I am new here and trying to figure out how to navigate the boards. I am 44 years old and for the last few months I have been out of wack, for lack of a better term. I used to be on a 31 day cycle and in the last year or so I went to a 28 day cycle almost down to the hour. Then I had a cycle that stopped...... and then started again, then it went to every 26 days. I have had an off balance feeling a lot of the time, I can't sleep, I am extremely angry and irritable, I have a lot anxiety again. I have not had a hot flash, though. I went to the doctor the other day and my blood pressure was through the roof. Well, needless to say I was nervous about going and then when they told me my reading, I could not calm down. They did an EKG and gee, my heart rate was fast. I have to go back for blood work, pelvic and pap but he put me on a beta blocker to try and slow my heart rate. I do not like meds and I try to take a natural approach to my health care. He respected that and put me on the lowest dose. I was afraid not to take it. I want to get an at home monitor to keep track myself. I am overweight, however I have lost nearly 75 lbs over the last few years and I continue a healthy pattern of eating but the weight loss is at a standstill. My blood pressure has never been high! So now I have myself dropping dead of a heart attack or stroke by the time I get to see the doc again. Can anyone relate??? Thank you for listening.

I never went to the dr much before my peri symptoms started early(29 years old,now I am 32)So I can relate.Try cutting salt,sugar and caffeine down in your diet,walk daily and drink lots of water,magnesium is wonderful for blood pressure and heart.Hope you find some answers.GOD-bless

Welcome to the board. I'm sure you'll find a lot of good advice and support from everyone here! You sound just like me 10 years ago. I'm still taking meds for the high blood pressure. Not much though, and that's good. I still have periods, although they are very unpredictable. The anxiety is not as bad as it used to be. I went through many years of panic attacks, crazy heart palps, unfounded irrational fears, stomach issues, and much more. Losing 75 pounds is something to be very proud of! I need to lose 50 myself. Good luck to you!

Hi Suzanne:

Welcome. The other ladies have given you excellent suggestions and I can add nothing better. I understand about the symptoms and uncertainity. I know you will find lots of information and support here. Keep coming back!

Hugs to you,
Jeaninne

I went through just what you are going through, so yes I can relate. There are no words to express how scared and lone I felt through it all. I am on an AD and BP meds. I feel so much better. I wish I didnt need meds but for now, I have my life. I first started on a beta blocker but it make me depressed and slowed me down way too much. An AD works better for me. If your dr is old, find a younger one. The younger ones, are up on newer meds, imo.

You will be fine. Peri is tough and the worst is that the drs are clueless that this is related to your hormones.

Hi - welcome! I agree with all that the others have said to you Sizanne (love your name ;o) and I want to add that you should consider taking CoEnzymeQ10. It is something very good for us that have heart concerns.

You are not alone,
Suzanne

I appreciate the kind replies. I do take CoEnzyme 10. I am trying to follow the advice in Dr. Christiane Northrup's book, The Wisdom of Menopause. I take the supplements that she recommends. I guess this blood pressure thing just knocked me for a loop. I didn't expect it at all. I have found so much useful information on this board. I am so grateful to have found it.

Dear Suzanne,

Welcome to Power Surge! We are delighted that you are here. I look forward to getting to know you.

Warmest wishes,
Marcy

Welcome to the site. The ladies here stop us going crazy with their goor advice
I too have high blood pressure and am on a low dose tablet. To help the condition it is
vital to add no extra salt to any food or cooking and switch to de caf coffee and
definately dont smoke. Mine is slowly coming down but it has taken a fair few months
just keep with it

Good Luck

Hi Suzanne,
Sounds like you are having a difficult time. I am 4 years post menopause and can tell you that the worst of all symptoms is the sleep deprivation. It will cause all of the symptoms that you mention and then some. I am sharing this info as it took me a long time and many trips to the doctor's office before I finally figured out that sleep is golden and that your mental and physical health DEPEND on it. You say that you want to go the natural route. Get plenty of sunshine and exercise...this will help tremendously. If this doesn't help, I believe there is a natural prescription sleeping aid on the market which you might ask your doctor about. Once you start to have a good night's rest everthing else will be just fine. I promise.

Thank you! I have been reading through a lot of posts and this site is a Godsend. I am using no table salt, thankfuly I don't smoke and I only have 1 cup of coffee in the a.m. but I have been cutting it with herbal coffee. I started on 2.5 mg of bystolic and in only three days it has dropped considerably. I was so out of sorts in the doctor's office I forgot to ask him about the supplements I was taking and if they'd interact with the medicine. I was trying to research a bit but couldn't find anything.

Dear 'SuzanneMarie'

Let me also welcome you this Forum.It is the best and has helped me get through many a hard time.

Great that you lost all that weight!Well Done!Also pleased that your blood pressure Med.appears to be working.High anxiety and stress can send blood pressure up and that is not healthy.

I love the practice of Yoga.It calms and centres me in a marvellous way as well as keeping joints supple

Wish you lots of luck and hope to see you around often

God Bless
Elizabeth

I understand wanting to take the natural approach to healthcare, however, it is extremely important to keep your blood pressure normal! So take those beta blockers until they figure out what is going on. I sometimes get the "white coat" blood pressure, meaning it gets higher when I'm nervous and know they are going to take it. REALLY watch the salt intake. I noticed you said you don't use table salt, but there is so much of it already in foods that are either processed or prepared for us. Congrats on your previous 75 lb. weight loss, good for you! Try to relax a bit and take walks everyday, it really helps. Good luck at the Dr, let us know!