Hello all I am new my name is Jannie, I want to know how one knows if they are perimenopausal.? I had a test done 2 years ago to see if I was menopausal, and it came up negative, how would I know if I am going through peri-menopause.? I am 48 and have not had panic attacks in the past 20 years ,after suffering post partum depression.

Last year I started having I guess panic attacks, horrible feelings of doom and gloom tremors, muscle spasms, etc. the doc put me on medicine for panic attacks and I have been on them for one year , they do help my panic attacks anxiety or whatever this is not hit a peak . Meaning when one has a anxiety or panic attack they have levels 10 being the worse, the meds keep it at a 3 to 4 level. However I do not want to become dependent on meds. I am wondering if it was Panic disorder at all now because it may have been last year peri-menopause starting. I find myself worse before and during my periods. Now the last 5 months I noticed the new symptom of faint feelings or lightheadedness. I was confused as to what the cause could be. My meds mabey building up tolerance, a Panic disorder or just plain peri-menopause.? It really seems to get bad around my period.

I have noticed around my period I get worse, the symptoms are faint feeling dizzy, scary, paranoid , etc. I guess I am starting peri-menopause. My periods are very irregular, one month I have them 3 days the next 7 to 8 days. Some times twice a month. I should go to the doctor however I have a phobia of doctors . I go of course if I must, but I rather avoid them. I guess I have gotten worse since I started the change if thats what it is.
Anyway how ironic it is, Panic disorder, and Peri-menopause have a lot of the same symptoms. So mabey I have a combination of Panic and Perimenoopause. Anyway sorry to rattle on. I am just going crazy with all of this and I am glad I found this board. Thank you
Jannie

Hi Jannie, and welcome to Power-Surge.

You sound peri-menopausal; that is, your symptoms certainly fall under that category. Other women report getting nausea, lightheadedness, dizziness just before a period.

And anxiety is something that MANY women struggle with during this transitional time.

You've come to a wonderful place; take some time and go through the site. Along with these message boards for support, there are many wonderful transcripts of interviews with doctors. It's well worth bopping around and seeing if there's something that may help you there.

Again, welcome.


JJ

Hi Jannie,

I too seriously wondered what my issue was, but with the symptoms getting worse around the time of my period as well, it has to be the hormones. My periods fluctuate like yours and I'm never quite sure when it's coming, but can now start feeling when I'm more off than usual and that's a good indicator. I have spoken with all the women in my family and found similar stories of anxiety, panic, weird peiods, not sleeping, night sweats, the list can go on. I currently have a new doc who says I may have fibroids. Best advise is to hang in, read the boards, and see your doc. This is same advise I got from a lot of other women. It's a wonderful site to be on.

Take care
Yoko

Thank you both


Jannie

Hi Jannie,

I too am new here and this is my first post. I can relate to you. I started having panic attacks about a year ago. I had bouts of heart palpitations, shortness of breath and fear. I also felt that I was somehow out of my body. I often felt that I was going to die. I felt faint and I was so afraid I would pass out in front of people. The nausea was very mild, but there. My Doctor put me on Paxil. After about 2 weeks, I felt so much better. However, I didn't like the side affects and I stopped taking them after about 3 months. Well the panic attacks returned, but not as severe. I handled them okay, but not I am happy to say that they just went away on their own. I do know that my attacks were a result of perimenopause. Now my Panic attacks have been replaced with severe hot flashes, irritability, a dis-interest things that used to excite me and unbelievable loss of sleep. I am 47 years old and I can honestly say that I had flashes for at least 4 or 5 years around my period, but now I haven't had a period in over a year and the flashes are coming so often, they are crippling. I don't take any type of HRT because of the danger to smokers which I am. I am now trying all kinds of over-the-counter herbs and vitamins, but so far no relief whatsoever. I really don't have anything good to say about my body except that I am not totally messed up. I do lead a fulfilling life with 2 jobs and a very supportive family. I am just so hot!!!

Patrice

Hi Jannie,
Welcome to Power Surge. Your in the right place to find alot of knowledge regarding peri., meno. and post meno. With the boards, you'll see a post about Panic Disorder - check that out when you have time.

Hello also to Patrice - Welcome to Power Surge.

Sometimes during peri-meno. (that's the time before you stop having your period for a full year)...that's a challenging time. The hormones are fluctuating allllot ...and because we don't understand all the "changes" and the symptoms - it can be scary as heck. I truly understand that.

The more knowledge you have - the more you understand your body...the more power you have within yourself. And your not alone - you have us too ...

As scary as it is Jannie - you may want to see a Dr. for a complete check up, and hopefully they will work with you...

Blessings,
Stacy

Hi Jannie & Patrice

Welcome to power-surge. I can relate to what you are feeling I have not had a period since March and was 6 months without one before that but for the past 5 years I would get anxiety and nauseous before my period. It got worse as time went on. Back then the hot flashes were not so bad and I didn’t have the sleeplessness that I do now. I guess I traded off one set of symptoms for another. I am now on RX progesterone cream and I feel much better. I wish I had started looking for alternative medications 5 years ago.
Anyway that’s my journey…best wishes for you on yours.
Barb

Hi everyone!

I'm so glad to find Power Surge! I have been feeling crummy for the last 3 months, like I'm "falling apart", even though I just had a check-up in March and was given a clean bill of health.

I, too have had occasional very short feelings of dizziness or feeling faint. My previous dr. told me it could be esophageal spasms? They only last a couple of seconds and I can usually take a deep breath or clear my throat to "clear my mind". The problem is: 1. They started almost 5 years ago, 2. I never know when I am going to have one of these "spells" (the last one occurred yesterday while I was standing in line to make a purchase. It seemed to last longer to the point that I thought the cashier was going to notice it!) After I took a deep breath, the feeling went away, but I felt flushed, my heart was beating fast, and I was sweating a bit. It really scared me! Now, I have talked to my Ob/Gyn about possibly being in peri, but she has assured me that I could not have symptoms since I am on birth control pills (I am 45 y/o), so I went to see my primary dr. last week. I had had a thyroid screen in March and it came back very normal. She did prescribe Lexipro for anxiety but I have not started on it yet ( she knows that I do not particularly like to take meds). Since I had this dizzy feeling again yesterday, in public no less, I am beginning to think about starting the LexiPro. I beginning to think it is mostly anxiety that is making me feel crummy!

Does anyone else feel like I do, even on The Pill?

Oh Jannie, I giggle a little when I see a new post like yours, I remember how I felt at first.
I once ask my MIL> "How do you know when your menopausal?" She responded>>" You will just know!"
I thought what a insensitive thing to say!
Now I fully understand why she said that! Plus it's a different journey for each and every one of us, BUT yet the same...
You know in your heart something is different (changing) but it's confusing..... It's even scary!
TG for power surge>>A wonderful place to connect the dots!
Take the time to read-read-read!
You will find yourself among the posts....

Hi my name is Tawnya and I too found you looking for answers. All of what I have read really reassures me, however I am only 36! I did find a site that talked about having a hormonal allergy or change/lessening in some of the hormones that leads to some of these things..but I really do wonder if this could be the start of perimenopause?

This past weekend I was having my period and it was VERY heavier than normal. Then I was out and really felt like I was going to pass out and then my body went into "panic mode"..you know the choking feeling, heart racing, etc, my ears and head felt really full also. It was VERY weird. I went and got checked out..heart is fine, blood work fine..but I wanted an ANSWER why did this happen? My period was not heavy again, but that "choking" sort of "clear your throat and take a deep breath" that someone mentioned is exactly how I've felt twice since Saturday with my ear(s) and head feeling a little full..it's a very weird feeling!

Since this happened I remembered back to when I was a teen (I would bet anything it was soon after starting or as I was starting my period..wish I could remember)..that I would have serious panic attacks..and then I have not had them again until this incident this past weekend!

Could I be perimenopausal..which I know IS possible..but I guess at 36 I was just curious?

Thank you..even just READING these posts make me feel SO much better! I appreciate any/all thoughts

Lynne,

If taking birth contol pills meant NO symptoms, then I think everyone would be on them! That would be too good to be true. Maybe it works that way for some people, but I've also heard other people say they had some symptoms because of the pill. So maybe you need to get another Dr.'s opinion? It sure sounds like your symptoms may be consistent with peri!

Hi all.
I'm not exactly new. I found this site about 6 months ago but just lurked. Like Tawnya I also remember having these panic/anxiety attacks when I was in 8th grade. I had also spoke to my Mom about it and she went through the same thing at 40. I am currently using progesterone cream at night and some natural/herbal preparations from my naturopathic doctor along with one for my adrenals because they were found to be really low. I also found a more sympathetic OB/Gyn than my first one who just talked anti anxiety meds to me. (I don't want to go that route) I wish I could say that they were helping me more. I just want so desperately to feel like myself again. This past nine months have been so hard. I have two young children ages 9 & 6 that I just want to be there for and some days are such a struggle just to make it through. I gets me so upset. I am so grateful to have others to talk to about this. It helps me feel less alone. Thanks!

Alisa..I know what you mean about feeling better just talking about it! It has really helped even though no one has really even replied to me yet

Just reading about how others feel and what they are going through makes me feel a little less out of whack! THANKS!

Hello Tawnya!

My periods were very heavy too and this went on for a number of years, getting closer together and then few and far between. Sometimes I would feel faint with them and recall a day at work when I was at my desk and felt this way and a colleague who must have been looking at me at the time asked me what was wrong (I'd not said anything!). I used to have to take iron tablets during a period (I've never been good with holding on to iron..even as a child).

Sometimes this feeling can make you feel panicky, just like hot flashes do...until you get used to them and recognise what is happening to your body and then you are not so afraid of these feelings.

I'm 50 and look forward to passing the 12month period free point (I nearly got there!) and then I can be the Wise Old Crone on the site!

Alice..thank you for letting me know that I am not alone! It is a crazy feeling when you normally don't feel that way!! Congrats to you on getting thru!!!

Hi All!
Just wanted to pop in and say Thanks! to all of you. The past 9 months have been downright crazy for me and I have to say that I am in a better frame of mind now that I've re-read some of the posts on this site. I think I'm finally coming to accept this crazy peri-menopause thing. Up until now I think I was fighting it and searching endlessly for it to be something other than what it was and I feel that that has made all the difference in the world. Just reading how I know I am in good company and about how all of you are coping has helped me cope so much better. Now when I start to get "the nerves" as I call them I just think of all of you and ride it out. I used to panic and the very first feeling and now I jsut say to myself "o.k., you know what this is. Let it pass. It can't hurt you. I hope I can continue to do that as it comes ans when I can't, I know where to go now for encouragement. This site is a blessing! Thank you all.

Alisa,

Thank YOU so much for your post. I've been in peri officially for about 4 months. I thought I was alone in denial. I am so relieved to hear I was not! I think I make my panic worse by thinking it is something more than it is. I keep looking for the deep seated ... something. Nothing's there!

So now I'm with you, just trying to ride it out. Tonight I cried over ravioli. Tomorrow the eggs? Who knows