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

Hi lynsey, its exactly that, a shadow of our former selves, its the most horrendous thing to go from being a productive confident person to a being almost constantly in fear. I can deal with the anxiety, the chest discomfort, anything but the palps which scare the life out of me. Ive been mentioning my increasing anxiety to doc for a year or more and theyve said too early to test for menopause, so had no treatment till its morphed into panic disorder at xmas. Im only a month into taking sertraline AD for anxiety 75 mg so got a way to go n gonna up to 100 tonight for a week. A friend at work said her dose is 200mg. It certainly sounds like yours are hormone related and i guess mine are too, its just the uncertainty thats hard x

Yes it's the palpitations that have really knocked me 😔 I'm scared to go anywhere and do anything in case I set them off 😮 I honestly don't know what's happening to me but I hope it goes away just as quickly , it's taking everything I've got to look like I'm Living a normal life ! Nobody warned me of all these horrendous ailments so its all come as a shock 🙄 xx

Noone warned me either...all my mum got was sore joints and itchy skin! Yes the palps are the worst and i just need to know theyre not dangerous, but no doc has managed to tell me that yet! I dont drink, smoke and been on decaf for 5-6 months, even 1 coffee in a day can set off palps. So no vices but no pleasures either! I was walking 10 miles a week before xmas but lost confidence at walking far due to the palps n then jelly legs on the sertraline which has now stopped thankfully. Need to walk, get out in daylight and take vit D I'm told. We will get through this, it may just take time and a lot of patience x

And i agree lynsey, its rhe palps that are the scariest thing and like you, it puts me off going very far or being around people in case they happen, so goingvtovwork this week is quite a challenge. Staff have been great and ive already had 3 come and share that theyre on ADs for depression or panic disorder post menopausal & had the palps too. Its nice to have people that understand but sad that so many womens lives are such a struggle around the meno. Apparently we have another 20 years to work...i can hardly nip in a supermarket for ten munutes let alone work around kids n adults for 8 hrs. Im supposed to be going in this afternoon, i took 100sert last night, woke v anxious, taken a diaz n will prob take another nearer lunchtime to get me to work, if i can just get thru the next 2 half days its half term which relieved some pressure as i get used to 100mg sertraline. Ive only put 1/2 a 50 HRT patch on today cos full ones give me headaches and possibly worse runs of palps, so i'll see if that helps. How are you coping Lynsey? X

I'm not sure I am coping to be honest 😔 I literally feel like I am just surviving day to day , I'm a nurse and have managed to reduce my days till 3 a week but the wage has taken a hit which brings other anxiety issues 🙄 I wish I could turn the clocks back a few years and not have these horrendous anxiety attacks ! I was in the middle of treating a patient the other day when the panic came out of nowhere! I felt the sudden urge to just run to my car , drive home and get in the house where I feel safe 😔 ..obviously I didn't, I had a fight in my head and tried my hardest to remain calm .....thank God for the beta blockers xx

Hi Lynsey, i totally understand. I felt like running from work yesterday, it was horrendous ti get thru n had palps when i got home and more worrying over that. I take 3x 40 mg propranalol BBs, they stop the adrenalin effects on the heart but still have the fearful thoughts. Im the sane as you, getting by but not very well. Hopefully as i increase the dose of ADs (sertraline) I'll improve, friend at wirk said it took 3 mths for them to really help, its only been 4 weeks. Im not on a contract so no work no pay and benefits wouldnt cover mortgage bills food etc, even tho i lead a simple life n keep bills to a minimum. Do you have a supportive partner or family? Im single, its tough, and some of my family dont understand the impact, tho my mum n sister understand a bit more x

I'm on the exact same tablets and dosage as you and up to now it keeps the awful racing heart under control but like you say the fearful thoughts are crippling 😔 I have two daughters 11 and 17 so I have to put my "mum " face on everyday ! My partner has not been very helpful and seems to think I have just become "boring " ( little does he know ) I asked him last night to look up the symptoms of peri menopause whilst he was on his phone ( again ) I think it's slowly starting to sink in that I am actually going through a living hell ! Good luck at work today you will be fine ...remember you are not alone 😘

Thanks Lynsey, i hear this a lot... I feel scared cos no partner at home to support me when suffering but many women who have partners find theyre no help! We'd all know about it if men we t thru it! Lol. Actually i do have some sympathetic male friends...ones had ptsd, another anxiety, PAs n palps n another has battled with depression. I do think that out issues stem from hormonal changes. Ive put half a hrt patch on today and an having palps on n off, dunno if its the patch or just the anxiety, i know im shallow breathing cos im tense. Feel a bit short of breath n have the urge to cough when i have the palps, do you get that too? X

I am really struggling with palps today, getting loads and the urge to cough, then i start panicking what if its not just the menopause, what if its my heart, even keep considering calling a paramedic to wire me up for peace of mind if nothing else. Feel a bit short of breath but shallow breathing due to anxiety? Just had 2nd 2mg diazepam to calm me down. Do you get palps like this? X

julie, if there is an option to have someone check your heart while having the palpitations then do it, for your peace of mind.  you can't go on like this, tell them all the medications you are on too.  let us know how you get on.

Yes you are right, need to get back to docs. Its probably the anxiety plus the meds...just gone up to 100 sertraline last night but just put half a hrt patch on today. The sert increases anxiety till it settles so maybe its that giving me a bad run of palps today. Thank you x

Julie

It might be the medS or the patch that causes you all the extreme pals! I had a friend that was put on a sentraline and was getting worst and after while her blood pressure readings start getting high so she stopped everything ..it's been months that she didn't have any bad symptoms.. obviously all the medS are not helping you, try another dr because something is not right..please don't worry is not your heart the more anxious you get the symptoms get worst..xxxxxx

Thank you Maria....yes my palps are certainly worse and more frequent since starting the hrt and upping sertraline. The trouble is with the sert, it can be up to 3 months of feeling worse before it actually calms the anxiety, so i feel like i need to see it through to come out the other end! Believe it or not i have made some progress since the looping panic attacks started at xmas. I no longer get full on PAs, im having fewer negative thoughts (till palps start!), i can leave the house for quick shopping trips and have managed a day and a half in work tho the full day yesterday was really difficult, i also managed to get myself to a job interview a cple of weeks back! So theres progress and i know each time i increase the sert dose i'll feel a bit worse before i get used to it. As for the HRT, thinking maybe i should stick with the ADs for now. Yes theyve raised my bp too but im on betablockers to keep things steady. So many people say the palps are not my heart, its the anxiety/meds, and i do believe youre probably right! Just wish my doctor could be as reassuring instead of shrugging n saying 'possibly'. Thank you for your support Maria. How are you doing? x

Did you try yoga or meditation? For me I know when a panic attack is coming on , i start having to clear my throat and then the tight feeling and so on..now i dont let it get that far i get busy it doesnt matter what , could be laundry, cooking cleaning the windows, rearrange my furniture at night I open my book it works the majority of time..

Hi Maria, yes i also get busy cleaning, watching tv, de-junking etc. also i have got a decent sleep pattern back so when i wake at 6.30 i take a betablocker so i dont wake into a PA the get up, make a decaf, and get the day started rather than lying there thinking. I should start going to yoga, that could help! Im starting to see a therapist tomor for CBT and hypnotherapy to see if i can sort this fear reaction out so i can take the palpitations more in my stride!

I'm ok..last night had a bad headache I think also related to stress ..a bit nervous I have a CT Scan with contrast tomorrow morning and I hate going!

About a month ago I felt a swelling on the right side below my belly button..I thought was my overy when to the dr had a pelvic ultrasound and exam and e erything came back normal..so now I have to do this to see what else could be..I think I pulled a muscle or a hernia.now the last couple of days I don't feel it anymore, so I'm not sure what to do!! I never had that dye injected before and I'm nervous..

It doesn't stop..

Ahh sorry to hear that, its all extra stress we can do without. I had loads of tests done about a year ago for swelling lower right hand side of stomach, comes and goes along with chronic indigestion. Ruled everything out so its ibs i suppose, tho no pain or cramping, just bloating, blows up like a sausage shape! Again, all ties in with menopause. Good luck tomor, at least youre getting a proper scan, i just got pee, poo n blood tests! A scan will be more reassuring. Let me know how you get on xx

Thank you Julie. I did have blood and urine tests done couple days ago was normal. Just hate having anything injected in me ..

Thats understandable, all will be fine and youll be glad its done, have you got someone to go with?

Nope..but it's ok. It's funny when I'm nervous I don't feel like talking just want things done and over with it. I haven't told many people I'm having this test done because they will say I'm crazy for putting myself through all the tests!!

Its peace of mind though isnt it. Bad news from work. I went back too early, did the day n half i was booked for but the boss wanted me in this afternoon n tomor morning. I cancelled this afternoon due to palps and anxiety and she txtd to ask about tomor morning, i said hopefully, ill try my best, she said she needed a definite no so i said maybe you should get cover then cos im only one month in to meds that cud take 3 mths to work...then she txd back n said she only needs me for 2 weeks after half term. She is always sneaky about letting me know how long its for cos she knows if she was honest id look elsewhere for something longer term. Oh well, lets hope i get offered the job i went for a cple of weeks ago when dosed up on diazepam etc lol x

Ive worked at this schl 10 yrs but the new boss has given me hardly any work for 8 months and gives it to friends n hubby instead, now she needs me n im ill shes throwing her dummy out. Over it lol x

Don't worry..you will be ok..try to call the job that you had the interview at and see if there is any news.. one door closes another one will open..maybe is for the best, this job was adding to your anxiety..

Go on vacation come to Florida!! is sunny and beautiful right now

I know how you feel not wanting people to think you're crazy getting tests done. My doctor is refusing to help and my husband told me I go to emerge too much, needless to say they're both on my hit list. Sucks going alone, I had tests yesterday and went by myself and worried way too much.

Hi Shelley, how are you doing?

I know Shelley..sometimes i think that it might be better to be alone!!

hope you get good news for your tests..I've been pretty good for the past 6 months about going to the dr only few visits I'm ok just a bit nervous because i never had a CT with contrast..i'm not sure if i'm allergic to this dye!! of course i can say anyhting to anyone in my family they will give me that look and the rolling eyes

 

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Hi Maria i understand the way you are feeling gosh i have a long list of tests i have gotten done. I am also going through menopause and sense i started i have at least gone to doc once a week for a year it gets costly. Anything different that i feel i go to doctor i get my anxiety attack and i think for sure this time doc is going to tell me i am going to die . I have gotten a CT Scan with contrast it wasnt as bad as i thought. Like Julie said this will give you peace of mind. 

Thank you so much!!  I did had scans before lbut with out the contrast..a lady told me that you feel really hot when they inject you with the dye, is this true? i'm so nervous.. and yes like you i use to be at my drs office at least 3-4 times  month..I remember being in the ER twice in a week!!! I couldn't do it anymore...very costly!! 

Hi Maria to me it felt warm for a second but not bad at all. Just think the benefit it will give you (peace of mind). I have another CT Scan to check a lesion they found in my liver . I had an MRI done on my SPine because i had alot of back pain thats when they saw the lesion if its not one thing its the other. I am going to schedule my ct scan soon just trying to pay off some medical bills from last year . You will do good on your CT scan and will pray all comes out good

Thank you again!! you have no idea how much i appreciate your reasurance!! i will let you know how it goes if i come ok out of thereI never use to be like this, i never cared to go to the dr's and the past 6 years hasn't stopped..i turned to this maniac constantly worrying for me and  my kids, that something horrible will happen!!! My son complains he got a headache and i go to a full panic mode..they are so sick of me they see my number and they don't pick up!!

 

When are you having your scan done? please let me know i will pray for  you as well!!!  Thank you so much!! xxxxxxx

Wowww i do the same thing to my kids. TO top it off i have one more person to worry about my grandson LOL. He is going to be 2 and i worry about him all the time LOL. I wasnt like this two years ago . Dont get me wrong my grandson is the best thing that has happened to me recently because he helps me with my anxiety . Well somewhat cause i worry about him LOL. Its draining at times. I dont want to be like this. I will tell you it did get a little better I dont know if its the patch vitamins or me just getting used to my anxiety. I dont tell my kids or husband when i have a doc appointment cause i think they are tired of hearing me go to doc

OMG!!! You are like me!! i have a 4 month old grand daughter and I constantly call, pray and pray again for her to be ok..when my daughter says she is going to the store i keep calling to make sure the baby is with her we are nuts!!! My family says one more for me to worry now and as you the same thing i don't tell them anymore whats going on..because when we all get together I feel i am in a therapy session Like you i feel is getting better, i think we are so used to our constant anxiety that it doesn't bothers us anymore  

Hi Maria, have you had your scan yet? Hope youre ok xx

Hi Julie

I suppose to go today but i'm going to cancel..what ever the swelling was is not there anymore so i called the dr ..she thinks i had pulled a muschle or it is a small hernia, and to watch it for a few weeks if it happens again I will go..I keep thinking it was because of my period my ovary was a little swollen. My blood and urine tests everything came normal..how are you feeling?

Hi Maria, yes if it was anything worrisome itd have shown something in your bloods/ urine. I have a swelling thats up n down constantly, trapped wind, always burping especially when stressed! I went up to 100 mg sertraline 2 nights ago so feeling more anxious, so more palps n short of breath. A friend on the same said its a normal side effect as it increases anxiety before it works in 2-3 months! But before i spoke to her i rang the docs n nurse questioned why id upped the dose, so now im waiting fir doc to ring n will prob get moaned at for increasing the dose (like everyone else is doing!) how are you feeling now? X

I'm ok, i'm trying to keep busy Fridays i clean my house i go run some errands..anything to keep me of thinking crazy thoughts you are brave with all the medications, for me is impossible i'm so scared to take anything even with vitamins i'm nervous what the sideeffect would be...i guess i was grew up like that my mom she never went to the dr and i was the same way till 6 years ago when all this started..I think i have more hard time realizing I'm getting oldwhen i hit 50 last year that did for me I remember on my 30's and early 40's loved to look myself in the mirror and now i just want to take them all out LOL..I jsut want this health anxiety to stop, went to dinner with my husband last night and while he was talking i keep thinking what if the dr missed something, and i just couldn't wait our dinner to be over and go home...You know i feel much better then a year ago, but wish the health anxiety and the fear of some kind of disaster would  happen if i leave the house or something happening to my children  goes away i would be fine

I lost quite a few friends the past few years inclusing my mother and that really made it worst.. I was talking to my neighbor and I was mentioning to her how much fun i had travelling with my job 6 years ago and she couldn't believe it, i guess they must think i'm really weird now not coming out of the house LOL

Hi Maria i havent scheduled my CT scan but i am going to do that first thing next week. I am trying to space off my doc appointments. Thanks

Aww Maria, youve lost your Mum and friends, theyre traumatic events and they also make us think of our own mortality, so its understandable you have health anxiety. Ive had it too since stomach problems and palpitations, so many tests and waiting for results wen all i wanted to hear was its just the menopause (which it probably is!). My doc rang and because of my increases palps and shortness of breath she told me to drop down on the antidepressant in case its affecting my heart rythm and she wants me to have an ECG while im on it to see if its sending the rythm out. More tests! Im like you, 2 yrs ago i was never at the docs, enjoying holidays, shopping, a normal life. Its 4.20pm n all i e managed is a bath n put new pjs on! Snowing so im not taking the car out! We shall see but its a shame if i have to come off the AD as its been tough to get this far on it and not reach the good bit when it works! Just gotta try not to worry and see what happens. Hope youre ok, its tough isnt it xx

Julie that's what happened to my friend with that medication!!! She almost had a stroke..Please give them up..you don't need them...you are healthy and happy

I lost my mom suddenly she was complaining about her leg bothering her and 2 months later died from a brain tumor...a few months later I lost my grandson he was born early he was alive for less then an hour..I saw my daughter going through pain that no mother wants to witness and at the same time my son had chemo treatments..going with him to the hospital seeing young adults crying in the corners parents sobbing it was a nightmare and I was going through my own hell....I had to be strong for them and for me...but God gave us a beautiful baby girl, which I'm worrying about all the time..my son is doing good and I thank God every day..I was thinking I would love to volunteer at the hospital but my husband said is not a good idea because every day I will come home with a different condition he is probably right

Aww, sorry for all your trauma, that's a lot to deal with. And volunteering is what youd be good at but you would probably take on a lot of other peoples stress on, which wont help you. Yes i will have the ECG and follow the doctor's advice. Thanks Maria xx