I cant' believe this, I havent' had heart palps on months and months. Now WHAMO !!! they are back with a vengeance. What's up with that. Just when you think you are doing better it gets to you again. And, of course, anxiety is sky rocketing!!! I could just curl up in a ball and cry my head off.

How can I be 7 years post and still going through this. It's scary, it s*cks and I'm done , I've been cursed I guess.

I've started the cal/mag again, but I just feel like I'm dying all the time. I hate this and i'm scared.


Love and hugs to all,

Moozi

Aw, Moozie,

So sorry you're going through this...

You're right, 7 years post, you deserve to be done with this nonsense.

It's not fair....

Hoping the palps and anxiety go away soon, dear Mooz.

JJ

thank you so much for the reply..your the only one ....

Hugs,

Moozie
xoxooxox

Hi Moozie

I want to curl up in a ball and cry with you. I am not post yet but I want to cry too. I have severe fatigue (15 months non stop) and can't take it anymore. I am so sorry you are dealing with these horrible symptoms again. If I am suffering this much now, how can I last until I am post? You have paid your dues and now it is time you had some peace. I guess just take it one day at a time and hope they will disappear soon. I keep hoping too...

Kim

Moozie,


Feel better, sis! I know what the palps are like..I hate them....It's been my worst symptom..Even if you know you are okay, the anxiety tries to creep in.

do you take anything for them? NP just put me on beta-blocker...Toprol XL
So far so good, but I know they aren't foolproof. It reassured me to know Dearest struggled with palps...and they have tapered off for her.
You're in my prayers, sweet Moozie!

Seahorse:

My dear friend, come on over and cry with me, I need the company and it sounds like yo do too. I need to get back and build that Moozie's Meno Motel. And you Seahorse will have a VIP room. I have the fatigue too, when I get up in the morning for work, I feel like I need a crane to lift me out of bed. I drag myself out of bed with a welcoming heart racing episode. Isnt' this grand, NOT !!!
I hope I'm not scaring you with the " post " symptoms, but I think because I didn't really have a bad peri I'm being lambasted with a bad post. Don't give up , I 've been worse and I guess I'm scared of getting that bad again.

Lynsi:

My other dear friend, you are so kind to give me words of encouragement. I know how lousey all of us have/are feeling. Hearing that you are with me and thinking of me does help me, believe me. I come to this site so often, if I would have a dollar for everytime I log in , I would be so rich...LOL... You too, will receive a VIP pass to Moozie's Meno Motel.


Hugs to both of you


Moozie
xoxoxoxo

Moozie

I am making my reservation right now...I am off for another MRI. Have no idea what they are looking for now. I guess since they don't know what is causing the fatigue they will check out everything. I am suffering so much with this. The only relief I get is when I am actually sleeping but I even have to take a pill to do that. Hang in there moozie and keep those motel lights on for us.

Hugs
Kim

Hey Moozie,

How long were you off the cal/mag? I know the heart palps are one of the scariest symptoms, always manage to kick up the anxiety for me too.

I haven't dared stop the magnesium for fear they will come back. Maybe it's just your bodies way of telling you that you need more!

moozie,

Hope I can check in w/ you ladies too! Am so sorry you have the palp's again. Since last year [at age 47] they've been my "best friend." Please begin your calc/mag pills again - and take 'em forever.

Doc put me on BB [atenolol] a year ago and it helped a little but the skips never quieted until I learned about mag here at PS.

Am so grateful for this site as some days I don't even recognize myself [Yesterday was bawling for no reason I can think of after dropping my 13 year old off at school - and that is NOT like me...] and it's reassuring to hear others in the same boat. Not that I wish this on anybody - just calms me to hear similar symptoms & genuine support.

Really hope your palp's calm down soon - keep caffeine, sugar & alcohol away if you can. That helps me most times as well, when I'm good about it!
new

Hi Moozie,

I'm not post yet, but I usually get these palp's everyday at some pt....somedays it is just one glitch while others I have trouble throughout the day. I know the closer my period is or if I'm ovulating they are worse, however my mom has been post for some 12 yrs. and she says she still has bouts with them. She said the same thing as you, she can go mo's without have a single one and all of a sudden wham she'll have them for a week and gone again. She said how she eats seems to play a big role in how she feels. It seems like everytime she will go on vacation somewhere within a few days she is getting palp's and she feels dizzy, coincidently(spell check ) this is the time she probably eats the worst. A very sensitive( ) Dr. told me once when I was seen in the ER "women get those" meaning palp's and also meaning I'm female so I'd better get over it. PLEASE this is one of the most distressing symptoms I have had and has caused me to withdrawl from outings, family gatherings, traveling and so on...I guess I am probably more comforable wiht them now then 4 yrs. ago, but they still scare me and depending on my mood and their severity I can cancel my whole day because of them. Know you are not alone in this and come here often for encouragement or just reassurance that you are going to be alright. Lot's of love Mikki

Sunflower, new to game, mrsb76, Seahorse:


You ladies are the best, I'm sitting here at work and came on to PS to see if anyone was on chat...I usually come on PS so that I can keep myself at work for the day..otherwise I would not be ale to work..LOL

And then, I found all your wonderul posts to me, I'm touched. I know we are all in this together. I have a little bit of hope now. I know that you all know how I feel and that I'm not going insane. I feel like such a baby sometimes when I post, but I let it all out here.

Seahorse, let me know how the MRI goes, but I think the fatigue is menopause. It's brutal, you feel like you can't even move or function. You wake up more tired than when you went to be.

I swear I have had 50 of the 35 symptoms.

I'm so lucky to have you all.

Hugs,

Moozie

Hey Moozie

Went to the MRI this morning in a snow storm. Have had 3 others so far. I don't think it was necessary but the doctor ordered it so...I do wake up more tired than when I went to bed. Did you have disabling fatigue too? How long did it last for you? I always say I can't take much more but I still go on. I take the calc/magnesium for my calf twitching. I haven't experienced the palps yet. I don't think I can take on anymore symptoms right now. I really haven't felt like I have slept in over a year. Take care

Kim

Hey Mooz, don't feel alone girlfriend. I went without the palps for what seemed like months and months and BANG! They're BAAAAACK! I just take them with a grain of salt (and a little bit of kvetching to boot) and try to remember they are JUST hormonal aggravations. I've been noticing them lots in the early evening lately~I've been taking the magnesium supplements but not the calcium ~ so a couple days ago I went out and bought the calc/mag combo and start them tomorrow. Hang in there, huh girlfriend? I hope knowing you aren't alone gives you a little bit of hope.
Hugs to you,
Kleeo

HI Moozie!

I know you are bummed out. You think you are finally in the clear and then WHAM, they're BAAAAACK!

I get them daily and I am on beta blocker. I was off if it for motnhs and then one day in Oct. They came back and I have been on them ever since. I will still get the racing heart, skips, palpatations, hard thuds, etc even taking the BB and magnesium and calcium.

Just know you are not alone and there are lots of us going through the same thing. I know it doesn't make it any less aggrevating but it does at least let you know we are here and we know what you are going through.

When this whole pei thing nit me in the face 11 months ago all I could think of was I was too young to be going through this and maybe it will just correct it's self and get back to normal.....Now I don't care. I just want it over.

Between the internal tremors and the heart palpatations, it has literally cost me this year of my life, my job, and a whole lot of money wasted

Hang in there.

Jenny

Seahorse:

The disabling fatigue is a symptom that so many of us have/are having. You asked how long did it last? well, I would say that it lasted a few months and it got better for a while. I still have alot of really bad days though, not to mention how awful the insomnia gets. Then I can't even go to work.

I know what you mean when you say you cant' take much more. I dont' have a clue how I have managed like this all this time, but oddly enough we manage. You can go on, you must...if I can do it, you can do it. As you saw by my other posts I always think I'm dying of something. The fatigue can feel like you have something seriously wrong. But if your doctor has done a million tests and all is fine, then just take it a day at a time and know in your heart you WILL get better. I know it's hard, it's so hard.

Kleeeeeeeeeeeooooooooooooo

It's the scariest thing for me to have to dang palps, you think, ok, I'm done with symptoms #17 and then here we go again. The weirdest thing though is that when it does come back, it's like you never had it before and it scares you all over again. The anxiety gets so bad and the fear of just croaking right there starts all over again. I haven't seen or talked to you in so long, I'm so gald you popped up, but you always seem to do that right when I need you, hugs..xoxoxo..thank you so much.

Jenny JJJ,

Thanks for reassuring me Jen, I so appreciate it, you have no idea how much...Your right , it's does't make it less agrevating, but it does make it a bit less scary knowing ( as I have a palp, right now ) I'm not alone. Thanks for holding my hand, Hugs...xoxoxoxoxoxox


I'm so lucky to have all of you PS sisters ( another palp )


Hugs,

Moozie
xoxoxoxoxo

Moozie

Thanks for your reassuring note. It is so so very hard as I know it is for all of us. I will hang in there and keep hoping for better days. I have times when I lie on the bed and can't move I am so fatigued. I am also so lucky to have everyone here to help keep my spirits up!

Hugs
Kim

Hi all,
I am new to this site but have read it for about a month now. I have been in menopause for about 7 years now and have just recently about a year ago, started having heart palpitations. I was given a holter and they said they were nothing. They weren't too bad, but today, I had about 1 !/2 hours straight of constant palps. I thought I was going to die. I came home and laid in bed for about 4 hours. My husband and kids think I have gone whacko and I have no energy for anything. Do any of you lovely ladies have heart palps that last for a long time and how do you cope with them. I too want to curl up and just die already as I don't think I can live with them. Thanks to all of you who have written in, as your input makes a difference in my life.

Mickey

I get them really badly too..there are a couple of things you can do to make them stop right away, or to put your heart back in regular rythym...

one is called the valsalver manuever, or you push down like you''re having a bowel movement...that sensation..that' will almost always put your heart back into regualar rythym again...

also..cough..that' [puts it back in regualar rythym, or jump up and down..all these things will stop the palps and send you back into normal rate again...although I find the push down the works the best for me!


hope you feel better soon.

Lisa

Hi Kim,

I was reading your posts about fatigue. There are meds for fatigue...don't know if your doctor has mentioned it, but certain meds help with fatigue.

I have MS, and fortunately, I only deal with fatigue during an exacerbation. Other than that, my fatigue is muscle related and short lived...if I rest for an hour or so, I get back to normal, so I've never taken a fatigue drug.

Anyhoo, there are many MS patients who do suffer chronic fatigue and I know there are meds for it. Provigil is the one that comes to mind, although I know there are other meds as well.

Maybe you could ask your doctor about prescribing a fatigue med and see how you do.

Lisa,

Thanks for that post! I don't think I've ever heard that before. I'll have to give it a try!

Mickey,

Welcome,welcome! You're in good company here! Lots of great info, as you can see, and lots of friendly women! I don't know what I'd do without them all!

Are you taking magnesium or anything for them? I know that is about the only thing that helped mine. I take 500mg twice a day with calcium and it really helps. That and staying away from caffeine. I've found that's a big trigger for me!

Dawn

Hello. It was very nice of you to send me a message here. I have heard that there are drugs to help with fatigue. Actually, my GP gave me a prescription for provigil and I have taken it a few times. It did help me feel more alert and didn't let the fatigue overwhelm me as it does everyday. I usually feel much more fatigued after activities that involve mental activity. Like my job or just even shopping and looking for things in a store.

My new neurologist doesn't want me to take anymore until he is finished with all his testing but did say there are things he can do to help me. Even if he could get me back 50 percent I would be so grateful. I have given up on ever feeling the same again. I am sorry you have MS. I was tested for that too. I hope you are not having too many problems dealing with meno also. I feel like such a baby when I complain on here and I know there are others with worse problems than me. Take care and thanks for listening.

Kim

Thanks to the ladies who responded to my cry for help. If you signed you pen name, then I could thank you personally. I do take magnesium, but maybe not enough. I live in Canada and I don't think they make that high of a dose with calcium. Please let me know what brand they are and I will try to find them here. Do any of you dread the next day because of fear of returning palps? Can these palps get so out of control that you have to go to the hospital to get your heart regulated? I think I am freaking out about these palps. Supposed to go to Vegas in 2 weeks and am dreading it because I am scared I will have a major attack of palps and have to go to the hospital or something. I sound like a baby but these things are the scariest thing that has happened to me so far. Mickey

Lisa,
Iam sorry that I didn't see you name when you responded to my problem. Are you really a nurse? Then you would understand them in a matter that is foreign to us? Can they get so out of control that you have to get medical attention? How do we cope with them and what do you tell yourself to make yourself calmer and feel better.
Thanks to all who write in. I love this site
Mickey

yes, I'm reallly a nurse....and I don't play one on tv! seriously though....I've been all checked out cardiac wise with stress tests, halter monitors, echo tests etc..so I know my palps are benign and just related to peri..so I calm myself down by telling myself this over and over....they have been checked and they are only a nuisance...
they're still scary, but this usually helps me...but try doing the things i suggested..especiallly the valsalva manuever ...it really makes them stop, almost immediately as it kicks your heart back into normal rythym...


good luck..
Lisa

Dear Lisa,

Thanks for all your info and I will try to apply it to my palps. What about the magnesium thing. I was taking about 400mg a day , but some ladies here take alot more. Should I increase it or is too much mag a bad thing. I hope I am not bothering you with these questions, but I really do appreciate your insight as you understand both physically and anatomically(spelling?).

Take care and thank-you from the bottom of my skipping heart.

Mickey

Hi Mickey,

I started this page because I've been getting them really bad. I'm back on here tonight because, it's was ok today, just a few but tonight is very scary. I will try the coughing thing that was suggested and also the bearing down thing too.

I know how scared you are because i"m just the same. I am totally freaked out. I'm so scared my heart is just going to give out any minute. It's horrible. I was taking cal/mag for months then it stopped and I guess I just forgot to take the cal/mag. That was like a year ago, now it's back and it's really back. I started the cal/mag again.

Guess what Mickey, I live in Vancouver, Canada.
We have to hang in there, I hope it passes for both of us. Have you been to the doctor ?
Eat bananas, its supposed to help with palps too, ( the potassium in the bananas I guess )
I'm right here with you mickey,


Hugs,
Moozie
xoxoxoxo

Seahorse : I'm thinking of you



Hugs,


Moozie
xoxoxoxo

(((MOOZ!)))
I'm always right here for you my friend. You can private message me anytime that you'd like ~ I hope you know that. I know just how you feel. Sometimes the palps get so bad and inside even though I DO KNOW they are just part of this whole peri thing, I have to wonder if my heart is going to race so fast that it might blow up! But it hasn't and it won't. And neither will yours.
You just hang in there and keep a balance. One day (and hopefully soon!) we're gonna be able to look back on all of this and it will be a memory ~ a painful memory because of the difficulty we've endured, but a HAPPY memory because of the wonderful friends we've met along the way!
HUGS!

Hi, Moozie,

Reading your reply to me brough tears to my eyes. I am supposed to go on a trip with my husband( who thinks I've lost it) and a friend to Las Vegas. I am so scared that my heart will go stupid on the plane and there is no where to go for help. I need a break but most of me does not want to go because of fear. I know that sounds childish, but I can't get a grip on these episodes. Have any advice?
God Bless you for starting this page!!!!
I live in Winnipeg and my brother lives in Vancouver, he is bugging me to come visit him---maybe some day we can meet.
Thanks for your reply.

Hugs,
Michelle
xoxoxox

Mickey48,
your post is not silly, I have become agoraphobic because of them. They are very scary..there was a night awhile back where I was trying to sleep and every few beats was a pvc, this went on for about an hr.
I sometimes splash cold water on my face and it seemed to help, then someone told me that was another way to get rid of a bout of them, I'm not sure why maybe because it makes us take a deep breath. Realistically though who can walk around with a bucket of water I too was told by Dr's that these ideas nurselisa has mention will help. I went into what is called psvt and I called the paramedics they told me to bare down like I was having a baby, this helped that time other times I can caugh.
Being somewhat agoraphobic I strongly recommend you take this trip and walk throught the fear as hard as it may be otherwise it will get easier and easier to say no I'm not going here or there and before you know it you are becoming afraid to go across town. Palp's are so unpredictable and this is what is scary to me, we never know when or where we might have a run of them so we began to avoid places that don't "feel" safe or don't have an easy exit or where help is not easily available.
Enjoy yourself and think how good you feel about yourself and the memories you'll now have once you get back home. Lots of love Mikki

mickey, ((((((((((( Michelle ))))))))))))))))

Wow, Winterpeg ? that would be so great if you came to Vancouver to see your brother.

What does it feel like when you have the palps, and, how often does it happen? Do you work, hold old are you? have you been to the doctor yet ?

I wish I could give you a big hug mickey, I feel your fear believe me, I havent' been able to get on a plane for years. The girls on PS know that. I also havent' been able to go to the doctor's either, the girls on PS know that...LMAO..

Last night I had the palps really bad, thent this morning I went to the Bay too look for some pants, I felt horrible. I came home. I'm glad I have today off. I'm going to stay home and putter around the house. The weather is really mild here but alot of rain.

Mickey, about Las Vegas..do yoo have anything you can talk to calm your nerves, like ativan or xanax ? Can you get some from the doc ?...You really should go on this trip, it would be so good for you. And there are doctors in Vegas

If you get a change, let me know about ALL those questions I asked

My email at home is cod@shaw.ca

Drop me a line if you want,


Hugs,

Moozie
xoxoxoxoo

Hi Mikki,
Yes, I found myself cancelling alot of scheduled things this week, just to stay at home. You are so right, they are the most disturbing thing I have ever had. I asked my girlfriend to go with me to get my hair highlighted (because it takes 2 hours) and what if my heart went nuts while I was sitting there. This sounds so stupid, I can't believe grown women can be brought to such despair. The trip thing I am not convinced about yet. I have another week or so and depending on the palps next week will determine what I do. I could easily become an agoraphobic over these things, and so I know exactly how you feel and what you wrote ---was like you were reading my mind. I am cutting out all caffeine and taking more magnesium and I hope this helps some.
Have a palp free day
Mickey

Hey all, I'm still a newbe here but I love Power Surge!! I too get the palps but I guess they don't bother me because I had read about them before I ever started to get them. I usually get them at night. Just as I'm laying down to sleep, all of a sudden my heart starts racing like I just ran a marathon!! I find that if I don't focus on them and concentrate on my breathing they soon go away. I just take even deep breaths. I had never heard of taking cal/mag for them. I'm going to have to try it. So far my symptoms have been mild for the most part, even though they are MANY, so I haven't been taking anything. I love comming here, it is a good place to learn AND vent!

De

Hi, All! I am new to these boards. I am in post. Have spend the last twelve years having palps. They are not as bad as they used to be. Have long stretches of palp free days. When they were really bad, I would go to the ER. The doc would go thru the routine heart lab tests. Usually my potassium was borderline low or one or 2/10 below low normal. Once they gave me potassium pills in the ER (like about 5 horse pills) and I felt great for days. So now, if I get palps, I will make it a point to eat foods with a higher potassium content and it really has helped.

Glad to meet all of you. Glad you are all here supporting each other thru all this. Remember, it does get better. I am now 57 and all this stuff started when I was 42. Yes, it has gotten better, but I am not able to multi task like I used to. Now just doing one thing at a time fatigues me. My nerves have been frayed beyond recognition. I am definitely not the same person I was before all this started. The good thing, it has made me stop and smell the roses every chance I get. It has made me not take things for granted like I used to.

I look forward to hearing from all of you/reading your posts.

Joe

Hi Dsquared and Joe,

I really appreciate you dropping a line to let me know that you too have been getting palps. Tonight was another bad night for palps. I'm so lucky to have the ladies here to help me through the day and reading your replies also helped alot too. Why doesnt' anyone tell us about this ? It doesnt' seem fair that it all has to be a surprise.


Joe you said your nerves are fried. I dont' think I have any nerves left. I'm a mess and it's been 7 years now. More if I count peri in, but peri for me was not this bad.

All I can say is thank God for Power Surge and Dearest is a saint.


Hugs,



Moozie
xoxoxoxo

Hi All

I am a newbie here at least in terms of posting though I have been on this site many times before. I am very impressed by it and I applaud the founders of it
I can certainly relate to the posting regarding palps and skipped beats
At this point I am not even sure which I have
All I know is that I feel a sense of adrenaline and then my hear skips beat or somersaults or shudders or flops and then I feel tightness in my throat and YES fear. I think the feeling comes first and then the adrenaline but I may be wrong
I had them in the past and then they seemed to dissipate
Lately it appears that they have come back
I have had anx attacks for many many years thus it can be said that I am a highly anxious person with health anxiety to boot. Sometimes though I get them even if I am not anxious such as watching tv ( not a scarey show or anything like that ).
I had my last period at 42 or 43 ( yes, I have forgotten LOL) and am now 53.
I will get what I think are hot flashes and sometimes in the morning wake up sweating, upper body. Can one still be feeling symps of menopause afetr so many years of not having a period. The gyn said they can go on indefinitely in some women.
Had a problem with vaginal pain and dryness awhile back and was given Estrace cream for it. Also had a spell where I had chronic urinary tract infections.
My gyn said the skipped beats and palps are not a part of menopause- he added that the day I went in he had 8 menopausal women in and not one complained about the palps or skipped beats. Sorry to say I think he is big time wrong on this.
I just went yesterday for an echo- I asked my internist out fo the blue if I had mitral valve prolapse and he said he thought so. I asked why he hadnt told me before and he said it was really a non issue. The only way he said I would know for sure is if I had an echo
Needless to say I was terrified to go for the echo- remember, my health anx- but go I did and the tech was quite sweet and nice
He was not supposed to say anything to me but he saw the state I was in and he said it all looked to be ok
I thought I would have to meet with the cardio the following week as my mom did recently after the test however the gal at the desk said that with an echo the results are sent to the internist and he relays the info to you
My mom said IF there was something off with the echo they would have told you then and there
I might add that the tech said I had a good " squeeze" which I think meant the contraction of the heart to empty the blood.
I was so terrified I got tonque tied with the tech and it is a wonder I didnt fall off the table.
I read that many of you spoke of magnesium
I take calcium/magnesium 2x a day- in two pills there is 500 mgs of mag and 1,000 mgs of calcium. In other words, one pill has 250 mgs of magnesium and 500 mgs of calcium. I take an additional pill of 500 mg calcium.
How much mag should one be taking per day ?
I thank you for your patience and understanding in reading this, my first post
I look foward from hearing from any and all regarding thei experiences with skipped beats, palps, magnesium and the like

God Bless,

Opa

Opa,

Welcome to power surge!

I too have had experience with palps, and echo test. My heart checks out fine, and I have to remind myself about this when my heart races.

I wish the general public would be told palps are pretty common in peri and menopause. My own mom had palps for many years, and she was petrified.
I don't think anyone told her it could be related to menopause.

I too have white-coat anxiety (fear about and with doctors)
When my NP is concerned about me, and does tests, it actually makes me more nervous for awhile, and then I'm grateful she went to the trouble.

To answer your question about magnesium, I think it really helps.
I made a big boo=boo however and took too much. 2 doses of 500 a day,
got the runs for 6 weeks. Just letting you know too much mag will give tummy troubles!

Hope you find a lot of answers here on power surge. I sure have.

And again, welcome!

Hi Ladies,

Me again,

I posted this under I'm 35 and anxious, but thought I'd put it here too, for encouragement:

i want to report a VICTORY.

Yesterday, I awoke with major anxiety and rapid heartbeat.
I did have reason to be anxious because I was supposed to drive 150 miles round trip with my teenage daughter to take her to visit a college campus.

We had planned this for a month, and gotten special passes, etc.
Well, my mind was thinking about all the "what ifs" - you know...what if my heart won't calm down, I have a panic attack in the middle of a meeting, I pass out, and my darling 17-year old would have to call the EMT's etc., etc. etc.

We were able to delay leaving for about 1 1/2 hours. Durong that time I laid down, did calming breathing exercises, prayed, and tried not to obsess (LOL)

I got up, took a shower, and decided, "It's not about me, it's about HER today".

WITH GOD"S HELP, and I really mean that, I was able to drive up, spend the day walking around the campus and in meetings,a nd drive home fairly unscathed.!

YAY

Just wanted to encourage all those that wonder if they should stay home or face their fears...this particular time with me, I decided to face my fears...don't know if it would hold true for everyone, but just wanted to let you in on my little
victory.

Thanks for listening..Blessings, all. We're gonna get thru this, stronger and better.

Have you had your thyroid tested? I have hypothroidism and this is one of the symptoms. I still haven't gotten my thryoid under control ALONG with the peri-menopause. Those two together are enough to drive one crazy!