The palps had gotten a bit better for me after being really bad in Dec and Jan. They started up again last night and kept me up all night and I am still feeling some today...I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!! Someone please just shoot me now!!! I never ever feel good at all. I never have a good day with all this meno stuff and the palps are my worst symptom not to mention I am in a bad marriage and planning a divorce. I hate &*%$#@$#%@ menopause!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please God help me!!! I am at the end of my rope ...I could use some hugs and prayers ladies...thanks..

{{{{{{{Tina}}}}}}} Big hugs to you!

Trust me, we all know what you are going through. I'm sure most of us have been where you are. There are good days and there are bad days, hopefully your good ones will come soon.

Have you tried magnesium for the palps? Mine have pretty much gone away since I started taking the mag and that was one of my first symptoms.

Good luck with the whole divorce thing too,sweetie! I can't imagine going through that at this time too.

(((((TINA!))))) The palps are one of the WORST things in the world to experience.
How the heck do WE know they are harmless? All the doctors in the world can say
they are NOT going to cause any problems, but still ~ WE are the ones that are having
them and experiencing the fear!
What helped my palps? Magnesium supplements. I thought MAYBE it was all in my head
that it was helping ~ and then I stopped taking them, and BANG! The palps came back.
WITH a vengeance! So needless to say, I started back up with the mag.
I am so sorry you're having such a terrible time right now. I wish there was something
I could say or do to make you feel better. Know that I'm thinking of you.
HUGS

I do take magnesium and it does help occasionally. I am only taking 250 mg. a day though. Do I need to take more than that?

The pills I have are 500mg and I take one in the morning and one at night along with calcium.

I'm not sure how much you should be taking, Tina. My Doctor told me that magnesium is now being viewed by cardiologists and specialists as an EXCELLENT supplement to take. It is supposedly good for migraines as well as a multitude of other benefits. I would talk to your doctor and see what he/she suggests as an amount for you to be taking. I take the 250 mg a day ~ at night before I go to bed. I still get palps, but they are MUCH less with the mag.
Hope you're feeling better ~
HUGS!

My heart broke for you, Tina. I was just scanning PS and feeling whiney and uneasy - looking for support myself when I read your note. Well, I may feel badly at times, but I have a wonderful husband (who drives me crazy, of course) and fantastic kids. And I thought, I'm sitting here feeling bad, but there's always someone who has it worse. I'm so sorry you have to put up with the holocaust of peri or meno AND deal with a divorce. Maybe you can find a bright side to your situation if you think about it. I'm not sure what, but know that there's hundreds - maybe thousands of women out here saying a silent prayer for you and sending you hugs. Best of luck and I'm going to try to mag, too.
KGB

Tina, I really sympathise as I know how scary palps can be. I am convinced though that they are usually hormonal. So many people have posted about getting them. I started to have them on and off some months back, sometimes waking me up at night. After taking HRT for about 3 months I came off it, and within 2 days I started to get them really bad. Theyd be worse at night, but often started about 4o'clock each day. I think they were the worst symptom of menopause. Once I'd been off the HRT for about 3 weeks they calmed down and I haven't had them lately so I'm sure they were hormonal. I take Atenolol and when they were bad I upped the dose as the doctor said that was okay. That was the only thing which helped me. Magnesium made little difference.

Tina,

Am very sorry that you're having troubles on multiple fronts right now! The stress it's all causing certainly doesn't help. Am sending you hugs and sympathy, big time!

As I have had palp's and skipped beats, I too started taking Magnesium and it DID really help me. You asked about doses. I take 250 mg. in the AM and another 250 mg. at dinner time. Splitting 500 mg. throughout the day made a big improvement on the skips for me [which I HATE!!!].

You might think about trying it.

Hope you have a calm weekend, kind soul!

new to game

I feel your pain,
Palp's scare me sooo much I have had them for several yrs. and have stopped doing certain things because they scare me and are so unpredictable. For myself I THINK, not sure yet, I have found some things that have helped... I started taking pro-gest a few mo. ago, I watch almost every thing I eat and make sure it doesn't have too much sugar, any msg, nitrates, basically eating as healthy as possible, my husband teases me and says some of the food I eat looks like sawdust, I joke and say it looks like cow grain to me, my children call my bread brick bread, but it works . Also I have started eating foods high in magnesium since I heard it is better absorbed from actual foods instead of a supplements, I have cetain foods I eat daily for their magnesium content( some are high in fat, however it is the good fat so I think I have put a little wieght on because of this, but I keep telling myself I'll take a little weight over those stinken palp's anyday) and I started a multi vit. a few mo. ago and exercise is important. I must say for what ever reason my peri symptoms have dimished. I, like you, felt hopeless feeling aweful daily. Stress is not helpful either as we know and it sounds as if you have your share of it. My big stressor is my 17 yr. old son who has just been very difficult. Relaxation techniques work for that if you can be disciplined to do them daily...which I'm not . We are here for you and feel your frustration....Big Hugs Mikki

Hi sunflowermmh:

What kind of magnesium foods do you eat? I would like to try that.

Mopsy

Ditto what mopsy said. I'd like to try the food too.

I started taking mag last fall for migraines. (and occasional palps) Did okay for awhile until I switched brands...and doses....Started having digestive problems and the runs...switched back to another brand, but didn't change doses back.

In summary, had major stomach problems for 6 weeks. doc couldn't figure it out, I kept asking could it be the mag? Went off all other meds. and then I read/heard about mag causing loose bowels (sorry to be gross).

Stopped all mag, and in a week or two, or three got better.

My error was...500 mag in am, and 500 in pm (okay for a while- magnesium oxide)
Switched to another mag, and had to take 2 pills to get 500- stomch probls really took off
Switched back to mag oxide, but kept taking 2 pills am and pm.!!!

LOL At least I can laugh now.

Said all that to say this: Magnesium can cause stomach problems so proceed cautiously....but I do think it works!

hi Tina,
i hope you are feeling even just a bit better by now (?). i can only imagine the stress of a divorce - having a fight with DH is enough to keep me up all night. this did happen back in October...

i also started taking mag separately from the multi-vit and cal-mag - the multi has 100 mg, cal-mag 133 mg, and mag by itself 250 mg. i take the multi in the am and the last two at night. i think it has helped with the anxiety and consequently sleeping. it doesn't knock me out quickly like klonopin does but i do fall asleep eventually which was a real difficulty and problem late last year.

sunflowermmh,
i too would like the food tip

hey tina. i know what divorces are. i had 2 of them hon..
im seperated from my 20 year third one & were best friends........
we just talked things over & decided were best friends & not living togther which most cant do that...
Im here for you anytime hon....i know how you feel..ive been threw marraige EVERYTHING !!!!! you need a extra shoulder? just pm me or e mail me.....just look yourself in the mirrow & say....im a person that deserves a life. to be happy. & move on....i found out by myself by writing a poem of how i felt about my husband really helps to...& i went outside by a lake & just feed the birds & wrote things down. like my own private marrage Diary..i really truley did....that helped alot....& Belive me. Crying is part of it to...youll have lotts of Crying Spells getting a Divorce..even tho this is a menopause Support. Im here to support you on marraige..Ive been threw all of that hon..& still am.....thanks to all here who has helped me also...HUGS

Hi,
The foods I have found, that I like to eat, that have a good amount of mag. in them are just a few...my variety is rather small. I eat a bowl of post raisin bran everyday at some point usually at night ( usually a cup and 1/2 of cereal I never measure, but I know it is good size bran and raisins are high in mag.)with a banana cut into it( I eat 2 bananas aday), this alone gives me about 50% of my RDA of mag. My vitamin has 25% I take that daily Any kind of nuts or seeds are an excellent source of mag. amoung the many other health benifits they have, however this is where the fat comes in, but it is good fat I always have some form of these daily. Spinach is extremly high in mag.( I know OOOOHHHH YEEEEKKK, that what I used to say until a few mo. ago, I now cut a good amount into a daily salad with Romain lettuce which is also a good source lower than spinach though and I don't even know it is there....my kids even eat it) baked potatos are very good sources also...I eat one everyday and eating the skin is a must because that is where all the nutrients are. Oatmeal is another great food source or granola, I eat this daily. Whole grain Brown rice, pinto and kindney beans and fat free plain yogurt are all very good sources. The yogurt I eat daily I use it as sour cream I know I just made most of you sick, but really it tastes like sour cream ( I haven't convinced my husbad or children of this one yet )I eat it on my potato. I make a pot of chili with the beans weekly and take it for lunches or snacks. I have a hard time eating the brown rice. I also buy my bread,bagels and granola from a place called Natural Ovens of Manitowoc, WI. They ship to grocery stores across America or they will ship directly to you if there aren'y any stores that sell their products near you. They put several things in their products such as flaxseed for omega-3's and a vitimin-mineral mix which contains 10% mag. per slice for most breads amoung other vitimins..this would be my "brick" bread... they have a web sight if your interested just type the above name in and it will lead you there.
I just felt so bad too often, it was and is worth the time it takes to incorporate all this into my diet. I still have days where I feel like staying in bed, but alot less. I am not sure how much mag. I actually take through all of this a day I know it has to be a pretty good amount. I feel better, less anxious, I still have what i call now "break through" palp's because I had these things so often everyday and I sleep better I hope this helps forgive me for the lengthiness of this post. Hugs Mikki

Hey thanks for all the mag. food ideas. I love all of what you said. I just love spinach. I have that instead of any sort of lettuce. You can just taste the vitamines. I know were Manitawoc WI (since I ive in WI) is and we get Natural Ovens bread here all the time. I love their bread and bagels.

Thanks so much for all your tips.

Mopsy

Aren't their breads great! I'm in WI too...the lovely Fox cities area. I think I am going to alternate the raisin bran with something else I beginning to think it is the culprit of some of my bloated, air filled belly Mikki

I know, their breads are great. I live an hour south of Madison WI. I want to move to Door County though but I have elderly parents that need help at this time. I just love Lake Michigan.

Mopsy

My palps have been reduced immensely with magnesium. I only take 250mgs. It has a nice relaxing effect too.

Hi Ladies...Whenever things get really bad with me I come here for some comfort...I saw the title "Venting about Palps" and it's just what I need to do...I have been having the worst palps period I have ever had to date....I have been getting them almost every day for about a month and a half now...they start shortly after I wake in the morning, and they have been lasting till dinner, sometimes longer!!!
I'm going out of my mind, and I feel so sorry for myself I just want to cry...I never look forward to the next day becaus as soon as I get up they start. I can't believe they are lasting so long. Also every time I eat they start up, if I happen to not have them already. Can your heart take all this irregular beating? Will it forget how to beat normally? These are my fears...although I have been checked out by a Cardiologist since I started having them back in 1997...yep that F@##*+@ long. They started out slow...every few months for a few hours a day...until they kept getting closer together...until this!!! Nothing is helping. I still get some sort of a period , very irregular though...I'm waiting to hear from my Dr. to see if I need a D & C ...maybe that will help...all know is I'm so depressed about this, and I really can't keep talking about it day after day to friends and family...so have to muddle through...but it is so hard lately...Any way, I feel better now that I have vented to my fellow sufferers...I wish you all some palp free day very soon...you are all in my prayers,
Blessings,
Mary

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Just want to let you know that I, too, was having the palps (WORST meno symptom, no doubt)--eventually, had them every day--and at work--ugh--- and they were waking me up at night--and it was the scariest thing I have ever experienced--and along with menopause (along with my husband) I opted to quit smoking and this really seemed to be the catalyst for the palps being worse--they were Dreadful!!! ...you think you might be dying...and then you become so sleep deprived that you never feel quite right--ugh!! However, the cardiologist I saw prescribed Atenolol (to decrease heart rate) which has been very helpful--better than taking antidepressants, etc. I think he understood the effects of BOTH withdrawals (meno AND smoking cessation) which you don't very often find, esp. in male physicians--best thing about it, he never mentioned menopause--in retrospect, I think he just knew--and I respect him even more for that--I am feeling so much better now--very few palp incidents, no more HRT and no more cigarettes!! I hope this is helpful; this site is the best!

Giada,
I'm so proud of you for quitting smoking AND HRT, you rock sista !!!
I too have suffered with heart palps off and on for years, it's so scary , I sometime feel I cant' function, or I'm just going to drop dead. I wonder how my heart can take it.
The palps have settled a bit ( for now , I guess ).

Tina,

The divorce is very difficult, I know I've been there. My doctor told me that stress makes the palps worse. Try upping the mag and make sure you try and look after yourself. This is such a hard time for us let alone go through a divorce. Sometimes ( alot of times ) I get very lonely but then I think if I was married right now I would probably shoot my husband . Know that you are not alone in your suffering. This is the perfect place to come and vent and let it all out. As you can see , so many of us are going through the same thing with the palps or the divorce. I have gone through alot of loss myself in the last 5 years. Divorce is a loss too, and that's very stressful. All I can say is that the palps do calm down, hang in there and here is the hug you wanted (((((((((((((((((((( Tina )))))))))))))))))) and I will pray for you tonight.

Hugs


Moozie
xoxoxooxo

[xoxoxooxo
[/quote]

Hi-

My name is Liz and I too have had heart palpitations all my life, because I suffer from panic attacks along with possible changes going on in my body, I will be 42 in April. My mom reminded me of a tonic I use to take when I was a teenager, for PMS, I hadn;t thought of this stuff in years and thought well why the heck not, I've tried everything else and I'm not big on prescription drugs for myself. I usually get the palpitations worse first thing in the morning, actually I wake up at around 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning usally in a panic, don't know why, but do. Well. I ordered the tonic, it came yesterday which wasn't a good day I was feeling week and trembly inside, couldn't sit still. I took the tonic and within an hour wsa feeling much calmer and the trembling had gone away. Took two more doses throughout the day and actually started feeling alot better. This morning I woke up again at 4:00 heart racing, first thing I did was take a dose of the tonic and within 5 minutes no heart palpitations. The tonic is all natural, it's called Lydia Pinkham herbal liquid supplement, it has been around since the late 1800's believe it or not and my grandmother even took it. It is a combination of Vitamin C & E, Jamaica Dogwood Bark, Motherwart Leaf, Dandelion Root, Pleurisy Root, Glycyrrhiza Licorice Root, Black Cohosh Root aand Gentian Root. I'm not saying it will work for everyone, but it seems to be helping me and it is formualted for menstruation and menopause. Just thought I would throw this out there for those looking for alternative methods...


Liz

Polaris,

Sorry you [actually all of us] are suffering from palp's! You asked if heart will remember to beat normally - What I learned about my skipped beats is that the heart is fine [normal, healthy], it's an electrical problem w/ sensitive nerves which causes extra beats [can be very light or even heavy clunking type]. All doctors I've asked [PCP, cardio, endo, GYN] have said it's a benign condition. It still drives me crazy, like you, but I've learned not to freak out about dying anymore. Hormone shifts [perimeno] definitely gets things thumping for me, as well as stress or especially caffeine too. Can't say enough how magnesium has helped calm them down. Do have to be careful about dosing as too much mag will cause the runs, but have learned tolerance amount by lowering dose until symptoms go away...

My grandmother [lived to 81], my Dad [just turned robust 83], my aunt [very active 63] all have palpitations of the same kind, so I figure at 48 I've got lots of good years to go.

Hope you feel better soon. Try to eliminate as much caffeine as possible and see if mag helps.

Better days are ahead,
new

Well,here's your hug, I know exactly what you are talking about. i sometimes have a couple of good days and nights and get really comfortable about not having the palps, only to have them return with a fury. However, once I make myself calm down(and boy that ain't easy) they come less and less frequent. Relaxation is very difficult, especially when you are going thru personal dilemmas. I may very well be the stress of the divorce that has brought the palps back. Have you discussed this with your docctor. He may be able to help. Mia

I had few episodes when I go to bed and fall asleep and shortly after I wake up with my heart racing (up to 90bpm) and i have this unpleasant feeling like chest tightness and pain, tingling in arms and legs, knott in the sotomach pit and heavy head. It has happened few times and is happening now, I am sitting and typing because I can't sleep. I wonder if anxiety can wake you up from a sound sleep and if this is related somehow to alcohol or stress. I am under a lot of stress. I was good for the whole month, but now I am back in dumps again. The depression and irritability are back for the past 2 weeks and these attacks at night, however, it does not happen during the day. It's scary and also keeps me awake, and then next day I am a train wreck. I just took ativan and some valerian drops, and sitting waiting for all this stuff to kick in. I also have a bad upper body muscle pain and tightness, can't turn my neck from side to side. Does anyone has similar symptoms and is it actually depression/anxiety thing or pending heart attack.
Thanks,
Dina

Dina, Your symptoms are so like mine were. When I was in the worst throes of menopause some months back I too would wake with racing heart and had no idea what caused it. It didn't seem to make sense that you can be stressed while asleep and I occasionally got the odd tingling sensation. Alcohol definitely made mine worse and I now try to stick to 2 glasses of wine maximum. Like you, my worst symptoms only happened during sleeping hours, so think about it. If it was a heart problem chances are it would happen any time of day. I would say it's definitely stress/menopausal, or both. I've also had the muscle tightness and pain in the chest and back, and stomach gas, but most of these symptoms have settled down. The fear is the worst part especially at night. At one stage I was scared to go to sleep. Hang in there and I'm sure things will settle down as they have for me.

lydia,

Ditto for me. Could not imagine what was jolting me from dead sleep to instant panic mode w/ pounding heart/hot flash and certainty that something awful was happening?!

Had one doc try to suggest antianxiety med's. I thought he was crazy. Truly am a mellow, happy person usually. GYN helped me understand and feel better: She said, as you, that this is a common symptom of perimeno [Lovely! ]. Alcohol [other than 1-2 glasses as mentioned] is a no-no for this too.

In the end I got so miserable [w/ other meno issues as well] that I said uncle and went on NHRT. Sleep through the night, mostly now. Only wake up to visit the loo...

new

Same here. I woke up the other night with my heart racing. I had no idea why as I didn't remember a scary dream or anything. It took me awhile to get back to sleep but since I knew it was peri, I knew not to worry. It is hard though.

Take care

Mopsy

Thanks for the replies, ladies.
I try not to drink at all, and if I do, I limit to 1/2 glass of wine or an once of spirit. But last months I had none of this "events" and was fine. This months it happens almost every other day and while I don't have death anxiety anymore (had it for 3 years before), these episodes steal my good night sleep and I feel horribel next day. I am trying to limit ativan since it's a ahbit forming, using it only in emergency situation. Interesting that last months I felt so good, not even a bad PMS and the period was like a clock work - 28 days, this months I feel not well everyday, physically -achy all over and emotinally - irritable, anxious, depressed. Remeber the old bamper sticker" I am out of estrogen and I have a gun", luckely I don't own any weapon, LOL. When I go to bed, I fall asleep quickly just to be waken up with a jolt, racing heart, bu no hot flashes. Normally, I never to go to bathroom during night. But when this attack strikes, I will run every half an hour alternating #1 and #2, sorry for TMI.
I do connect it to times when I am stressed more than usual, and everything and anything affects me now days. I am too a mellow and normally happy and low maintenance person, but now I am bundle of naked nerves. I am getting anxiety day and night, any exitment, even a good one like having sex, any adrenalin surges - and I am in a spin.
Sometimes I am thinking, how much longer I can take it, tried NHRT and did not get any relieve, it;s all very depressing and life is no longer something to look forward to. Sorry, just a really bad day. having a bad muscle pain and chest pain as I type, sleep deprivation is at work.
Regards,
Dina

I had a lot of palps last year, first it was a couple of times for short periods, then it got longer and was constant day and night. I kept going to my DR, no help, finally late one night I got so scared I had my husband take me to the ER. In there I calmed down, guess I figured they'd take care of me. They did tests but the nurses seemed to know that I could ease it myself. Just to be sure tests were done and my heart was fine. Now, if my heart races I say to myself,"do whatever you want, you're okay". Isn't anyone educated about meno symtoms? I was really disappointed. Lynn

Well I'm always amazed (don't know why anymore) I posted earlier in this thread about diiferent things that have helped me, I believe, calm my palps down..I felt able to do this considering I have had a few mo. of very minimal palp's and a low accurance of other peri symptoms after starting mag., eating better, pro-gest,and soy. Well my streak is run into a glitch of some sort ...for whatever reason the past 3 or so days I have had palp's throughout the day, probably more in one day than I have had in the last few weeks, my fingers tingle, I itch, my body aches so bad I am using a heating pad, I am not sleeping, bloated, my head feels full...I have just ended a period, I haven't felt this bad in months. I remember reading somewhere here about Dearest and all the things that helped her, but she still had pesky palp's...forgive me if I'm wrong, but I am pretty sure that is what I read because I remember feeling relief thinking if her being so knowledgable as for what to do to help herself and she still gets them I can jsut consider myself part of the group. I keep going over what I may have done to bring this on again and the only thing that I may have done is I let up on the soy and I have had sugar cravings that I have given into more than normal other than that I don't know. I think I have learned there is no magic fix, I can do all that i'm doing and lessen the symptoms or take the edge off of them, but for what ever reason I still run up against these awful days and my hope and encouragement takes a nose dive. I know I have rambled, but thanks for listening. HUGS Mikki

sun,

Maybe your estrogen dropped a little lower w/ this period, which unfortunately you can't control, and that set off the palp's. I know I try to do everything to calm them down too, and there are just times that nothing works! Frustrating, but there it is.

I also get comfort hearing from others [including Dearest] w/ similar symptoms. "Hey, if they went through it and are coming out the other side, then I guess I will too..."

Hoping you get relief soon,
new

Hi, Mikki
Ditto for me- the last three days have been hell. I had a few good weeks and then bam out of the blue, they are back and I hate them just as much as before. They can throw me into a frizz and spoil my day and my life. I absolutely ##############hate them. I feel for you and your situation. NOthing seems to help when they come out of the blue. NO mag or calcium or anything. Just know that you are not alone and i am thinking of you and will pray for you and your menopause symptons. take good care mickey48

[quote name='Iradan' date='Mar 9 2006, 02:32 AM' post='117626']
I had few episodes when I go to bed and fall asleep and shortly after I wake up with my heart racing (up to 90bpm) and i have this unpleasant feeling like chest tightness and pain, tingling in arms and legs, knott in the sotomach pit and heavy head. It has happened few times and is happening now, I am sitting and typing because I can't sleep. I wonder if anxiety can wake you up from a sound sleep and if this is related somehow to alcohol or stress. I am under a lot of stress. I was good for the whole month, but now I am back in dumps again. The depression and irritability are back for the past 2 weeks and these attacks at night, however, it does not happen during the day. It's scary and also keeps me awake, and then next day I am a train wreck. I just took ativan and some valerian drops, and sitting waiting for all this stuff to kick in. I also have a bad upper body muscle pain and tightness, can't turn my neck from side to side. Does anyone has similar symptoms and is it actually depression/anxiety thing or pending heart attack.
Thanks,
Dina
[/quote

i have the palps to but i have not seen any one else having the upper body and neck pain...i have had this pain in my neck for 3 weeks and it is driving me crazy...i got a message wed. and i felt good for about 2 hours and the muscle pain returned....the only thing that makes it feel better is taking ativan..but i hate having to depend on meds for relief..i take mag. and ativan for the palps too...and to sleep at night...

My neck has been a probelm for me for yrs. i would see a chiro. for it a while back...sometimes I wake up and it will stiffen up on me through the night and I literally can't turn my head for a few days until it works itself out. I have shoulder and back soreness regularly, I am so tight and tense lately and am assuming that is what all the pain is from. I started yoga in hopes that it will loosen me up we'll see. Mikki

DARN IT!!!!!!! I am so sick of these palps!!!! I really need a break from them. Was just sitting here at the computer and feeling pretty good this morning and then whammo!!!! A hard thump and a long pause and now I am scared out of my wits again. What started out as a good day is now ruined. Because I know there will be more palps. I'm crying...I am so tired of this. Dear God please heal me of these blasted things because I can't take it anymore.

Tina,

I hear you and I'm so sorry you're having a hard time today. Have had skipped beats myself for a long time now [years actually, but they started w/ peri symptoms]. I know they are frightening and wear you down.

Have personally had lots of tests [many EKGs, 2 echo's, Holter monitor, stress test] and all show normal. But, the stupid skipped beats still happen...

Here's what I do to help calm them down: [Might work for you & give you a little sense of control back.]
1. Eliminate caffeine as much as you can [coffee, teas, soda, chocolate all can have caffeine which stimulates the heart and gets the palp's going]
2. Drink lots of water [staying hydrated is good for whole body & can help w/ skips]
3. Try Magnesium as described by Dearest here at P-S... it did make mine less frequent!
4. Keep telling yourself they are benign - awful, unnerving yes, but they do not damage your heart.

Actually, skips/palp's are caused by an electrical issue not a cardiac one. The Vagus Nerve [which runs from the brain down through the heart, stomach and abdomen] becomes overly sensitive and sends impluses which cause extra beats or skipped beats. I believe it's reacting to shifting hormones [perimeno]...

5. Keep moving. When they happen, do something else to take your mind off of them. Worrying does just increase likelihood of feeling more. I literally will get up and start cleaning [vacuuming is good for me as it's loud and distracting], go for a walk, play w/ the dog. Often laugh thinking neighbors must think I'm crazy dusting at 10PM, but hey, it works for me.

Please don't feel you have to do everything I do. Am just offering ideas to help you get through. And know you're definitely not alone - it's like the number one issue that peri women hate most [after hotflashes, maybe ]

Peaceful day,
new

Great Advice New to game.

Mopsy

Tina, I know just how you feel. Those darned palps ruin my day, too. I started having then around noon today and they lasted for about 7 hours and skipped a beat about every 10 beats or so. So I would say they were very constant and on top of each other. They can reduce me to crying and just feel like I can take no more of this. I still can't believe where the hell they came from and out of the blue about a year ago. At first were once and a while, and now they have a frequency all of their own. they scare the crap out of me and sometimes i just go and cry and other times i want to run to the hospital ( but I don't), mostly just feel sorry for myself and come on here and read all the other posts which help me get through another day. I too am so tired of these and I pray that God will heal and help us all through this mess. Just had to rant and rave about these things as the family and friends are so sick of me talking about them. Will probably loose them too if I don't get a grip on the situation. Am thinking of you Tina and just remember that one palp does not spoil a day for I would give anything to have just one or a couple. I have hundreds a day and trust me that it is horrible. take care and thanks for listening

Hi Mickey48 and everyone,
Sorry about the last post I was crying so much that I sent the message wrongly! Anyway here is what I actually wrote...........

I am sat here crying at the computer 1) because my palpitations are back and I just feel like I am not strong enough to cope with it all and 2) because your message like so many of the others makes me realise I am not alone. I first noticed you guys last year when I started having really bad palpitations. Had all the tests and was told they were benign. I asked if it might be peri-menapause (I'm 44) but the hospital tested hormone levels and said No..... I went on medication for a while to reduce them but weaned myself of it after 3 months. Thought that they had gone as I had a couple of good months but they started back again several weeks ago and slowly but surely have increased in number and duration. I want to be strong but I get scared by it all and the fear just won't leave me. Don't really want to go back on the meds but if I don't do something I am just going to make them worse. Feel like I have butterflies in my stomach, have to take deep breaths coz I don't feel like I am getting enough oxygen, often feel in a dream-like state etc etc (all symptoms of stress I am told). Anyway thankyou all for sharing your experiences because because I think you all understand better than anyone how this feels and hopefully this will give me some of the strength I need to cope with this. I suspect that I may have a lot more in store for me yet..........

I totaly agree with all the ladies especially what New to Game had to say. As long as we know its hormonal and we know we arent dying we can then be more keen on whats happening at the time of the palps. Sometimes its before a period, or after eating or just because and finding what works for each of us is the quest. I after many months of searching the web, reading post on this site, reading different books seemed to have found a good combination for me for now. My symptoms today are the head pressure, a lil bit of palps and slight blood pressure elevated 132/72 instead of 122/70. My stomach acts up about this time its the time of my period. All the docters would tell me it couldnt be because of my period, symptoms were not related. Well after ruleing out heart trouble, I went on my own and basically did enough reasearch because I was desperate. I do alternative natural supplements a few that are recommended by Dearest. I did notice that the head stuff and stomach problems seem related and sometimes after a bowel (sorry ) movement its better. Seems like that connection with the Vagus nerve, maybe The one thing I did add was Acidophilus for my stomach, magnesium, calcium and zinc for palps, flaxseed oil/fish oil for blood pressure and vitamin b-12 complex for nerves and to refresh adrenal glands and a combo with valerian root,garlic, hawthorn berry, cranberry and some other stuff. This all works for me just wanted say what has helped me, God bless you ladies Tinkybug

Thanks Tinkybug,
I for one will definately take your suggestions on board. Got so upset about the palps yesterday that went back to GP. I find myself constantly worrying about the test results and convince myself that they have missed something. GP has re-assured me that all is well and I just have to start to beleive that I am not dying. She suggested a relaxation tape. I have tried this before when I first started with them last year but get so stressed that I am crying through it and can't concentrate on the breathing exercises etc. Anyway was in a very emotional state this morning and I'm ashamed to say sobbing like a baby. In desperation I ended up taking a beta blocker to calm me and the palps down but there has to be a better way(coz I get anxious about the meds) so I will try some of the suggestions you have made and keep you posted. Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. Very best wishes. LynneH