I'm having a hard time figuring out this pulsing thing that goes on in my head. I mentioned in another post that I am struggling with balancing my BP along with my change issues. But in the night when I 'think' it's my BP causing an issue I get up and check it and it's fine, but still have these weird sensations in my head. I'm wondering if it's hot flashes because I don't know exactly how they feel physically other than getting hot. I know my herbals have kept them away for the most part, at least the full blown ones you gals talk about. This site is called Power Surge and I wonder if this symptom is exactly that. This is a huge complaint for me - the back of my head in the occipital region sort of pulsing and feeling like it's stuffed with something. Hard to describe fully but feels like a pressure or fullness in the back of my head that sometimes radiates up and over the top towards my forehead. Anyone else experiencing these physical symptoms in the head area?? I'm be very interested in knowing. We all know there are alot of emotional changes in the brain area going on, and Dr. Northrup's book states that our brains are literally being rewired at this time. Physical symptomology is what my question revolves around. Thanks everyone!!

Hi Sheila,

I think I understand what you are talking about with your head. I have had something very similar to what you described. I get a pulsating in the back of my head that fans out over the sides and top. It also feels like it is tingly in nature. It is very hard to describe. I have tried to explain this to my doctor but he has only attributed it to anxiety. That could be possible as I have had a lot of anxiety since I went into this peri stage of life. There are so many things going on in the body during this time so I have just attributed this to another peri symptom.

Maeflower

I just woke up and it's there - this feeling. My BP isn't up but it's there. Boy I just wish I could feel normal!! I get a couple days of feeling really good and suddenly I'm bad off again. Forcing myself to move on with my life isn't easy some days. Hopefully this will turn out to be a better day for me. Thanks for responding.

I realize it's been a couple of months since the last post on this board, but I was reading it and decided to add my 2cents. I don't have the occipital pulsing but I get a slightly dizzy sensation like a band around my head at eye level. It's quite distinctive and I know I'm in for a bad time when it hits. I also have "electrical shock-like" feelings in the palms of my hands. Very weird and uncomfortable. Of course, these symptoms are the least of the problem. Mischy

I have the pulsing, but not the other stuff. It's most noticable in the mornings. If I am looking down at something, I can actually see my hair that's hanging down in front of my face moving, like to a heartbeat kind of pulsing. I think it's another muscle type issue like the muscle twitching and vibration kind of thing.

Hi meno. sisters,
That is a scary feeling isn't it. I had it for a few weeks - so I had the head checked w/a cat scan. The diagnosis was....stress and anxiety. I was afraid when they checked my head that they would see some really strange things in the head. I do believe that every so often the body snatchers come into my head:lol: ... On no - that's right - there's no body snatchers - it's peri-meno.

My daugter also had the head throbbing - and she also had a migrain at the same time - her hair was actually moving at the temple w/the throbbing head... After the migraine was done - the throbbing was done.

Blessings,
Stacy

Hi everyone:

I don't get the throbbing but like a pulsing in my left ear. The pulsing started in Feb. and then went away until May and has been here ever since. I had my ear checked out and it is fine. I am just chalking it up as another sign of peri. I figure it could be lots of blood rushing around? Who knows. I just know I feel better knowing all these weird symptoms are peri since all my tests are coming back negative. I can live with it (I guess).

I find it funny that the doctors are always chalking it up to stress and anxiety. I guess it makes them feel better to label it. I am sure we are all under tons of stress and anxiety do to the change. I just wish a lot of doctors would realize it is also peri and not just stress and anxiety.

I love Dr. Northrup's book. She has a great website too.

I also think it is interesting that doctors like to blame stress and anxiety, even if at the time you are not stressed or anxious. When I first started to get muscle twitching, I was not stressed or anxious, in fact, it was one of the most stress-less times of my life. My anxiety eventually arose from the fact that the twitching did not go away and was a very wierd thing to have happening. The neurologist told me the twitching was due to anxiety, AND then I told him that the anxiety was due to the twitching. I think you are right....they need something to explain it rather than straight out telling you they don't have a clue. I would actually prefer they just tell me they can't figure out why something is happening.

I feel the same way. When my twitching first started I was told I was a nervous person. I have never been a nervous person in my life. When the fatigue and other symptoms hit, I was asked if I was happy with my life and my husband or was I missing my children who had both been at college for three years or more. Then I was told I should go on a nice vacation with my husband. Oh yeah, I would love to go on a vacation if I wasn't too FATIGUED to go. I honestly think because we are women, that is the first thing, you are either stressed, anxious or depressed. I am sure men are not asked these questions! I set my doctor straight and told him not to ask me those questions again. I think he got the message but still won't admit it is hormonal.

Kim

Hi Ladies,

I think the head buzzing and aches are related to my FATIGUE....like everything else. The very first time i went to my GP with the twitching, she said she thought the muscle stuff was because of fatigue. Then the twitching and aching caused severe anxiety and depression...so now 7 months later, I have guess what??? Fatigue. I don't get it. i am getting plenty of sleep, I'm not working, so my stress should be at an all time low, but I have zero energy. I have been reading that when you are depressed you need to stay busy and have a schedule so you keep your tired mind occupied....makes perfect sense, except I am too tired to do squat. Has anyone heard of Provigil for the fatigue?

Thanks for letting me vent...JP

Geez, does THIS all sound familiar. I got hit like a mack truck about the middle of February with anxiety through the roof and all kinds of other weirdness that made me think maybe the emissaries from my home planet were trying to reclaim me ! Normally my anxiety level is roughly that of a 3-toed sloth. Off I went to my Gyn doc--who is female but in her early 30's. She told me to go see my psychiatrist--who is female and about my age (45). Psy doc said "Oh, yeah--you've been bodysnatched by perimenopause. Why don't you go see xxx--another Gyno who DOES know all about that?" Back on track, more or less, now. Lots of docs just have a really hard time saying "I don't know"!

Hi everyone:

I am like some of you and never have had anxiety like this before either. I have always been a person who thinks the glass is half full, loves every morning and just enjoys life. So now all of a sudden I am just an anxious, nervous person? My doctors just don't want to say "They don't know" I too have a young female OB and she doesn't get it yet. She wanted me to go on AD, but I didn't want to since I know it is hormonal. I am glad I said no to the AD's as I am feeling really good now a days except for a smidgen of anxiety in the mornings.

I agree about men not being asked about depression or anxiety. What is it with our society? UGH.

For several years now I have been dealing with this wierd pulsing in my head. Sometimes when what I call worse I also get a another sound.. There never has been any pain associated with it. Well getting to the reason I am here, I did a search, (which I have done several times in years, never finding anything), for pulsing head. because after a month or so of it not present I woke up from a nap last night to it really acting up. I have never had what I call pain with it just the annoying "pulsing" which some times is so loud it makes it hard for me to fall to sleep. Well in the search I found a response to a post refering to pulsing, leading to here and here I am. I have no indication of what is causung it.. I too thought my B/P might be the instigator, meds etc., doesn't seem to relate. Now the stress part I can relate too as I am one who has stress too much I feel.

Anyway, I am at least happy to know I am not crazy, now reading others have this "peculiar" problem. None of my Dr. have offered a reason either.

I will be keeping an eye here.

Oh, by the way I became menopausal about the age of 40, and nI am now 57. The pulsing if i remember correctly didn't hit till my 50's possible around the time of my last job.

Thanks ladies, it is nice to at least know I am not alone in this.

Sherron

Nope Sherron, you sure aint lone hun. Welcome to PS too!

If you haven't had your thyroid checked it is a MUST! The symptoms of PERI & Hypothroyidism are similar and related. Alot of my wierd things are starting to subside since I am on thyroid medicine and hormone cream.

Wow, am I glad to hear you all identify this head pulsing thing. This is the only place I've seen it discussed!

My pulsing reminds me of the song "Trouble" from The Music Man--the whole town chants "Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, TROUBLE, Trouble, trouble, trouble" while Robert Preston sings the song. When that stronger chant in the middle comes and goes in my head--sort of reverberating around to different parts of my head-- it is very distracting. It's not really pain, but it sure is annoying and uncomfortable.

I also hate when doctors chalk it up to stress. I think 'stress' is the new 'hysteria' always used when diagnosing females--'hysteria' coming from the Greek for 'uterus.'

Hi:
That is interesting that Hysteria comes from Uterus. you learn something new everyday.

Mopsy

Hi,
I have been having the same thing. I thought it was my b/p but that was fine. My Dr thinks it is a estrogen vasomotor surge. It feels like something is crawling around on my head and the back of my neck. I am on an anti-depressant and it is improved. Sometimes if i am sitting with my head resting on a recliner chair if feel it happening then.

Louse

Sherron, I get this too. My doctor blew it off as nothing. I hear it at night when I put my ear to the pillow. You've probably seen my posts about it. A foam rubber pillow helped. I've had my carotid arteries checked (not because of this) and they were fine, so I don't think about it anymore.

SHERRON
WOW I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH THIS. FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN FEELING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT. I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING POUNDING AND MOVING IN MY HEAD. WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING I FEEL CONFUSED DAZED MY VISION BECOMES A LITTLE BLURRY. I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF HOSPITAL AND BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING THAT I HAVE ANXIETY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I HAVE PANIC ATTACKS. I HAVE HAD EKG, MRI, XRAY, AND NOTHING. I JUST WANT TO FEEL NORMAL AGAIN. IT USUALLY HAPPENS DURING THE TIME OF MY CYCLE. I HAVE IREGULAR CYCLES. MY HANDS ALSO SWELL UP. DO YOUR HANDS SWELL. I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING CRAZY. I CRY SO MUCH. I SOMETIMES THINK I AM GOING TO HAVE A STROKE. OR A HEARTATTACK. I FEEL MY HEART LIKE FLUTTERING AND IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS. I AM SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT I AM NOT ALONE. I AM ACTUALLY CRYING, RIGHT NOW. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU. I SOMETIMES GET THESE SUDDEN FLUSHES TO MY HEAD THEN I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS FADING AWAY THEN MY HEART START RACING. I CALL THEM PANIC ATTACKS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD. BUT I THINK IT IS PERI AND I AM HAPPY THAT I FOUND SOMEONE WHO CAN UNDERSTAND ME AND NOT LOOK AT ME LIKE I AM CRAZY.

WOW I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH THIS. FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN FEELING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT. I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING POUNDING AND MOVING IN MY HEAD. WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING I FEEL CONFUSED DAZED MY VISION BECOMES A LITTLE BLURRY. I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF HOSPITAL AND BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING THAT I HAVE ANXIETY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I HAVE PANIC ATTACKS. I HAVE HAD EKG, MRI, XRAY, AND NOTHING. I JUST WANT TO FEEL NORMAL AGAIN. IT USUALLY HAPPENS DURING THE TIME OF MY CYCLE. I HAVE IREGULAR CYCLES. MY HANDS ALSO SWELL UP. DO YOUR HANDS SWELL. I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING CRAZY. I CRY SO MUCH. I SOMETIMES THINK I AM GOING TO HAVE A STROKE. OR A HEARTATTACK. I FEEL MY HEART LIKE FLUTTERING AND IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS. I AM SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT I AM NOT ALONE. I AM ACTUALLY CRYING, RIGHT NOW. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU. I SOMETIMES GET THESE SUDDEN FLUSHES TO MY HEAD THEN I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS FADING AWAY THEN MY HEART START RACING. I CALL THEM PANIC ATTACKS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD. BUT I THINK IT IS PERI AND I AM HAPPY THAT I FOUND SOMEONE WHO CAN UNDERSTAND ME AND NOT LOOK AT ME LIKE I AM CRAZY.

OH!,MissMary you are not alone....I find myself ALWAYS crying anymore..sometimes I just start feeling so sorry for myself and feel that I am so alone in all of this that nobody out there understands what I am going through...until I come here...and then I realize I am not alone.

Stay positive!!!...try to anyway. It`s good to cry soemtimes......you can always come here and vent we are ALWAYS here to listen...

Take Care
(((hugs)))Christina

I have had several good days with no symptoms then all of a sudden my head feels like somebody is shooting a nail thru it from the neck to the top of my head. Than it goes away.

Or a headache will HIT me instantly - last for a few hours and gone. No pain releiver I have used will stop it either. Just does it's own thing.

Jsully,

I've gotten walloped with those sudden headaches too.

The only thing that has helped (and it really does) is Excedrin Extra-Strength. Have you tried it? I couldn't believe it would be strong enough to make the difference, but it does!

Good luck to you,
JJ

JJ,

Hope you read my this post and give me some feedback. I started the 10 mg Prozac over a week ago, I feel a lttle better...not as edgy but insomnia and feeling very tired. Had insomnia problems before the prozac but the tired feeling is new.

Any feedback would be great.

Thanks,
Plumeria

I'm 53 and started having the head sensations in July 2005. It started in the occipital region as a dull ache and tender scalp. Then I started getting tingling, stabbling and burning sensations all over the scalp. A month later the whole back of the head felt like it was on fire and my face would flush from the chin up, the scalp was unbearable to touch and the headache was always smack dab in the center of my forehead blurring everything in front of me. Went to all kinds of docs, had an MRI with nothing showing, yet the sensations persist. Along with all of this my hair began falling out in long strands.

Hair shed has decreased, but I'm left with very thin hair, scalp is still sore and very dry and I'm still dealing with the scalp ache and headaches. Have been going to a chiropractor for adjustments. He swears a lot of the scalp stuff is caused by cervical misalignment. The hair loss, and other stuff he puts down as hormonal. My thyroid has been tested several times and is always coming back with a different number. So it's possible I'm in a state of flux and the whole hormonal system is out of whack. I did a trial month of Synthroid which I think started the hair loss although none of the docs go for that. However, one of the side effects listed is hair loss. Just wonder if it didn't make my whole body go crazy and toxic.

Anyway, I also get internal trembling, shakiness, panicky feelings and feelings of dread and anxiety. Naturally, my internist wants me to take antidepessants or go see a psychologist. I've been holding off on both, but if this continues, I might have to try one or the other just to get through each day. Life was great up until June 2005 – then the freight train hit and I feel as though I've aged 20 years in the last 6 months.

What does your head feel like exactly? I have been dealing with pain in my head that moves around everywhere, but I feel stupid saying that it is a headache, it is just pain, or a nail thru the top of my head, take your pick, sometimes it moves to the forehead or my nose burns so much I cant stand it. I have had the worst year of my life fighting idiotic symptoms and I have thought I had it all. (reflux, anxiey, irregular periods, aching joints, knees, hips, etc) This is the last thing I expected. I have had 2 head CTs that showed sinus problems, but i really feel that peri has triggered all of this mess. I am close to the edge of not being able to function on a daily basis. Right now i am taking prednisone to see if it helps swelling. I am scared that ENT is going to give up on me. Does anyone have this crazy pain in head that no OTC will touch. I am worried!!!!!

I was having the same thing until I got on natural hormone cream (bio) and thryoid meds. Now I only get these symptoms when I have to be off my cream for 7 days during bleeding. But I still have the reflux, irregular periods, and sometimes aching joints. ME? I am also sick of it but this too shall pass! I have just learned to live with it until it is ALL over. Hopefully soon!!!

should i go to gyn to test my thyroid, how do you get that cream? I have gone to so many doctors this year, i just want to make sure what to do, i have these weird pains today running all thru my head, the weather changed yesterday and set me off so bad, my nose is stopped up but the weirdness in the head is a challenge, i just keep plugging along, just hoping for good days, did you have head pains also?

My headaches are like a constant pressure right in the forehead, sometimes behind the eyes which makes seeing clearly almost impossible. In addition I get stinging, jabbing pains in the temples, and the back of the head (occipital ridge), The area of the ridge sometimes itches, sometimes burns. I've been told that I may have occipital neuralgia which I've read happens often to menopausal women. It can be triggered by anything. I have a suspicion that mine was triggered by the chemicals in a perm I had in June. Seems that as we're transitioning into this different hormonal state, our skin layer (scalp included) becomes thinner and more permeable, thereby allowing more damage to be done to the skin. That in turn can become a chemical sensitivity resulting in a bad reaction. It really s*cks, ladies. Had I known I was going through the change at the same time I decided to get a perm, believe me the perm would not have happened. Now I'm stuck with an itchy, irritated, dry scalp and lifeless hair. Just wonder if any of it will get better as the hormones hopefully rebalance.

I have just come off the week from hell where I have barely been functioning and honesting considering ending this misery for good. My head was full of activity buzzing around in it, my eyes and skin felt like they were bulging with dryness, I was shaky and panicky, I crying nonstop and was just a real, real mess! I was actually having shooting pains in my chest, up and under my arms, and in my head. I felt that I was having either a heart attack or a stroke and was hoping that it would get it over with.

I can tell you that you are not dreaming, this is in fact one of the symptoms of peri/or full menopause. Doctors have been telling me for 10 years that I could not be in menopause because I continue to have periods. But, my symptoms started while I was pregnant and have never ceased. Three out of 4 weeks I feel awful, and the week during my period it is so heavy that I have to time going out... Honestly, my daughter is 10 years old and does not remember the kind, intelligent, active person that i was prior to this. She only knows the paranoid, anxiety ridden, crying mother that has difficulty socializing and living a normal life, and as she says, "it s*cks."

I am seeing a doctor today, and although I am still having periods, I am hoping that he tests my hormone levels orally as opposed to blood work and prescribes something that is useful.

TJ

TJ,

Your post was very moving.... I've been there too, that deep hell where you just WANT TO HAVE A STROKE so it will all be over!

Hang in there, Sister, because it absolutely gets better! My days aren't perfect, but that horrid shaky crap you are describing is over, and Honey, it was terrifying to me, too.

Tell yourself over and over, "It's going to pass...." because it will, and you and your girl will "get you back."

Best of luck to you as you go to the doc's - praying they'll have ideas that will really help.

JJ

I am going to a natural doctor. He put me on bio-idential cream. Also did another blood test for thryoid and am now on Armour. I'm having a tough time with Armour because I seem to be very sensitive to it. May have to change to another thryoid med. Guess it takes time to balance out the hormones because I am still having frequent dizziness. Feel good a couple days than WHAMMO it hits me again! Also get those wierd pains running thru my head - but not as often.

I forgot to add that in Menopause and Madness they talk about menopausal women and seizure activity increasing. I have seizures and during the last two weeks of my cycle I have to increase my seizure meds because of the increased seizure activity during this time. I have actually been hospitalized twice this year with seizures during the week before my period! They are even threating taking my license for good. It is amazing to me what illnesses our hormonal imbalances causes...THAT WE KNOW OF!!!