Hi, I haven't introduced myself yet or read through the entire forum-but i am looking for some help- i want to describe what has been happening to me and want to know if anyone else can tell me if these are symptoms of premenopause-

Ok, I am 42. I still get my period-it is not as long as it used to be and once in awhile it comes too soon, or waits too long, but for the most part it is somewhat normal-

Last month I was driving to meet my family at a restaurant- all of a sudden i felt this tinglyy hot sensation from my head to my head to my toes- my heart started pounding really fast and i had to open the car window- i debated on pulling over, but then told myself i was ok and kept going- i made it to the restaurant and during my meal, i did not feel well, I started getting really not again, heart pounding-i went to the bathroom, and just sat there breathing and trying to cool off-my skin got kind of cool again and I felt a little better- so I just went home
I called my gyn and they said well, your kind of young, it could be a hot flash...but the heart palpitations should be checked by my primary-i called her and she said to see if it happens again....so i started to keep a log and started surfing the net-

Ok-fast forward to today-I got up at 6 and got out of bed to check on my son, who had a bad cold and as soon as i stood up, the room started spinning- i had to lay back down-and my legs and arms were getting hot and cold and my heart was beating really fast-i couldn't get up- i told my husbandl to get the thermometer and i couldn't even lift my hand to get it-soooo scary and weird-so we called 911-cause i knew i had to go - so they came and took me to the hospital- got blood work done and a cat scan (you'll be happy to know I do have a brain-lol)

They did not find anything-thank goodness- so they just stated it was vertigo-they gave me a prescription for a patch to wear for dizziness if i need it-sometimes he said there are some crystals in the ear that can become dislodged and cause vertigo

We got home about 12;30, and I have been ok..tired, but ok...
I am kind of afraid of it happening again. When i was in the hospital i was ok but when i went to the bathroom, the room spinned again....what if that happens at work?

I am wondering about the hot then cold on my skin- the dr said that could have been my body's reaction to the dizzyness, cause I was trying to stay calm, my heart beating fast and the hot cold was all on its own- now I am wondering if this was another hot flash- i am not sure i can handle these....
So what do you all think? hot flashes? am I just ill? anyone get dizzyness?? I am almost afraid to go to bed..

Hi Roberta:

Welcome to PS. It sounds like you are starting peri. I get the dizzies sometimes, they have been more frequent lately. The hotflashes and coldflashes are classic symptoms of peri. The anxiety caused by this can also be at fault for feeling this way.

If you go to the home page here, you will find a section called the 34 signs/symptoms of peri. Read through those and see if of that matches with what you are feeling.

Your doctor is like so many others when saying you are too young! I started with peri at 36. I am now 45. I still have periods but they are irregular, shorter, sometimes longer between periods and sometimes shorter between. I have experienced the anxiety (still do), the dizziness, fatigue, anger, moodiness, etc, etc.

The ladies here are so smart and so willing to listen, help, and advise. Come here often and you will learn so much. There is a lot of information here and will teach you alot.

Check with your doctor again and insist that he/she listen. It would not hurt to have blood check for thyroid, menopause, and so on.

Hugs to you,
Jeaninne

Thank you so much for your quick reply- I did read the 34 signs/symptoms and they match what is happening to me-but I guess i just cannot believe this is happening- when it happens i feel like i am going to die- i am a bit, maybe more than a bit, overweight and I keep telling myself i will lose this weight- but that won't make hot flashes go away...
My dr said that since I am still getting my period, it would be hard to determine menopause through blood tests...when I was at the hospital they took blood and thyroid was something they did check...
There is nobody i know who is going through this and my mother passed away so I don't even know when she started-
What if this dizzyness happens at work? what do you do?
I am almost in tears because I think i have finally found an intelligent site that can help me--I am so grateful for whatever advice and I am looking forward to reading more on the forum when my eyes aren't so tired... man, i am a mom of 2 children, ages almost 10 and 15 and i just want someone to tuck me in with a teddy bear and make me soup...

Oh Goodness I see myself in your post. I had one of my first attacks in a restaurant too> I was 42.
I felt hot-weak-dizzy-heart pounding and so sick we had to get up and leave!
In fact I pretty much ran out of the place!

There is such a thing as a prelude to a hot flash but I’m thinking you also experience such scary symptoms and you had a panic attack.
Peri anxiety is nothing like you have ever experience before. Trust me it is horrible!

Yes I have felt so awful- so weird I called 911 and was hauled away in an ambulance> so don’t feel bad!
I now take ativan to help me deal with the attacks.

One thing to watch for if they are hot flashes from h*ell is afterward you get so cold sometime very cold.

Hot flashes doing the day no longer scare me but night sweats are a different story> at least once I feel so cold I shiver I know it has passed and I can go back to sleep.

Oh, I feel so bad for you. I am not a doctor, but to me, it sounds like a hot flash. Palpitations can come along with them and the hot then cold, oh, yes, I have been there. The dizzies? Yes, been there too. After reading through the hot flash forums, I think you will find many, many other women going through the same thing. And, 42 is not too young to start. I hate when doctors say that. I am glad you went and got checked at the hospital. I know you don't feel better, I have been there a few times and after hearing I was fine, I was not convinced. It is hard to believe you are fine, when you don't feel that way. It is hard to believe it could be hormones, but, usually, it is. Keep reading here and maybe visit your gyn for some suggestions on what to do to get through. Many people use hormones, others try going with herbs, etc. Read up and decide what is right for you.

Feel free to come here as often as you need to to get some suggestions. I hope you have a better night and day tomorrow.

I can relate to you fear. I've had these same episodes many times over the last 10 years, I am 50. Beleive me you will live even if you get dizzy and hot again. The fear of it is worse than the actual event. Know that you are not alone. The root of all fear is utimately the fear of death. I don't know why we fear it we can not avoid it. Hang in there and if you get afraid please feel free to email me it helps to know we are not alone. We all have fears and sometimes it helps to bring them out of the dark into the light. Blessings

grrrrrrr - sometimes docs just plain tick mid off!!!! I was DONE with meno by your age!!!!

This definately sounds like a hot flash mixed with a heaping dose of anxiety - try not to let it scare you Roberta, try as hard as you can. Yedah is correct the fear can be debillitating but only if you let it. Take reassurance that you have been checked out and will be just fine - maybe uncomfortable but this cannot hurt you!

Come here and read as many articles in the library as you can - it is so very reassuring - look at old posts that thousand of other ladies have shared with us and come to the live chat (mostly in the evenings) if you need real time reassurance - you are in the right place!

CIC

Thank you everyone- i feel so much better knowing there are women out there I can "talk" to.
I had to call off for work today because of the hospital incident- I think i am going to take off tomorrow and call my gyn and my primary...although i feel kind of stupid for taking off again, i just feel like i need the extra day....it feels like anyone who is not going through it, doesn't really think its real....
who knew that this could be so debilitating.....i am really looking forward to reading more-
Oh, by the way- my hot flashes- I keep reading how the face and chest gets red, but that doesn't happen to me- i just get sort of hot all over and then cold and hot and cold....but not in my face or chest..mostly my arms and legs...and weird feeling in the head.
now that i think about it, lately at least once a week i wake up and my nightgown is wet in the chest area....i must sweat in the night and don't even realize it...cause when i wake up , my nighty is wet and cold...
thanks for letting me share

Hi Roberta,


welcome to PS! Yes, i have had exactly what you've had....and more! YIPPIE! no, but seriously, i have ....
this whole thing was quiete frightening, and still is actually...i think i've just become numb to it all ... I have been in FULL SWING peri for a little over 2 yrs. .... and all i can say is HOLY COW! It's just one scary symptom after another, and things you've NEVER experienced in your entire life, will start to happen! The anxiety alone is a killer! This doomed feeling, as if something horrible is about to happen. I've also had the heart stuff, just like you, and it's scary for a while, then you almost get used to it. I haven't had outright dizziness, but i get my share of lightheadedness, and off balance. This can happen anywhere, and yes, it's happened to me in restaurants, malls, .... anywhere! I rely on xanax, and it helps a great deal!

Roberta, read and read and read! This site is loaded with good info. and facts for you to sink your teeth into, and remember, you are not alone!!!!!!

sincerely, mydarling