So glad that there is a site like this online. I have read many of the posts here and other places and get so much assurance from sites like these that I am not going crazy vs. the medical journals and sites! I to have alot of the symptoms, but have a couple of things going on that I suspect may be related also, but doctors can't confirm and can only find very few indications online that what I am having MAY be caused by hormones. So here goes...

My background.....My nurse practitioner said that it sounds like I am going through perimenopause, and have been, for at least 4 years. I am 38 now, but started having PVC's (premature ventricular contractions- i.e. palpations) and HEAVY periods about 4 years ago (like can't do anywhere that isn't near a bathroom for half a day). My mother claims she went thru early peri. or menopause, too. More recently (last couple of years), I've had irregular, erratic cycle (anywhere between 21-28 days), cysts, abdominal weight gain, constipation, tiredness, low drive, joint pain, stiffness, occular migraines (aura from migraine, which causes partial loss of vision, but no pain- thank goodness for that!); haven't had migraines (painful ones back then) since puberty. Most recently, night sweats that wake me up because I have soaked my covers, waking up multiple times a night, and I am usually a very heavy sleeper;

Okay, the strange symptom that has had me wondering.... in last 8 months or so, I have had 2 occurances of 'episodes' of such strong deja vu that I almost pass out, then in altered state of consciousness for about 15-20 minutes where I still speak, seem to be fine to outside observers, but I belief it is what is called depersonalization, where I kind of 'go elsewhere' for seconds at a time, into a dream-like state, than back into my own mind. Like a veil is brought down where I am still 'here', but partially 'there'. Tired afterwards, have a hard time finding words. First time I had one on Sat. next on Sun. Second time this happened I also had one Sat. and one on Sund. (hmmm) and 3 occulars in the same 2-3 days. I was totally wiped out and out of it. Went to see practitioner and she referred me to a neurologist, did EEG, negative results for epilepsy/seizures; he referred me to cardiologist, did EKG, negative results for low blood pressure or other irregularities. Lotsa money and time and I still think from the get-go it's hormome related.

Does anyone know if a sudden influx of hormones could cause these seizure-episodes and non-pain migraine type symptoms? I noticed that they both seem to come couple days before or after my period, and since this last 2-3 day problem, soon thereafter is when my cycle switched from average of 24 days to a 28 day, was lighter than normal (meaning I did not soak thru my super pluses in less than an hour). Then barely done with last month's more 'normal' 28 day, mild period, when my breasts became sore for a week, then started spotting for 5 days, now I am cramping and bleeding again and it has been tops 18 days since this last 'normal' period started. Seems my cycle went wacky soon after the deju vu episode/occular episodes. Perhaps a sudden release of hormones is what caused the immediate weird symptoms then the less immediate change in cycles???

I'll be honest, I didn't thoroughly search the board for this particular symptom, but for the lack of info. I find online, I don't think it's super common.

Thanks! I'm on Pacific coast, and its midnight here, so I'm going to go to sleep now!


CaliRedwoods, as in California Redwoods

Dear'CaliRedwoods'
A very warm welcome to this site.You will find lots of friendship,care and great information from all our lovely ladies

I too had an early full blown Menopause at 39 so do know what you are going through.It is different for every woman but some do suffer very badly.I actually had to go on an AD to cope and then on to an HRT.These worked for me but there are a lot of other options you may wish to pursue

I really do believe that Hormones are the biggest culprit in both the physical and emotional struggles we go through.As regards Migraines my sister in law suffered very badly with these during her Menopause.She told me that at first the Doctors suspected a form of epliepsy as she would appear very out of it and speak in a very slow manner.Batteries of Tests came up with nothing.Now she is five years Post-Menopausal and the migraines have cleared upI wish I could be of more help.
Please keep us posted

Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

Hi Cali,

You are not alone with those strange symptoms. I had them far worse than what you describe and I know other women here who have also suffered with those strange feelings. All this started for me big time now 4 years ago. My first few months, I was hit with this weird depersonalization feelings for most of every day. I just started to live my life feeling slightly removed from the world. Finally, toward the end of that year those feelings started to fade just as oddly as they came. By the beginning of my second year I didn't really think about them anymore. I too was going through a phase where my periods were often very heavy.

I did a couple months of hormone panels during that time and it did show that I was having huge hormone spikes about 5 days every month. As you head toward mid-cycle estrogen naturally goes up. Mine was no longer going up smoothly but jumping up, and then back down. I charted my symptoms along those months and my strange moods oddly lined up with the hormone spikes. In fact, thanks to those test I could almost predict my worst days.

Your 18 day cycles are also very normal.

Welcome to PS!

Sorry-

Don't know how to navigate this site yet! Anyone now how I delete my previous reply? Or edit?

Anyhow, thanks for the responses ladies. I wouldn't be to concerned about any of this except that it has happened while I was driving, and I honestly don't remember what I said, saw or did until I pulled into the parking lot of my daughter's work. I am hoping that the part of my brain that is still functioning will have the reflexes for darting children or animals in the roadways, bacause when I go 'there' I don't see what is in front of me. It really is as though I am dreaming, or in some other plane or something. So if it wasn't for driving, I probably wouldn't be anxious about it at this point. I didn't really even pursue it the first time it happened. I sure am glad I am not a surgeon or some other high pressure, life-or-death profession- I would think that would be the end of my career at that point.

I see lots of different discussions listed here. Does anyone recommend a particular one where I should start reading? I haven't had any hormone tests done, just normal blood panels for annual, etc. But I am just starting to research what's going on with this body of mine, and there is sooooo much information (and misinformation!) out there! Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks-

Cali

Okay, I know see that this was the wrong place to post this! I am starting to get the feel for this site. Can I move this post to the correct area (memory/brain fog area)? If not, I apologize for posting in the wrong place and I'll start a new discussion over there instead.

Hi Cali:


welcome to PS!!

I could have written your post almost word for word about 3-4 years ago. I still have the wacky periods, which are lighter and sometimes almost nonexistent. I experienced the occular migraines pretty regularly although I have not had one in about four months. I hope those are completely over because the occular migraines cause an instant panic attack! Whew.

I have experienced and do still have alot of the symptoms you describe. So have most of the ladies here. So please do not think that you are alone. Hormones are amazing. During peri I have thought I was dying from something (of course I am still here) and have thought I had gone crazy (jury is still out on that one)

I am glad that you found this site. You will learn so much here and get so much support.

Hugs to you,
Jeaninne

Thanks for the welcome!

I know that most of the symptoms are probably 'normal' for most of the ladies on this site, and I am not too perplexed about those anymore, but what brought me here was specifically the deja vu and altered consciousness/dream-like state. I know that many have had brain fog, and depersonalization, etc., but the deju vu/altered state is something that I have read that is associated usually with seizures, but the neurologist thinks it's not that, so??? hormones? I know that many have had 'similar' episodes, but has anyone had this type of thing specifically? Or read of anyone having these seizure-like symptoms without seizures? I wouldn't say that I am blacked out, because I still talk and move, but I could not tell you what is in front of me when I go 'away'.

I just don't know if I am willing to spend more money to try and find out what it is. But I'd love to have peace of mind that it is 'just' (ha ha) my hormones wacking out!

Hello,

Welcome to PS. I'm aware of someone who has these symptoms but she has narcolepsy. She generally can't move or speak for minutes afterwards.

Best Wishes,

TJ

Hi Cali,
I had that depersonalisation thing for about six weeks. It was so frightening and I didn't know what to do about it and I wasn't taken very seriously. It finished with a massive panic attack. It never came back again. I think it may have been caused by a chemical imbalance at the time..as the doctor who had to deal with my panic attack suggested it could have been. I so sympathise with your symptoms. I too suffer from ocular migraine. I too have been checked out for every disease known to man. Menopause just does the weirdest things to you. Without sharing all our experiences I think many of us would be very desperate people. I am looking forward to the day when it all stops..........it's been a long road so far. Hope your symptoms improve soon. Have a lovely day.

Antique-

Thank you. I hope it is done. I don't think it will last forever! I appreciate all the support. I do think my doctors are wondering if it is all in my head, like a mentally induced phenomena (sp?), or an Alice in Wonderland experience, but I do not take hallucinegetic (sp?) drugs (anymore!)