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Hi, I am new here. I spent a long time last night reading over this forum and discovered that there are alot of women here who have the same physical symptoms that I have. I am 42, and am being treated for panic disorder. The symptoms I have are being chalked up to panic: dizziness, head pressure, tingling in arms, legs, feet and hands.....and alot more. I am aware that I do have panic problems, but these symptoms are new. The tingling has rarely stopped for more than a day in the past month. Like everyone else, I fear MS, or ALS or something awful.
My question to you all is.....is age 42 too early to start perimenopause symptoms? Some websites say that it doesn't begin till the late 40's, and others say late 30's. Anyone out there having symptoms in their early 40's?
THanks, this is a wonderful website and a big comfort.

My symptoms started a month before I turned 38. I have been dealing with the same things you are for the last 6 months. Mine started out as severe panic and anxiety attacks. I now have been having lightheaded / dizziness feeling for about 3-4 months. Seems I trade one set of symptoms for another. My hormone testing showed my estrogen at 0.06 and my progesterone 5 and testeterone 2. All my hormone labs were low to borderline low. Glad you found this site. Now you know your not alone.

Take care,
Jill

Thanks Jill....I've had the panic disorder for about 10 years, and I have come to recognize a typical attack when it happens. This tingling stuff and the head pressure is new to me and scary.

My dr. did mention that perimenopauses can make panic and anxiety attacks worse. She gave me a prescription for Paxil, which I did not fill, I am afraid to take it. I have been managing on small doses of Xanax for years, I only take a pill when I need it. I am afraid to be on an antidepressant everyday, when I am not depressed!!

daleysl@aol.com

Hello Daleysl and Janne,
Welcome to Power Surge to both of you ...

Yes Daleysl, you can be going thru peri.meno. as young as being in your 30's...some woman start in their 30,s, 40's and 50's... each woman is different...and each womans chemistry is different.

For me personally, I feel I started peri.meno. when I was 35...and as time went on - various/numerous symptoms were roaring - and I'm now 45...phew - I've got to be close to the end of the tunnel and I should see light soon . I had a partial hyster. 8 years ago -and I don't get monthly periods - so I have difficulty telling how far I am w/the peri. cycle. I just had blood work done a week ago - so I'll see.

The panic and anxiety is definetly a symptom of Peri. meno....It is scary as heck when it happens... I've tried to look at it as a "temporary" symptom and it will go away...Please continue going thru the message boards - you'll see that your not alone and alot of women have the same symptoms as you do. The more you know about peri., is the more you learn - knowledge is your tool during these challenging times...

Blessings,
Stacy

I dont take medication either. Anxiety is one of the 35 symptoms of menopause. I get the head pressure. It feels more like "brain fog" to me. I am really stumped on this lightheaded/off balance feeling. My doctor says the hormone imbalance can do that. I just wish I knew when it was going to get better!

Jill

I hate that dizziness, especially when I have to go out of the house. I have had to leave the mall or grocery store on occcasion because I thought I was going to pass out.

Is there a particular point in time when a doctor decides to start checking hormone levels???

Me too! Thats the thing about peri and all these awful symptoms...it wreaks havoc with our quality of life. The 3-4 days of the month that I do not have dizziness are wonderful! I have been keeping a log for the last six weeks of how I feel each and every day. I am trying to see if anything triggers my off balance feeling. I think that feeling is related to a hot flash. My hot flashes are odd. The palms of my hands and the soles of my feet sweat! So odd! For instance, my lightheadedness is worse when I am hot, when I am stressed, or when I am tired. Can you see any pattern to your dizziness?

Take care,
Jill~

Jill,

I think that sometimes coffee triggers the dizziness, as I often get it when I take my morning shower after my morning coffee. Other times, there is no pattern, but I swear, going out to shop seems to be my worst episodes. I am not agoraphobic, but maybe I just get nervous about having a panic attack at the mall, which in turn triggers it. I often get super dizzy if I go out for a walk. Sometimes its dizziness at the same time of each day for a week or 2 straight, for no reason. Last October I spend 3 weeks getting dizzy at 3pm every day as I sat at the school waiting to pick up my kids. No stress there, but I sure did get dizzy. That is when I had to take the xanax for a couple days to break up the panic cluster.

Odd that you mention it, but I have just started getting the sweaty feet thing!! I get an odd hot "flush" sensation, I don't sweat or turn red, but I feel very warm thru my chest and neck, and my feet get sweaty.

I have always had the sweaty palms with panic attacks.

My panics started years ago, and I don't think they had anything to do with hormones, but now they are getting worse and lasting longer and longer, and the symptoms are changing and getting more annoying and scary. I am alot more tired, sleepy too.

daleysl, hon, you dont have to wait for your doctor to "decide" to take your levels..just tell him/her you want it done. Call up for an appointment and tell the receptionist that is what you want to be seen for.

We cant totally rely on what "they" decide...we have to take most of the responsiblity in our health. By becoming more informed, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with you requesting things done. Dont allow to let yourself get caught up in the "he'll / she'll think they are dealing with a hyprocondriac...get ' er done! When you get your results back, then you will have aleast some peace of mind. And that in itself can be relieve some anxiety.

Dont wait hun.. if its is worrying you so.

Oh by the way, im soon to be 42 and statred peri when I was 38...my ma was 36...i hate it when doc. says oh, your too young, or even, im afrais your not going to be able to carry a baby full term, let alone become even pregnant... HA! they told my ma this and 5 kids later ..and me too, and here I have 6 very healthy kids!!

Oh and my sis just turned 38 in July and she has been peri now for a little over a year.

THanks Demomma. I guess it is rather sad they way we tend to let doctors run our lives. My doctor was nice, but as soon as she found out that I have had panic attacks in the past and that 3 members of my family have anxiety disorders, she chalked the tingling sensations up to that, and gave me Paxil. I threw it in the trash. I already have Xanax which does nothing for the tingling, but it is great for my ususual panic symptoms. I've just nervous that it's MS or something awful. Sigh.