In menopause and having palpitations, IBS, panic attacks, panic disorder, chrinic anxiety

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Hi, I have gone from having a normal, productive life to a wreck in the last year. I have been in menopause for 14 months. I started with occasional palpitations about 2 yrs ago which started to cause panic attacks. I have akso had chronic indigestion for the same time, had tests n nothing sinister showing so believed to be ibs. I have had increasing anxiety over the past 18 months. At xmas this escalated to panic disorder, looping panic attacks. I am now on 75 mg sertraline (AD), betablockers, diazepam when needed and evirel conti HRT patches. Palpitations coming more frequent...wondering if its the HRT patches. Dont drink, smoke or have caffein. Went back to work too early today...got oalps when i got home & intense fear. Ecg at xmas showed normal tho doc said something minor with atria...she didnt understand! She at first said it was afib then later said its not. This question mark is troubling me wen i get the palps...i asked her if she thinks theyre stress related, she shrugged n said maybe! Think i need echocardiogram to put my mind at rest. I know all of these symptoms can be menopause related. Is anyone experiencing similar? Thank you!

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  • Posted

    Hi Julie,

    i think is all menopause related..i had the same think and i had stress test done which came back ubnormal thinking i had some heart condition!! i was send for the echo stress which was horrible and everything came back normal!!! 

    I do get the panic attacks,  i forgot last year  how many times i had drove my self to the hospital!!! Now i get them at night when everyone is sleeping i start getting that tightness in my throat and goes down hill from there..

    First you should find another dr.. I did the old one i had he was the same way with the maybe 's and i don't knows!! Then you will start feeling better..

    Believe me i'm still going through it but eassed a bit...

    • Posted

      Thank you Maria, yes it's the maybes that arent helping! Thank you for responding and sorry to hear youre having a hard time of it too. How long have you been like this? At xmas i was waking thru the night straight into PAs, i hardly slept for 5 nights. The betablockers have stopped the full PAs with adrenalin dump but im still struggling with anxiety ( i know its worse to start with on ADs) but its the palpitations that really freak me out! Who wouldve thought that the menopause could be so bad?

    • Posted

      For me it's going to be about 6 years now that I've been dealing with this..

      Like you, there is nights can't sleep and when I do I have nightmares!!! The past 6 months I notice some improvement, till today my stomach is bothering me again and feel so bloated and of course now I'm thinking the worst and I'm so anxious..will be a long night..

  • Posted

    Julie,

    the big M is a nightmare I remember going thru all the symptoms you describe. The meds should help with panic attacks and they will eventually get better. Hormones are raging which causes so many different issues I didn't know if I was coming or going.

    eventually it all worked out. After about two years. Learning to cope was the hardest part everyone is different.

    hope you can get things sorted out soon. Mabe try hormone therapy?

     

    • Posted

      Thank you so much for responding. It helps to know that others have had the same symptoms and that it will pass. Ive never felt so ill, anxious, stressed n unable to cope with what used to be normal everyday activities. Ive just started on evorel conti 50mg HRT patches but may cut them in half as palps have been worse since using the patches, headaches too. Its so frustrating, I need to work as no sick pay but its such a struggle at the moment,
    • Posted

      I hear ya Julie. I remember many days I would be heading out to work driving along and totally forget where I am. Lost and panicking away. I drove to my work place every day and was lost! YIKES ! I would have to pull over and wait till it passed. The doc gave me meds to help they did and after a few months it does get better. 

      It will pass takes time be patient.you don't need to struggle see you doc this is normal for many going thru this. You are not alone. 

      Positive and healing blessings sent ur way.👍

       

    • Posted

      Thanks so much. I hope increasing the sertraline will help, im going up to 100mg tomor night, been on it for 4 weeks, 25...60...75, so i guess its early days yet. Im not depressed (yet!) just anxiety like ive never experienced. Ive definitely made progress, but the palps set me back.
    • Posted

      Sorry, 25,50 then 75 mg sertraline
    • Posted

      Julie, you have a positive outlook. I know that with time you will shut this down.

      Hopexxx🤗

    • Posted

      Thank you...yes im throwing everything at this! Im also starting cbt/ hypnotherapy on friday, not nhs unfortunately! But if it helps itll be worth the investment!
    • Posted

      I've been dealing with this for last 3yrs I'm 44yo now and it seems like it's comeback worse. I refused to take HRT due to side effects. But I've come across Dr. Helen Pensanti products she is a gynecologist for many years and is now selling her natural products. Look her up she had recommended me to use Progonol Cream(progesterone) which I gave her all my symptoms that you have and she suggested I start off with this. I'll give it a try. Great reviews on her natural creams and glad I came across her site. Good luck! I hope it will all come to pass someday!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

    • Posted

      Thank you Trishann, i will look into it. I may be better on progesterone only. In the past i wasnt allowed the combined pill due to migraines so im wondering if i should even be on combined hrt. I did remind the doc of this but as usual she shrugged n said try it! All the best to you and yes lets hope it will pass sooner rather than later x
  • Posted

    Hi, I'm going thou what your going thou right now, been like it since last June. I'm on Beeter blockers and HRT patches same as you. It's a nightmare and yes it's all down to menapause xx

    • Posted

      Hi Karen, thank you for replying. Sorry to hear youre having a rough time as well, its horrendous. I wonder why some women suffer souvh n others breeze through it... Do you have the palps too? Thats the worst bit, it terrifies me. Ive had a single bang where ive literally jumped off the settee, a triple bang where i caught my breath as if my heart had stopped, fluttering on n off for ten minutes, or a short run of what feels like extra beats. Over the last 2 yrs ive had 2 normal ECGs, then the last one showed something up with atria but doc didnt understand it and still couldnt explain it after speaking to a cardiologist?!!i had a loop monitor on for 3 days recently but had no palps to record. Before and after ive had plenty! I just need to know theyre benign so i can stop panicking!
  • Posted

    Hi Julie,

    I believe they are meno related. I started with the same thing in 2015 and have been dealing with it ever since. I have had so many panic attacks that the ER techs know my name. I've had two hospital stays , EKG's Echo and whatever test you can think of and all came back normal. I have begun to notice the pattern now that these symptoms are the worse around ovulation time, right before or after my cycle. I suggest you see another doctor to rectify the what if's. But I almost certain everything you are going through is meno related.

    • Posted

      Thank you so much Jamie. Shes been great at dishing out tablets but like you say, its the uncertainty. Palps are generally benign, but occasionally not. Its reassuring to hear all your tests came back normal. The betablockers have stopped full on panic attacks but when i get the run of palps i get the fearful thoughts n wonder whether to get a paramedic round to wire me up (this is what a nurse suggested). I did go to a&e last april after a PA but ecg was fine. I may ask if i can wear a monitor for longer so the palps can be recorded or sent for an echocardiogram.

    • Posted

      Thank you Jamie. Yes i need reassurance that my hearts ok...i did a full day in work today teaching, ive gone back too soon as im supply n no sick pay. The stress was horrendous and ive come home with palpitations n scared again. Ive taken another 2mg diazepam so thats 3 today on top of the betablockers, sertraline and hrt patch. Are you in perimenopause? Ive been stopped for 14 mths and its the last year thats been bad particularly since xmas. I know 3 women at work that have had or are still dealing with this terrible anxiety post menopause, including panic disorder like me. I just thought my periods would stop and my monthly migraines that ive had for 20 yrs would stop too! this is actually worse than the hell of a lifetime of migraines...at least i was normal in between! Do you also get the heart palps/ extra beats/ missed beats etc?

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