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Perimenopause or Anxiety or ???

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carlacupcake
carlacupcake

Hi everyone,

I recently joined this, my first ever forum, in the hope of gaining knowledge and sharing experiences on the strange symptoms I have been experiencing the last few weeks.

My first post focused on Anxiety and the possibility of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It has recently been brought to my attention, there is a possibility my symptoms could be hormone related. Something I never actually considered.

Brief list of symptoms...

Fatigue (groggy and heavy type tiredness)

Brain Fog

Feeling detached and 'spaced out'

Weak and Shaky

Jelly Legs

Weak Fingers and Toes

Sensitive to light and sound

Sometimes feels like I have flu or a bad virus (even though I know I don't)

Light Headed

Light Dizziness

Easily tired out

Occasional Palpitations

Frequent urination (occasionally)

Anxious (more so than usual)

Brief History...

I have had anxiety issues, on and off, for many years and also hormone induced migraines. This year the migraines are definitely worse and so too is the anxiety. I had an 8 day brutal migraine early/mid September, followed by 8 days of severe brain fog/dull fuzzy head. I haven't been the same since. I'm also wondering if my symptoms are migraine related? I've had 2 full blood tests done and 2 urine samples taken. All came back normal/clear and healthy. I've also been to see an ENT consultant who ruled out an inner ear virus. He also checked my throat and balance. I had a full eye examination last week and my eyes are in great shape. I have an MRI booked next week and also an appointment to get an ECG recorder fitted for 48 hours.

My symptoms are so broad and general, it could be a number of things... I have even considered CFS. Now I'm thinking it could be hormone related? I feel more anxious not knowing what this is!

Is anybody experiencing anything similar?

Any replies/advice would be greatly appreciated x

27 likes, 1424 replies

1424 Replies

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  • Nanadotty
    Nanadotty carlacupcake

    Posted

    Hi anxiousface and Debra, I'm like most people on this wonderful forum with all our symptoms so every now and again I like to read how everyone is doing.about a year ago I had terible migraines that were putting me to bed for days. I almost gave in and asked the doctor for HRT. But luckily for me so was about my age and understood completely what I was dealing with. Blood tests showed i had very little estrogen and taking HRT at this stage after going through peri wasn't worth it. She gave me beta blockers for my migraine and as they say the rest is history. A bonus of the beta blockers was they dealt with my terible anxyiety which was stopping me do so much. Like a lot of ladies on here I was on a downward spiral and not going out into the public and just doing everyday things in general. Fast forward a year and I no longer think I'm dying of something sinister my migraines are well under control and even have a part time job doing nightshift replenishing shelves in a supermarket. I couldn't of dreamed of doing this a year ago. So yes at 54 and almost a year without a period it does get better. Hope someone reads this post and it gives a little comfort like a lot of the posts I've read in the past.

    Take care and try and fight through this transition into the wonderful years ahead.

     

    • Sandy07
      Sandy07 Nanadotty

      Posted

      Thank you for this. I'm so pleased to hear your story. It gives the rest of us hope.  So glad you are feeling a bit better. Light at the end of the tunnel!
    • Nanadotty
      Nanadotty Sandy07

      Posted

      Hi mooma28, yes Im having little glimpses of that light at the end of the tunnel and I tell you what ' it feels great'. Take today for instance im on my first normal day after a weekend of night shift and I woke to the sun shinning. Last year I would of thought 'oh that's too bright I'll get a migraine and be in bed for a few days. But not today I thought 'great the Suns shinning where can I go for a nice walk with a coffee and nice cake at the end of it'. My husbands out playing golf today so I love just to visit coffee shops. I used to run a coffee shop and loved it, meeting customers and baking all day, then peri struck and it just got too much. Now I just enjoy being the customer.

      You to will get there that's for sure.

      P.S. I read through this post so I don't think there's as many mistakes in this one. I never think anyone's going to read them so I just tend to ramble them out.

      Take care.

    • Sandy07
      Sandy07 Nanadotty

      Posted

      Sounds great. I'm really looking forward to that day. I too get awful headaches which can lay me low for days. Also face , neck and jaw pain. Everyday I get up hoping that today is the day I feel some improvement. The sunny weather certainly helps put a better mood on everything. Thanks again and enjoy your coffee. I love a coffee shop! Xx
    • deborah73991
      deborah73991 Nanadotty

      Posted

      Thank you, its great to know there is light at the end of the tunnel smile

      I'm almost 53 still having periods but sometimes can go a couple of months with out one. looking forward to them stopping & hopefully by then all these horrible symptoms will disappear.

      I have booked an appointment with a Dr, so will write a list of my weird symptoms & hopefully get something to help with the migraines.

    • Nanadotty
      Nanadotty deborah73991

      Posted

      I was just like you, I could go months without a period than have a few together, but also couldn't wait for them to finish. I hope you get your migraines sorted. I've suffered since I was a teenager back then it was teenage hormones that triggered them. Then a doctor prescribed me imagran and it was a god send. Now I take a beta blocker every day to prevent them but I do still get them but not really bad ones. I take a tablet called zomig which is a triptan not a pain killer. I'm sure you'll know all the tablets that are around these days for migraine because if you're like me you'll have read about and research everything. Good look at the doctors and keep your eyes open for that light at the end of the tunnel.
  • alison_94436
    alison_94436 carlacupcake

    Posted

    Hi Carland

    I,m currently in bed with a bout of the runs and stomach and chest heaviness

    I get lots of symptoms similar to you.

    I feel like I,m really ill sometimes

    • carlacupcake
      carlacupcake alison_94436

      Posted

      Hey there

      Just picked up your message. Sorry to hear you are feeling so rotten just now. How are you feeling today? 

    • alison_94436
      alison_94436 carlacupcake

      Posted

      Better, feel like I,m losing my mind with this stuff. Can,t wait to come out of the other side
    • carlacupcake
      carlacupcake alison_94436

      Posted

      I know exactly what you mean and how you feel. No 2 days are the same, this won't last forever and we will come out the other side - smiling. Hang in there! It's some comfort knowing what causes us to feel this way. I'm thinking of coming back as a man next time... It's hard being a woman at times 😁 Take care and chin up! Shout if you need a chin wag x
    • Sydneymum
      Sydneymum carlacupcake

      Posted

      Hi ladies

      My first ever forum! So happy to find a place with ladies going through perimenopause And sharing so openly.

      At 44, I am in the throes of perimenopause and recently anxiety and panic attacks have been my issue.

      I had been on zoloft 50 my for 10 years for mild anxiety and pms.

      For last 3 years I have experienced varied cycle rates of anything from 25 to 30 days between. Initially very heavy periods, but the last 2 years not as heavy and less crampy. Headaches (which I never suffered from) around start of my period, insomnia (waking at 2am), night sweats and feeling hot and sweaty (more than ever). Also had skin changes and development of melasma (3 years ago) having never suffered from pigmentation before. Last week was hit with bad anxiety and panic attacks with tingling, chest tightness, feeling of heat. Thought my effexor dose (switched last year as has been brilliant for knocking anxiety out) was no longer effective. Visited a new excellent female doctor yesterday and she thinks my anxiety and panic is hormone driven and that I am in perimenopause. Blood tests in 2 weeks to check hormones.

      She didn't think my effexor has anything to do with this sudden anxiety and panic and no point increasing the dose or switching meds. She mentioned that HRT conference she attended last week revealed UK doctors believe it is safe and certainly safe for those under age 50. Not sure what other medication she had in mind....is the pill an option? Not on any contraception as hubbie had snip snip years a g o.

      Any thoughts Or advice would be much appreciated...

      will be trying the advice to take 150 ml vitamin b daily

  • katrinalg
    katrinalg carlacupcake

    Posted

    I started going through the menopause at the age of 36,was put on HRT patches at the beginning but had severe side effects so stopped...Dr at the time told me its HRT or nothing so I went with nothing that was 16 years ago,I've muddled through on my own but I now have anxiety attacks which are the worse thing I've gone through so far,I've had to stop driving and everything can trigger them,visits to dentist,going to the shops anything really...just wondered if anyone else is going through this if so what has helped
    • Trevis
      Trevis katrinalg

      Posted

      Hi! You have done well getting through this long.,. I get huge anxiety if I go out shopping! Going is fine but once I'm in the shop I just last a couple of minutes and then I have to leave. If it's busy forget it I just stay in the car and my husband does the shopping. I don't know what or why it happens as I look forward to going but it goes all wrong once I get in the shop ...Any shop!!! 😔
  • beth22289
    beth22289 carlacupcake

    Posted

    Hi I am 51 next month over the last few years ive been quite depressed and lethargic and my periods were coming at strange times i finally went to the docter and he put me on velaflaxin an anti deprssant after a couple of weeks i felt much better and made me realise how depressed i was but i still feel depressed 2 weeks before my period which i dont know when its coming and can be quite confusing as when im depressed whether its hormones or just depression i never had dizziness before but im getting that too i get night sweats  and i dont know if its because im hot or just hormonal  i went for a a blood test when i had a heavy period and it came back premenapausal the docter said getting the blood test in the middle of a heavy period is the best time to do it. i came across this site when i put into google depressed but not negative which is true i feel down but not thinking negative thoughts. when you tell people you are feeling down they automatically think you thinking negatively.
  • beth22289
    beth22289 carlacupcake

    Posted

    I put a post on here about being premanapausal and being on an antidepressant which helped. 
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