I have been having anxiety attacks in the middle of the night, but didn't realize that it was anxiety. I would wake up like I was drowning and had to gasp for air. I would then feel like my arms and legs were "falling asleep" I have also had muscle twitches, hot inside my body, face looks red, burning in my arms, back, legs, stomach.... etc. I had myself convinced that I was dying of a disease. I have to assume the anxiety was brought on by the symptoms, not to mention I have Hypothyroidism and didn't know what the issue was. My doctor thinks it's peri and I started a AD last night and only slept for 2 hrs. Today, I feel like rain mans sister. Can someone please tell me this will get better as I go along on the AD??????

Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated!!! I have been dealing with this for only a few weeks and it came on all of a sudden out of the blue, so this couldn't be some disease, RIGHT?

Hi Christine
We were chatting in the chat room it will get better keep reading all the posts here and you will see you are not alone there is a lot of wisdom here I too was scared of losing it but I think what it is you have to tell yourself you are ok.
Nearly every women goes through this some worse than others, in my family there are 4 of us going through it only myself and my cousin have the same symptons, I find the more you talk about it the better you feel sometimes its the quiet times that make you start worrying about each sympton and it seems a new one pops up every day. We will get through this others have before us . Give your meds time to kick in, they take a couple of weeks.

Hi Christine:

Denni is right, it takes about 2-4 weeks for the ADs to really start doing their job. In addition, the anxiety is the worst symptom for me. I have been nuts lately with it and wish it would stop. You are not alone, remember that. Come here often and you will reassurance, kindness, understanding, and tons of information as well as lots of support.

Hugs to you,
Jeaninne

Christine, When I started this years ago, one of my first symptoms was waking up in the middle of the night feeling like I was drowning and gasping for air. It was so long ago I had forgotten but your post reminded me of the fear that grabbed at me. I never went on ADs so can't tell you if they will help but I did go on low dose birth control pills and they helped with that symptom and several others. (sleep, mood swings, rage etc).

As Denni mentioned, just read & post on this board and you will realize you aren't alone. There are very supportive women on this board, we help one another get through all this because it can be a long and daunting road.

(((Hugs)))

Hi Christine, ... yes, i've had all of that too .... and peri started for me just like you, OUT OF THE BLUE one day! AFter that, i was never the same. There are "good" days and "bad" days .... it will take a lot of adjusting, and knowledge! The best place for you to get knowledge about peri, and what to expect, is right here! Your GYN prob. won't give it any validity, so don't be surprised. Hormones can do unbelieveable things! You seriously think you're dying of some disease, and most of us here have thought that at one time or another........some of us, MORE than others..lol....and speaking of that topic, yes, the anxiety is bad, but again there are better and worse days. I've had the burning arms and legs, and stomach.....oh, and my legs. My legs have tingled, burned, felt "tight", and all these varicose veins appeared, and then, they would ACHE so badly! My legs still ache, on and off. As far as the breathing thing, that was one of my first symptoms ..... it started one day, where I felt "tight" in my back, where the lungs are, but I put that off to something else, thinking that it was the weather or something.....but, by day 2, it got worse,....well,...this went on for 9 days, with each day getting worse and worse..........i eventually couldn't get a deep breath, and it felt as if there was wet cement in my lungs....very weird sensation, and scary! My doc said it was anxiety, brought on by my changing hormones, and it was absolutely true! That was 3 yrs. ago now.........since then, i've had other breathing symptoms, but after having gone through that, I was already aware of the fact that it was peri. Then, it went to my head, so to speak....bad head pains and pressure.........geez......and the list goes on............so, don't worry, you are not alone! I really don't think you're dying of some disease, it's hormones! Christine, how old are you?


Just keep coming back here and read, read, read .............. this place is a God send ! Hang in there, if the rest of us can muddle through this, so can you.....

Bless you bless you blessyou! I was exactly where you were at several years ago. It is scary and I could not help but think that I was dying! You are not alone. I have been on am AD since 2004 for peri. it helps. Be patient. If it doesnt work, be sure to call your dr. But do give it time. I am on Zoloft(generic) right now and it is working well. I dont like the weight but I am happy. I have been on paxil, and Celexa too.

I promise it gets better.

Christine,

I have no advice to offer being this all so new to me!!
I relate to your fears .. trust me, I have felt many times I would not live through tomorrrow!
The night time is my worst .. it's the quiet time when my mind goes into operation .. Scary!

It has helped me to find this site, finding others who are going through the same things somehow makes me feel not so alone.

Good Luck with the AD .. keep us posted how you are doing!

Take Care,
Vaylorie

HANG IN THERE CHRISTINE LIKE THE LADIES SAY IT WILL GET BETTER I ALSO AM ON ZOLOFT AND WHAT A DIFFERENCE ITS MADE. GIVE THE AD TIME AND YOU WILL SEE THE DIFFERENCE. HUGS TERRY

[quote name='mydarling' date='Oct 21 2009, 10:11 PM' post='315152']
Hi Christine, ... yes, i've had all of that too .... and peri started for me just like you, OUT OF THE BLUE one day! AFter that, i was never the same. There are "good" days and "bad" days .... it will take a lot of adjusting, and knowledge! The best place for you to get knowledge about peri, and what to expect, is right here! Your GYN prob. won't give it any validity, so don't be surprised. Hormones can do unbelieveable things! You seriously think you're dying of some disease, and most of us here have thought that at one time or another........some of us, MORE than others..lol....and speaking of that topic, yes, the anxiety is bad, but again there are better and worse days. I've had the burning arms and legs, and stomach.....oh, and my legs. My legs have tingled, burned, felt "tight", and all these varicose veins appeared, and then, they would ACHE so badly! My legs still ache, on and off. As far as the breathing thing, that was one of my first symptoms ..... it started one day, where I felt "tight" in my back, where the lungs are, but I put that off to something else, thinking that it was the weather or something.....but, by day 2, it got worse,....well,...this went on for 9 days, with each day getting worse and worse..........i eventually couldn't get a deep breath, and it felt as if there was wet cement in my lungs....very weird sensation, and scary! My doc said it was anxiety, brought on by my changing hormones, and it was absolutely true! That was 3 yrs. ago now.........since then, i've had other breathing symptoms, but after having gone through that, I was already aware of the fact that it was peri. Then, it went to my head, so to speak....bad head pains and pressure.........geez......and the list goes on............so, don't worry, you are not alone! I really don't think you're dying of some disease, it's hormones! Christine, how old are you?


Just keep coming back here and read, read, read .............. this place is a God send ! Hang in there, if the rest of us can muddle through this, so can you.....
[/quote

Thank you all soooo much!!! I will be in 42 in December and it seems everyday a new scary symptom starts. Now I am having a numb feeling in my face and leg on the left side... I can't wait for this all to stop. This is a great site and you all are great, strong women. Thanks again, I already feel like I have a new family!