Weird head feelings and perimenopause

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Hi, I'm a 40 y/o who has actually been in perimenopause for over a year now. It started at 39 when I missed a period one month, then had a very heavy period the following month and from then on the irregular periods and symptoms all began. I get the hot flushes often where my face only becomes very hot and my cheeks bright red. These can last for hours when they happen. But most recently I've been having these weird head sensations, it's very hard to describe. I feel off balance, but not dizzy per se. The back of my head feels tight and sometimes like pins and needles. No headaches or pain at all. Just an off balance pressure like feeling. Almost like my head isn't sending the signals to my body fast enough kind of off balance. Hope that makes sense. Anyone else experience this? And I can have this feeling last all day long without subsiding at all. Also, I've noticed I can actually feel my heart beating when I lay down. It beats very hard, not fast. Is this normal? I have been to Dr who finds no other causes but says perimenopause symptoms can very and come and go as our hormones fluctuate all the time. Can't help but be scared when I feel like I'm going to fall over or my heart is going to explode. Any help out they?

10 likes, 64 replies

64 Replies

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  • Edited

    i lie down and heart beating fast ... take many things to sleep its all a nightmare messes with your mind !

  • Edited

    hiya

    it sounds very menopausal lovely. ive been getting all the symptoms u describe apart from pins and needles. heavy head, off balance, head ache etc. i regularly have the heartbeat throbbing in my ear/head especially when I lie down.

    doctor says its meno related and recommended meditation which,for me, has been amazing.

    I havent had a period since January but hot flushes, mood swings, thinning hair, irritability, weight gain and headaches/dizzy spells seem to rule my day!

    Meditation has really really helped me though and im feeling better than I have for years.

    i have just picked up HrT from the doctor comprising Estriol foam and progestrerone tablets. ive not started it yet as im trying to just use diet and meditation but at least i have it if i get really bad symptoms.

    i have two weeks of relative normality but the swoop down into a real bad trough of every meno symptom going. Grrrr!

    anyway lovely, you are not alone and im sure youll get lots of helpful replies to your post. The ladies on here are truly amazing.

    i hope you find relief and restfullness soon - just try and be kind to yourself and keep in touch with the forum as its so helpful.

    take care xxx

  • Edited

    Hi McKul6,

    I also started this madness at age 39 right after my daughter was born. I had always had terrible periods. Then I had to have one of my ovaries removed at age 26. The doctor said that I would go into menopause early with just the one ovary. I didn't have my kids until much later. But after I had my first born at 35 I noticed that I was having some symptoms then. I would get hot flashes, dizziness, digestive changes, constipation, blood pressure changes, feelings of dread like I was going to die. It was terrible! Then when my daughter was born I went straight from post partum into peri menopause. I get the symptoms you described and more. This journey is a scary and rocky ride. And you will discover that you know more about your body as it relates to hormonal changes than the doctors do. I have had some clueless idiots for doctors. I could tell you some stories. But you have come to the right place. I thank God for this forum. Before I found it I thought I was going crazy or was dying of some dreadful disease. But rest assured whatever symptoms you are having, someone on here can relate if not all of us. Take care.

    Xx

    • Edited

      Hi, I too had one ovary removed- me at 27. I have had symptoms from the age of 35. Everyone thinks I am crazy! 😦 I also have no thyroid. I am 39 now bit feel so much older sometimes! The symptoms are countless and scary! I know how you feel and just wanted to say I am sorry you went through all this! and still are going. It is very similar to my situation.

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    Hello! I started very bad symptoms last year at 40 after my former Dr suggested I stop my BCP use. Hormones tanked, irregular and missed periods ever since. I believe I started peri at 38, but pill masked symptoms. Heart palps sent me running to the ER several times last year, all clear ( dad died at 42 of heart attack, so I was scared!). Turned out to be GERD.

    Then, migraines kicked in, 3-5 per month. Then terrible vertigo since December 2017! So bad, that I could not drive or leave the house for a month. Feels like walking on a boat and swaying. Like you said...as if eyes, brain and legs are not in sync. I get a pulling feeling too. Front of head and heels of my feet. My primary dr thought it was anxiety and BPPV....I tried Lexapro for 3 mo, it was terrible and made my vertigo worse...so in my case it is not anxiety. Mine is from the migraines which came from erratic hormones in peri. I am on a med to manage the migraines. Also, found a wonderful obgyn and she put me back on BCP. I am almost a week on and so far so good...I am 41 now.

    • Edited

      this is also my story although my periods haven't stopped. thank god i stumbled upon this. ive been so worried had all imaginable test. thought i was going mad. x

    • Posted

      Hi Im another Jacqui with similar symtoms lol what is BCP

    • Posted

      Your story sounds familiar to mine. FYI tho my gyno put me on bcp too at 49 to manage these issues he never heard of and within 13 days I had a stroke.

      brain bleed and stroke ....I almost died.

      come to find out I had factor 5 and the combo of everything almost killed me.

      be careful and get tested for factor 5.

    • Posted

      Hi, sorry to hear you are suffering, alot of your symptoms are similar to mine. My migraines have become very debilitating at the moment....... i wondered what you have been taking for yours and whether it has helped or not??? i'd be do grateful to know.

      sending strength. sk

    • Posted

      hi, how is your migraines now

      im dealing same symptoms since last year n its horrible. is this peri as my blood tests r normal.

  • Edited

    Hi mckul6, yes I get all of this , the off balance the head tightness, pins and needles , numbness, I call these my neurological symptoms, I get the numb face and arms weak jelly legs with it, these symptoms always come and go every single month like clockwork... Start writing your symptoms down every day to see if you have the same pattern of symptoms, it will help ease your mind, and you'll be able to detect, what's coming and how long they will last and what triggers a specific symptom and what you can do to keep that symptom from escalating that month.. For me these particular symptoms with the numbness pins and needles off balance wavy vision is all migraines, they start and lead up to that bad monthly migraine, can be silent for days leading up to the big painful 3 day long migraine.. Its on the 66 list of perimenopause symptoms, look it up migraines/silent migraines.. Also look up MAV migraine should settle once hormones settle, which can be a long time, uggh...keep checking in here we all share the same ugly menopause symptoms, and that helps, and as long as you've been all checked out and doctors find nothing wrong , and keep telling you its anxiety, than chances are your entering your perimenopause faze of life, and it can be quite debilitating for some time, lots and lots of crazy up and down symptoms it gets annoying and tiresome but should get better and ease up for you after a while,,

    • Posted

      hi

      howz your migraines now, im dealing with this phase since last year.

      is it perimanopause as it is like a pressure n tight head band with pain n auras in my left eye.

  • Edited

    Hi, I'm so glad I saw your post tonight. I'm 50 and I track my periods. Around every 6 months for the past 4 years, I get a late period 35-40 days. The Symptoms get worse with each late one. My symptoms are very similar to yours. I've had them before but in very short waves but this time I've had them for over a week. I've had a hot face all day and after watching my son swim this afternoon I looked like a Beetroot! No sweating just a hot face, aching neck, shoulders, upper back. weird pressure at back of head and waves of dizziness but when I'm sat down. Almost feels like the room is moving. Only lasts a few minutes. Also very weepy which I hate!

    I hope you're feeling better. I'm hoping to return to a Yoga class as it helped in the past. I think taking time out and doing breathing exercises definitely helped.

    I'm dodging the docs at the moment due to the Coronavirus as my son's Asthmatic. A bit of Anxiety thrown in there too I think. lol.

    • Edited

      Aww Terri yes I feel for you I have been experiencing similar symptoms.EEk! Its horrid forinstance I was going shopping and the wave came over me just as I was enjoying a clear sparkerly head then the cotton wool tingles stiff tight back of head and fear.

      I went to the Doctor and it was empty not a peep of a person maybe everyone has same fear of going.

      It was also very kindly set up so know risk of catching it but yes I understand why you stayed away.

      I find meditation really helps honest just focus on the breath but mainly holding the breath at the heart chakra .I know it sounds obvious but I find the simple things help the most also Lemon balm tea really helps calm me down .

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