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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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  • laurie70017
    laurie70017

    Posted

    Ok thank you so much..yes I hate taking meds anyway and the way I felt after taking those was like I feel without them..I will go on site and check it out..thank god we have each other cause doctors sure don't get it..thank you!!!
  • sandra63
    sandra63

    Posted

    Maybe we should give our doctors a link to this forum....may save some others from thinking they are going insane. Has anyone else noticed that often the terrible stories on the news of women taking their own lives randomly are of this age group? And why many divorces are at this time of life too. My husband has been fantastic but not sure I'd have made it if he wasn't so supportive.
  • laurie70017
    laurie70017

    Posted

    Yes flops its so sad that our drs can't figure this out but we can..very sad..I would like to take our comments and show my dr and see his reaction then..if they had to feel this way they would figure something out I bet..I don't have meds on me but I will post them when I get home...hugs and thank you..
  • Flops
    Flops

    Posted

    Love and supportive hugs Laurie, and to everyone, thank goodness we have a place to talk smile

    Take care xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  • laurie70017
    laurie70017

    Posted

    Yes sandra its very scary when you think about it..I hope more women find this site and it helps them.love and hugs to all!!!!
  • anxiousface
    anxiousface

    Posted

    Hi all hope your doing ok. Has anyone had tingling from head to toe. Iv had this all day and its making me dizzy do you think its perimenopause or anxiety ?? Love some feed back please x
  • sandra63
    sandra63

    Posted

    Hi. I cant say ive had that symptom sorry so can't comment. Is your life stressful atm tho, ie reasons to be anxious? Apart from the perimenopause that is? Thing is I found that its the perimenopause that causes the anxiety. Mine started on a saturday morning when I was just pottering around the house, A & E said was panic attack but why did I have panic attack, that was my concern. I think we should be treating the cause of the anxiety not being dished out ads. unless your life is causing you anxiety, imo. It does get easier, you learn to read your body. Learn some relaxation techniques-diaphramatic breathing is good, for when the panic strikes. I had some Reiki too for a while. Good luck, you are not alone!
    • shallah24
      shallah24 sandra63

      Posted

      Hi. I have been suffering from nausea on and off since Novemeber along with light headedness. GP s could not get to the bottom of it and ended up on stemetil for the nausea. They suspected a problem with the vestibular system.I was suspicious then that these could be perimenopausal symptoms.I was sent to neurology for scans -which were all clear than God. Then was sent to the balance clinic,where it was found that I had a balnce defecit of the right side. I am having physio for this and the dizziness/light headedness has gone.However, the physiothereapists pointed out at the beginning that the symptoms I had were more like perimenopause ! I have to agree that the GPs are not aware of perimenopause as a possibility. My nausea is less severe than before and I can go for 2-3 weeks nausea free and then it returns.You seemed to have the same issue, apart from cutting out wheat does the menapol help with this?

      I was given AD by the GP due to severe anxiety,low mood  and palpitations, but had such bad side effects that I am too scared to go anywhere near them again.I am nearly 52 so I know that I am in the perimenoapuse category and feel that my symptoms are related to this.Its just trying to find things that will help me cope. The nausea is the worst.Its very hard to deal with.With anxiety , i find that breathing exercises help.I was given something called a beta blocker for the anxiety but I didnt take it. My next step is to see my GP and ask for referral to a menopause clinic-if there is one. A friend suggested menapol as she said it helped her with anxiety.I would be interested in others' experiences of this supplement.

      I am flad there is a forum here.My physio also recommended a forum on facebook called 'making friends with the menopause'.Its also a place to share experiences.

      I assume you are now nausea free .I hope I will get rid of this unpleasant symptom soon.Thanks 

  • anxiousface
    anxiousface

    Posted

    Hi sandra63, thank you for your quick response i do appreciate it. I'm trying to be stress free but Monday is my busiest day at work and i always get anxious about going to the bank cos that's one of the places where i felt i could faint when i was at my worse. I had an horrendous headache all day yesterday and feel quite fragile today as if its going to come back any minute. I've felt like this before and had nothing to be stressful about. Its very weird. I get the feeling it could be hormone related as I'm bloated and have PMT but not had a period for 3 months. ho dear i could go on and on. bye the way i have Reiki and Reflexology which does help. thanks again its nice to talk xx
  • laurie70017
    laurie70017

    Posted

    Ive had tingling in hands and feet all day today..upset stomach and pressure i head with it..it gets really bad then will let up a bit and tired..i didnt know what was causing it either because i didnt think i was axious bout anything..just a off day..hope u feel better soon..love and hugs
  • anxiousface
    anxiousface

    Posted

    oh laurie70017 so glad to hear you've had the tingling too, sorry i shouldn't say glad but hopefully you know what i mean. My tingling is all over even in my lips. Yes your right I should just think its an off day and i'll be ok tomorrow. hope WE feel better soon smile even bigger hugs to you x
  • sandra63
    sandra63

    Posted

    Gosh its awful isnt it, bet if men had it it would be sorted...I found that the headaches/pressure was sinuses ( something else! ) and that a good nasal spray helps enormously ( just the type for hayfever ) Also btw we should all be taking vit B complex too....keep your chins up ladies, we will get thro it!
  • jayneejay
    jayneejay

    Posted

    carla cup cake

    i just read your list of symptoms, and re frequent urination i was like that for years, only now 8 years perimenopause has it stopped, i was always at the toilet, go shopping, need the toilet, now i am fine, it has not been so frequent, so hopefully yours will pass, i had tests and all was fine years ago, just a peri symptom for me..

    hang in there ... ( she says) I need the Doctor and going tomorrow, ref, anxiety and insomnia ...

    tried the melatonin and it gives me vivid scary dreams, i wake up in a frightened state when i do manage to get a couple of hours sleep, i feel like a zombie and need a doctor to help me now..

  • Jodstar3
    Jodstar3

    Posted

    Hi I'm new to this as well. I'm so sick of feeling sick, off balance, lightheaded, palpitations, sweating . Have had bloods, stress test etc etc all clear. But some days it feels as I'm loosing it just can't go on. Wake up feeling sick, do not want to get out of bed, bloated. Ready for another yuck day. Is this premenopausal and Anxiety together . I have been diagnosed with panic disorder but this is ridiculous . I'm not on Meds as I don't want to . Does any one else feel like this ???
  • ladylor123
    ladylor123

    Posted

    Hi jodstar 3

    Don't worry you are not on your own, I'm 47 & have all these symptoms & until I found this site thought I was going mad ! Doctors have been as good as useless until I found a lady Doctor that was willing to listen to me & not just throw antidepressants & benzos at me. Thank god I have a supportive partner because I couldn't have done this without him. The most frightening was the anxiety that came on from no where , docs just suggested fluexotine as I had been on it before for pst, worse thing I have ever done , no one warned me that you can have horrific side effects when going back on this drug, i spent 3 weeks of being wide awake - almost wired - for up to 3 days at a time , nausea , worse anxiety & feeling like I was loosing the plot . Doctors answer take addictive benzos which I politely declined ! Stuck with fluexotine & then developed tinnitus on week 3 which is driving me mad . Waiting for call from doctor this morning as I can't take these side effects anymore but you need to come off properly & not cold turkey , I'm dreading it as I have read coming off can be as bad. I have had to take 6 weeks off work because of the original insomnia they caused followed by such bad fatigue I struggle to move off the sofa everyday. I will say the first time I took fluexotine they did help but no one warned me that the second time can be awfull. I am determined to follow the hormonal route now as I have done lots if reading up , my vit D levels were on the floor and I'm positive I have a gluten sensitivity which would explain why all my levels were low as you can not absorb things properly, tests for this are notoriously unreliable but I would say go with your gut instinct & find a good doctor who listens to you. This site has helped me so much , just knowing you are not alone is a comfort. I've got 8 days before I'm due back at work & just hope I don't suffer coming off these, but these past few weeks have been a massive wake up call & without your health you have nothing so I'm just taking 1 dat at a time . Good luck you're not alone x

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