don't have some dreaded disease thats being missed. I know with all the changes going on in my body that it has to be for a reason. I've been having all this for more than a year now so if something was terribly wrong Im sure they would have found it. THank so much for your support.

Patty

I have had similar reactions after drinking red wine - but only certain brands. Could it be the sulfites in some are off the chart and affect some people differently? I think with a lot of the issues that come up during peri, it is obsessive thinking that creates the health anxiety and not an actual physical problem. I try to remind myself daily that my situations are mostly a product of my own thoughts and that helps a lot.

You sound just like me! I started with the sweats/chills/shaking/palps and have flutters still around ovulation and just before my period. Headaches are almost constant in my first 2 weeks, then disappear, I get neck pain with PMS too which I never had before all this. Cycles were always 31-34 days, then down to 28 and regular before peri, now range from 22 to 35, take days to get started and finished so sometimes I have them for 10 days out of 22. At first my calf ache was so bad I tried Antistax but, like most of the symptoms, this one has waxed and waned. I've had gastric issues, feeling faint, brain fog, dizziness, skin crawling, pins/needles/numbness, foot cramps, muscle aches, nausea, internal shaking..you name it. I too had the terrible health anxieties to start with and still do to a lesser extent, but I have a rule with myself now that I don't worry about anything unless I have the symptom consistently for 6 weeks. I don't always manage it but I try! The heart symptoms are definitely the worst as they are so frightening, but I've had 2 7-day EKGs and both were fine like yours so try not to get too anxious, there are thousands of us in the same boat.

The alcohol point is a good one. I don't drink much but both times I've been to the ER with palps/racing heart came after drinking. I haven't drunk since April and haven't had the racing heart thing badly since, although I do continue to have a double-shot latte once a day - you gotta do something, right?


Hugs

Hi Patty:

I feel for you and I am sorry that you are experiencing all this horrible crap. I am there with you. For some reason the anxiety seems to be EXTREME these last couple weeks. Even my therapist told me to come see her between Christmas and New Year because of it. UGH!!!!!!

The feeling of passing and dizzy is the worst for me.
I hope that you are feeling better.
Hugs to you and Merry Christmas,
Jeaninne

I'm sorry you are feeling this way. I'm afraid all of the time too. I'm trying to break free of it though because it has caused me to isolate myself and that is not good for me or my dear daughter... Wishing you a happier new year!

TJ

Bless you patti! It sounds like you are profoundly peri. It is hard to accept because our drs dont support us much when they think we are too young. Just suffice it to say that I have experienced all that you have experienced. It is NOT FUN! You are not crazy.

I am getting through peri with AD and BP meds. Your BP might have spiked during the hot flash. But your dr will be able to tell if you need to stabilize your BP during this season of your life. A lot of women need help with BP during this time.

I walk around thinking that I am could faint too. The dying thing-well, yes I have dont that also.

I have been at peri since I was 41. I am 47 now and I think I could say that I am doing better. Maybe because of the meds or maybe I have just adjusted to feeling different and weird, or both.

Today at church, I got this rush feeling of being a bit weak and just odd. I chalk it up to a hot flash.

Hot flashes can be scary. Noone prepares you for that.
Stick around here. Dont get discouraged if your drs give you a funny look when you talk about peri. Just come here and talk. We will listen

Oh, Patty,

You definitely need our (((((((HUGS))))))))! So much happens to us during peri......it's clear to us that you ARE
in peri. It's a rollercoaster ride, to say the least. We've all had really weird things happen to us and almost all of us have experienced the fear and dread that you talk about. Please try to hang in there and visit this site often. I know that PS, along with much, much prayer, has gotten me through really rough days. You'll be okay, and we're here for you!

Blessings,
Deb