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

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  • Posted

    Hi are you still having these symptoms I am 42 and having the same symptoms but everything that is wrong now I think it's cancer my anxiety is spiralling out of control I've now got a lump in my throat and when I lie down i end up choking with sick in my mouth I know this is grose but I am sick of feeling this ill I don't know whether it's peri meno or just my anxiety disorder playing up as my son has left home I cannot function
    • Posted

      Hi rstep04,

      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

    • Posted

      Thanks for your reply and I'm glad I'm not alone with all of this it just frightens the hell out of me I keep thinking will my hubby be strong enough to bring our kids up without me most of the time I feel I'm going crazy I suppose it's spiralling this week as its my cycle which is when my anxiety peaks I just feel horrible at the minute and don't know if I can cope with this for another 10 years I feel so ill every single day xx
    • Posted

      Hello,

      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

    • Posted

      Induced indegestion. Some days I feel ok and some days I feel absolutely horrible. Tired of feeling like this already and just getting started. Last night I went to bed early because of these strange head feelings. Everyday I go to work, I'm scared of what's going to happen which is killing my bills cause I end up leaving early most days. I'be taken down some of the natural suggestions from this forum to try and see what works for me. Hope you find some relief soon.
    • Posted

      I had the lump in the throat feeling also my close friend she was convinced she had throat cancer and had test but nothing wrong she's passed all this faze now and she's feeling on top of the world, I too chocked on my meals and all those crazy anxiety feelings felt really really ill every single day but it does go I still get the odd bad days but not so much anymore but the last few weeks on and off I just can't breath I'm not at all anxious anymore that went away about 2 years ago but iv had this for about 2 years now iv seen a specialist and he said its all very common and when my periods end so will the symptoms so I just carry on and cry sometimes out of frustration that there is no help and work can be a struggle but I know it will pass sometime soon 
    • Posted

      Hi Soozi,

      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.

    • Posted

      Thank you for your great support it puts my mind at rest knowing I'm not alone going through this in a way I'm glad I did have any girls just boys as I don't want them to go through this horrible phase I look at people in the street and think how happy they look prob the same age as me and they look fine I just feel like ill every day walking around in a daze
    • Posted

      Thank you for your great support it puts my mind at rest knowing I'm not alone going through this in a way I'm glad I did have any girls just boys as I don't want them to go through this horrible phase I look at people in the street and think how happy they look prob the same age as me and they look fine I just feel like ill every day walking around in a daze
    • Posted

      I know what you mean about looking at other people but have you noticed when you feel so bad and you look in the mirror you look fine too, I'm sure there are lots of people out there feeling bad too but you will never know. Hope you start to feel better soon I'm sure you will because it seems to come and then go for a while and just when you think it's all over it comes back but it does dissipate as time goes on and the spaced out feeling only lasted a few months for me anyway, I have a daughter and I do hope she is different to me as my mother was from me she had no symptoms at all, best wishes to you I know it's very difficult
    • Posted

      Thanks for your reply I think your right I look in the mirror I'm not pale or everything I just get so down of feeling like crap everyday hope this phase will go very soon take care x
  • Posted

    Hi Carlacupcake

    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.

     

    • Posted

      Thankyou thankyou thankyou Elaine.  I had CFS when I was 19 (30 years ago) and recurring bouts ever since but have been fine for quite a few years now.  Your message makes a lot of sense to me as I never considered this in relation to peri.  The symptoms are very similar and that may be why Vitamin B is giving me some relief.  Today is a really bad day, little sleep last night due to aches and pains (thinking I probably now have cancer!!), hate how your thoughts are catastrophic, very hot here (38C yesterday and heading for 40C today), no air con (can't afford it) and in the middle of getting eldest daughter moved many 100's kms away to uni.  Oh well, onwards and upwards.....just need to get through the next 14 odd hours then can hit the bed again.  Have a great day. xx
    • Posted

      Your welcome Davida............ i think when we feel so bad, we all think the worst, your aches and pains, could be down to Fibromaylgia, if you have had CFS in the past, the two go together. But if your not sleeping due to adrenalin, then your cortisol levels will be on the  low side, when our cortisol levels drop it makes our bones ache, as cortisol  keeps are bones supple,  and thats why, when we feel stressed we feel achy as well.   I found swimming helped me a lot with the fatigue in the early days,  and you can swim at your own pace.    Loss of hormomes will also cause aching bones, so, for that, try some calcium, with Vitamin D, which, helps absorbs the calcium better through the body, the two are normally combined,  also, try keeping a glass of water by your bed, if you find you keep waking often, try drinking plain water, see if that makes you go off, it does me,  we dehydrate more during menopause, and then that inturn affects our electrolytes, sometimes taking in a little salt also helps in those instances, but not if you suffer with high blood pressure, do it by way of food instead, try a handful of salted nuts every now and again, or, salt your potatoes etc, but only do that on your drs say so, as salt can be bad for some people,  another clue Davida, is, if, your CFS is flareing up during menopause, then sometimes the water will work, but sometimes it wont, so you will know then whats causing what, if you are dehydrating due to menopause flare, the water should always work, first try gulping the water during the night at least half the glass, but during the day, drink little and often, 3 ltrs per day, drink it every ten mins, just small sips during the day.   For meals, stick to high protein low carbs, keeping refined sugar to a minimum,  again little and often, as this will keep your sugar level balanced, rather than peaks and troughs, because if that drops, it will make us produce more adrenalin etc, so, during menopause flare, try and keep your sugars balanced,   When it flares, you shouldnt get your symptoms 24/7,  they should come and go,so you will get some restbite from time to time, until the next time that is, and although they hit a peak making you think, when is this gonna end, it does start to decline,  i am so glad i am now post,  its taken nearly 10 long years to get to it, but  my symptoms are definately balancing out, no more night sweats, severe pmt mood swings, or depression, but in the early days, they were bad, and those symptoms are normally, your first signs,of menopause,  then you should get period changes, and each time you have a period change, you should then get menopausal symptoms back, but everyones different, some dont get period changes, they just stop,  i feel for everyone going through it, it does at times, make you feel a changed person, which is why its called the change i suppose, and yet some dont get any symptoms, they are so, so, luckjy, The heat where you are wont be helping either, so again drink plenty of water, stick with it, it will definately get better. xx 

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