Perimenopause or Anxiety or ???

Me too ! It's horrendous ! I'm going to doctor next week as I can't stand it and despite previously saying I would never I'm going to ask about hrt. Can't go on like this's a I'm taking really strong migraine tablets for the first time in my life.

I put off HRT for as long as I can, I think. Despite some of the side effects, I have friends who tell me that it saved their lives.

Hi Cindy,I have been on hrt patches for 2 years and for me,it doesnt appear to be helping a great deal,especially down below which is what my biggest problem is.Maybe it is helping with other symptoms that I am unaware of but certainly not for the atrophy! I began using the yes moisturiser and it felt good for a few weeks but unfortunately has come back with a vengeance! The doctors are useless and really seem to have no idea,I’m always trying to research myself for some miracle help but havent come across it yet😒I also worry about being on hrt which doesnt help with the anxiety.I’m pleased for your friends if it works for them though,anything is worth a go if it takes all these horrible symptoms away!

Hi there I feel just like you do I've been perrimenopausal for 2 years but only diagnosed in April I was offered anti depressants but was not depressed I asked for blood tests oestrogen magnesium thyroid and homocysteine which confirmed this the internal tremors were terrifying so bad at night that my husband said the bed shook I am now on propranolol thank god they work soya milk really helps it balanced out the oestrogen but I'm drinking 2 pints a day the terror of having every disease under the sun causes such awful panic attacks I'm trying to meditate to calm my mind I feel insane at times and just want to run away the insomnia has aged me ten years as I go 3 days on just 6 minutes sleep so sorry to hear ur struggling to but it helps knowing ur not alone x been advised black cohosh and magnesium vits to help stop the crawling feeling on ur skin x will let u know if they help if anyone out there knows of anything else to help please reply xx keep strong girls we will get through this together xx love and light to you all xxx debs

Hi Carl's cupcake

Love the name. Lol

Honestly my Dr is an ass

She doesn't even care one bit about me having such a terrible time. She's not even the one who diagnosed me. It was another doctor a few yrs back. But she also told me to just deal with it. So I just been using all the estroven pills over the counter. They have quit a few to choose from. Thank goodness. I have just about every symptom there is to have with pri menopause . Good day's then really bad ones. I tell myself that,,,,,,,, I'm ok I'm ok. But honestly I'm wearing down. But it will be okay eventually. I'm almost 48 and been going through it since I was 42. Long time. Lol.

My doctor probably isn't wanting to put me on Hrt because not sure of my family bloodline background. Don't know, I was adopted. But I can insure you that these younger female doctors, just don't get it. What all us are going through.

I hope all well goes for you at your appointment. Let me know what you find out. Hugs to you my dear take care.

I feel exactly the same way , where are the drs who can help and why haven't they figured this crap out by know it's disabling! I feel like I'm dieing and no one can figure it out so scared

I also have been having every symptom of peri menopause. I had a hysterectomy but kept my ovaries. Felt great till month and a half after surgery. Never felt so sick on in my life. I was 42 when I had the surgery and still having issues. I have a really good day and than down for like 5. I feel like a hypochondriac cuz so much is affected. Now trying HTR and I'm not sore yet if it's helping anything. I ended up going to another gyno cuz the one that did my surgery made me feel like an idiot cuz I knew something was wrong. Have you had any new progress

I've been dying since August. It's been hell. Every doctor, every test you can name. I finally started charting my symptoms and the only time I feel half normal is around ovulation. So I get about five or six days of feeling better. I figure if I had something really bad it wouldn't get better during that week so it's got to be hormones. Even the frozen shoulder feels better those days. Seeing my new GYN next week, going to ask about bioidenticals. I'm just so tired of feeling awful all the time. I'm 52, if I knew it would only last a few more months I'd muddle through, but I still get regular periods. Ughhhhhh

It's so hard to get a doctor to listen to you anymore these days. About a month after my hysterectomy everything went to hell. I'm blessed nothing major health wise is wrong don't get me wrong but if I could focus I think I would write a book about what doctors don't tell you can happen. My gyno told me my sex drive would get better, my moods better as Long as I kept my ovaries. That was a lie. Thankful my husband is understanding. 6 months after they did an inner ultrasound and my right ovary is gone. Absolutely no estrogen. I did the pill for 3 months didn't see much of a change. Went to estrodiol and seemed good for 3 months and now it's going backwards again. Days aren't too bad no energy whatsoever have put 15 lbs on and probably 30 inches. I eat nothing seems to taste good. Also quit smoking a year ago and have battled horrible bloating and short of breath. I also have had endless tests. All turned out fine so hormones finally was where they tested. 6 months of pure hell and than they wanted to listen when my husband asked 3 months after. They wouldn't test. Of course I have no periods so hopefully as this gets better I won't have issues again. I have started working with a compound pharmacy and I don't know if I feel any different. I started progesterone and that is a no no. My moods where awful like complete hatred, didn't want to get out of bed and my night anxiety is worse again.

What is going on with your shoulder. I have been having lots of issues with my left one?? Had MRI but really didn't find anything

I know, my private doctor finally said to me that "there is nothing wrong with you"! He suggested I go to a psychologist. When I would mention iron and hormones he just didn't want to hear it. My old GYN said there was no reason to even test hormones, that it wouldn't show anything anyway. My new GYN was the first doctor to say that all I'm going thru is probably hormones and she put me on progesterone. I only took it for a week. Was having some weird side effects that scared me. I see her again next week and want her to explain to me why she only prescribed progesterone when it seems like most of my issues are because of low estrogen. 

So I'm going to guess that you are right handed? Frozen shoulder (I too had an MRI which ruled out rotator cuff tear) usually happens in your non-dominant shoulder. If you look it up it can also go along with peri. Just another torture symptom, like the rest isn't bad enough! I think the only symptom I haven't experienced yet are hot flashes, I'm sure that will come too, why not? What I don't understand is why the cysts in my breasts are so huge and painful if I don't have enough estrogen? My ovaries are also covered in cysts. Why did you have a hysterectomy? I think I would've had my ovaries yanked too! 

One thing that I'm happy about now is that I no longer think I'm dying from some cancer or disease that wasn't uncovered with all my tests. It's helping my mood a bit and I'm starting to get out and do things again. I finally came to the realization that I could sit home and feel like crap or go out and have some fun and feel like crap. At least it's a distraction from feeling so bad.

Nobody understands, seems like nobody I know has had such bad issues in peri. I always heard about hot flashes and moodiness, but all the rest? So not fair!

It really helps to know that other women are having the same symptoms or I would still think something is majorly wrong with me!

I had to have a hysterectomy because of abnormal pap. And I had pre cancerous cells. They took everything but ovaries. My sister had all of out at 34 and all she has is hot flashes and some fatigue. I also have gotten an bit more active but I do have days that just knock me down. Yes I'm right handed and have lots of issues with my left arm and shoulder. I told my doctor the other day that I didn't think a person could hurt in so many strange places. I thought that gynos

Where supposed to know hormones but when I went back to her after I felt symptoms coming back on after being on estrogen and she said I'm not messing with ya. Go to compound pharmacy. I don't understand why they would only do progesterone. I have read very little good on progesterone so I stopped. I have read a lot on B6 on this thread and others so I am going to add that also.

You would think GYN's would know, and even my endocrinologist, he was like "you are NOT in perimenopause!". Um, OK, I'm 52, hello?????  

I just feel like I'm 100 years old. The ortho recommended physical therapy for the frozen shoulder, I got it on Friday and all weekend couldn't sleep because it hurt so bad. I can't take NSAID's due to chronic gastritis which I was diagnosed with a year ago, which I think is yet another peri thing. So I just have to deal with the pain. Do you have breathing issues too? 

I've been taking a whole food multivitatin, ferrochel, magnesium/calcium. Maybe I should add more B6. Yesterday I started making smoothies with soy milk. Thought maybe that would help if my estrogen is low. I read conflicting things about soy. 

Do you live in the US? I'm in Florida. There's a specialist in Tampa I might go so for the bio-identicals, if I decide to do them. I just don't know if I can deal with all these symptoms until menopause finally comes! I can deal with alot, but this is just too much!

Yes I'm in Arkansas. I also did physical therapy due toy neck and shoulder pain. I also hurt so bad after and for the next day or 2 and than it was time to go back to therapy. Told doctor I was done with that. I wasn't gonna hurt worse to fix something.

I had bad reflux in 2008 had my gallbladder out and haven't had an issue till about 5 months after my hysterectomy. I don't have regular bowel movements, have horrible gas build up and don't pass gas daily. Have horrible bloating and shortness of breath. Have had colonoscopy and edg done 2 times. All was good. Put me on nexium and that doesn't do a thing. Just went back and he put me on something else has helped some with short breath and bloat but still have it just not as bad. Gotta take that med 2 weeks and if it's not gone he's gonna try something else.

Yes I also have heard good and bad about soy. I truly believe it is all hormones.

I also have swelling in feet and hands, tingling sensations in face and arms. They want me to be checked for MS so just another test but I'll do it to rule that out

I had my gallbladder out in November when they found it was bad after doing a second abdominal ultrasound. These are the tests I've had since August: MRI's of brain (to rule out MS), neck, spine, carotids, thoracic, breast, shoulder. CT scans of chest, xrays of chest/lungs, 2 abdominal ultrasounds, 2 vaginal ultrasounds, mammogram, 2 breast ultrasounds. Countless bloodwork. I was supposed to see gastro today but I cancelled because I know he will just suggest I get a colonoscopy, after all I've been through I don't want to do that too. I had one 5 years ago and all was good. ERCP in the hospital was good too. 

Be careful with antacids, I was taking large doses of zantac and it caused my liver enzymes to elevate. And nexium and other PPI's can block your iron. Nexium was nasty. Gave me high anxiety, I'd jump awake at night. Awful. 

When this all started I thought that I had silent reflux and started cutting things out of my diet. I ended up losing 30 pounds which made things all worse. And it knocked my iron down. I was a shaky, sick mess. Since taking the iron some of the crazy symptoms have gone away (eye flashes, internal shakiness, intolerance to cold, etc..) 

I now believe this is all hormones too. It's the only think that makes sense. But I'm still going to keep my appt with the rheumatologist next week. It's taken this long to get in to see him, so what the heck. I'm sure he will diagnose me with fibromyalgia or something like that!

My poor husband. No wonder guys get midlife and leave their wives, I don't blame them! I'm definitely no fun to be around. 

Wish we lived closer so we could commiserate together over lemon water. Yeah, I don't even drink tea or coffee anymore. Ughhhhh

Totally understand Michelle!. The tests show nothing and the docs have no answers or undermine that it's hormone related. Only place we can seem to get comfort is on these message boards, for which I'm grateful. But we know it's definately not normal feelings and sensations in our bodies.

Tonight I was laying in bed and felt like I couldn't breathe all of a sudden, then a,flush like woosh feeling all the way down to my toes. Neurologist appt this wk just in case, after numerous tests and docs. Also hvng the strange head pressure, squeezing, head rushes, faintness, face sensations, heat, tingling on scalp, heart palps tonite. Have had the short of breath stuff too to point im burning all kinds if essential oips or carrying them arnd with me to breathe. All seems to get worse when I lay down to sleep. Just Keep telling myself I'm getting better. Sometimes feel like my breathing or body has a lull or a pause, and it's just going to stop or I'm going to pass out and that'll be it. It's scary. One ER doc said it's vasomotorphenomenon and was the first to suggest perimenopause. Has anyone else felt these things???

I hope things get easier and will be praying for everyone on here looking for answers and comfort.

HELLO JULIE, I TOO HAVE THE HEAD PRESSURE FEELING, DIZZINESS, OFF BALANCE. FEEL LIKE A BAND IS SQUEEZING MY HEAD, I CANT STAND FEELING LIKE THIS, ITS BEEN A YEAR NOW. ALSO A WEIRD TINGLY FEELING AROUND ONE LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK AND COLLAR BONE. AND THEN FEELING LIKE MY T-SHIRT IS DAMP AROUND MY COLLAR I CANT EXPLAIN THE FEELING BUT IT COMES AND GOES. I SOMETIMES WONDER IF THIS IS THE WAY I WILL BE EXPERIENCING HOT FLUSHES. I ALSO EXPERIENCE SUDDEN FEELING OF CHILLS THROUGHOUT MY BODY IT IS THE WEIRDEST FEELING. MY PERIODS ARE ERRATIC AND IRREGULAR. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE SADNESS WANTS TO OVERCOME MY MIND. ITS SUCH A STRUGGLE I JUST KEEP PRAYING FOR ALL US WOMEN GOING THRU SUCH HORRIBLE SYMPTOMS AND PRAY SOMEDAY THIS WILL ALL END. HANG IN THERE, WE WILL OVERCOME!!! WE ARE BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS OF OUR FATHER AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!!! AMEN!!!!

Hi, I was wondering if you have any heart palpitations and anxiety symptoms. I'm nauseous everyday from gastritis, can't sleep good, I cry a lot and shake and have chills. I feel horrible everyday.

Hi Julie, I wake up jittery every morning and I wake up around 4 or 5 am every morning. My heart races and I feel like I can't sit still and have horrible gastritis that makes me nauseous everyday. They say my levels are ok FOR A PREMENOPAUSAL WOMAN. If I'm a premenopausal woman then why aren't they doing anything. I have horrible anxiety.

Julie do you have nausea or gastritis? I wake up at 4 or 5 am every morning nauseous. I burn in my stomach and I have anxiety and I cry a lot. They say my levels are fine for a premenopausal woman. If I'm premenopausal then why can't they help me??? What are your symptoms? I also get headaches a lot.

Michelle what do you do for your chronic gastritis? I can't take the proton pump inhibitors because they interact with my medication. I wake up nauseous everyday and burning. I have a hard time eating especially during the day until about 4pm. I have lost weight and I feel horrible everyday. I also have anxiety.

To the ladies with these symptoms and who aren't eating very much, this is where I ran in to trouble. I would highly suggest you have an iron panel done and have a look at your ferritin level. Make sure you know the number. I was an 8, doctor said that was normal, naturopahic doc said no, a woman should at least be a 50 to feel ok, and some docs think you should be at 100 to feel optimal. When I started working on my iron (I take Ferrochel, easy on the stomach and no constipation) alot of those funky symptoms started disappearing. I no longer get shaking and chills, eye flashes, and my anxiety has gone way down. Antacids will block your iron so you are at extra risk if you are taking them. 

HELLO TONIA, I AM 46 AND STARTED WITH ALL THESE SYMPTOMS LAST YEAR. IN THE BEGINNING I HAD INSOMNIA AND WAS ONLY GETTING ABOUT 2 HRS OF SLEEP I WOULD WAKE UP EVERY MORNING EXACTLY AT THE SAME TIME 3:00 AM WITH SUDDEN HEART PALPITATIONS AND AN AWFUL FEELING OF DOOM AND GLOOM ALONG WITH ANXIETY WOULD COME OVER ME. I WANTED TO GET UP AND RUN CRYING WITH FEAR OF NOT KNOWING WHY I WAS FEELING THIS WAY AND TELLING MYSELF HOW CAN WE WOMEN BE GOING THROUGH THESE AWFUL SYMPTOMS?! I HAD THE SHAKES/TREMORS/ANXIETY SADNESS AND CRYING I HAD NO APPETITE NOTHING I DID HELPED ALLEVIATE THE SYMPTOMS NOTHING I TOOK HELED ALLEVIATE THE SYMPTOMS. I WOULD PRAY AND READ MY BIBLE PAYING THE MOST ATTENTION TO THE WORDS WRITTEN IN RED AND PSALMS FOR INSPIRATION AND COMFORT. I STARTED TAKING EARLY MORNING OR EVENING WALKS TO PUT THE ANXIETY TO USE. I WOULD LISTEN TO MY CHRISTIAN MUSIC IT HELPED ME SOOOO MUCH. AND I FORCED MYSELF TO GET OUT AND ABOUT TO DISTRACT MY MIND EVEN IF IT WAS FOR A LIL WHILE. I WOULD USE BREATHING TECHNICS AND FINDING THIS FORUM HAS HELPED SOOOOO MUCH ALONGSIDE THE MANY WOMEN WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I ALSO WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I AM MUCH MUCH BETTER THAN WHEN ALL THESE SYMPTOMS STARTED WITH A YEAR AGO. I STILL FEEL A LIL ANXIETY BUT NOT LIKE WHEN ALL THESE SYMPTOMS STARTED, THE DOOM AND GLOOM AND CRYING FEELINGS HAVE SUBSIDED. THANK YOU FATHER LORD JESUS CHRIST! OH, THANK YOU DEAR LORD'!!! I LEAVE ALL THIS UP TO YOU MY LORD!!!! I HAVE FAITH IN YOU MY LORD!!! I KNOW YOU WILL MAKE US ALL WELLL AGAIN AND WALK ALONG SIDE US THROUGH THIS PASSAGE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS JOURNEY. AND I BELIEVE IN YOU WITH ALL MY HEART AND I BELIEVE THIS TOO SHALL PASS!!!! HANG IN THERE LADIES!!! WE ARE ALL HIS CHILDREN! HUGS AND KISSES!!!!

Hi everyone. Oh how I understand. This forum is a God send. I now have a feeling of hope again know what is wrong with me. This overwhelming fear of losing my mind, anxiety attacks, fuzzy head, cloudy vision, itchy skin, not to mention I have gained 20 lbs in 6 months, although alot of the weight can be chalked up to me quitting smoking at the beginning of those 6 months. I'm 47 and have more zits than my 17 year old daughter. My blood work came back showing perimenopause with estrogen only in the 30's, but the repeat showed my levels sky rocketing.. I have good days and bad, Forget explaining it to your husband, he just tells me to stop it, and this is where I want to choke slam him. Hot flashes are right up there as well, every ight I'm woken up at least twice. Which leaves me wide wake, tossing and turning, and racing thoughts through my head. My periods use to go 7 days, Now they are just 3 very heavy days, and then nothing. Last one came back only 3 weeks after my previous one.and I spotted a bit between each. So this rocky road of perimenopause hell won't last forever, this too shall pass. Hang in there ladies, much love, compassion, and understanding. Here a big hug for you all. Xoxo

Suzanne, I see that you have chronic gastritis. What are you you doing for yours? I had a hormone test done and they said it was fine for a premenopausal woman, so basically I'm in peri menopause. Why don't they do something??? Do you ever feel flu like? Just feel bad in general? I still have my periods.

Hi Tonia,

I was having stomach pain and black stools last Spring so had an upper endoscopy which showed chronic gastritis. This was also around the time I was having screaming fits at my poor husband, my emotions were out of control! The gastro told me to take antacids for 6 weeks, but I only took them for two, I get side effects from them. So I basically watched what I ate and stayed away from things that I know aggravate it like tomato sauce, OJ.. My stomach is OK now, I just make sure not to have those screaming out of control moments anymore which is also helping. I'm sure both of these things are from hormones.

I still have my period too, they are pretty regular, started getting spotty but when I started taking iron they evened out again.

And YES, OMG, YES, I do feel like I have the flu. Most of the time (except for the days I'm ovulating which I just figured out not too long ago). That's why I thought I had some awful disease or cancer. I was always telling doctors that I just feel flu like or unwell. They'd look at me like I had two heads. Today is particularly bad, I didn't sleep well because of the shoulder pain, and I was just saying how I don't feel shaky anymore because I take iron but today I'm having that internal shakiness again. I've been having the flu like feelings since August. This is just so awful. If it weren't for women talking about the same things I'd still be feeling like I was dying of something dreadful. I now have some hope. 

Have you tried HRT? I'm thinking of trying bioidenticals, hoping they won't cause bad side effects like synthetic hormones. I never thought I'd do it, but if it gets me through all of this it'd be worth it.

Hi. I fear the off balance feeling the most. It is soooo scary. Haaa. I've been on herbal medication for almost two years now. My doc has been treating me for hormonal imbalance.Thanks be to God-the meds are quite effective.  I still experience the off balance feeling and that head pressure feeling. It's terrible!!!

It was after I read some of the posts on this website that I convinced myself that I've been going through peri. I certainly will speak with my doc some more about this.

Let's continue to encourage each other with any worthwhile info we have.

Yes the dizzy feeling and head pressure is awful. I have never had so many sinus issues either. Your very fortunate that your doctor has listened to you. I think that's the biggest struggle I have had. May I ask what your doctor has you on?? I have gotten much better since this started 1 1/2 years ago. Now the worst is the dizzy head pressure and anxiety.

Okay sorry girl, I was thinking of you and went to look and never saw your message. Yes I too wish we did live closer because I feel like everyone thinks I'm crazy cuz I do my best to function but some days just can't. I had my gallbladder out in 2008 and didn't have another episode of indigestion until about 4 months after my hysterectomy. I got bad constipation and went through numerous test on colon. Found that my sphincter muscle was very tight. My therapist thinks that happened when I had my bladder slung!! If I would have known it would cause that many issues I would have just kept wearing pads 😂😂

I have had MRI on brain, been to neurologist, rheumatologist, 3 different GI doctors, 2 different heart doctors, all to have great results. I'm healthy praise god. I think what's so hard is just the frustration. No doctor wants to talk about hormones cuz I'm 42 and have ovaries.

That's weird you mention about nexium and all I've had the jump out of bed lots in the past 9 months. Worst feeling in the world. I do have a anxiety pill that helps if it gets bad enough and thank god I'm not having to take them near as much as I used to.

When I saw my rheumatologist i asked about fibro and they did all the testing and said no. I was relieved. I have a friend that has it and she has the same symptoms I get the list is forever long. Hers came from a horrible car accident. Her doctor told her people get fibro after a major happening in their lives. About 2 months after all this started I had blood work that showed an autoimmune disease. Took 2 months to see them and then when they did there blood work it wasn't showing again. I've been tested a couple more times the past year and a half and nothing thank goodness.

Yes our poor husbands. Mine has been super understanding but i feel so bad. My sex drive is so horrible. Like there is none. And he takes all the blunt of my moods and doctors appointments. He asked about 4 months after to have hormones tested and no one would do it. He got a little upset!!!

I so enjoy talking to you. Please let me know what doc says. Keep in touch. Have you found anything to help your acid issues

Hi Michelle. Since I started treatment, I've been given different tinctures such as black cohosh combined with cramp bark (liquid form). I've had fertility tea, fem balance tabs, and more recently, brain and adrenal liquescence. Basically, I'm being treated for hormonal balance. The meds are effective though.

Michelle, what kind of hormone tests have you had done? I've had a saliva and blood spot test. The saliva test, my doctor said didn't come out right. She thinks I used some kind of skin care cream and the ingredients in it threw the test off. My last blood spot test came back normal for a "premenopausal " woman. So I gather they're saying I'm premenopausal, but won't give me a natural hormone replacement therapy. I have bad anxiety, horrible gastritis headaches off and on depression and crying.

What kind of doctor are you seeing and what supplements are you taking? My naturopathic doc gave me something for my gastritis that interfered with my medication. I've read high estrogen can cause gastritis. My anxiety is horrendous!!

Michelle can you give me some insight on what has helped you? My anxiety and gastritis is horrible

Thank you so much

So Olimari, did you ever take anything for it. Did you have any hormonal testing? I've been going through this since July of 2015. I'm losing weight and my new naturopathic doc gave me a supplement that interacted with one of my medications. I asked her if they would interact. I spent over $400 to see her. Never again!!!!

Suzanne, no one will prescribe me HRT. It's funny how my last blood spot test said my levels were normal for a "peri menopausal" woman. So I am in peri menopause. So why not give me something?????

Suzanne I think I will get my ferritin levels checked again. Mine has been a 7 a few years ago.

Tonia, I just wanted to reply because I can feel the desperation in your your messages. I'm in the same situation as you. I'm going to be 35 this year and doctors won't even agree that I'm in perimenopause. I've been in hell for 2 years. I have terrible anxiety because of it. Doctors will only prescribe birth control and anxiety meds in early peri. Please think about trying one before your anxiety becomes too great like mine did. Also I spent a lo of money trying to get answers..... when I had the answer all along. These hormones cause so many problems and different symptoms pop up. It's a very difficult time. I was desperate for doctors to validate my hormone theory but all they saw was a very anxious person and that's all they wanted to treat-but my anxiety was and is coming from my hormones. Doctors only treat things as separate ailments- they very rarely look at the whole scenario. THis made my anxiety worse- I have terrible physical symptoms that some have resolved and some have changed. My biggest regret is not going on birth control straight away. My anxiety would not have reached such huge levels if I had just gone on it. I'm supposed to start birth control today but I'm full of anxiety about it. I hope some of this helps. I know how truly awful this is. Take care.

What are you doing for the gastritis?

I so wish I could give you insight. I've never been to the doctor and er so much in the past year and a half. But get to a doctor and get help for the anxiety. I didn't want to believe that's what was wrong with me(yes this came on full force a month after my hysterectomy) no one would believe it was hormones. I take clonazapam 1mg when it gets real bad. I'm not saying a pills the answer cuz I don't like to have to take pills but it does help when you can push through on your own. I'm at 1 1/2 years of this imbalance and anxiety is so much better. I still have it hard at night but I at least know now that I'm not having heart attack. I occasionally take a pill if it gets real bad but most times I will grab a book and read to call me. Never had anxiety always was the person who could manage 100 things going on at once!!! This whole thing has changed me!! My stomach issue isn't gastritis at least they haven't said anything about it. I've tried numerous things and as time is going on it's getting better but I have found some relief by drinking aloe Vera juice. It's in a clear jug at the vitamin shops. I drink a half a cup a day.

I've had numerous testing I have acid in my stomach but I've tried various pills and have had no luck and sone made symptoms worse. Just chalking it up as to hormones also. I had blood tests done showed I wasn't premenopausal but had no estrogen so how does that make sense. Went on pill for 3 months it helped some but my breasts hurt and all I wanted to do was eat. Than went on estrodiol and the first 2 weeks I thought praise Jesus!!! This is the answer only to find a month later a lot of symptoms came back. Went back after 6 months of pills cuz doc wouldn't hear of it not doing anything and said this isn't working. Sent me to a compound pharmacy to do bio-identical hormones. On a cream estrogen now and a few vitamins. She put me on progesterone first 3 days great after that oh lord my hubby wanted to strangle me. Read up on it and found yep I need off that cuz I read way more negative than positive reviews. Sorry this was long. I could write a book cuz no one tells ya anything about what hormones can do!!! It's our own battle cuz doctors don't want to believe it either

It's been pretty quiet for a long time, until I took Tylenol on an empty stomach the other night, now my stomach has been hurting ever since. Basically I stayed away from foods that I know will aggravate it, like tomato sauces and orange juice. And I no longer take any Advil. NSAID's are really hard on the stomach and I used to pop alot of Advil every time I had a headache. I'm also trying to make sure I control myself, when I look back to last year, I was def out of control, screaming at my poor husband if we'd get in an argument, throwing things, getting myself so worked up I'd be heaving over the toilet. So stupid! It was probably all hormones making me so whacky.

Also, trying to keep your body more alkaline is a good idea for those of you with acid problems. I drink lemon in warm water. No caffeine, no carbonated beverages (even water), nothing very spicy, no alchohol, no black tea. Ginger tea is good for the stomach, make sure you find an organic one that is only ginger.

A ferritin level of 7 is way too low. Get it checked again and if it's still low you should try taking some iron. Floradix is good, it's a liquid, and Ferrochel iron supplements which is easy on the stomach and won't constipate. You can google ferritin levels for women to see what's optimal. Most say that a level of 100 is optimal to feel your best. We've got a long way to go! 

My level is 43 now. The level of 7 was a few years ago. I'm thinking of going back to that doctor again and have my ferritin levels checked.

Have you had any hormonal tests done? Are you still having a normal period?

I'd take a 43 ferritin. Were you supplementing to get there?

Yes, I still get regular periods, probably will until I'm 80.

I did have hormones tested, lots of stuff too high. I'm seeing my GYN this morning.

Deidre, what are you taking or doing for the anxiety? What tests have you had done and what brand birth control are you on? Do you feel nauseous a lot? What medication do they have you on? What do you feel has helped the most?

Are you saying your hormones are high? I had IV iron a few years ago. Let me know what the GYN says. Can you function? I don't even like to be by myself. My husband goes everywhere with me. My anxiety is so bad. I feel so nauseous and burning in my throats and my stomach gurgles all the time.

Yes, looks like my estrogen is pretty high. I've only had tests done in the follicular stage so not sure what's happening at other times. I def feel better around ovulation, but that's only about 5 days. The rest of the time I feel dreadful.

You were lucky to be offered iv iron. I went to a hematologist after finding out about my low ferritin and she acted like it was no big deal and sent me on my way. I think it was an 8. I did get up to 19 anout three weeks after taking the Ferrochel and just got tested again a month later and waiting for the results.

My husband travels for work and sometimes I think I'll die and nobody will even know! My poor dogs!

Did you just get blood drawn at the gynecologist?

What are all your symptoms?

I did have my bloodwork done at GYN. My ferritin actually went down some, not sure how when I'm taking Ferrochel iron, now I'm worried and think I shouldn't have cancelled with the GI doc twice.

My symptoms have been: flu like unwellness, internal shaking, outward shaking, pain in upper back, upper back pressure, trouble breathing, frozen shoulder, no appetite, nausea, light flashes in eyes, burning feeling in cheeks, upper back, upper arms, chest, trouble sleeping, anxiety. The list never ends. The only days I feel decent are the 5 or 6 days around ovulation. That's the only thing making me think it's hormone related and not cancer or a disease.

GYN wants me to go on bc pills to regulate everything. My estrogen is high and my LH too, which she said means I might not be ovulating. But why do I still get periods? Of course now I'm all worried about taking the pills, I feel like my liver has been sensitive to pills lately (macrobid, Zantac, Tylenol). But I can't keep feeling like death either.

Tonia,

I went through the same thing for almost a year with my anxiety and not wanting to be alone and go no where without anyone. I'm going better now but have my days. This crap we have sucks!!! No one prepares us for anything close to this.

I'd be careful with the birth control pills. I've heard that they can make anxiety worse. I saw a video where bc pills reduce b6 levels and b6 has a lot to do with seratonin and other neurotransmitters.

So would taking B6 supplements help that?

A nutritionist told me b6 is good for PMS and seratonin

I have almost all of the same symptoms. The anxiety and nausea is the worst. I live in a small city with not so great doctors and have to travel at least an hour for a descent doctor. Do you ever get heart palpitations and it triggers your anxiety and you feel like you can't sit still? I have to get up and pace the floor. My head and neck and shoulders ache and it triggers my anxiety and makes me nauseous. My anxiety is horrible.

Mine has been going on since July of 2015. So was it because of your hormones? If so, what kind of hormone test did you do? I cry so easily. My Paxil quit working in July of 2015 and I woke up with my body shaking and it wouldn't stop. Shaking for no reason. Do you take anything for it or know what helps?

I do get palpitations, or maybe more internal shaking like symptoms. I would take my bp when this happens and it was always fine, but my heart rate seemed to always be high. It would even happen when I would first wake up in the morning. Some of that went away when I started taking iron, and the eye flashes aren't as bad either. I notice that when I'm laying in bed watching TV my one foot is always moving. Sometimes I will get a crashing fatigue feeling, but most of the time I'm like you, and feel like I have to walk and pace. I only think I'm anxious because I have all these crazy symptoms, I wasn't like that before. Although, when all this started I had a period of high anxiety over an issue I was involved with and I wasn't sleeping for a few weeks. 

Now I've got anxiety because doctors haven't found what is wrong. So my hormones are out of whack and I'm perimeno, but would that really cause all of these intense symptoms? Could it make you feel like you have the flu, weak and shaky? I'm just not convinced and I still think there is something more.

Suzanne, I'm here with same symptoms for the last 2 years. I've been trying to find out what is wrong with me too. I have constant flu symptoms, swollen glands under my ears in both sides,constant sore throat, acid reflux, heart palpitations, internal shakes,list is endless. I've checked everything but all started for me when I quit birth control 2 years ago. Had panic attacks etc almost immediately. I can't believe hormones can make somebody feel this way either. I've so many other things going on too-stuff joints etc. I'm only turning 35 so this is hard.

Yes, the worse part is not knowing for sure what's wrong!! 

What tests have you had done?

Where do I start- heart tests were first, blood tests,MRI head and spine, thyroid checks,ultra sound of neck, x-rays of chest, in sure I'm missing a few more. I have neurologist test next week. I almost cancel it only I've been waiting a year for the referral to go through.

Thyroid problems do run in my family so I was convinced it was that...... only thing that showed up was on my ultrasound of neck a few weeks ago a cyst was found above my thyroid-a congenital cyst they called it and said nothing to worry about. My throat is raw and inflamed and I had trouble swallowing and breathing since October last year. I was blue in the he face telling them I couldn't breath etc and they told me anxiety.

I also had hormone blood tests which showed as normal. Doctor told me I must just have PMS. All they suggested was going on birth control or anti anxiety meds and anti depressants. I wasn't depressed when this started but they said I must of been. It's all been very upsetting. I couldn't keep working. I'm trying my best to pull myself out of it though. It's hard. I know they must be missing something.

The only thing saving me is that I'm perimeno age and that my symptoms seem to get a bit better during ovulation, but I don't want to dismiss all these awful symptoms as just being from peri if it's something more serious. I feel the same, that something was missed, even though I have had so many tests. I keep thinking something would've showed up. I also can't stop thinking about my health since August. So I know that's not helping anything either. It's hard not to obsess when you aren't feeling well.

And all this started out with a sore throat that wouldn't go away back in August!

Suzanne I believe you mentioned b12 and b6 are good, I do take 1500mcg b12, d3 1600 and calcium and a multivitamin, have to be careful because of my bp med and clonazepam. Menopause I think I've been in it for going to be 9 years April. New to me now is a pain in my upper left breast, menopause I hope is all that is, anxiety ruining high because of it.partial hysterectomy 26 years ago but 2008 my FSH reading was at 49. So I was in menpause than. How long does this go on?

That is so weird that you had sore throat as well. Was you that also mentioned a blood test showed auto immune thing and then didn't later? Or am I getting confused....... because I saw 2 things that match all this besides perimenopause and the yard thyroiditis and post viral infection syndrome. I'm worn out by feeling so sick though. I never so much as flinched when I got sick before but now I feel terrible. It's just so debilitating. I feel awful every day.

No, it wasn't me. But we did discuss the sore throat thing. I thought I had silent reflux which led to change in diet and downward spiral. I do think you should have your thyroid checked again, that can make you feel really bad. I've been on synthroid since I was 16. 

I know what you mean about feeling awful every day, that's me too, except for being half OK during ovulation. Although my GYN said today that I might not be ovulating anymore, so not sure why I'd feel a bit better during ovulation then, unless my body is still trying to make more hormones to try. 

Have you had your hormones checked to see where you are at? Are your periods funky? Did you family have early meno? And you did say you had a Lyme test? If so, was it a Western Blot test? That's more reliable than an Elisa test which most doctor will do first if you don't ask. 

I long to feel normal again, it seems like it will never happen! I just don't know if anxiety can be 24/7 of bad symptoms. For months and months??? 

Yeah I'm going back to my doctor on Wednesday because my throat is still so sore and I going to ask for thyroid antibody test. I had tsh and free t4 checked which came back normal but my moms got autoimmune thyroid-hers is burnt out completely and overactive I think.

I had other blood tests for estrogen etc and all came back normal as well. My periods have become irregular and last 2 days and are light so I do feel I'm in Peri but no confirmation via tests. I think I had western blot test but I will ask on Wednesday. I feel so sick, I just feel there's has to be more to this. It's awful. I don't really want to go on birth control again but I feel I may have to. It really sucks being a woman. I hope this doesn't last long. it's such a struggle.

Sorry if I forgot but have you had your iron checked? Why do you want to be off bc pills if you felt better on them?

I came off them because I felt I had side effect on them and my doctor advised the brand I was on had a lot f bad publicity and court cases against them. I had iron checked I believe. I'll go badck tomorrow and see. Thanks for suggestions.

Just reading through these posts and really wanted to respond. Went through Peri for at least 18 months maybe longer its hard to know exactly. All typical symptoms. Hot flushes, nausia, water retention extreme exhaustion etc. I handled all that stuff ok but it was the mood swings that got out of control. Would wake up crying then the agitation would start to the point I would shut myself in the toilet so no one could see me and then i would get so angry at nothing at all. It started to affect my relationship and my job. Remember lying in bed of a morning truly questioning my sanity. It sacred the crap out if me. Went to buy kitty litter one morning then got back in the car and just sat and cried. That was the last straw for me. I booked that morning to see a doctor recommended to me for bio identical hormones was best thing I've ever done. Been on them for 8 weeks. I take a troche every morning that disolves under the tongue. Its a combination of estrogen progesterone and testosterone. First month was interesting as my body adjusted to them and it doesn't necessarily get better straight away. Had bloods done at 6 weeks which showed I'm post menopause now and my troche has been adjusted slightly. I'm feeling normal and balanced again for the first time in quite a while. From what I understand about all this stuff is you need to get all your hormones balanced so I have the correct amount of each hormone for me. I'm progesterone dominant so even a tiny bit too much estrogen for me will throw me into complete turmoil. I think I'm blessed to have found a doctor who understands and cares so much. He's amazing and I think bios are worth trying but give them time, it doesn't happen over night.

Good luck with everything and I'd love to hear how it all goes.

Cheers Rosemary.

Iv noticed you and a few other women have mentioned you're thinking about bio identicals and i wanted to share my experience. Think I was going through Peri for 18 months or so with a lot of the symptoms. Hot flushes, nausea, extreme exhaustion, aweful bowl issues, migrains, water retention and some weird stuff too. One is a loud whooshing sound in one ear and really heavy sore eyes. Some of my symptoms have settled down on there own but the moods got worse and the migraines would last for days. I started bio identicals about 9 weeks ago after my moods became so unbearable my life started to fall apart and I couldn't cope anymore. I knew about the mood swings but had no idea they could make you lose your mind. I take a troche with estrogen progesterone & testosterone. Its been adjusted once already, he gave me too much estrogen to start with but since then I definately feel so much better. I will still have ups and downs. Last couple of days iv felt a bit flat but the crying and the anger and the incredible irritability has gone. My partner said he likes me again too and I don't think he was joking. The secret with bios is getting all the hormones balanced properly and it can take some time to get it right. Also a doctor who truly understands how we feel. My doctor is amazing. He described to me exactly how I felt and explained why.

Hope this helps a little bit and reading all your posts has helped me tremendously.

Julie,

I was in a terrible position about a year ago. I agree the doctors have no idea how to help you except to through anxiety medicine at you. One thing that has worked is changing my diet, getting on the hormone patch, 28 mg of effexor. Most importantly I use mindfulness, Yoga, meditation and sleep to get me through this.

I thought I was going to die or at least crazy (hospitalized 4 times) and now I can get through each day with some but minimal problems. I have learned to do a lot less and that helps. But exercise is something I do at least 3 times a week.

I also take caltrate, a vitamin and probiotic. I hate to hear anyone is suffering through perimenopause.

I hope you have been able to find something to make things better.

Hi Suzanne

I live in florida I am going through perimenapause for 3 months from fatigue, lathargic, dizzy, I just started having pain behind my right side of my head and neck ear about a month ago I heard this powder called maca I'm going to try it and see how it goes I can deal with fatigue but this head and ear pain is driving me crazy please let me know if you know something else I can try

It's 2 years now since all this started and things are better but I still don't function like i used too. This forum is a great place to just feel like your not going crazy.  Of course get things checked out by a doctor but when they constantly tell u nothing is wrong but yet your body is telling you different come here and chat.  

Yes please tell us how maca powder help you..  I know many try but I never hear back.  

Yes, to all of those! I am 51, and my symtoms started about 7 months ago out of the blue. i thought i was going crazy, or had something horribly wrong with me. These forums have helped me to not feel so alone.

I have been going through all the same symptoms for about 7 months. I thought I was dying! I started going to my quiet place, spending hours praying and reading my Bible, giving it all to Him. Im still having symptoms, but I'm having faith that God will heal me!

keep your faith , im the same here tired of bring sick day in day out for the past 4 yrs im 47 now i have long list of symptoms prayer keeps me going