absolutely losing my mind in Perimenopause

[duchess1226]

Hello all.. I suffer with horrific panic attacks due to perimenopause. To put in simple terms, I have an invisible trigger for my panic attacks; my hormone spikes and drops.

I can be sitting just fine and BAM, shaking, gasping awfulness. GYN put me on birth control and its helped slightly.. took them almost 5 years to acknowledge the perimenopause because I am only 44. I take Xanax as needed and I should feel blessed because typically I can break Xanax in half and the half controls the attack and so many have to take 3 and 4 a day.

I feel my quality of life has changed. I understand 10000% why women used to end up in insane asylums when dealing with the change of life and I have not even gotten there yet!! Doctors guess another 3 to 5 years until full menopause. I cry sometimes because I just want a day without this.

New symptom, dry mouth and throat (of course hormone related) and triggers HORRIFFIC attacks because I feel like I cannot swallow, eat, or drink. I am going to the ENT to be sure nothing else but I know he will say hormones, like the endocrinologist (thought thyroid), cardiologist(palps that bad), allergist(dry nose), and every other doctor I went to.

Does anyone else suffer with these bizarre physical symptoms of hormones?? I would love to just have headaches and hot flashes. Thank you all for 'listening'. xoxo

[Hidden]

I can relate. So sorry, I wonder why us women are so afflicted in misery like this.

Peri menopause wasn’t that bad for me, the year or two before menopause transition was rough. I’m just over the menopause hump and now post menopausal. Still having hot flashes, a few in the day time and many at night. At night I’m jerked awake, up to 6 times a night, insomnia is my worst part of menopause.

I can feel every hot flash, it takes my breath away, I’m frozen for a second or two and it feels like I’m experiencing a mini anxiety attack; right before one, it feels like everything in my body stops as in I feel this void then comes the heat wave.

I have no advice, I’m not on hormone replacement (not an option for me) or any anxiety medication (docs where I live do not write scripts for benzos, just antidepressants and I’ve come off 3, too hard to withdraw off for me).

You’ll find many supportive woman here experiencing the same or similar. There is a Women’s Health forum here on HU, you might be interested in posting there as well. 🌺💜

[duchess1226 in reply to Hidden]

Docs have tried to put me on antidepressants but I am fine in that way, like not having emotional reactions but actual physical ones. My gyno agreed and he said the same thing, withdrawing off of them is difficult. Thank you!! xoxo

[Hidden]

Thank you for sharing! I hope you figure out a way to relieve your symptoms. I am so sorry to hear about this. Have you seen a naturopathic doctor or done any research on natural remedies? Hope this helps. I was having some terrible symptoms related to adrenal glands and thyroid and then the naturopath doctor helped me with supplements and such.

[duchess1226 in reply to Hidden]

I would like to go a more 'natural' way and have already started reaching out to a view people who specialize in those types of supplements because although its working, I cannot stay on birth control forever. xoxoxo

[AnxM]

My cycles started changing this year, indicating perimenopause. And the PMS got really bad. Combined with Covid lockdown, I’m back in the deep hole that I had managed to climb out of for over 10 years.

I made an appointment to see a gynecologist, had to wait for 2 months. I typed in the wrong address on Maps when driving there, was 20 minutes late and told to come back in another 2 months. Meanwhile, my anxiety keeps spiraling out of control. Made an appointment to see my GP. Hoping she can help.

Sorry no advice but just to say I’m going through the same thing. It’s terrible.

[duchess1226 in reply to AnxM]

I just think its so crazy the whole thing because they really do not prepare women for ALL that can go wrong! I understand most breeze thru with a few hot flashes but I have found that there are more of us dealing in silence thinking we are crazy because no one really has told us... xoxo

[AnxM]

You said you took birth control for 5 years to help with this? But it’s no longer working?

[duchess1226 in reply to AnxM]

No , it took 5 years for them to recognize I was in peri and that the hormones were causing panic and anxiety... I started taking birth control 6 months ago.. doctor explained it will not relieve all symptoms but should help and it does on most days. I go back next month to reevaluate and determine if they need to increase birth control hormone.

[AnxM]

Can you get a different kind?

[JkBauer]

Good afternoon dutchess,

Yes, I agree hormones can be awful! I remember going through menopause myself. It was terrible. My husband teased with me and told me that he was going to live somewhere else until I completely was over it. Emotions were up and down. My body felt overwhelmed with different aches and pains. I worked my way through it. I am in the fall stage of my life, I still get new aches and pains, stiffness. The dry mouth is usually caused from the medicine that you take. I chew gum and I drink a lot of water and hot tea to help keep my mouth moist. As we reach the fall time of our lives, we start to notice unique things about our body functions of things we were once able to do with no problem, now it is crazy, because our body is changing. We're not 20 some/ 30 some anymore. We need to be more cautious and aware of our physical and mental being of our bodies. What can we do to help ourselves be more fit in the best way that we can? Hang in there, Chin Up!

[duchess1226 in reply to JkBauer]

Thank you so very much for the kind words. This is my battle and I know others have much more difficult battles and I am trying to keep those blessings in mind. I do the water, but will start the sugarless gum and hot tea too, I appreciate those suggestions. It helps TREMENDOUSLY to know that others have these symptoms and I am not alone!! xoxoxo

[20Tiger]

Well mine started 2 years ago I’m 46 I even had a total hysterectomy ovaries removed but unfortunately it hasn’t made any difference I had my hormones checked and every other bloody test there is and I’m still having horrendous panic attacks with no trigger also even ended up in the phyce ward they just say depression and it’s anxiety up to my 8 th different antidepressant none of them have helped

I don’t know either now I am in surgical menopause and wear an oestrogen patch dosent help either

[duchess1226 in reply to 20Tiger]

I am so sorry but I TOTALLY understand what you are dealing with!! I refuse to do antidepressants but there are days where I seriously question my sanity because of all the panic, anxiety, aches, pains, and now this crazy dry mouth and throat....?? Like I have said to some other who have responded, there is an odd comfort in knowing I am not alone.. I see your age and I am like WOW, she is only 1 year older than me and sooooo many doctors told me early on "no way, too young"... keep smiling friend, we have to beat this!! xoxo

[AnxM in reply to duchess1226]

Hi, duchess1226. Hope you’re doing well. I was wondering if anything has changed or if you have upped the birth control hormones.

I got back my lab results and my hormones seem fine. I think that they may be within normal range but not normal for me that’s for sure. My anxiety is through the roof the week before my period and I calm down a lot when my period starts.

My Gp said i should still discuss hormone therapy with my gyn. Unfortunately not seeing her till late December.

Meanwhile, i have a prescription for anxiety (lexapro) but reluctant to go on it. I think it’s unresolved issues pkus hormones triggering it.

Just wanted to compare notes cos you mentioned you were also reluctant to go on meds.