I am new to this board, but plan to do a lot of reading. I can tell that I've found a great place for questions I have about perimenopause symptoms. I am 48 and have had peri symptomes for 4 years or so. Some spotting between periods, short cycles. long periods once they do start...and just recently I've been experiencing the heart palpitations. I have looked up other sites and know that this condition is typical for peri, but they are very bothersome and I'm not sure what, if anything, I should take for them. I don't drink much caffeine, am a conscientious eater and I exercise regualary. My last annual was all normal for everything...I haven't see my doctor over this, though I might make an appointment just to be reassured that I'm okay. I have no other chest pain or discomfort and am not dizzy. I just have that thumping sensation off and on and a quickening of the heart beat that seems to come and go. Any one else out there have these bothersome symptoms?

SGolfer - welcome to Power Surge! As you read the boards and the rest of the huge Power Surge website, you'll find that many women share these same problems. Dearest (Power Surge Founder and webmaster) has provided an entire area here on the boards called Palpitations / Heart Issues for the many women who share these complaints with you. Also, we have discussed heart issues several times in the Guest Chats. You can find links to them here Power Surge Guest Transcripts. Dearest posted this once about her own experiences with palps:

I suffered constantly with palpitations during perimenopause - once a day, 24 hours a day. I know how uncomfortable and, yes, frightening it can be. In my article, Power Surge's Menopause Survival Tips, I include many suggestions for helping to reduce and eliminate palpitations. I strongly suggest taking a few moments to read it. Also, I would recommend to any woman who's suffering with palpitations to get on a regimen of 800 IU's of vitamin E - taken in doses of no more than 200 IU's at a time (one at breakfast - it must be taken with food; the second with lunch; third with dinner and fourth at bedtime). Also, adding anti-oxidants like CoQ-10, selenium, folic acid (very, very important for heart health), Taurine and omega 3 oils (you can take it in one capsule) are all tremendously helpful. Last, but not least, get on magnesium every day - 500-1,000 mg. You'll find all this information on the recommendations page. Finally, I also recommend everyone should have a copy of Dr. Robert Atkins (R.I.P.) excellent book called Dr. Atkins' Vita-Nutrient Solution. The book is one of the finest books on the effectiveness of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, amino acids, et al, in treating various disorders. I refer to it more than any other book I own and have been learning about nutrition from Dr. Atkins for the past 25 years. The man was an excellent nutritionist and cardiologist. You can also read the transcript of his visit to Power Surge.

Best of luck to you and welcome to Power Surge!