Perimenopause or Anxiety or ???

Wow, Kelly55079, you just described what I've been feeling for a few months now, myself. As it's been happening, I just didn't realize, but after months of the same, I can't help but think my hormones are all out of whack. I've experienced many of the same symptoms that you're experiencing. I'm sorry that you're dealing with this, too. I hope you--I HOPE WE ALL-- find the answers we need. It's so confusing to me, all of this: Perimenopause, Menopause, etc ... I mean, nobody ever talks about this sh#* when you're growing up. I had never heard of Perimenopause before OR that you could remain in Perimenopause for nearly 10 years before you actually go through Menopause. What kind of hell is this? I'm 44 years old, and it seems like the day I turned 44, it hit me, what I've been experiencing is related to my hormones, it has to be! It's craziness! From the aching arches of my feet, to migraines, insomnia, anxiousness, a weird depressed mood that comes about, and going from 0-60" in an instant (and the anger really bothers me the most. It leaves me feeling ashamed and sorry because I lash out at the people closest to me). I'm also ALWAYS starving to the point that I feel sick and feel as if I must grab the quickest thing available just to avoid feeling this deep, aching hunger! The hunger forces me to get out of bed and eat something. Honestly, I think this has been my issue all my life, a hormonal imbalance. I've begun researching everything I can about Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), but I'm no doctor. So, I'd like to see a BHRT specialist and go from there. It's time to do something about these issues. I just can't go on like this. It's awful, really. I wish everyone on this forum the very best. 

Moonleaf ~

Carla, I'm 46 and I believe I'm in peri menopause also. Waiting on another hormone test and I also have high cortisol. My Paxil stopped working in 2015 just overnight. I woke up and my heart rate was through the roof and I couldn't sit still and paced the floors. I was very nauseous. Can't get off the Paxil because it makes me even worse. I had started noticing some changes like sweating all of a sudden and heart palpitations. Right now I feel like I'm going to go crazy if I don't get up and walk. I've never been like this before. My periods are about 3 days and are not as heavy as they were. I have low neurotransmitter levels in my brain and except for glutamate. I am at the end of my rope and don't know what else to do. I've seen different doctors, naturopathic doctors, psychiatrists and the psychiatrist just want to put me on too much medication

One thing that has helped me is realizing it's part of my hormones and knowing I'm not going crazy. I cut back the caffeine intake as well. Just reading up on this and better understanding what causes this helps. That does go without saying I still have days where I just feel like I'm in a dazed, foggy cloud. Every little noise just makes me want to run around the table scream and rip out my hair( I have 3 little boys ages 5,6,7, lots of noise).I also keep busy so I don't dwell on it. Hope you have better days which you will. Prayers sweetie, this stuff is hell, but this too shall pass.

I don't think anything can make it worse..  Just keep trying new things till something clicks..  I upped my vitimin intake for a couple weeks which helped with energy I think- and also added some new ones..  Exercised daily no matter how much.  And also eating more protein, veggies and fruit.  Some days I feel normal and other days I don't..  Just have to keep moving.

I started a new vitamin. As well, it's been a month and I feel more energized as well, it has the complete b vitamins and it's all natural, organic, glutin free. It's a whole food vitamin called puresynergy vit.min. herbs for women. It's a lot

ittle expensive though.

Hi Suzanne, I have practically everything you mentioned from shakiness, jelly legs, acid reflux, anxiety, joint pain, neck pain, shoulder pain etc and I'm only going on 35. I definitely feel it is peri for me but my blood work shows my hormones are normal and within range. It's awful. I've been given birth control by my doctor but I'm scared to take it my anxiety won't let me try anything really. I've had every test under the sun and all come back ok. Only thing I haven't had is ultrasound of womb ovaries etc. I have a gynecologist app next week so hopefully I'll get some answers then. My doctor says I'm too young yet my periods only last 2 days are very light and are coming earlier than usual. how women get through this stage of life I don't know.

Deirdre,

Have you had your ferritin and Vitamin D tested? Make sure you know the numbers if you do. My private doc didn't think anything about my ferritin being so low, I even dipped down with hemoglobin and red blood cells one month and that didn't get his attention. But my naturopathic doc said that women should be at least a 50 for ferritin (I was an 8). Most women are iron deficient, just because a blood test shows normal iron, your stores could be off (ferritin). 

Yes, get a vaginal ultrasound. Mine showed ovarian cysts, I was worried about the first one, it was a complex cyst and then convinced myself I had ovarian cancer even though my CA125 was normal. Had a second one done just last month and that cyst was gone and now normal functional cysts. Still kind of think something might be going on there.

Ask the GYN to test you for your ferritin and D.

If you are getting early meno hopefully it will be here soon and you won't have to go through so much misery for very long. 

Why don't you try the bc pills just for a few months and see if that helps? It's worth it to start feeling better! 

Also, the iron has helped me with anxiety, even though I'm still convinced I'm dying of some dreadful thing. Ferrochel is easy on the stomach and doesn't constipate. But get your bloodwork first before starting.

Deirdre, one more thing that I just thought of. My periods have been getting lesser and lesser, thought it was peri. In January my period was funky, light brown spotting for a week and then when I got my vaginal ultrasound my period finally came on, for 2 days. The naturopath said when I started the iron that my periods would probably get normal again. She was right. In February I had a pretty normal period, it was only 4 or 5 days, but no spotting, and it was normal looking. Maybe you aren't in peri at all, but maybe this is all related to your ferritin!

Hi Suzanne,

Thanks so much for replying to my message. Wow I'd all I can say-I'm currently taking vitamins etc as a reflexologist advised my bit b and d was low. I did take iron too. My doctor says they checked everything and all was normal.

The reason I think it's hormonal is because it all started when I came off birth control in May 2015. I got my first panic attack in June 2015 the night before my period. I didn't make the connection for ages though and by then I thought my hormones would level out but I got worse instead of better. I've been scared to go back on birth control but I do feel I should try it. Also my periods have shortened coming on day day21, day 15 and day 24...... all last year they came on every day 28-30.

Have you tried birth control yourself? How are you coping? Do you have anxiety and low mood?

I'm currently trying progesterone, not sure if it's helping, it's only been a week. My breasts are so sore with cysts. Another fun thing! I did not have lower back pain with ovarian cysts, mine is more front pelvic pain, and have had bad leg pain in the past. But I do think lower back pain could be from cysts as well. 

As I said, docs can say everything is normal, but ask to see what tests they ran and look at the numbers for yourself.

I've had anxiety, but I don't think I would've if I was feeling OK, the symptoms are causing the anxiety I think. I do have very low moods, but again, I've been sick for soooo long. It's ridiculous. 

Mine started with gastritis last April, felt tired all summer. In August I started getting a constant sore throat, ENT scoped it and said it looked like silent reflux. I was off and on again not feeling well then. I started cutting things out of my diet thinking it was silent reflux, but kept getting sicker and sicker. By November I was like a little old 99 year old woman, lost 30 pounds and walked around shaking all over. I've had so many awful symptoms. An abdominal US was normal in October, but in November another one showed bad gallbladder. So I had that out, but continued to be sick. I'm 52 and my husband just keeps saying all of this is perimeno, but I just don't know.. 

I had a few good days last week, but it hit me again on Sunday. Seems cyclical so could be hormones. I was thinking about trying bioidenticals. Either that or going to Mayo! I'm at my wits end, just want to feel normal again.

Sorry Suzanne, I'm just seeeing you mentioned always having flu like symptoms-I have had that since November last-I get some good days but mostly have feeling that I have a cold and I suffer with sore throats. Virus has been ruled out.

Yes, the flu feeling is the worse part, that scares me.. And the trouble breathing and constant upper left back pain is just as worrisome. That's why I feel like it's something more ominous. Although I do get a few OK days, if it was something really bad, wouldn't I be bad every day? 

Oh my gosh, you sound like me or I sound like you. I got the terrible shakes last summer after suffering a bad cold and then right when I got my period and woke with the shakes-i had no idea what was happening. I had the shakes for over 2 months. It was awful. I lost my appetite a few months later. Had terrible sore throats that doctors kept saying was viral but I still have it 4 months later. I've been to ENT and had endoscopy and told it's reflux....... it's a miserable time. I never had anxiety before this either outside of normal every day worries.

Have you had a Western Blot to test for Lyme Disease? I had LD in the 90s, that's also crossed my mind since spending the summer in NYC. But I doubt I got it from being in the city.

I just wish I knew for sure if all these crazy symptoms could be from peri. It just doesn't seem likely.

Yes Suzanne, I did get a blood test done for lymes disease a few months ago. It came back negative. Although a lot of people here have had them come back negative to find later on in years time that they had it. I think the most accurate test needs to be sent to Germany. I never knew hormones could do all this either but if you go onto an English menopause site which I can't name here there is loads of women going through this too. I don't know in my case as I'm only going on 35 but I do feel hormones have a lot to do with it.