Hi Ladies:

I am having an absolutely awful time right now and I'm starting think something is very wrong. Last I posted was about adrenal fatigue, which my ob thinks I have, well I'll be seeing him next week about that.

I've been under a tremendous amount of stress in the last two weeks. Ive noticed my anxiety level is very high and I find myself having dizziness and now these adrenaline surges are hitting me during the day. These surges come out of know where, I was working today at my desk, and suddenly I got this odd sendation going up my stomache and then I had to gab onto the desk for fear I was going to pass out. It lasted about 5 seconds then gone. Of course following this was anxiety and fear of something awful. I've had these surges now for about 3 yrs but usually at nite when I start to fall asleep and get woke up by them. I've also noticed my anxiety is all about fear of death for me. I fear it all the time, I find myself waiting for the next thing to happen and will it kill me. I've also noticed that abefore the anxiety sets in, I get this awful dizziness, lightheaded feeling, like I'm sitting on a boat, rocking back and forth, I also feel it when I lay down. I am wondering if any of you get this and if you could describe it to me. I guess I"m looking for reassurance.

THank you so much for listening and any help.

Hugs, Patt

Oh Patti:

I am the queen of adrenaline surges. They manifest different ways. Whether there's a catalyst - a somewhat stressful or anticipated stressful experience (real or perceived), or they come just after waking accompanied sometimes by a hot flash or occur just spontaneously while, say, I am driving in my car listening to the radio not thinking about anything in particular they are sometimes just a nuisance and other times absolutley terrifying.

I am sorry you are experiencing this and I am sure they have been ramped up by the added stress you describe. Once our bodies go into this "sensitized state" as Claire Weekes refers to it, we return to it again and again sometimes with not much more than a passing thought to put it in process.

For me they feel like a sudden need to almost crawl out of my skin, like something is wrong and I must flee or that i am holding so much anger i can hardly breath. I could either throw something, scream or cry or all three.

Have you listened to the Claire Weekes cd's or read her book "Hope and Help for your Nerves"? That resource has been helpful to me.

I do recall the first time I felt this very near the beginning of my peri experience. I had just gone through a solid month or 2 of nausea and that finally passed. Just when I thought everything was going to be ok, I was in the shower and my entire body started to buzz - some would classify this as internal vibration but for me it felt more chemical like an adrenaline surge. I have had this to some degree for the last 2 years depending on whether I cycle and what part of the cycle I am in. When I am low E, I am an adrenaline nightmare.

The only reassurance I can offer is that I really do believe this is hormone related and that you are not alone.

Please reach out to me anytime.

Xo pookish

Hi Patt,
Stress is major problem, at any stage of our lives. I had sooo much stress at one point, that I thought I am dying. Stress makes everything worse, especially when your body is mensurable going through menopause. Anxiety, it is my major problem with menopause. I have tried different routes, and the only thing that helped and still does, is Xanax. I am sure ADs work similar, but these adrenalin surges are related to dropping and fluctuating Estrogen, and being under stress exacerbate menopausal symptoms.

I know anxiety is not dangerous, but it is hard to deal with it on daily basis. Bottom line, it is easy to advise to stress less, diet and exercise help certainly, but some days I plainly need xanax, to keep me from falling on my face.

I get few days of extra energy, an artificial feeling of endless and jittery type of energy, when you can do soo much in one day an never get tired. These days alternating with a day of fatigue, dizzies, being mushy, feeling like you can cry at a drop of a hat, and it is all hormonal and normal.

I understand the extra energy are adrenalin jolts, but then my body is tired from too much adrenalin, as it can't break it down, so it is trying to calm me down, so it is overshooting, and it is like 180 degrees swing.
These ups and downs this is what driving us crazy.

I have talked to few doctors, they all suggested to keep "autonomic" symptoms in control with Ads or BZD, or both. Since I don't have typical vasomotor symptoms of very low estrogen, like hot flashes, neither I have vaginal dryness, I just take care of "physchological" aspect of the transition, and hope one day this nasty swings will stop, once hormones level out> I think it is not exactly highs or lows, it is wide fluxes that casues it. The stomach tightness, rumbling, upper body pain and tightness, it is all due to the hormonal swings that trigger adrenalin release. I am sorry I don't belive in adrenal fatigue, even I was into this few years back, but more I have read about it, it is a fancy way to call "stress". I know htere are supplements that "support" adrenals, but i think once you get stress under control, your adrenals will bounce back.
I can assure you, it is unpleasant, but not life threatening. The true adrenal problems manifesting with other symptoms, so try something to curb stress or your body response to it.
Hang in there, it will be over soon, I hope it will.
Hugs,
I.

I find that if I experience these awful adrenaline surges while sitting at my desk, I start tapping my foot. That helps to dispel the increased adrenaline that is surging through my body. Why it does it is beyond me. I think it is all stress induced.

Hello - I started a topic under the anxiety board a few hours ago on what I think may be this exact problem. I have been having a similar thing occur to me Patty. The 1st time was about 3 weeks ago, and I just experienced another while cooking dinner this evening. What you ladies are saying is helping me a lot - at least to try and understand what is happening.

Like you Patty, mine seem to be gone pretty quickly, but then I get all anxious and stir up all those symptoms. The feeling like I am going to pass out is the worst. I am absolutely terrified of that. Scary stuff, but I clearly see we are not alone.

Hugs Patty - and hopefully it helps a little to know you are not alone.

Patty dear - these feelings are soooo scray......I have been thru them all and (mostly) like Sybilruth have come out on the other side.....when you are in the midst of all this it can really throw you but listen to all the other ladies here....


You are normal - You are fine - YOu will not die or be hurt in any way from this - okay???

That said - this is NO fun and can really wreak havoc on your life - talk to your doc about something to relax you or look into herbal or alternative remedies...L-Theanine, valerian, chamomile and passion flower come to mind...

You are not alone ......hang in there dear

CIC

Oh Patty, I feel your pain or shall I say your fear! I sat in my doctors office for 2 hours alone in a room waiting for the doc to see me. I had the same feelings and had to really talk myself into staying somewhat sane at least until he walked into the room. I thought for sure I was going to jump out of my skin. I just kept having these surges of adrenaline and I just got up and paced back and forth in the room to keep my head together. It was awful. I would also look down at my hands and I swear, I felt like I was not really in my own body. I couldn't lay down either because I was way too amped up and if I layed my head down I would spin. If someone could have put a hidden camera in the room observing me and had the capability to hear my thoughts they would have put me in a padded cell!!!!! I can tell you this, you are certainly not alone......... Deb

I had a bad experience in June last year--it landed me up in the ER. I had been diagnosed anemic a couple days earlier and had started my Rx iron pills. I think this all had something to do with what happened tho. But I couldnt feel my arms or hands, could hardly even raise them, the room was spinning and I swore I was going to die. My aunt told me to call the ambulance but with me in childcare I didnt want the kids to see me go in an ambulance...I made arrangents with my son to stay with the kids and my mom and aunt took me to the ER. They said my blood count was even lower than when I went to the doctor--I think it was like 8.5 at the Dr and 8 at the hosp., and that I had vertigo. Luckily this happened on a Friday so I was able to spend the weekend in bed---thats all I COULD do. I was so scared, which added anxiety on top of it all...trying to keep it cool for the kids. I am much better now, rarely do I have to take a dizzy pill but they are there if I need them.

These things seemed to cause those horrid surges for me last year.

1. Low and/or falling estrogen levels. In her book, Vliet shows how falling estrogen triggers adrenaline release.

2. Low ferritin (storage iron). When the body doesn't have the necessary energy-producing nutrients or materials to keep things functioning well, the adrenaline will kick in.

3. Low adrenal reserve. When there is not enough cortisol (which should kick in shortly after adrenaline release) then the adrenaline just keeps going.

4. Low thyroid. For the same reason as #2.

It was a nightmare trying to get all the pieces of the puzzle figured out. Each thing helped, but all together eliminated the surges.

Sariah,

I am having a heck of a time getting my ferritin level up. Do you have any suggestions?
I have tried every iron supplement out there with no success. I finally started a prescription one, which seems to maybe be helping a bit.

inthemoment

I will be interested to see what the answer is, as I have a friend that can't get her levels up either.

Patty,
I have had these exact same things since peri hit me hard tow and half years ago. The problem is one little surge and it can send me into an instant panic attack that seems to last for a long time. It takes over and really is exhausting. They are getter better. I have been exercising alot and I think it really helps. I still feel "off" at times and am trying really hard to let it go and ride it out. It is a lot of work to do so, but I am getting there. Over the last two years I posted quite often about these surges/panic attacks, whatever they can be called. Coming here and knowing I am not alone or dying helps. So did many trips to the er and doctors (every one under the sun) and xanax.

I can't offer much in terms of help, but will always be here to listen. I hope you feel better.

The best supplement I've found is ProFerrin. It's the only source of heme iron I could find. I bought it over the internet. It's absorbed and utilized much better than other forms, but it's a little pricey. It gets ferritin levels up faster than anything else.

Thankyou so much for your fast response!

I looked up the one you recommend on-line and will talk to my doctor about it next week.
The one I am taking now is Repliva, and it costs $38 per month- so the proferrin is actually cheaper!

Low ferritin is one piece of the puzzle that I have been struggling with, so hopefully this will help.
Thanks Again,

inthemoment

I love this site. You guys have described what has been happening to me perfectly. I feel like nobody I know understands me but you guys do. Anyway, I don't have any advice or anything but just wanted to let you know that i get these adrenaline surges, anxiety and panic attacks too. I do now believe they are somehow tied to hormones and I am not just crazy. When I first started getting anxiety attacks five years ago my iron level was low. I had trouble with the prescription iron tablets the doctors gave me. I started using prenatal vitamins to keep my iron levels up and they seem to have worked.

I am having a heck of a time getting my ferritin level up. Do you have any suggestions?

Have you tried Floradix? It's liquid and has helped me suppress RLS. I get my ferritin levels checked regularly and supplement when low. I also used SlowFe and took both with Vitamin C, to help w/absorption.

Good luck.

Hi,I think I am having the dreaded Adrenaline surges.They start about waist level and surge up to my head.Some days i get loads,others just a few.I don`t feel hot when they happen,but can breathe easier for some strange reason! I`ve tried linking them to food,vitamins,hrt,but they happen no matter what.I was on premique hrt for 12 years,had a hysterectomy,then went on patches.These surges seem to be getting more frequent as time goes by.I think I would rather have hot flushes!! Lin Uk

hi I wonder if this is what I have mine is a little different It only happens at night when I wake up the first time was a year ago I got up to go to the bath room when I laid down i got this alful feeling like I am really sick in my head then I get this flush tingley hot but cold feeling that starts in one area either in my head or chest. the radiates down to every nerve ending in my body. even my grown. then it will ease up and i am cold and week when its over but i feel fine afterwards. I even went to a neoligust he did blood work and test eeg. and found nothing it panics me because i feel like I am going to die. a blood clot or somthing. I am only 39 so until latley i did not think it was menapause. or hot flases. I also had a partial hysterectamy.