Perimenopause or Anxiety or ???
Posted , 253 users are following.
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
rstep04 carlacupcake
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Topo14 rstep04
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I also have the feeling of a lump in my throat. Sometimes it is severe and other days it is a bit better. This can be caused by anxiety, since I have been to many doctors and also had MRI of head and neck done and all is fine. The more I check in to this subject the more I learn that your hormones can create a bunch of crazy symptoms which you would never think about, since almost every cell in body somehow has some receptors for estrogen and progesterone. When these hormones start to be withdrawn your body will have "withdrawl" and react with all kinds of ailments. I guess it is similar to a drug addict going into withdrawl when he cannot get his drugs....
Hope you are doing better soon. I still struggle with it every day and I am 44. It has been a really tough ride for the last 4 months for me and I do not wish this on anybody. But I am learning to cope with it...xx
rstep04 Topo14
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jamie50513 rstep04
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You are not alone at all. Im 38 and these crazy symptoms just started about three months ago for me. I am trying to cope but I think it's something new every day. The only time I seem to get some relief is when I come home and get in the bed which is beginning to be every day now. I'm nervous all day which causes crazy anxiety and I feel like I can't breathe. I'm hungry but scared to eat sometimes because it feels like my food is stuck in my chest and then I really freak out. I'm know it's anxiety indiced
jamie50513
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Soozi rstep04
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jamie50513 Soozi
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I've been going through those feelings too lately of feeling like I can't breathe. I try not to panic which leads to the racing heart. Work is really a struggle as I'm on edge everyday. The bad part is it takes my body so long to come down after the anxiety is over. I pray hard everyday to get through this and keep telling myself that one day these crazy feelings will be done. Today is not one of my good days. I would rather stay in this bed but I know I can't. I don't know what I'm going to do if I have to go through this for a few more years. I did get a woman's multi vitamin that has most of the B's in it. I'm going to see how that works. Hopefully it does something for me.
rstep04 Soozi
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rstep04 Soozi
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Soozi rstep04
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rstep04 Soozi
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elaine33371 carlacupcake
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I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Fibromylgia, and oseteoarthritis, the two first ones, go together, fibromylgia is a form of arthritis, that affects the muscles, and tissues instead of bones, and all arthritic conditions comes with an ellement of inflammation, which, in turn will make your menopause symptoms seem worse due to fluctuating hormones, its all connected. Chronic fatigue syndrome is caused by one of two things, a disfunctional autonomic nervous system, or, a disfunctional immune system, both give very similar symptoms to one another when they go wrong, and the menopause will affect both of these systems also, but when the menopausal symptoms have settled so, will your other symptoms. There is no test for CFS, and testing for autonomic problems is very difficult, because, its the nervous system, and controls everything, so, it can anything in the body to go wrong, any time, so, its a case of testing it at the right time, when its affecting the place your having tested at that time, so, if your sugar level is affected by it, then the test will show its not endocrine related,so your test would come back normal. , you are NOT a diabetic in this case, its your nervous system telling your brain to wrongly, over produce insulin in response to how much you have eaten, so, it drops too low, that then will make you produce adrenalin to bring sugar back up, which, in turn will cause anxiety due to too much adrenalin then being in the body, then because your nervous system, first quicken things up, it then at some point has to relax, so, your nervous system slows everything down, which, happens after stressful events have died down, if you have faulty system, those two will be done excessively, other things will work to fast, so you will pee more, lose weight faster, you will have very highs, then very lows during this time, your sugars will go very low, then very high, making you think you are diabetic, you will feel tired and then thirsty convincing you of this, but it will not be consistent, because you are not a diabetic, its messages from your autonomic system gone wrong, if you go to pass out when you stand all of a sudden, which is worse after eating large meals, it may make you feel bloated and feel like your body is pushing you to lie down, which in turn will make you feel better when lying flat, thats the vagus nerve telling the brain to slow your food down, but like i said it slows it too much, it isnt classed as a neuralogical dissorder as such, like parkinsons, or, multiple sclerosis, its not degernative in that way, but long term it can cause neruopathy, which could cause serious complications. It is not the glands, or, the organs going wrong, eventhough it seems like it, it is rather the way your body, organs, and glands etc, are being made to work by a faulty nervous system, and there is no treatment for that, excep advice and life style changes to control the symptoms, so to avoid low blood pressure making you feel passy out, you get up slow, when standing still, you move side to side rather than still, you drink plenty of water, no caffine, eating little and often, high protein low carb based meals, avoid hot baths, and stay as cool as poss in summer months, pacing techniques fpr the CFS, get up same time every morning and same time every night, to avoid deconditioning, and altering body clock making fatigue much worse, do breathing exercises to keep stress to a minimum, or, at least to control it, get flu jabs to help stay as fit as possible, this type of thing, so if, this sounds like you, and all your tests come back normal, then,really its just a case of a dr listening to you, picking it up, and then your dr, referring you to a CFS specialist first, and if he thinks it is CFS, but related to another problem, he will send you on, whilst still staying with the CFS clinic to help the problem its causing, I am currently at a CFS clinic, and, i am also having my autonomic nervous system checked by a cardiologist, by way of a tilt table test, however, because CFS comes with autonomic disfunction anyway, its a case of, what came first, chicken, or, the egg, was it CFS causing autonomic probs first, or, a faulty autonomic system causing CFS now, ive had my symptoms to some degree since, childhood but it has got worse, but, i always, always recover fully, but symptoms can get worse after hot baths, hot weather, flying would you believe! taking meds, eating large carb meals, standing long periods, viruses, stress, and now the menopause making it the worst its ever been, because hormones compensate for the nervous system problem, i always felt my best during a period, with a downward turn when i came off my period, and now i dont have the hormones to help me, so things are worse, but again when menopause settles, im hoping so will my illness. If this sounds like you, wait for your tests first, then, take it further with your dr, and if he checks your nervous system by way of a simple blood test and its normal, then, all that means is, it was funcitoning well the day the blood was taken, blood tests alone, are not enough, people are born with dysautonmia but isnt normally diagnosed until women are in their 50s, why do you think that is?? i think its because of the menopause, but know there are others with the same symptoms as you, and some, of your symptoms i dont think are all related to the menopause, i could be wrong, but i dont knnow your history, thats up to you, so good luck with that.
davida39072 elaine33371
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elaine33371 davida39072
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gentleballads elaine33371
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