Hi Again.

I need some support. I am not sure what is going on with me. I have read this boards over and over again. you all seem to know so much. So I am hoping that you will be able to connect with me and tell me this is normal.

I am going through something that I am not understanding. I am used to having a bad day......maybe a bad week before my period or a week after. But this month has been to much for me to handel.

A couple of days before my period I had stomach problems. my stomach just hurt.......had pains....had this till i started my period...went away while I was having it...then when I stopped it started again for a few days then just went away. I thought I needed a laxitive or something so tried that.

Every day since I had my period...my heart has been racing...beating so fast.... I have not had a day of peace in a month. today I was okay.....then all of the sudden I felt like my face was on fire......I was so HOT. felt sick to my stomach heart racing. and just plain jumpy. I was told I had panic anxiety.... I am having trouble telling the two apart.

was my face buring a hot flash? why am I doing this everyday this month. is something changing? I am so confused/. I always think I am dying having a heart attack. I never do. I have gone through some of these symptoms before and I come through but I can not seem to get myself where they do not scare me.

There is alot of stress on me right now. I have had a awful pain in my my neck for the last couple of days. is the stress making things worse? Please if anyone can help me I would so much appreciate it. I want to live again. feel good. be happy. I am not even sure I remember what that is.

I have been where you are so many times, I can't even count. The panic/anxiety, hot face feeling, heart palps, aching neck, shoulders and heart area. Just the overall feeling of doom, waiting for that "heart attack" to happen. I've also had the stomach pains, feels sort of like gas, but worse. And the bloating. Horrible! I feel for you. I'm holding your hand right now and praying you get through this and feel better soon.

(((((((((((((((((((((BIG HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))

Hi DanaRae;

I am so sorry that you are struggling! you are not alone though. As Texasgirl said, I have been there and sometimes stay there for days or weeks at a time. Panic/anxiety is the worst for me because it affects my mind so much. If I only had physical symptoms like hotflashes, nightsweats, palps I could get through this alot better. The mind games are horrible!!

I will keep you in my prayers.
Hugs to you,
Jeaninne

I am sooo sorry you're going through so much. Sounds like symptoms a lot of us have or had. They ARE scary at times, it's hard not to be. I've been going through this for at least 5 years and still get scared at some of the stuff going on. Finding this site has helped because I have more understanding why it's happening and that other people have the same things going on. I remember having the hot face thing as the first signs of menopause. My face would feel like it's on fire and be beet red. About a year later my periods got wacko then stopped altogether, it's been 2 years since. It may help to see your dr and get a checkup to ease your mind. Keep reading the posts and you'll learn a lot and ask for advice, comfort and sympathy when you have to or just to whine. I think stress does make things seem worse. If I could sit in corner some days and not have to deal with anything or anyone it I probably wouldn't feel the irritability and panic as much.
Keep us posted!

It makes sense that these symptoms are happening every day since your period, since that is the time when estrogen is at it's lowest. Low Estrogen is causing all this, I had similar problems. I tried to use various natural supplements that worked at the beginning of peri but eventually did not, so I am now on bioidentical estradiol. It's helped so much. I thought I was going crazy and losing my mind when all that started. I was a wreck from lack of sleep. I shudder even now remembering those dark days when I was sure I was dying of something awful.

Have you considered BHRT?

Thank you for the words of wisdom I am trying so hard to be normal and to understand what is going on with me. I am just finding it so difficult. I go everyday trying to act normal.....LOL. Whatever that maybe. For the first time I am looking for my period to come because maybe it will take this all away again. Maybe I will get away from the everyday things and just have this stuff once in awhile.

Bless your heart! (((hugs))) Yes! You are in peri and welcome to this interesting phase of life.
Do you want to know what the saddest part of peri is? although the racing heart and all the other cr*p that goes on isnt bad enough. The worst is that you feel alone and the drs dont understand. Especially male drs. We have to come to a public board of strangers to get compassion and understanding. But am so grateful for these strangers on this public board. It will be your best resource for what you are going through. At times, this board is the only connection I have to others validating my symptoms.

This is a terrible suggestion but... I think you need to go see your dr. I would find a woman dr if you dont have one. all the grumpy ol men drs that are old school have not done me any favors.

I only say it is terrible because who wants to go to the dr? Especially with all the things going on in our body right now. Our bodies are screaming from the change. It is scary

Good news!!! You are not alone. You can even IM us any time you need. Bless you

I just read this and wanted you to know how I feel for you. I have been struggling on and off for two and a half years now. Some weeks are good, others awful. I am in that awful stage right now and it is so difficult to break out of it. It's bad enough to get the physical symptoms, but then the mind starts racing and more physical things pop up. Yes, I, too, have been told I have panic/anxiety. who wouldn't with all we go through? I am now on bcp's that helps sometimes and I use xanax when things are really bad and it does help me. I am not saying drugs are for everyone, but it helps me cope with all the ups and downs that my body goes through and gives me a sense of normalcy.

I hope you keep coming around and talking and reading to help you through. I would be lost without this fabulous group of women, I think you will find it a wonderful place to come to.

Have a good day.

I too feel for you. Enough said it all, I could have wrote exactly what she wrote. I have been going through this 5 years and when I think about it there where signs before that. I too was diagnosed with anxiety/depression. I take anxiety an anxiety med when it's a really, really bad day. My dr says it's addicting so he will only give me so many or I would probably take them more often. Of course there was no mention the anxiety/depression could be hormone related. I didn't know until I found this site. These past 6 months have been the worse. Hopefully it's all peaking and will go downhill soon.
Keep us posted and hope this site helps you as much as it does me.

Okay I had another one yesterday and one today.....the one today I was having in the car....so I said what better time to go to the doc's. so I called and they said they could fit me in. so I went right in and he checked me all over and said it was a anxiety/panic attack. I think my problem is I start with a hot flash and it swarms into a panic attack. I just know I can not live like this....thinking I am dying or my daughter is going to come home and find me on the floor.

He told me to take a lorazapam twice a day once in the morning and one at night. he said the pain in my neck was from stress and I needed to calm down. My heart was pounding very hard. but he said my heart is fine,

Isn't it weird that you have these come out of them ok.....then the next time you still think you are dying. I have had anxiety for 10 years I know what that is...I DO NOT KNOW what is causing this and it is driving me insane. I will except menopause....why not it is a fact of life. But these things are really playing with me/ I am praying for a period hoping it will make me feel better. But maybe where this month is so hard maybe I am getting ready to stop. I see I did not put my age in....I am 46.

thanks for all the replys. I appreciate it very much/ I need to know I am normal./ not some whacked out nut case.

Good morning,
You are not a nut case. Not at all. But, I am sure you feel that way. I even wrote a note to my hubby apologizing for being a different person he knew all these years. I wondered in the note about who I was and when will the old me be back. I have been through batteries of tests, visits to the er, etc. and luckily I am healthy, but I rarely feel that way. This transition is awful. I had a restless night's sleep and woke up this morning with my stomach tightening up, "oh boy, here we go", then from the waist up, a hot flash, my hands were even hot and my husband agreed, they were burning. I have been running to the bathroom, IBS kicking in, palps are here, then the burping. Is this anxiety? I dont' think so, I think it all starts with the hormones but quickly goes into anxiety then everything tenses up causing more physical symptoms and the cycle goes on and on.

You are so not alone, you wrote my story. The lorazapam should help, do you notice a difference when you take it? Does it help? I am so glad you went to the doctor while this was going on so he could see first hand how you are feeling. I have done that too. I dont' feel much better after that I always feel he missed something, but, at some point we need to believe the doctors.

It's not you, it's your hormones talking and they speak loud and clear. I hope you have a better day. Take the pills and see how you are doing. Check in every now and then and let us know.

Hi DanaRae

Please know that about 6 months ago I was having very similar symptoms. I have also had them like you in the car.
I think you may be describing adrenal rushes which are different to hot flashes, because for me they were like
someone giving me a fright and then I would take ages to calm down after each one. I was having several a day
and moving from a hot room to a cold one and vice versa would often trigger them.

What got me through this very difficult phase of peri, was sipping chamomille tea throughout the day, visiting my chiropractor
(to get everything back in alignment) and sipping cold water when I felt an attack coming on.

I agree that the panic seems to spiral out of control.

6months on and each day got a little better and instead of waves of anxiety, I would have waves of calm.
Now I struggle to get worried over anything - go figure, because I am quite naturally an anxious worrier type.

Please know that my thoughts are with you, and keep posting because we can support you through this hormone roller coaster.

I feel for you because I am going through the same kind of symptoms. At this point I don't know for sure if it is perimenopause or if I have a heart condition. I am suppose to be checked out in the coming week for that. I had a normal EKG at the emergency room a couple of weeks back. The doc says get it checked and he mentioned the possibility it's perimenopause as well. The palps and hot flashes seem to come together for me. The part that bothers me most is when they come at night and I can't sleep. I haven't slept well in several weeks. Every night at bed time I lie back and the house gets quiet and I just have to ride this wave until morning. I fall to sleep for about an hour and a half or two, three hours at most, if I'm lucky....and then wake up. Everynight I see 1:35am, 3:08 or so, and then I might fall asleep until 6:30am after that. Ugh!

I just wanted to respond to you to let you know that there is someone else out here who is having just about the same type symptoms you're having. I sincerely hope you feel better soon.

I wish I had some one like you to talk to on the phone so we could share horror stories. I to am 46 and going through some thing simmilar. Is there a phone support system here???

I am 46 also and having the same symptoms. I know my anxiety makes it worse but it is not anxiety that are causing the symptoms. It is very tiring.

Oh my goodness I am on the phone constanley...thinking my mother and friends think I am crazy. went to my grand daughter b-day party yesterday and could not even get through that without having to go outside and just get away. then I had to get up this morning with a cold. I live in Maine and when you get HOT and open a window to cool off I guess it was to COLD......oh well. Someday I just hope I will be somewhat normal. you people on here are great. I appreciate your time in chatting with me and letting me know I will come out of this.

oh ladies........this is all to much! DanaRae .... you are definatley not alone! Dont' panic! (easier said than done, i know!), and i know exactly where you are at right now,,,,,I have SO been there, and in reality, it still gets me! YOu can live through the same scary symptom 100 times, and each time, you think THIS IS IT.....this time, it's really a heart attack, or brain tumor, or stomach cancer! UGH! You'd think, that after living through the same symptoms before, you'd get sort of used to it, and in a weird way you do ,,,,yet, it's amazing, how each time, you're POSITIVE ...THIS is the real thing! what is that? It must be our peri brains.....lol.....because it gives us the sensation and thoughts, that our life is hanging by a thread, and that at any moment, we're going to keel over and die! I know because I fight off that feeling constantly. But with all these horrible, depressing symptoms, it's no wonder, we're all basket cases! I totally agree with all of you .... everything said on all the posts are absolutley true, and DanaRae, it's ok!!!!! Yes, and yes, and yes.....i have had ENTIRE MONTHS of feeling like absolute c**p! From the time i wake up, till the time i TRY to go to bed....I also wake up every two hours...on the dot! Then, i feel like i have to go to the bathroom, constantly.......yet, that may not really be true! So, i am up and down, all night long.....you can never get really good sleep anymore! That alone, is not good! I can have some "good " days....but they are far a few between, and it's completley possible, to feel SICK the entire month Dana .... what you described, is not unusual! So, stay here, because here you will find strength, support, and encouragement!

Oh, I love this board! So glad I found all of you!

I read about Enough stating her stomach tightening up before a hot flash. I had that happen for the first time this month. I thought maybe I was just anxious and my muscles were tightening...but everytime it happened, I would feel heat rise into my chest/neck. Almost a burning/tingling sensation and felt I had to force myself to take a deep breath.

It's weird when that happens because I always feel like I can take a deep breath, but at the same time I can't. (Does that make sense?) Like suffocating, but not. It's like I can breathe fully into my lungs, but still feel pressure on my chest...very strange. I probably sound like an idiot...LOL!

Thank you...all of you! I don't know what I'd do if I hadn't found this board! I find myself coming here more and more.

Hugs to all...