I hope these will be helpful to those of you suffering from palpitations, skipped heartbeats and concern about heart disease. Bear in mind that most of the time these symptoms are vasomotor responses to fluctuating hormone levels. However, I always recommend getting yourself checked by your health care practitioner - even a cardiologist - to dispel any fears and to get a clean bill of health before you attribute palps, skipped heartbeats, any kind of heart pain, etc., to menopause.
This is one long message composed of numerous reposted messages.
Addtionally, I recommend reading the articles related to women and heart disease, hypertension and cholesterol levels in the same section where you found this topic: Under Important Articles. To get back to it just scroll back to the top of the forum and click onPalpitations / Heart Issues / Hypertension.
Best,
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/inde...post&p=2142
Reposted Message:
belle45 said, " I wish Dearest would read these posts...with all her years and experience here, maybe she could offer us some insight."
belle, what Mary said is true. I must have posted at least 100,000 messages (or more!) on Power Surge's AOL boards and then on the Web boards. This hasn't been a stellar year for me health-wise, and with Power Surge continually growing, I haven't had as much chance to post on the message boards as I used to.
However, I went back to the beginning of this one topic on the "Palpitations / Heart Issues" forum and will repost some of my former messages in hopes that they'll be helpful to you and others. Remember, too, there are numerous older boards you can go into and you'll find many of my responses. This topic, alone, is composed of 14 pages.
Best,
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/inde...post&p=1845
Reposted Message:
I experience the same thing with sugar. I get palpitations from anything that's sweet, rich, fatty. Sugar is like poison to me. I've always been sensitive to sweet, rich foods, but it's gotten increasingly worse since entering perimenopause and now that I'm postmenopausal.
I don't want to make light of palpitations because I've certainly had my share of miserable experiences with them over the years. However, palpitations are very common during perimenopause and once hormones level out, they generally ease up. Also, remember, palpitations is the #1 allergic reaction -- to foods, medications and a host of other things. It's always important to rule out everything before you worry yourself sick over the palpitations you're having at this time of life. That's why diet, exercise, eliminating caffeine, nicotine, taking vitamins, minerals and learning to adjust your lifestyle is very important at this time of life. Everything changes. It can't hurt to get yourself on a regimen of vitamin E, selenium, co q10, folic acid (very, very important). Check the recommendations page for more information.
I'm the last one to play down palpitations because they can be a symptom of something other than menopause. I've read numerous messages in here by women who've had heart issues. However, in my eight years of communicating with women about menopause, I'd say that in 99% of the cases the palpitations they suffered with had nothing to do with heart problems, but were hormone-related.
Sugar, though, is an awful offender for many of us, especially those of us who suffer with palpitations.
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=102&st=30&p=1850&#entry1850
Reposted Message:
Daisy, it doesn't surprise me that while in the doctor's office on the monitor, there wasn't a sign of the palps. This is such a typical case when we want our doctors to see something.
The Toprol you're taking is similar to the beta blocker, Tenormin, I've taken for years. It did not prevent my menopause-related palpitations during the worst throes of perimenopause. When I asked my internist about it, he said if the palpitations became very bad at midday or at night (even though I take only 25 mg. in the morning), I could take another tablet. I have done that only on very few occasions over the last 7 years.
I have had exactly what you've had re the palpitations. I remember going for a day or two (sometimes even longer) when my heart seemed to be constantly palpitating and pounding. It's so uncomfortable, not only physically but emotionally. I'm sure your doctor meant well when he suggested convincing yourself that they wouldn't kill you. Intellectually, that's fine, but emotionally, it's very difficult because you FEEL like you're never going to survive it. I know. I was there for years and still get them, but not as often. Sometimes it would get so bad, I would lay awake night after night. I remember on a few occasions actually thinking, "Lord, if I have to feel this way again tomorrow, please let me go to sleep and not wake up." That's so unlike me.
You've taken one of the most important steps by seeing your doctor and eliminating any heart issues. The palps are most likely hormone-related. A notation -- that doesn't necessarily mean that HRT is going to stop the palps. Many women first develop palps from HRT. Also, with the current "iffy" results regarding HRT, women and heart disease, no one is certain any longer that HRT prevents cardiovascular disease and, in fact, may contribute to cardiovascular "episodes."
The problem is that although the palps may NOT be caused by stress, per se, in all cases, once you begin having them your stress level increases and that only serves to aggravate the palps. It's a vicious cycle. You have to find ways to cope with them. I will post some remedies in a separate message.
I also remember there being a time when my "heart" suddenly began to feel like a separate entity from my body. When we're younger and our bodies seem to be acting like a fine-tuned orchestra, we don't give any thought to any particular organ. It all seems like one happy musical family all working in unison. THEN you find yourself in the throes of a body revolution - perimenopause, when it feels like the body you knew so well is betraying you. However, and I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, once you begin to suffer from palpitations, skipped beats, et al, on a regular basis, you become SO aware of your heart - it's as though it's almost separate from the rest of your body. As though it takes on a life of its own. In short, this instrument in the orchestra is playing off-key. You can't help but notice it. You can't help but worry about it.
I won't even ask, but I'm positive some of you can relate to this.
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/inde...post&p=2143
Reposted Message:
Kari, you know I've posted about palpitations many, many times over the years because that, coupled with the internal shaking, has been my biggest problem during perimenopause. As far as anxiety/stress making palpitations more prominent, that's a reaction that happens pretty much at any time during our lives. Our adrenalin is affected by the stress and sets off the palpitations.
There have been times when I wasn't feeling stressed and palpitations drove me to distraction. It got to the point where my heart and my body almost seemed like two separate entities. I remember, while in the throes of perimenopause, that I started becoming so much more aware of my heartbeat. I think we become very sensitized to these symptoms because 1) they're frightening, 2) there's always the fear that there's some sort of serious heart involvement, 3) they're so prominent, it's hard not to notice them and 4) they're very uncomfortable.
On the Power Surge Recommendations page there are quite a few suggestions of vita-nutrients, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, et al, that can be beneficial in combatting the palpitations.
I also recommend using a plain paper bag. Inhale and exhale using the bag. By inhaling in this manner, you are taking in more carbon dioxide than oxygen. CO2 works as a relaxant on your body's organs, while Oxygen works as a stimulant. I've often found that doing the "brown bag" breathing exercises for a minute or two has helped calm down the palps.
Also, remember to limit your sugar intake because sugar can cause palpitations. Try to remove caffeine from your diet. Don't drink alcohol. Of course, try to avoid stress (which is probably the hardest thing to avoid during this transition) and, most importantly, avoid toxic people -- people who cause you stress by inconsiderate behavior.
There are so many ways to help palpitations. They may not work all the time, but they do work some of the time.
Also, remember, once your body's hormones level out, you'll find the palps will ease up tremendously. Most of it has to do with erratic up and down hormone levels, and too little estrogen.
I pray you feel better. Believe me, I know exactly what you are talking about and it can drive you crazy.
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=102&view=findpost&p=2144
Reposted Message:
Cindy, interestingly enough, I was on a beta blocker, Atenolol (brand name, Tenormin) before I ever started perimenopause and still am. It had no affect on the menopause-related palpitations just as hormone replacement therapy doesn't help many women's palpitations. I've listened to women complain of developing palpitations after starting HRT. Every woman is different and reacts differently to medication. More than one doctor has told me that taking the Tenormin is good for our hearts -- it keeps them more stablized.
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/inde...post&p=2145
Reposted Message:
Debra, if the doctor performed a cardiogram and other tests and says it's not heart-related, it's most likely caused by perimenopause. However, just to be sure, I wouldn't ask, but insist that your doctor do an echocardiogram. It's a very important and "telling" test, which, as Sylvry has said, can determine if you've got MVP (mitral valve prolapse) which most doctors routinely test for in women over 35 because it's very common after that age. It's always wise to rule out everything else before attributing symptoms to menopause.
Debra, palpitations is one of the most complained about vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Yes, it can be very, very frightening. The palps and internal shaking were my nemesis throughout perimenopause. I also take Atenolol, but still suffered from the palps with it. Check out the recommendations page on the site. There are some things I would recommend you do.
- First, cut out as much sugar from your diet as possible.
- Avoid caffeine.
- Avoid stress (easier said than done)
- Take 500 mg. of Magnesium at the first sign of palpitations. If the 500 mg. don't help, wait an hour or so and take another 500 mg. There's an expression, "If it 'spasms' give it magnesium. This highly underrated mineral is very effective in treating palpitations AND migraines.
- Get yourself on a daily regimen of Selenium, Co Q10, L-Carnitine and 600-800 IU's of vitamin E (200 IU's at a time). Often, you can find various compounds that include the above amino acids and vitamins. You'll see the doses on the recommendations page.
Also, try the paper bag method. Take a small paper bag and squeeze the top together as though you were going to *pop* it. Cover your nose and mouth, so there's no air (oxygen) coming from outside the bag. Then inhale slowly and as deeply as you can. Then, exhale slowly and as deeply as you can. Do this for about 30 seconds and see how you feel. I usually do it for about a minute. Some people feel a little light-headed, so see how you feel after 30 seconds.
The reason this method works is because when you breathe into a paper bag, you're inhaling carbon dioxide. During normal breathing, you're inahling oxygen. Many people don't know that oxygen stimulates your body's organs. On the other hand, carbon dioxide relaxes your organs. I can't tell you how many times this has eased the palpitations. It's a simple method, but it works!
There are other things you can try such as Inositol (in the "B" family of vitamins) or Kava Kava (unless you're using a tranquilizer or anti-depressant), Camomille and Peppermint tea (both very soothing), Motherwort, Valerian Root, Evening Primrose Oil and Soy.
Many women have great success with these herbs. Again, check out the recommendations page (link above) as there are numerous things you can try for the palpitations.
The most important thing you must learn, and I know how difficult this is when you're in the middle of one of these palp attacks, is to try as hard as you can to relax (the paper bag method can help you along with that). Clearly, the more stressed you are while you're having hormone-related palps, the worse they can become.
Just remember, once you're checked out and and presented with a clean bill of health, you can be pretty sure the palps are from your ebbing and flowing hormones.
Remember, too, that palpitations are one of the most common allergic reactions, so look at the foods you're eating. While you travel through this journey of menopause, you'll find you'll have to change your lifestyle somewhat.
Find a quiet corner for yourself to relax. Learn meditation and relaxation breathing exercises. I've posted them on various boards. If you're interested, I'll find them and post them again.
Once your hormones level out, the palpitations will go away.
Feel better (I really do know exactly how you feel)
Best,
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/inde...post&p=2146
Reposted Message:
You know, it may also be a question of semantics with doctors. Technically, when a woman "enters menopause," she's been without a period for a year. It's possible, and I'm playing the devil's advocate for a moment, that some doctors mean that you're too young to be menopausal, aka postmenopausal (they mean the same thing). Most of us use the expression, "we're going through menopause" to incorporate all the perimenopausal years.
By the time a woman is 44, she's very likely to be going through perimenopause and that's precisely when the worst symptoms occur and can last quite a few years. On the other hand, there are women who have very few symptoms -- God love 'em - where's the arsenic? :biggrin:
Palpitations is a very common vasomotor symptom of perimenopause and, unfortunately, for many hormones don't help the palps. In fact, I've heard many women say HRT caused their palps to become worse. It's a matter of trial and error. Further, the jury's still out as to whether HRT actually protects a woman from cardiovascular disease (Addendum: This statement was made prior to the abrupt halting of the Women's Health Initiative Study in 2002 -- a statement I've stood by since the creation of this community regarding synthetic hormones. The halted study proved my theory was right).
This theory has been questioned by the PEPI Trials and the current Women's Health Iniative (the results will be out in 2005). To make matters worse, the anxiety caused or exacerbated by perimenopause usually makes the palps worse as well.
For many, no matter what they take during the perimenopausal years, the palpitations continue until a woman becomes postmenopausal and the hormones naturally level out. When I was in the throes of perimenopause, I would often go for days with palpitations. They're uncomfortable, frightening - your doctor tells you there's nothing wrong with your heart, but you can't help but wonder if there's nothing wrong, why are you suffering with these all the time?
At this point, I should add that it's absolutely imperative that anyone suffering with palpitations, chest pain, skipped heartbeats, et al, get checked by her doctor and/or cardiologist to rule out any other heart issues. Don't automatically attibute everything you experience during the menopausal years TO menopause - even though it's likely they're connected.
Also, let me add that there's a little-known symptom I read about in an old medical book years ago under the symptoms of menopause. It's called "heart pain." That simple. Again, that doesn't mean every chest pain someone gets is related to menopause, but so many women complain about varying types of chest/heart pain during menopause and then get checked out to find out their hearts are in good shape. In addition, if you're suffering from chest pain, ask your doctor to check you for something called COSTOCHONDRITIS. This can cause intense stabbing-like chest pain and is caused by an inflammation of the breast bone and cartilage. It's also more common when your breasts are sore. I know because I've had this for years.
Palps used to keep me up at night, or awaken me in the middle of the night, or I'd wake up with them in the morning. Sometimes, a beta blocker like Tenormin (Atenolol) can be helpful - at other times, they don't help at all.
Unfortunately, there are no universal answers, but there are certain things that can be helpful such as taking at least 500 mg. of magnesium daily, especially at the onset of palpitations. Take selenium, vitamin E, Co Q10, folate (folic acid - very important), omega 3 oils, inositol - you'll find all this information on the recommendations page.
There are also some helpful tips for avoiding palpitations in the Power Surge Menopause Survival Tips article. You'll find additional articles in that area of the site.
When I was going through them on a regular basis (and this was my nemesis during perimenopause), I never thought I'd live to see the day that they'd actually let up. I thought I'd spend the rest of my life living with constant palpitations, but they do let up - I promise - they do!
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=102&view=findpost&p=2147
Reposted Message:
I experience the same thing with sugar. I get palpitations from anything that's sweet, rich, fatty. Sugar is like poison to me. I've always been sensitive to sweet, rich foods, but it's gotten increasingly worse since entering perimenopause and now that I'm postmenopausal.
I don't want to make light of palpitations because I've certainly had my share of miserable experiences with them over the years. However, palpitations are very common during perimenopause and once hormones level out, they generally ease up. Also, remember, palpitations is the #1 allergic reaction -- to foods, medications and a host of other things. It's always important to rule out everything before you worry yourself sick over the palpitations you're having at this time of life. That's why diet, exercise, eliminating caffeine, nicotine, taking vitamins, minerals and learning to adjust your lifestyle is very important at this time of life. Everything changes. It can't hurt to get yourself on a regimen of vitamin E, selenium, co q10, folic acid (very, very important). Check the recommendations page for more information.
I'm the last one to play down palpitations because they can be a symptom of something other than menopause. I've read numerous messages in here by women who've had heart issues. However, in my eight years of communicating with women about menopause in 95% of the cases the palpitations they suffered with had nothing to do with heart problems, but were hormone-related.
Sugar, though, is an awful offender for many of us, especially those of us who suffer with palpitations.
Dearest
*********************************
http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=102&view=findpost&p=2148
Addendum: This was originally posted in March, hence the analogy including "March."
Reposted Message:
I think you have to be careful with diuretics and low blood pressure. Yes, I've had experience with Dyazide. That's exactly what I took when I was pregnant with my two children because of edema. I very occasionally take Lasix (but can only take a small amount) when I get swelling in my left leg (which is a problematic leg with a bad vein). Have you ever tried vitamin B-6? It's a natural diuretic and works wonderfully - oftentimes, just as good, if not better, than some of the prescription drugs. You can take 100 mg. three times a day. It's certainly worth a try - if you're so inclined.
But, yes, I would watch out for sugar and eating small meals is very wise. I'm glad you're feeling better and hope it continues.
I'm going to be very up front about all these meno symptoms - not just palpitations, and I'm sure this won't come as a surprise to any of you, but you can feel so much better for a couple of days - maybe even a month or two if you're lucky and (more often than not), the symptoms can return.
An observation I've made. Menopause, March and Mars start with the letter M.
Menopause is unyielding, aggressive, making one feel a sense of dis-ease (although we're not technically considered "sick.") It can be relentless, confusing, giving one a feeling of being at tug-of-war with her own body, sometimes unforgiving, impossible and generally miserable time of life for many.
The month of March, we are told, and have often seen -- with wild, blustery, cold winds blowing, "goes out like a LION."
So does menopause - with a ROAR.
Mars was the God of war, aggressive, although very ambitious. Sometimes argumentative and secretive.
Menopause symptoms are often very aggressive and I would imagine many feel as though they're at war with their own bodies. Many of us feel a sense of anger. We're not sure what causes it, other than that our hormones are out of synch, but how similar menopause is to Mars.
Interesting thought - March, Menopause and Mars.
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=102&view=findpost&p=2149
Reposted Message:
Daisy, it doesn't surprise me that while in the doctor's office on the monitor, there wasn't a sign of the palps. This is such a typical case when we want our doctors to see something.
The Toprol you're taking is similar to the beta blocker, Tenormin, I've taken for years. It did not prevent my menopause-related palpitations during the worst throes of perimenopause. When I asked my internist about it, he said if the palpitations became very bad at midday or at night (even though I take only 25 mg. in the morning), I could take another tablet. I have done that only on very few occasions over the last 7 years.
I have had exactly what you've had re the palpitations. I remember going for a day or two (sometimes even longer) when my heart seemed to be constantly palpitating and pounding. It's so uncomfortable, not only physically but emotionally. I'm sure your doctor meant well when he suggested convincing yourself that they wouldn't kill you. Intellectually, that's fine, but emotionally, it's very difficult because you FEEL like you're never going to survive it. I know. I was there for years and still get them, but not as often. Sometimes it would get so bad, I would lay awake night after night. I remember on a few occasions actually thinking, "Lord, if I have to feel this way again tomorrow, please let me go to sleep and not wake up." That's so unlike me.
You've taken one of the most important steps by seeing your doctor and eliminating any heart issues. The palps are most likely hormone-related. A notation -- that doesn't necessarily mean that HRT is going to stop the palps. Many women first develop palps from HRT. Also, with the current "iffy" results regarding HRT, women and heart disease, no one is certain any longer that HRT prevents cardiovascular disease and, in fact, may contribute to cardiovascular "episodes."
The problem is that although the palps may NOT be caused by stress, per se, in all cases, once you begin having them your stress level increases and that only serves to aggravate the palps. It's a vicious cycle. You have to find ways to cope with them. I will post some remedies in a separate message.
I also remember there being a time when my "heart" suddenly began to feel like a separate entity from my body. When we're younger and our bodies seem to be acting like a fine-tuned orchestra, we don't give any thought to any particular organ. It all seems like one happy muscial family all working in unison. THEN you find yourself in the throes of a body revolution - perimenopause, when it feels like the body you knew so well is betraying you. However, and I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, once you begin to suffer from palpitations, skipped beats, et al, on a regular basis, you become SO aware of your heart - it's as though it's almost separate from the rest of your body. As though it takes on a life of its own. In short, this instrument in the orchestra is playing off-key. You can't help but notice it. You can't help but worry about it.
I won't even ask, but I'm positive some of you can relate to this.
Dearest
*********************************
http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=105&view=findpost&p=2683
HippieHeron says, "Actually I also had the pulling sensation during the day. Many times I would be working at the kitchen counter and I would feel it. I also would describe it as a tight feeling. Almost like a bra strap is too tight and pressing against your skin. Its changed a bit now. Sometimes it seems more like a bone or joint ache, sometimes more like a breast discomfort."
Ruth, there's a good possibility that you have COSTOCHONDRITIS. Many doctors don't even know about it. What you're describing is exactly what I have and have experienced for years. It can be the result of a trauma to the chest area of your body. With me, it was a fall I took on the ice 15 years ago. I suffered through a winter of such discomfort, pain, almost neuralgic in feeling, but very uncomfortable until I went to the doctor. I went through the typical tests and my internist, being the excellent diagnostician he is, said he's sure I have Costochondritis. It's an inflammation of the breast bone and cartilage - when they rub against each other, the pain can be excruciating and has sent many people to the ER thinking they were having a heart attack. It's also aggravated by arthritis and by damp weather, plus the pain can be caused by sore, tender breasts that cause the inflammation to become worse.
Try touching the area and see if it feels tender. The pain can be relieved somewhat with Advil or Tylenol Gelcaps (only the gelcaps -- it's actually recommended by rheumatologists for all forms of arthritis and joint pains)
Ask your doctor about Costochondritis and you may discover that's what you have as well.
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=106&view=findpost&p=2788
So glad it's working for you, dumbledore, and welcome to Power Surge.
If you go to the Power Surge Recommendations page, you'll see that Co Q10 is recommended for just that .. along with numerous other anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, such as Selenium, Magnesium, L-Taurine, L-Carnitine, Vitamin E and others for palpitations.
Best,
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=107&view=findpost&p=2793
jimi, I doubt you're being a hypochondriac. So many symptoms are suddenly "in our face" when we're going through menopause that's it's difficult not to think that something may be seriously wrong.
I've always thought of how we look at our bodies as the antithesis of how the American legal system works. Anyone ready to go to trial is considered "innocent until proven guilty." How do we look upon our health issues at midlife? Everything is guilty until proven innocent. It's interesting when you think about it.
About the dull ache/pain in your left arm, I've had this more times than I can count. It might be indicative of a host of things totally unrelated to your heart. 1) It could be related to circulation. So many circulation problems come up during menopause. You might want to exercise your arm(s) more. 2) It could be neuralgia, rheumatics, or some form of arthritis -- joint or bone ache or pains suddenly plague many women when they enter the menopausal transition. 3) Do you sleep on your left side? If you're sleeping on your left arm, as I do, that, alone, could cause a dull ache in your arm.
There are so many possible causes it's difficult to pinpoint, and I also know when you're getting these "scary" symptoms, sometimes no matter what any doctor tells you, there's always that fear in the back of your mind. I know because I live with Costochondritis, an inflammation of the breast bone and cartilage which often results in sticking and severe pain the chest cavity.
Yes, stress can raise cholesterol levels and so can certain medications, but menopause itself often raises cholesterol levels. If you could get the numbers translated, I'd be interested in knowing what your triglycerides are especially. People don't realize that in the lipid profile, high triglyceride levels are the single most contributing factor to heart disease. At the same time, women shouldn't become majorly alarmed if their cholesterol levels not only rise, but soar during the menopausal years. My mother's cholesterol went up to 400 during menopause. She never took cholesterol-lowering medications, but lowered it with soy (as I did with Revival when mine peaked at 311). Neither of us had ever had cholesterol issues before menopause and my mother is 91 years old.
Here's where I become confused about what you write. You write about not being overweight, about not drinking enough alcohol to matter, about using "extra virgin pressed olive oil" in your "healthy diet" BUT you smoke 30 cigarettes a day and there's heart disease in your family. You might be surprised that all the positive results you're effecting by an otherwise healthy lifestyle might be negated by those 30 cigarettes a day.
I don't mean this as a criticism. I'm not here to judge your lifestyle. Lord knows, we all have our weaknesses, but there's something really incongruous about this picture and you might want to take a serious look at it.
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=135&view=findpost&p=2310
Jackie, I wish I could give you words of encouragement about the palpitations associated with menopause and hormonal changes, but I don't think there's very much that will rid us of palpitations permanently during perimenopause. I have heard women who've gone on hormone therapy say their palpitations got worse. Some women have been helped. I have used everything on the recommendations page including inositol, carnitine, taurine, coq 10, selenium, vitamin e, vitamin b, motherwort, calms forte, valerian root and, yes, even kava kava and drinking camomille and peppermint tea up the wazoo, although some helped on occasion, to be perfectly honest, nothing eliminated the palpitations.
Of course, that doesn't mean that you won't have success, or that you won't have good results some of the time and even with the HRT, but my experience has been that there wasn't anything that worked for the palps long-term.
Another thing I've discovered is that any one of those things or a combination of them may give some relief from palpitations, but not for long. Same goes for Xanax and other drugs including the beta blockers (I've been on a beta blocker, Tenormin, for about 10 years). Although the beta blocker helped before perimenopause kicked in, it didn't do as well once my hormones started going crazy.
I believe our bodies are so stressed by the hormonal fluctuations that there's little to erradicate certain symptoms, one of them being palpitations. Another being that infernal, internal shaking, which many believe is a form of palpitations.
I went through years of such suffering with palpitations all the time. I thought I would go out of my everlovin' mind. I have told the story about how I was in such emotional turmoil from feeling so horrible, when I would lie down in bed at night, I would pray to God that if I had to feel the same way the next day, to please let me not wake up -- that's how bad it got.
It wasn't until I became postmenopausal -- and I don't mean one year postmenopausal, but more like the third year (this one) that the palpitations began to ease up. I truly believe that once your hormones level off, things get back to normal, or as close to normal as they will be after menopause.
I know this isn't what you want to hear, but my best suggestion would be to learn every possible way of relaxing yourself, even self-hypnosis to help you through the difficult times. I have turned to many spiritual methods of coping with the emotional and psychological effects of the physical changes my body is going through. Learn proper breathing and relaxation techniques. Listen to relaxation tapes. I use my Walkman and lie down in bed with my headphones on in order to relax as much as possible.
You may want to check out the Anxiety board to find messages posted by others and myself about methods of relaxing. I know I put some up there as well as on the panic disorder board. Good luck, Jackie.
Dearest
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http://www.power-surge.com/php/forums/index.php?showtopic=141&view=findpost&p=2368
I have something to add to this thread, albeit a month later, as someone for whom palpitations and internal shaking were her nemesis during perimenopause.
Jeanne's comments are right.
Let me say something immediately - palpitations, heart pain, internal shaking -- all those miserable symptoms are so second nature to me and I do know what all of you are experiencing. I promise, they do pass eventually -- once you've become postmenopausal and your hormones level out.
That said, as I recall "heart pain" is not included on the Menopaus Listserv's list of 34 Signs of Menopause, but for years I have included that as one of the symptoms because there IS a syndrome called Heart Pain that many women experience (and complain about) during this transition -- women with no heart issues. Further, it has been my experience in communicating with tens of thousands of women via Power Surge that many of them suffer from it.
However, I must always add this disclaimer, as with any other symptom you experience during menopause, Power Surge always recommends seeing your doctor first for a consultation and complete examination to eliminate the possibility of another health issue before attributing anything to menopause. Symptoms can be indicative of a host of other illnesses that seem to befall middle aged women.
You mentioned gas, it's also very common for women to suffer from acid reflux during this transition. Acid reflux doesn't have to be serious, but it can be uncomfortable and can result in a host of feelings from gas pain to pain in the chest cavity, from bloating to pain in the upper gut area to heartburn. Again, after seeing your doctor and making sure there's nothing else wrong (you can have the same symptoms from Diverticulitis, gall bladder disease, Ileitis, Heart diesease, Crohn's disease, chest rheumatics and something called Costochondritis (from which I've suffered for years) to name only a few.
Finally, and I avoid pushing the envelope because I'm not a doctor (although I've discovered we have to be our own doctors), but there's still much that's not fully known about hormone replacement therapy. Your doctors will tell you that HRT can lower your cholesterol levels, thus lowering the risk of heart disease women are prone to as their hormone levels diminish during menopause. Bear in mind that with the decrease in our hormone levels, menopause-related elevated cholesterol is very common. And having elevated cholesterol isn't synonymous with heart disease. Cholesterol can be treated any number of ways as I've personally proven by lowering my total cholesterol, which peaked at 301 a few years back and I brought it down to 196 with
Revival Soy Protein and Isoflavones, and raised my HDL (good cholesterol) to 57 (an excellent number) plus lowered my menopause-related triglycerides from 299 to 69 (It's all included in my personal Revival story at the above link).
Also, many studies are showing that hormone therapy doesn't actually provide the heart protection once thought and, in fact, in women with pre-existing heart disease (and not every woman knows she may have heart disease or be developing same), HRT can actually have the opposite effect. This is one of the things we're learning from the largest ongoing study regarding women, menopause and hormone therapy, the Women's Health Initiative. I wonder if we'll ever know for certain, but I guess the legal part of my mind says that if there's reasonable doubt, be cautious.
This is not intended to "scare" any woman about taking hormones, but, remember, there's no magical cure for all menopausal issues and in Power Surge, when we speak of hormones, we refer to naturally compounded, bio-identical, plant-derived hormones regardless of what modality a woman may choose -- orally ingested, transdermal, gels, creams -- if the symptoms one is experiencing during perimenopause are SO uncomfortable and a woman has exhausted every natural effort to reduce or eliminate her symptoms, but nothing has helped, there is no point in making a martyr of herself and not trying very low doses of HRT. New studies (and what we'be been saying in Power Surge, again, for years) show that even half the traditional dose of estrogen and progesterone can do the trick and eliminate uncomfortable symptoms. So, rather than the usual .625 of estrogen, a woman can try .3 and see how that works for her. That's what's so great about being able to "tweak" doses and that's where I recommend communicating with Pete Hueseman, who's been with Power Surge for about six years and has been a pharmacist for 27 years. Pete deals exclusively with naturally compounded hormones. Rather than getting a prescription from your doctor for the standard, one-size-fits-all HRT, Pete cam compound any dose of any combination of hormones YOU NEED for YOUR SYMPTOMS. I have personally known Pete for years and he has helped me through a few perimenopausal crises. You can read Pete Hueseman's last transcript by clicking here.
So, the ultimate decision is up to each and every one of us. No one can know what you're feeling. No two women experience menopause the same. No two women react the same to the same method of treatment. You have to find what works best for you through trial and error.
I would also highly recommend visiting the Anxiety and Panic Disorders boards and finding my messages about meditation and breathing exercises. You'd be amazed at how learning some relaxation techniques can often (maybe not always) be extremely helpful in eliminating many sytmpoms you're experiencing.
Finally, check the recommendations page for additional information on natural ways to treat palps and other menopausal issues.
Best,
Dearest
I hope you found these messages helpful 
Dearest