Three weeks ago I began to be jolted from a sound sleep by body jerks. Sometimes they felt so violent I half expected to wake to a medical team surrounding me with a doctor holding cardiac paddles and waiting to yell "Clear!" Once they started, they happened every night, so I became convinced that I am suffering from Parkinson's or some other neuro disorder. Then came twitching: my right eye, my right thumb and left toes as well as small under-the-skin muscle tremors. (These happen in the day as well as at night). Finally, one day I was trying to relax with my hands laid across my stomach when I thought I felt something like an electrical current humming from my abdomen through my hands. I was sure that if I told anyone all of this they would definitely think I was ready to be committed. Instead, I googled body AND electricity and found this Web site. I never connected these symptoms to menopause and thought I would cry from relief when I read stories from other women who are experiencing exactly the same thing. I've been suffering with severe peri-menopause for years and am now in in my fourth straight month without a period. Other than hot flashes for three weeks during the first period-free month (which were very manageable in my case) I have been feeling better than I have in years ... then this. I have an appointment with my doctor to rule out anything neurological, but in the meantime this site and you ladies have given me hope that I am neither crazy nor suffering from a serious disease. Whenever I feel myself sliding into the fear and depression about these symptoms, I log on to this site, read your stories and feel so much better. Thank you!

I went through almost the exact same thing for the last four months. Swore I had parkinsens or ms. Doc did bloodwork and my B12 is so low it's almost off the charts. Google symptoms of B12 deficiency and you will answer most of your own questions! I was scared to death I had something serious and turns out I am lacking a simple vitamin but it plays BIG in your body when you don't have it. I am opting for b12 injections.

hi meno warrior i to have had the eye,finger and toe twitching also my shoulder jerks im so glad i found this site

I have had episodes of twitching--eyelid, finger, big toe, calf muscle--several times in the past when my hormones were screwy--breastfeeding etc. I had a workup and the doctor chalked it up to anxiety which can mess up the electrical impulses in the muscles. I also sometimes jerk awake when I am relaxing before bed--like I have to stop myself from falling. Hope you get quick reassurance from your doc too!

I'm right there with you, have had twitching in my calves, feet shoulders and butt for the last couple of months. I think it is definitely hormonal and anxiety related. It seems when I am calmer my muscles are calmer. I'm not really worried, it happens to so many of us on these boards- but I do have a physical later in the month, gonna see what my Doc says, and ask for some bloodwork- magnesium/potassium/sodium, thyroid check, ferratin and hormone levels. I also hope you gets lots of reassurance from your doc, too!

Welcome to P-S!
Sounds like sleep starts> you can have them at any age> but OMgosh I have scary ones now. Plus it sounds like your having internal tremors!
Google sleep starts and see what you think> they are worse when your tired!

Omg! I went through all the same things... starting last Aug! I thought I was dying, I cried all the time etc. The docs said NO PERI but I am 42 and had a FSH test done but my doctor said it was fine???.... Anyhow the jolts, the muscles aches and twitching, Hot flashes esp. when I eat now and a bit of weight gain in the middle is what is still going on with me. Just know you are not alone.. and this is a great group of women to talk to! My issue now is dizziness.. I started my cycle today ~ hmmm could that be a peri symptom too?

Anyhow take care..
hugs..
~L

I will definitely look into this. I've already started taking magnesium which has helped the twitching quite a bit, but the night jolts just won't quit!

I have wanted to write for a long time. I check the site almost daily for constant confirmation that internal shaking is a normal?? symptom of perimenopause. I am 47 years old and have experienced the internal shaking/tremors since October 2008. These tremors happen almost every night and usually wake me up around 4:00am. When the tremors started and for the following several months my heart would race and I would have palpitations - probably from extreme fear as to what was going on. At first I thought the shaking was coming from my small cocker spaniel who sleeps at the foot of our bed. The tremors start in my torso and seem to spread to my arms and legs. They are not visible only internal. They usually last for about 30 minutes and it sometimes helps if I get out of bed and walk around but they also can return when I get back into bed. They send my anxiety levels through the roof!!!! I went to the doctor last January and was tested for Thyroid (TSH), LH, FSH, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and all the regular routine bloodwork you have taken for an annual check up. I also had a chest X-ray, ECG, and an abdominal ultrasound. Everything was normal. I just had my regular annual check up with my doctor in July and all the regular blood work was normal. My regular doctor did not want to check my hormone levels because he said if I did not want to take HRT then what was the point. My periods have been slightly erratic for about 10 months i.e. from 21 days to 39 days and everything in-between. For the last few weeks I have had additional symptoms of electric type shocks, pins and needles in my hands and feet, fuzzy feelings and crawling sensations under my skin. Both my clinic doctor and my regular doctor have never heard of internal shaking being related to perimenopause. On a daily basis I try and convince myself that this is all very normal and part of the peri process but I'm not really winning the battle in my head! Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

P.S. For the record I had a routine head CT & MRI in 2006 and both were completely normal.

once in ahwile i get muscles jerking away on me at night it calms down after a minute or two i got to where i ignore it.

I've been experiencing internal trembling in the wee hours...also, eye and muscle twitches. I had one in my calf muscle a couple of weeks ago that went on for three days. I could actually see the twitching! Very weird. This is the strangest time of my life.

Magnesium, calcium at bedtime is good. Less caffeine. B12 level should be checked. These are all helpful. Still shaking and twiches happen to me. The BEST thing is knowing it is OK, so many have it. Keeps me calm and that is helpful too! I am seeing a doctor that is SUPPOSED to know about hormones very soon. I am hoping to learn more.

Hey ladybugs,

I have that deficiency too and you are so right !! All of my buzzing and twitching cleared within 4 weeks of weekly injections.Gives me lots of energy but I dont sleep well the first day of the injection.

Is vibrating the same thing as shaking? Because now I feel as if I am permanently attached to an electric fence. The vibrations are in my head, in the middle of my rib cage, in my hands and feet. Oh, and I still get those lovely sleep jolts and the occasional palpitation or feeling like a skipped heart beat. These symptoms aren't occasional they are almost constant. Thyroid problems have been ruled out, but it will take months to hopefully eliminate anything else EXCEPT hormones. I was NOT depressed or anxious before this all started but I sure as heck am now.

Meno Warrior, yes a feeling of vibrating is also part of the internal shaking. Mine was at it's height when I was the most anxious. I know it seems next to impossible but try to relax and tell yourself whatever you need to help calm your nerves and it will provide some relief. Hang in there and vist us often. We are here to support you.

Thank you - it helps to know I am not alone!