Hi, ladies...this is nothing new to me as I've been experiencing these symptoms for over 5 years now. But I find that when I am close to my cycle, my anxiety and nervous episodes shoot through the roof and my neck muscles and chest get so tight, I feel like I'm suffocating and it's hard to breathe normally. It's hard to not think it's a heart attack! But I've had an EKG and they tell me my heart is fine. I use Progest progesterone cream which helps most days, but the closer I get to my cycle I just feel crappy, more edgy and nervous than usual. My arms and shoulders tighten up also and it's scares me and it's uncomfortable. My chest area gets warm - so I spritz cold water on it and that helps. Feeling hot does not help. Then I just end up going into panic mode and start to feel off balance/dizzy. I'm at work right now and what I would give to just leave this building right now to feel better. I only work part time (thank God!) and leave in about 90 minutes. But to me, it feels like 24 hours when I don't feel well. Why couldn't I be financially independent to where I could work from home? Anyone else going through this? Heeeeeeeeeeeeelp!

Here's something to try, my therapist taught me a way of breathing that helps with the anxiety. Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth, breath in through your nose for a count of 4, then hold your breath for a count of 7 and then slightly open your mouth, but leave your tongue on the roof of your mouth, and breath out past your tongue for a count of 8. Do it 4 times in a row. Your breath will make a sound as you breath out.

I find that sometimes I have to do this 2 or 3 times in a row before I calm down. Just don't do it too long, or you'll make yourself dizzy.
I think it works because you have to concentrate on your breath and not your worries.

Here's wishing you a calm afternoon!

Hi there..... I'm going through pretty much all the same things you are at present but I can add now that I also have achy hands with strange intermitment pains in them and wrists and forearms again (haven't had that one in a while). I have had the lightheaded thing 24/7 for over 3 yrs now but strangely the last month I have felt a definite shift in things and the lightheaded thing hasn't been as noticeable but it's still there, but then other stuff has taken pride of place so maybe I'm just not that fixated on the head thing at the moment. I also have had some major issues with the chest and breathing thing and have be reassured by two medical professionals that I do not have asthma but it still scares me. I have noticed that there is a pattern to when it is at it's worst and around 3-4 pm it hits me the hardest each day. If you read back a few of my most recent posts you may be able to relate to some of it.

I will be very interested in knowing what that place you have an appointment with in April says about the dizziness. You can PM me anytime if you want to know anything specific, I think we are close in age, I'm nearing 43.

Camjay,
It's quite possible the P cream is contributing to your anxiety and tight chest and neck muscles. Several of us here at PS get those symptoms when we use P, and also when our own P is high starting at ovulation and thereafter for the next 10 days or so. Estrogen gave me relief from these symptoms. Even now, if I use even a dab of P cream, it will trigger those symptoms again.

The dizziness is a direct result of your progesterone being higher than your estrogen which is what happens the closer you get to your period. Actually, any symptoms that you are having the ten days before your period are a direct result of your estrogen decreasing too low and your progesterone increasing so that it is the primary hormone. I also experienced the chest pressure and difficulty breathing as progesterone increased and estrogen decreased. It is hormonal at this point in time and I'm sure most of these symptoms disappear once you have your period!

Best wishes...

TJ

Yes this is what I figured too as all my blood tests show normal mid range Progesterone but low normal Estrogen so the E to P ratio is out. I just wish I had never ever used that P cream 3 yrs ago and maybe I wouldn't be having all these issues now, hindsight is a wonderful thing. There seems to be many things to try to lower high E but I haven't come across anything to lower P naturally. I remember feeling like this many years ago while taking the BCP and when I looked it up it was a high dose one at that so real high P content, no wonder I was nutso back then.

Do you think stress has a huge part to play in rising P naturally in our bodies at that time via higher cortisol or adrenaline?? When I'm under tremendous stress like I am at present all the worst symptoms flare up plus a few new nasties like this chest thing. But of course it's a viscious circle of stress, symptoms, fear, more stress, more symptoms, more fear....

Rox, I'm trying to figure out how to lower the progesterone naturally myself... So far doctors have been of no help! I'm thinking that there has to be another cause for the higher levels for me. For you, you just need higher E during that time since your progesterone was normal in the range and estrogen was low! Some people just use a patch during that time to balance their levels... For me progesterone is off the charts with 500 being max, mine is 700... I'm not sure if stress has anything to do with the higher P or not, I'm thinking maybe cortisol has something to do with it since my adrenals are overproducing cortisol... If you figure it out please let me know!

Wishing you the best...

TJ

I think for me stress plays a big part in it cos when I'm relaxed I don't have these off the charts symptoms but when I'm stressed all this craziness starts up again so the cortisol must play a part in it.

Was it you using the liquid Kelp?? If so are you still taking it and is it helping at all??