I am 47 and have what I call hot flashs.I sat up yesterday and all of the sudden starting sweating and my heart started racing and Doctor says hormones are fine and its not menopause. But I tell you there are days i feel like I am going nuts. Doctor has put me on several different pills for my nerves. Right now I am on remeron and Klonpin. Just 2 days ago it was Prozac and I could not take it made the systems worse. My heart races and I start sweating. I have been in the doctors office several times in the last month to be told it is panic attacks. I have used several different meds paxil. prozac. lexapro and xanax to name a few . I went to a funeral the other day and got so hot and shakey I had to leave. Yes I have alot of stress in my life used to be able to handle it. Not anymore.

There's a cross over here between anxiety and menopause as both can cause you to feel hot and panicky. Have you checked the 32 symptoms of menopause on this site?

As you read through the boards you will see that doctor's aren't always right about our symptoms... some still seem to be denying that there are any real uncomfortable symptoms with menopause.

Welcome to this mine of info Caulses

Most of the women on this site have experienced what you have. It's a cross between nerves and menopause. They go hand in hand. Start walking and exercising (if you're not already)....I know people hate hearing that, but it's the truth. I was having panic attacks right and left about 3 years ago. I started walking and exercising and changed what I was eating. I do not get them at all anymore. I take a multivitamin along with Super B and Vitamin E. I also take Magnesium at night before bed.

Alice 3...you're exactly right. Many doctors will tell the women that it's:

Fibromyalgia
MS


The above seem to get labeled to many women in their 40's and 50's. If you have tingling, numbness, twitching and jerking they label it as one or the other. My neighbor had all of these symptoms for about 8 years....her doctor had her on some many meds. She went to a specialist finally after 8 years. He told her to get off all of the meds (she was pretty much through menopause) and see what happened. She did not have Fibro or MS. It was the menopause causing it. Beware of any doctor that will diagnose you with these two illnesses without extensive research.

Caulses,

This certainly sounds like what many other women on this site have described, and what I too have experienced. Anxiety is very common with perimenopause! And the others are correct in saying doctors often don't acknowledge this.

It does feel very physiological, when you're just sitting watching TV and all of a sudden your body just takes off with palpitations and sweating and crazy thoughts.

I'd say hang in there and do your best to find ways to manage the anxiety. It sounds like you have tried many things. There is lots of advice on these message boards - you might spend some time going through and seeing if you find anything helpful.

And you'll definitely find a supportive sisterhood here!

Welcome to the crowd!

Uncontrollable adrenalin surging throughout the body literally "s*cks!" And yet, that is what it is. Exercise is excellent - taming adrenalin is fairly easy while engaged in exercise. There are so many times when I feel I am quiet, watching perhaps a funny show and experience all that you are experiencing. It is very unnerving. Of course, you start feeling anxious and voila! The entire episode compounds itself. Thankfully, once recognized for what it is, one can be proactive and immediately start deep breathing and move around. That seems to help for me. My main problem is the "what if's" and the free floating fear.

Just wanted to add my 3 cents worth....I completely relate to what you've been experiencing....although my gyn says I'm not even half way through menopause (I'll be 51 in March). I've entertained thoughts of taking psych drugs for anxiety and such... but myi gyn says if I've been able to function without any hormones or other drugs, try and 'hang in there". I completely know what it feels like when you feel like you're losing your grip...best wishes to you.

I have no idea if you are in menopause or not (I'm trying to figure out if I am because I am having similar symptoms). I would say, given your age of 47, something is most probably going on even if the blood tests can't pick it up. But remember that it probably a combination of one thing (menopause or perimenopause) exacerbating another. You say this happened while you were at a funeral--that's definitely an anxiety provoker for many people. Maybe if you weren't going through menopause nothing would have happened, but since you are it just all goes out of control.

But it sure sounds like menopause to me. Also, everyone is different with the SSRIs. I cannot take them because they really provoke my anxiety. I'm trying to have my doctor prescribe me Lexapro which is one I haven't tried yet. He is hesitant to do so because many of his depressed patients get highly agitated on it at first.
Christine

Caulses - welcome to the evergrowing club of perimenopausal women with anxiety - we are an awesome group!!! I have been a member (on and off) for three years and know how strange it all is. Just know that we are here to help each other through this.

Christine - I think its awesome that your doctor is acknowledging that the SSRI's increase anxiety and agitation. In the past Drs have looked at me like its all in my head!! I have been trying Zoloft - but think it has just made things worse. Lexapro is another possibility for me to try and I plan to ask my doc this week about using xanax at small doses.