Menopause. It has always seemed very theoretical to me… something that might happen to me years from now, if at all. I know this isn’t a realistic viewpoint, but rather that silly human trait of believing I am invincible. I had an easy (actually enjoyable) pregnancy and a healthy child at the rather ripe age of 43. I remember my horror when I saw the term “Geriatric Maternal Age” written in red ink on my medical file, like a danger warning. It struck me then that in medical terms, I was just a statistical point on the outermost lucky side of the bell curve. A good skincare and fitness regime might keep my outside looking youthful, but ovaries don’t lie. They refuse to participate in my Peter Pan complex.
I’m not in menopause yet. I’m in that weird ambiguous stage called perimenopause, which can last anywhere from 6 months to 6 years. Usually, perimenopause is much more disruptive than menopause, because your hormones are fluctuating so wildly, struggling to find a balance. By menopause, everything begins to settle down (she says, crossing her fingers). Here’s what’s been happening to me…
Several months ago, I started having severe heart palpitations and dizziness. The palpitations only happened at night, either preventing me from falling asleep, or waking me up during the night. However, the dizziness was random; it struck at any time… driving, walking down stairs, even lying down. I went to a few doctors, had ECGs, wore a heart monitor, was sent to heart specialists, and to make a long story short, there was nothing sinister happening. I just had severe heart arrhythmia at night. During my heart investigations, they discovered I have Long QT Syndrome (an uncommon condition where the heart takes longer to recharge between beats). This has nothing to do with my night time arrhythmia or dizziness apparently, but certainly doesn’t help. In addition, I’ve also had extreme anxiety. Let me tell you, the best way to go straight from garden-variety ‘anxiety’ to full-blown ‘panic attack’ is to have strong heart palpitations at 2 a.m. on top of a heart condition diagnosis (google Long QT Syndrome, you’ll see why).
Since the beginning of this year, I’ve found it impossible to get back into my groove. At first, I chalked it up to being behind at life after being away for so long over Christmas… but I knew it was more than that. Now it is February, and my mojo is getting worse, not better. My brain feels like it is encased in thick fog. I’m extremely forgetful. I miss appointments which are clearly written in my diary. I forgot to pick up my son from school recently. I lose keys. I lose parking tickets between the store and my car. I can’t remember which day of the week it is (ok, I never keep up with that anyway). In conversation, I struggle to find words, remember well-known names, or I completely forget my train of thought mid-sentence in a conversation. Some of these are basic ageing issues, but mine have come on quite suddenly. I have to write EVERYTHING down, because I can’t trust my brain right now.
This brain fog has really shaken me, perhaps even more than the anxiety. It has affected my confidence and my self-perception. Being clever, having a good memory, and not doing stupid flaky things is part of my identity. It is who I am, who I’ve always been. I am a person who worked on trading floors for 20 years, trading bonds and currencies out to four decimal places and never ever made a mistake. Oh sure, I made bad decisions or called the markets completely wrong, but in my whole career, I never made a single ‘human error’ kind of mistake. I quadruple check things. I’m a details girl. For example, when I had my son, I had spreadsheets that I (or anyone looking after my son) had to fill in for his eating/drinking/sleeping schedule. Everyone thought I was crazy control freak (which is true as well), but I am comforted by details and data. I don’t let anything fall through the cracks. However, right now my brain is so faulty that I don’t know what important thing I’ll forget next, but I know for sure that it will happen. The anxiety I can conceal from other people, but the brain fog is glaringly obvious, and it makes me feel ashamed.
Another perimenopause symptom I have been experiencing is a bizarre all over physical numbness. My whole body feels dizzy. It comes and goes, but it is a peculiar out-of-it feeling, like my whole body is blurry and fuzzy. I have a disconcerting vibrating sensation that there are two copies of me which aren’t aligned with each other and are trying to get in sync.
The last issue I’ve had is a seriously short temper. I’m quite short-tempered by nature anyway, but this is next level. Small things trigger disproportionate and inappropriate rage. I refuse to be a mother who loses her shit over everyday events; this particular symptom was the catalyst which made me begin researching all of my symptoms to figure out what to do about them.
For the past few months, I have genuinely wondered whether I was going crazy. Or developing dementia. Or both. I’ve had to fabricate imaginative excuses for my extreme forgetfulness. At times, I’ve felt a bit fraudulent for making up socially-acceptable reasons to wallpaper over things which I was sure were signs of my spiral into insanity.
Last year, my friend Michelle wrote a post about menopause and perimenopause, and I went back to re-read it. I remembered her mentioning anxiety attacks and describing the weird, fuzzy, ‘out of body’ feeling that I am having. I described my symptoms to her, and she immediately knew that I was in perimenopause. Once you enter actual menopause, most of these symptoms go away. Now that I’ve done some research, I am so relieved to find that I am just perimenopausal and not actually going barking mad. In fact, all of my symptoms are quite common, they’re just not the ones people talk about. It seems hot flashes are socially acceptable to discuss but the rest aren’t. Here is what I’ve learned:
A drop in oestrogen makes it hard for the body to regulate blood vessels and blood pressure, so that causes my heart palpitations and dizziness.
A decrease in progesterone (our ‘calming hormone’) causes anxiety and panic attacks.
Fluctuations in oestrogen and testosterone make it hard to concentrate, wreak havoc on your memory, and have a strong influence on your mood. My memory is shot and my temper is short.
Most people have terrible insomnia in perimenopause. I’ve had insomnia since the day I was born, so my sleep is not much different during perimenopause. I do feel the fatigue that goes along with fluctuating hormones, like most women feel in the first trimester of pregnancy. I don’t have any hot flashes. I’ve been hot-natured my entire life, and now I’m cold all the time.
For the time being, I’m going the natural route. I’ll try the usual recommended supplements to see if they do anything before exploring HRT. Before I figured all of this out, I cried myself to sleep, worried and anxious about how my son would cope with his mother losing her mind while he’s still so young. Tonight, I sat at the dinner table with him, feeling happy and content, when out of nowhere, snakes of anxiety start to writhe and constrict in my stomach. Armed with the knowledge that this is ‘just perimenopause’, I can exhale and view it as a difficult weather pattern which will pass. I’m ok with that. I have several days at a stretch where I feel perfectly normal and then a few days where something shifts and I really don’t feel like myself at all. I suppose this is my new normal for a while.
The reason I’m putting all of this on the blog is if it weren’t for Michelle’s post last year, I would have had absolutely no idea what was happening to me. Her post was instrumental to me figuring out where to start looking for answers. Maybe my post will help someone else with this issue that seems so off-limits.
I am grateful to blogs for the support and information that I didn’t find elsewhere, even from my GP. Why is it, when a 48 year old woman presents symptoms of dizziness and palpitations (2 of the top symptoms of menopause), that none of my many doctors suggested perimenopause? My monthly cycle is as regular as a Swiss train, so in my ignorance I never suspected anything menopausal, but my doctors certainly should have. Also, I can’t remember any magazine article ever mentioning my symptoms; they only push products for hot flushes. My symptoms are not at all unusual. Why does no one talk about it? None of my older friends ever mentioned any symptoms like mine. Maybe there is fear and shame around the alarming mental aspect. I mean, who wants to broadcast that they’re becoming a crazy old lady?
I’ve ordered three things to help me along the perimenopause path. I’m reading these two books: One by Liz Earle, and one by Christiane Northrup. And I’m taking this supplement. From my research, the ingredients in Pukka Womankind are the ones that I need most for my particular symptoms. So far they work brilliantly. Pukka does make one specifically for menopause, but I’m not quite there yet.
Since I’ve had to play doctor to diagnose my ‘condition,’ I’m going to also write myself a prescription to go with the Pukka supplement.
Perimenopause Prescription
Sleep– Good sleep is crucial during perimenopause; I’m enforcing a strict 10:00 curfew on myself, no matter what. No blog post, no email, or no news item is more important than my sleep at the moment. One bad night can literally ruin the next day because fatigue makes me vulnerable to the anxiety and extreme irritability that can overwhelm me right now.
Gratitude List– I’m going to say, out loud, every day, five things that I am grateful for. I used to do this as a nightly practice, and I need to resume it. Gratitude chases away all manner of ills. Grateful hearts find it hard to be anxious or negative.
Phone a friend– I have been a little withdrawn from some friends because I’ve been fearful of exposing my craziness. I’ve also simply not been in the frame of mind to make plans in advance because panic can descend on me unexpectedly. Friendship and social connection make happier and longer-living humans, especially for women.
Cutting Caffeine– I’m going to cut down on my caffeine to help with the sleep and anxiety/panic issues. This is HARD since coffee is my new sugar. I’ve done this for five days now and it seems to be helping (unfortunately!).
Mandatory meditation– I tend to skip meditating if I go to bed late, but no more. I raved about the Calm App here. When I meditate before bed time, I have far better quality sleep; right now this is a priority. My body needs it. The Calm App even has a meditation series on anxiety that I am working my way through.
Therapy Animal– I got a bunny rabbit (or my second child, as friends call him). It is hard to be anxious when you are petting a soft, adorable, entertaining little creature like this. Some people get a sports car for their midlife crisis, I got a black otter mini-Rex rabbit.
Balthazar, the Sequinist whisperer
I do wonder how perimenopause feels to a killer whale or a short-finned pilot whale… they are the only other animals on this planet besides humans to go through menopause (throw that into conversation at your next book club). Do they swim in anxious circles or have fits of irritation and rage? As I keep saying, I’m so grateful and relived to only be perimenopausal since I thought it was something much worse. My usual programming will resume; colour and sequins will be worn. I might be (temporarily) losing my marbles, but I am keeping my style. If you have any tips or advice on this stage of life, like my bunny rabbit, I’m all ears. xx
UPDATE: Thankfully, this was indeed a temporary storm, and all seems to be back to normal. The key to resolving ALLLL of my issues was sorting out my sleep. When sleep became a priority over everything else, everything else magically fell into place. Have a look at my my article on sleep if you fancy. The improvement to my health and my mind with good proper sleep has been nothing short of drastic. It only took me 49 years to learn how to sleep!
252 Comments
bisbee
February 28, 2018 at 1:29 PMLisa, I’m surprised (and at the same time, not) that none of your doctors suggested perimenopause. You are right at “that” age. I had similar issues, then menopause began around 51 for me. I treated myself with OTC remedies, since my mother and her sister both were on HRT and both developed breast cancer post-menopausally. This was with the cooperation of my doctor…I took one soy supplement and one with black cohosh…the combination helped.
Now I am WAY past those days…most of the symptoms are gone, but, unfortunately, the memory (not knowing words or names) has not improved. Good luck on this new journey!
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 1:47 PMYes, me too. It seems SO OBVIOUS in hindsight. Most of the doctors I saw were men, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for something so fundamental. 50% of the population goes through this, so they should have a basic knowledge. I’m sorry to hear that the not knowing words or names hasn’t improved; I was hoping that would be restored! Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m reading up on soy and black cohosh at the moment! xx
Sarah
July 11, 2019 at 7:47 PMThank you, for story. I am also having perimenopause symptoms. I just turned 41. Your words were very helpful.
Lisa
July 12, 2019 at 11:08 AMI’m so glad they helped you, Sarah. It is a TOUGH time, and can be really frightening. Take good care of yourself xx
Jane
September 21, 2019 at 1:06 PMOne of the most difficult things I find is that none of my friends are anywhere near perimenopause yet, so I feel very alone with it sometimes. I’m also 41, I didn’t ever expect to have this happening so early. This blog is me to a tee! X
Lisa
October 1, 2019 at 11:26 AMAt least you know you’re not alone here! I have a friend who went into full menopause at 30. It is hard to explain to people who haven’t experienced it how confusing and frightening some of these symptoms are. I hope you get some relief and find a few products that ease you through this. xx
Linda
June 2, 2019 at 7:21 PMYour posts are so helpful. I have suffered with terrible anxiety most of my life and now health anxiety but what I am experiencing now is awful. I have developed an awful sensation in the top of my stomach which results is a whoosh sensation which radiates up in to my chest and down my arms which feel like they are constricting and numb. I’ve ended up in A&E and many doctor appointments terrified it’s my heart but they have assured me it’s just anxiety! I think I am peri menopausal as my periods are getting longer between cycles and I wondered if this could be a symptom of it. I hate it, I live in fear everyday as I’m
Terrified of if happening. I’m also tired, short tempered and everything aches. X
Lisa
June 2, 2019 at 7:34 PMI am no doctor, but it sure sounds perimenopausal to me. The anxiety can be absolutely crippling, and is a known problem with fluctuating hormones. Here is a brilliant long article that may help you, there is a section on anxiety towards the end. Sometimes just knowing that’s what it IS can help you feel a bit better about it. You’re not alone! xx https://medium.com/neurotrack/menopause-and-alzheimers-1c455f29fe16?
Jess
September 7, 2019 at 11:24 AMThanks Lisa I’ve done the exact same what do you take xx
Lisa
September 10, 2019 at 10:40 AMAt the moment, I take a few adaptagens, I’m still on the Womankind supplement by Pukka, and I have been surprised by how well Bush Flower Emergency Essence works. I was skeptical, but a friend recommended it to me and it has worked well on my worst days. xx
Sonia Regan Thompson
October 27, 2020 at 12:25 AMI stumbled across these comments tonight as I I literally had myself convinced I was going insane .These comments have been so helpful as I feel completely alone in this journey.
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:25 PMI’m so pleased that this has made you feel better. You definitely are not alone, as you can see in the comments. I am wishing you a smoother path ahead, but whatever it brings, someone else has felt just the same, we just have to find each other! xx
Beth
February 12, 2021 at 9:06 PMHello Lisa. Your response is very helpful to me as it gives me hope that what I am experiencing may be perimenopause. I am 54 and still have periods, some of which are very heavy and go on for weeks. I have been experiencing a strange, sudden feeling of blood pressure cuffs around both arms that gets more and more constricting and my arms begin to feel so heavy and kind of numb and useless. On most occasions this only lasts a few minutes but a recent event went on for about 20 minutes and really scared me. I saw my doctor and he ordered an EKG (which was normal) and some blood work. The labs were notable for low ferritin. I am scheduled for a stress test to check for any heart conditions. I am so worried as I now have heart palpitations all the time. I have been on a mostly plant-based diet although I eat a couple types of fish occasionally. I am now taking iron supplements in the hope that it will fix this problem. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Ardella
March 17, 2021 at 12:22 AMOmg I have been going through the exact same thing you are going through and also had all these test done with everything coming back normal inconclusive and nothing wrong but none of these providers never said anything on the lines of menopause peri menopause. Everyone I talk to about what or how I’m feeling says they never went thru it or I only had hot flashes I mean this is crazy maybe it’s a generational thing I am going on 52 and been going through this for a year and a half so far my question is how long will I go through this? Like 5yrs 10yrs? I’m just so tired of it
Lisa
March 30, 2021 at 2:23 PMI’ve been going through it for several years. Not sure when it will end! I think everyone is so different, it is hard to say. It is really about managing the symptoms rather than preventing or having them disappear. I’m sorry you’re having this too! My symptoms seem to come and go. xx
Lisa
March 30, 2021 at 2:28 PMDefinitely get on an iron supplement! The palpitations can sometimes be brought on for low ferritin. I’m also on iron supplements, as I don’t eat meat. I kind of know what you mean about the sensation of cuffs around both arms… I get a cold sensation in both of my arms, especially if I’m stressed. I’m going to observe this more closely now. xx
Tiffany S
November 10, 2020 at 10:01 PMThank you so much for writing about this. I have been struggling with many of the same symptoms like the numbness and mood swings. I’ve also had what feels like asthma attacks. It’s scary and lonely but not as lonely now that I read your blog. Beautiful rabbit btw!
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:22 PMThank you for reading and commenting. I’m so thrilled to hear that it helps you in some way 🙂 I wish you health and calm! xx
Amy Shepard
February 19, 2021 at 2:38 AMI am so thankful to have found this site. I’m 52 and am still having random periods. I get hormonal chin cysts every time as well. I’ve been google searching “dizziness and peri menopause “ and am relieved to see it is common, I have been getting crazy dizzy on and off for a few months now. This has given me anxiety as well. I’ve had blood work done and I’m clearly peri menopausal. My FSH and prolactin levels are through the roof. Had an MRI this week of the pituitary to rule anything out. But other than that all blood work was good, ekg was normal. I’ve given up caffeine as it was making me even more shaky. I feel like my brain is buzzing a lot. I have difficulty concentrating as well. I have a follow up with my endocrinologist soon and will hopefully have a plan. This is truly awful. It’s good to know I’m not alone in this. I haven’t given up my nightly wine however. It’s what I look forward too! Thanks for sharing your story
Candi
October 9, 2021 at 7:11 AMAmy
I saw all the specialists you are seeing, endocrinologist, neurologist to check my pituitary via an MRI of my brain (my prolactin was not high) I even saw a tropical medicine/infectious disease Dr and according to all the tests I was fine. My GP was on maternity leave at the time but once she got back and I saw her she said you’re in perimenopause. You have all the indications. It took me seeing six different doctors to get this answer. I have been feeling “off balance” some way call it dizzy but when I initially started feeling weird I found a book called Menopocalyse that resonated with me but I somehow brushed it off. Now I’ve come full circle on knowing that it is what I thought it was all along….
Jess
November 4, 2021 at 8:38 PMHi Lisa,
This was such a great read, thank you for sharing.
My story is I am a 43 year old with 3 children aged 4, 7 and 14. For the last year I have suffered all sorts of symptoms, been to 3 different doctor’s, all the tests under the sun including MRIs, X-rays, various bloodtests.
My symptoms have been extreme fatigue, pounding migraines, blurry vision, dizziness, heart palpitations, extreme anxiety, chest pains ( just to name a few). Since all the tests I have undergone they have all come back normal. I feel like I am going crazy or even feeling something terminal is going on.
I have wondered myself about perimenopause as I am at that age, although I still get my periods very regularly.
The anxiety has gotten that bad, my heart rate increases and I feel like I am having a heart attack, it is the worst,!
Last night I went out with a couple of friends which I don’t do anymore due to all these horrible symptoms I have. I had two cocktails and my heart rate increased terribly, this anxiety came over me from no where. I was out for two hours max!
Worst experience!
Need some advise! 🤷😊
Warmest regards
Jess
Michelle Moore
March 2, 2022 at 9:14 AMOMG Lisa and all you other other ladies. I am so emotional reading these posts. As, I have thought for over 2 years that I was/am in living hell with no light at the end of the long dark tunneI. I too have been diagnosed with Long QTs after having severe heart palpitations, dizziness. I had an ECG and have been referred to a Cardiologist. The DR didn’t seem too concerned about this. Scared the living daylights out of me. Thats just the start of my peri-menopausal symptoms. My whole system has gone into complete and utter meltdown. I am suffering daily chest pain, head pain, sinus burning, which I now see can be caused by GERD. I have done lots of research day and night myself to get some answers and help as the DRS don’t seem to care at all. Just wanted to throw HRT my way. Which I too am avoiding. The DRS are putting it down too GERD. I am having to pay privately for an Endoscopy as I have been waiting over a year for one on the NHS – mistakes were made which has delayed this procedure along with the obvious pressure on the NHS due to COVID. I also have low/high blood pressure, bowel issues, abdominal pain, forgetfulness, loss of words, internal vibrations, my periods all over the place. Intolerances suddenly to egg yolk, coffee lots of foods. I am currently off work due to all my symptoms. Its so overwhelming! Oh and the sudden advance on aging/dry skin is rather alarming. My quality of life right now is zero. I have had lots of tests/bloods done. All normal apart from the ECG. Lisa do your heart palpitations last days sometimes? Do you get chest pain? This is how its affecting me at the moment. I am trying to stay positive that hopefully this will end soon. I take a positive out of each day no matter how small it is. Reading how we as women are all suffering is so sad. Its a daily battle.Gosh if men went through this would be some sort of sanctuary set up where they could retreat too ha ha. This would be a fabulous idea actually. Sorry for the long post. Good luck ladies.
AmyO
March 2, 2022 at 1:32 PMDuring my last visit to the doctor, she mentioned that perimenopause can cause heart palpitations, because drops in estrogen effect hypothalamus function. The hypothalamus also regulates body temperature (why we have hot flashes), sleep, blood pressure and other body processes. My doctor obviously did not know that a few years back when I thought I was dying and spent a couple months testing everything possible before doctors threw up their hands and said it was anxiety! I think it is recent research pointing to the hypothalamus.
AmyO
March 2, 2022 at 1:47 PMMichelle, I wanted to mention too that I also had the bowel issues and sudden food intolerances. All of my symptoms completely disappeared eventually, and I was able to eat those foods again. I personally feel like getting my ferritin levels up helped tremendously, and exercise helped reduce symptoms. Now I don’t even remember what year it was that I went through my health crisis, I think it was 5 years ago. I officially entered menopause almost 2 years ago, but had a random period a few months back after an extremely stressful autumn (dad and sister died). My symptoms all came back (to a lesser degree) for a couple months after the random bleeding event, and now I’m fine again. I did have a pelvic ultrasound after the bleeding, and they blamed fibroids, but it felt like a normal period to me.
Michelle
March 2, 2022 at 4:07 PMAymo, thank you so much for your reply. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad and sister. I lost my mum last year, that was hard enough losing one family member. DRs (not all- definitely the ones I have seen) are still lacking in basic knowledge/simple questions to ask women. They most definitely need more education on a condition that affects half of the population to varied extents. Peri-menopause/menopause can actually cause so much worry and debilitating symptoms to our daily life’s. I was also diagnosed with fibroids 2 years ago, when my journey started down the slippery road to where I am at now. They are also throwing the anxiety card my way. I am so happy to hear getting your ferritin levels up helped you. Your post gives me hope that they is a light at end of the dark tunnel. Thank you so much. I wish you well. Warmest of wishes.
Lisa
March 3, 2022 at 9:00 AMAre you on an iron supplement, Michelle? Did they check your ferritin levels? I wonder if the fibroids are making things even worse for you? I have them as well. xx
Michelle
March 2, 2022 at 5:33 PMApologies Amy for the misspelling of your name. The brain isn’t what it used to be right now ha ha. Thats my excuse. On another note I had seriously bad fibroids induced pain in December. Then had a period in January after 6 months without one. Nearly made it too that the year milestone…..
Lisa
March 3, 2022 at 8:56 AMIsn’t it amazing they don’t know more about changes that 50% of the human population go through??? xx
Lisa
March 3, 2022 at 8:55 AMHi Michelle, I’m SO sorry to hear about all the symptoms you are having. I hope they eventually start to fade; mine did. They seem to come and go now. I do have to avoid certain things, like red wine, which REALLY exacerbate my palpitations. Making sure I am well rested also seems to help.
I’ve never had palpitations that last days, they will come and go for a few days though…not always at night. I’ve never had chest pains either. I’m glad you’re seeing a doctor about all of this, just in case there is anything else going on.
Big hugs to you, I know how hard all of this is. As your hormones settle and equalize, I hope your symptoms do as well. xx
Susannah
March 3, 2022 at 12:37 AMHey,
If you haven’t already, it would probably be a good idea to see an endocrinologist. What you and others here are describing—dizziness or fainting, extreme mood swings, tachycardia, severe hot/cold flashes, and disabling insomnia may be the result of a benign endocrine cyst or tumor. Ask for tests beyond a thyroid panel such as a test for metanephrines. Currently going through this now. I have had these symptoms since I was a teenager but they got much worse after I had children. I am 39 now, and don’t think this is normal perimenopause.
Ann
February 28, 2018 at 1:56 PMLisa, I’m sorry to hear you’re suffering from perimenopause.
Over the years, I’ve seen some women get sorted out after consulting with good endocrinologists. Sadly, I’ve also seen others get completely screwed up and wrongly medicated by other endocrinologists, MDs, non-MDs, various witch doctors, and even multi-level marketing sales schemes.
Unfortunately, perimenopause and menopause don’t present cookie-cutter-style among friends or even sisters. One woman may suffer badly from insomnia, another from hot flashes, a third from depression, a fourth from all of the above, a fifth from auto-immune disease(s), etc.
In my case (which I throw into your “wisdom of crowds” database, not because I assume you suffer from this phenomenon), while I was briefly taking hormone replacement therapy I discovered that I had an extreme, negative reaction to progesterone. Specifically, within half an hour of taking progesterone (prescribed for several days each month) I went on incredibly bad trips (yes, like those kinds of bad trips). For several hours after taking the medication I was unable to speak. I know how bizarre that sounds, and it was. Needless to say, I didn’t take that medication for very long.
You’re doing exactly what you must do — listen to YOUR body, which may not respond to recommended treatments in expected ways. Keep researching these issues. Look for smarter, better doctors. Be as kind as possible to yourself. And use your amazing human superpowers — learn, adjust, and adapt. You have those powers in abundance.
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 2:20 PMSo much good information here, thank you Ann! Menopauase seems to be like a fingerprint, everyone is completely unique and responds so differently to the delicate (and complicated!) levels of hormones in our bodies.
It is interesting you mention your progesterone intolerance. When I was pregnant, I had a specific kind of migraine that starts with ‘transient aphasia.’ Basically, you can’t process any of the words you’re hearing, and you can’t speak at all. I was told that it is caused by pregnancy hormones, so progesterone may have been the cause of that. If what you experienced was similar to what I had, I know just how disconcerting that is! I’m going to do everything possible NOT to have HRT unless/until I really really need it. My body responds so strangely to medication anyway, so I’d rather try everything else first.
It will be an interesting journey to see what works for my body and what doesn’t. Honestly, just knowing that I’m not crackers is such a big weight off of my mind that I feel like I can take on anything. I started on the Pukka supplements today, and I’ve been going to the gym regularly, which always keeps my endorphins topped up and anxiety at bay. The extra sleep is also working wonders for the last few days. Love to you xx
Ann
February 28, 2018 at 4:26 PMLisa, wow! I’d never heard of ‘transient aphasia’. That’s exactly what happened to me. So much we (I) don’t know! So much to learn!
And yes, enough sleep and exercise (in that order) are some of the best ‘drugs’ in the world. xoxo
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 8:45 PMTransient Aphasia is a trip. A trip I’d like to never take again! Totally agree about sleep and exercise; I’m rigorous about scheduling both into my life right now. xx
Suzy Turner
February 28, 2018 at 2:29 PMI’ve been having insane heart palpitation for the past five months or so too. I’ve been to a doctor and she prescribed some horrendous tablets to take for my stomach! I stopped taking them after three days because they gave me horrible stomach ache and really affected my digestion. I sleep really badly too – I wonder if I might be heading into perimenopause? I know I might be a bit young (42) but I have read it can happen at my age. Next time I go to see the doctor, I will ask her. Or, having said that, maybe I should go see someone else!
This is such a brilliant post for anyone thinking they might be heading into that stage of their lives, Lisa. So thank you for writing it!
Hugs
Suzy xx
http://www.suzyturner.com
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 2:36 PMYour symptoms sure sound like they could be perimenopause; my first symptoms were palpitations and dizziness. Google some articles with your symptoms and ‘perimenopause’ and see what you can find. I have a friend who started her menopause at age 30, so it varies greatly from person to person. Keep me posted, Suzy! See what your doctor (or a new one) says. I’m so glad you liked the article. xx
Marie
June 2, 2019 at 10:42 PMLisa I took first started Perimenopause with Dizziness and Heart Palpitations. Its always great to hear from others with similar or the same symptoms. I was 45 when it all started or should I say “when the Perimenopause that woke me up started” I was awaken at 245 AM with my heart beating out of my chest. I was SO scared since this has NEVER happened ever in my life before. Anxiety kicked in and I am SURE that is why it lasted SO LONG. Two things against me. Anxiety and rapid heartbeat, UGH! I also have never missed a period. To this day I haven’t I am now 55. I really do not experience the RHB much any more but, USED to dread going to bed as this is where it happened every single time. Dizziness has faded tremendously but once in a great while I do get lightheaded, Off balance feeling when looking up down side to side. Which is still scary which makes my heart beat fast. SO HORRIBLE. I am thankful I still have monthly periods for the heart health benefits mostly. Last night I was sitting in my living room and BOOM out of the blue I became lightheaded. Scared me of course since its not in our control as Women we like control. Heart rate increased anxiety kicked in this was a horrible night. Seems like when I sat down it was worse so I walked around in and outside last night. I became so tired I decided to go to bed though sitting/laying can make it worse. I slowly lowered by body little at a time into the bed on my back. My mouth became so dry, I started trembling like a cold flush. For the Women out there experiencing this its not fun. God bless you all.
Today I am very tired. TOO much stress.
I’ve been told we take after our mothers, are you sitting down? My mother went into final menopause at 63. Yes her last cycle was at 63.
I am not one that sweats but I do get nervous feel warm then shiver afterward….
Lisa
June 3, 2019 at 9:28 AMOh Marie. 63??? Say it isn’t so!
I am so very sympathetic on the heart palpitations and dizziness. It can be properly scary. Why does it only happen at night time, when we desperately need our rest to cope with all the other symptoms we’re facing?! I’ve not had the dizziness in a few weeks, but I had strong heart palpitations last night, in fact. I’ve not had them in a while and then my heart started racing and fluttering as soon as I lay in bed. Like you, I got up, walked around downstairs and tried to just give my body time to calm down before I tried to sleep again. I’m so sorry you’re having all of these frightening symptoms, but you are definitely not alone. Our bodies are struggling to cope with these fluctuations, and it is a lot to take in. Hugs to you. xx
Marie
June 13, 2019 at 7:04 PMYes Lisa 63 can you believe it? I am sympathetic to your symptoms as well. Its just not a fun time. No wonder our Sweet Mothers NEVER told us about this mess. They didn’t want to ruin our good days by making us worry “as Women Do” prior to this. Makes sense to me! I am SO thankful as my symptoms have really lessened over the years. Once we realize WHAT is going on, though we do not like to accept it we must. Every Woman on this earth will have to deal with it, if she lives long enough. I am all about Natural health NEVER about unnatural poison from Physicians I will NEVER be there guinea pig thats for sure! Lucky you…. if your heart racing goes away quickly. Mine took 30-40 minutes “I’m sure it was anxiety keeping them going.” Its the fear of is my heart going to explode or just stop. I am far too young to leave this world too much to accomplish still…We just ALL have to know this is a natural process and its going to transpire one way or another. MOST Women you speak to in person Deny they have any symptoms HA, to be a fly on their wall. We would see different. Watch Women in there mid life while you are out, a lot act crazy racing around parking lots cutting you off on the road, mean rude and down right hateful. Pray for them do not be mad at them they are going through it too! Hormones are so important but we lose them to move forward into our next step in life. One thing for sure I have read and witnessed myself. The better shape we are in, keeping our body weight normal hurts us the most through this stage. Heavier Women have WAY more Oestrogen in their bodies then some Women making them sail through without a racing heart dizziness etc. BUT> One the other side, their health isn’t good. Keep fit drink LOTS of Water, exercise, eat clean organic fruits and vegetables, get your rest accept we will survive!!
Lisa
June 13, 2019 at 8:32 PMThat’s all such SUPER advice, Marie. Once I realised what was happening and accepted the ‘cloud’ of menopause passing over me, it became so much easier. I DO still freak out at the heart palpitations when I have them… like you I think my heart is going to explode or stop, either one. I really am focused on sleep more than anything lately; all the other health habits I’m good at, but sleep I am learning to be better. Thank you for your comments and advice. xxx
Mithra Ballesteros
February 28, 2018 at 2:34 PMIt is a miracle. Between Parenthood, work pressures, post-modern life with all its disturbing accessories, and of course all the destructive self-hatred spewed by our inner voice – I can’t believe the headlines aren’t full of stories of more “mature women” committing atrocities. But no, we suffer quietly, swallowing our anger, hating ourselves, waiting for it to pass. Years go by. Still waiting.
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 2:51 PMIt has ever been thus, hasn’t it? xx
Marie
June 14, 2019 at 5:55 PMLisa, Wondering WHY you are having trouble sleeping> I have zero trouble with that. Do you consume soft drinks Cokes, Dr. Pepper ect. If so this can be a problem. Also I take so many vitamins and minerals. I TRULY believe what got me through being woke early hours with a racing heart IS Organic Ashwagandha such and amazing superfood. I learned about it from my Husband who takes it for stamina during workouts, he lifts heavy!! He said it balances you naturally so I tried it. It does NOT work overnight as we didn’t lose hormones overnight. It takes time to get into your system to level us out. I took this superfood for 6-8 months non stop daily. Take as directed off bottle. As I said when I ran out the last time, I said maybe I will try without it, so far so good. THANK GOD! I truly believe it helped with racing heart too, I never get it like I used to NEVER, I am so thankful of that. The racing heart dizziness, lightheaded feelings are the WORST. I remember a few years back driving home from a business meeting and all the sudden I looked down looked up and felt like I was doing summersaults no kidding, scared me so bad. I always worried it would happen again. I has about 3 times, that was enough. So far, not again.. Thank God traffic was heavy nobody was traveling fast.
FYI: Daily now I take: Vitamin D3 A MUST, Vitamin E mixed tocopherols ONLY one we should ever consume, Selenium, Magnesium, “Vitamin C Powder mixed in warm to hot water on an empty tummy every morning” High quality fish oil pills >Omega 3, B12 DAILY which is a MUST for EVERYONE the rest of there lives!! I feel pretty darn good, other than back shoulder aches from sports. I will never stop with being athletic. Its too healthy to stop.
Love chatting with you… IF I can help in any way, let me know.
Marie!
Lisa
June 15, 2019 at 8:00 PMGosh, I wish I knew why I had such a hard time sleeping. I’m actually writing a post about sleep right now! I never EVER drink soft drinks, and I don’t have coffee after 11:00 in the morning. I think it is partly genetic; I come from a family of people with sleep disorders.
I also take Ashwaganda; I swear by it! I’ve always taken a lot of vitamins and supplements, but lately have added Magnesium spray to my mix, and it seems to help me with sleep. Just making sleep a priority, going to be early, not looking at screens, reading, meditating for a few minutes, and using aromatherapy to get me into the right frame of mind to sleep seems to make a difference.
I’m going to check my B12 supplements to make sure I’m getting the right amounts, thank you for the reminder on that!
I really appreciate your comments and advice, Marie! xx
Peggy Michael
October 3, 2020 at 1:35 PMHi Lisa, I’m 53 yrs old and haven’t had a period for 3 months. However I’ve started waking up at night with heart palpitations and a feeling my whole body is vibrating like I have electricity coursing through me. It’s so scary! Pls tell me this is a symptom of menapause as when I Google I get things like Parkinson disease or multiple sklerosis which makes me panic even more. What should I do to put my mind at rest?
Amy
October 3, 2020 at 3:53 PMI’ve had the exact same symptoms off and on for a few years now. I am 50 yrs. old. The symptoms were at their worst about 3 yrs ago when I experienced what you described, along with other symptoms, for a few months. I am certain is was related to hormone changes, and in my case, also related to my ferritin (stored iron) levels. My blood iron was normal, but my ferritin was very low, and once I got those levels back up, the symptoms stopped. Since then, whenever my ferritin levels get low, I experience the palpitations and anxious “vibrating” feeling. I also have found that exercise and healthy diet help.
Beth
October 14, 2020 at 3:42 AMI am so relieved (of course completely sorry you’re experiencing this) but you described what I’ve been trying to describe to friends and family for the past two years now! Since entering perimenopause at 36, I experience horrific heart palpitations that are sometimes accompanied by what I would described as feeling like electricity coursing through my body. They aren’t exactly hot flashes but just a buzzing electricity feeling! Sometimes they correspond to times in my cycle and other times it just seems erratic. For awhile it was almost nightly for 6 hours every night and I could eventually drift off to sleep at 2AM. The insomnia or panic-like wakings after falling asleep for a few minutes is awful. My journey has been going on two years now. In the beginning I didn’t understand what was going on….I ruled out any problems with my hypothyroidism (all labs are normal), any adrenal PCOS related symptoms (been on spironolactone for a decade for androgenic PCOS but I don’t have the insulin resistant PCOS), etc. I even explored hiatal hernias causing heart palpitations. I’ve questioned back and forth if I’m estrogen dominant or low estrogen. After 5 different specialists including a cardiologist who nonchalantly explained, “I’ve seen other women that come in with heart palpitations, not sure why” (how did he not put two and two together?!) I finally paid out of pocket to see a hormone specialist. I thought all along something hormonal was going on but couldn’t believe at 36 to experience “menopause” symptoms. I was started on 200mg progesterone daily but after 1 year think I might try cycling it since symptoms are still occurring along with prolonged menstrual cycles. The progesterone has been helpful for anxiety and some insomnia but the heart palpitations still continue at times. I am curious about the reply comment to this about ferritin as well since mine is pretty low (20), although I’m not anemic. Anyways, I don’t have an answer yet expect trying to keep it together while working and raising a family. It’s so cathartic to hear other women’s struggles in that I don’t feel like it’s just me or that I’m going crazy! Thank you to all the women for being vocal about your journeys with perimenopause!
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:29 PMThis is exactly what was happening to me, it was so alarming. Doing meditation (the calm app) has helped a lot, along with cutting out alcohol and caffeine. It DOES eventually pass, but you just have to get through it and know that you’ll be ok. I’d see a doctor if you want to be extra sure. I did! xx
Wendy Monette
December 30, 2020 at 10:27 PMHi Peggy, I’m 51 and have the same symptoms…they have come and gone, and I am certain the same will happen to you as well, even though every woman’s transition is different. Those hormones of ours need time to adjust. My hurdle is lower back and tailbone discomfort…sometimes I feel a strange sensation in my lower back and buttocks, almost as if my back is going to go out. I didn’t have my monthly cycle for four months, and now it’s back and heavier than ever! It’s unnerving, but I, like Lisa have discovered in my research that these transitional symptoms will eventually lessen. Just trying my best to stay present and see this as another stage of growth to transcend. All the best to you 🙂
Lisa
March 30, 2021 at 2:43 PMYes to all of this! My symptoms will disappear for months at a time, but eventually return. One day, they will go and stay gone, I imagine! Agree about staying present and seeing this as another stage of growth. All love to you xx
Marie
September 3, 2019 at 6:02 PMHI Lisa,
I am so unhappy… I thought I was through with the dizziness/lightheadedness racing heart. UGH. Tell me IF you have ever felt like this. I went to bed night before last felt fine. At 12:15 am I woke feeling hot “I never sweat nor broke out in sweat, thank God” I turned from over from my back which is how I sleep onto my right side, got even hotter felt a little weird so, I turned back over I really felt off then. I sat up to go get water, my heart started pounding I mean FAST! I then felt like was completely off balance. So, when my husband asked me “what was wrong” I told him how I felt, then I said to him I am going to turn off the heater “meaning to say turn the air conditioning down” I couldn’t find my words. I was very anxious to top it off so. my husband said he would bring me cold water a cold cloth for my forehead while I lay down. Heart racing slowed and every time it did, I got the shivers, not cold just shivered. Then i would raise up to see if the feeling was gone. Raising up made my heart race again the off balance feeling came back again, not really dizzy just off balance I guess its lightheaded? I stayed in bed until I could feel my head was back to normal. Once the shivering stops it seems the feeling is getting ready to leave. Every single time I lifted my head the heart would start pounding again. Finally I thought “I will just raise my pillow little at a time until my head levels out” that is what I did. By 1:25 am I was able to get up after raising my pillow a little higher every few minutes until i felt better. Got up to use the rest room as usual the balance issue and heart rate was normal. I think anxiety kicks in making it worse. So weird I never break out in a sweat but, feel very hot but not to the touch. Also my feet feel like they are burning every night the feet start feeling like this. Have you ever had any of this if so HOW did you deal with it. I was hoping this was over. I always start thinking “its the Woman in me” what if?? what if? what if? My first what if was “I started doing stretches to see if I could alleviate my lower back pain I do not call it Yoga but similar. As a Christian I did it my way. I started thinking the stretches caused it. You know how OUR minds can wonder. Isn’t it funny how we know what causes this but, when its happening we do not believe Perimenopause could cause such symptoms.
To date I still have never missed a cycle it comes every month. This is WHY I question if these symptoms ARE definitely Perimenopause. I will be 56 at the end of this year. I have to be in Perimenopause. I still exercise stay in shape and eat healthy. That will never change! Tell me your thoughts… I
Marie
September 3, 2019 at 6:04 PMAnd for YOU Ladies that have night sweats and none of my symptoms count yourselves LUCKY!
Sheryl Parker
September 3, 2019 at 6:59 PMHi Marie, as a migraine sufferer what you describe sounds exactly like a migraine to me. These can also present themselves during peri menopause.
Lisa
September 3, 2019 at 8:25 PMI agree, Sheryl. It really does sound very migraine-ish to me. I had them a lot in pregnancy, but haven’t had as many lately. xx
Lisa
September 3, 2019 at 8:26 PMLucky indeed… I have a few friends who went through to menopause with NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL!! xx
Lisa
September 3, 2019 at 8:35 PMHi Marie,
I agree with Sheryl that a lot of your symptoms sound very migraine, which is very common when our hormones fluctuate. I got several severe migraines when I was pregnant, and I’ve had a few during perimenopause. I certainly have your dizziness and heart palpitations and extreme anxiety as my main symptoms. When you thought one set of words but another set of words came out (about the heater and air conditioner) that is CLASSIC migraine right there. That happens to me often with migraines, where my brain and my words don’t go together. I’ve never had your symptom of my feet feeling like they are burning; that’s a new one to me.
Whenever the anxiety kicks in, you have to just breathe and stretch or do whatever you need to do to remind yourself that THIS WILL PASS, it is temporary, like a cloud. Sometimes I even talk to myself to calm down my anxiety– I repeat things like “You are ok, you’re fine. Just a few more minutes…” Drinking water helps me too, it is like a security blanket for me. If it helps, maybe distract yourself by watching something on TV or listening to an audio book or podcast or anything to calm your anxiety and take the focus off of your symptoms. If you’re still concerned, speak to a doctor, just to rule anything else out. Big hugs to you!!! I know exactly how scary this is, you are not alone. xx
Marie
September 4, 2019 at 6:57 PMThanks Lisa,
I truly do not see the Migraine in my symptoms. I have had headaches in the past, with them I have never been dizzy or with a fast heart rate. We are all different that is for sure. I do get headaches to this day about mid cycle, some months I have them others I do not. The Palps and off feelings I truly do believe it is due to hormones. The only reason I question it when I have these symptoms is the fact I have never missed a cycle. But, my age says different. I appreciate all of the responses.
I drink tons of water, I always have. Remember I am the lady that let you know my Mother was 63 when he cycle stopped. I thought since I have never have had children “by choice” my cycle would end sooner than My Moms? Guess that is incorrect thinking, lol. I hear so many women speak of hot flashes with sweating, I have hot flushes with fast heart rate and dizziness and of course the lovely anxiety.
As far as Dr’s go, I do not need there medication, Medication only covers the problem, when you go to the Dr they only prescribe, I wouldn’t take a pharmaceutical drug. NO WAY. Too many deadly side effects. One thing my Mom taught her girls Birth control pills and synthetic hormone replacement pills will do more harm then good. I have never taken either! When your blood pressure is great better than most, that tells us our heart is working correctly. If there were a huge problem it shows up as high blood pressure, So, I am thankful for that,. I say stay fit, eat organic and healthy stay away from Restaurants, take vitamin and minerals “since the soil nowadays is so depleted. We must supplement.
Thanks again…. So today I do have a slight headache sinus feeling no other symptoms…
Marie
Lisa
September 5, 2019 at 12:24 PMAh, see, that’s the thing Marie. Unlike what the ads on TV selling painkillers have us believe, a migraine often isn’t a headache at all. Some people get a headache AFTER the migraine symptoms pass, but the kind of thing you describe is what I get, which is sometimes called a silent migraine. I never have the headache part, just a whole slew of other weird symptoms, the main one being garbled speech or muddied thinking. Google ‘silent migraine’ or ‘hemiplegic migraine’ or have a quick read here https://www.healthline.com/health/migraine/silent-migraine#1
Like you, I’ve never missed a cycle either… I can’t wait until that starts 🙂
I sure hope you have some smoother days ahead! xx
Marie
September 6, 2019 at 1:51 AMI read the link you attached. Thank you. I also think it is BPPV read this link> https://www.google.com/search?q=bppv+symptoms&rlz=1C1CHKZ_enUS438&oq=bpp&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0j69i59l2j0l2.3360j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
I am sure its possible but, I have never had headaches in my life until my 40’s. Most migraine sufferers’ have had them most of there lives? I put all of this to hormones. Did you notice in the link the Medical establishment ALWAYS has to include something scary like a stroke. That is exactly what keeps me away from Doctors, lol…
Thanks again…
Amy
January 19, 2020 at 2:51 PMI experienced something very similar. I was driving when it happened, felt very light-headed and heart racing. I drove myself to the hospital, (though my mental state made me drive past the hospital and I kept driving till I found another one). The episodes continued in the ER for 3 hours- heart racing, followed by full-body shaking and blood pressure plummeting. Anti-anxiety drugs did not help. The hospital staff seemed perplexed, but assured me that I was not having a heart attack, and it did not look like a typical anxiety attack. Tachycardia followed by drops in blood pressure and shaking. I followed up with visits to the cardiologist, and trips to many other doctors over the next few months, but nothing showed up as abnormal, except very low ferritin (stored iron). I lost 10 lbs in a month and had IBS symptoms during this time, anxiety, and night sweats.
The episodes continued (though less extreme, and with some palpitations) for about 6 months, usually about a week into my menstrual cycle. That’s how I figured out they were hormone-related. My doctor was still perplexed, though we thought maybe might be related to low ferritin levels after bleeding each month. I was 46 when this happened, and am turning 50 soon. Back then, my periods were starting to get heavy and my cycles a little shorter than usual. I gave up all caffeine and alcohol for a couple of years, which helped. I was also having night sweats and insomnia, and the weird “buzzing” sensation throughout my body at night. I’ve been skipping periods for the last 1.5 years and last month I experienced a few palpatations/blood pressure drop/anxiety episodes again.
Lisa
January 20, 2020 at 2:15 PMGosh, isn’t it incredible how many of us have had this frightening experience, and yet it seems a total mystery to the medical community? It never seems to be suggested as a problem with hormonal imbalance and fluctuation (or the related low ferritin) but clearly, those of of going through it arrive at that conclusion. I hope you’re stabilized now. That buzzing sensation is just bizarre, and so unsettling, isn’t it?! Hugs to you, Amy. xx
Gina
May 11, 2020 at 4:40 PMMarie- I have the burning or “hot” feet issue at night too. Did you find anything to help with this?
Marie
May 12, 2020 at 4:16 PMHorrible isn’t it Gina
The hot burning feet ONLY happen in the Summer. Maybe it’s some type of hot flash since I do not have night sweats? I’ve read this could be a deficiency of Iron. Though I DO eat plenty of Raisins dried figs and beans “iron foods” I’m thinking of trying iron pills. You can get to much so I would start taking 1 a week, see if I notice any change. Especially since I lose a lot of hair, in the shower and in my brush. Though I have no bald spots, my hair is everywhere!!
eva@ mesientodeveinte
February 28, 2018 at 2:41 PMI had zero symptoms and yet had to start HRT. When I went to the gynecologist for the yearly visit he informed me that I have a severe case of osteopenia just on the back bone. “You could have 1000mg of calcium a day and your body will not absorb any of it, because you need certain hormones your body is not producing anymore”. I felt then like I had to decide whether to risk developing cancer later on or keep losing bone density by the hour..It was really hard to decide to start HRT because I always said I wasn’t going to take any hormones at all.
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 2:55 PMWow, that’s surprising. The balance of hormones and what they do and how they interact with each other is fascinating… and scary! From what I’m reading, the modern HRT is better than it was several years ago. Apparently Liz Earle (the book I’ve ordered) is a big fan of modern HRT. It sounds like your body made the choice for you; you gotta have calcium. xx
chicatanyage
February 28, 2018 at 2:47 PMI do sympathise. I am way past the menopause now but do well remember the perimenopause stage. I had similar symotoms to the ones you describe. In those days doctors did not have much of a clue and I was finally given antidepressants (not the answer). I think dorctors are a bit more enlightened today and in my experience you have to percevere to get what you need. I finally went privately and got bio identical HRT which solved most symptoms. Arrythmia is definitely scary especially at night. I also found accupuncture quite helpful but it depends what suits you.
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 2:58 PMActually, Josephine, acupuncture is a great idea. I hadn’t thought of that, but it worked brilliantly for me during my pregnancy and I am lucky to have found a very very gifted one in London. I’ll definitely pay her a visit. She knows what is wrong with my by just taking my pulse! I’m glad HRT worked so well for you; it is good to hear so many women have a positive experience with it. xx
Anastasia Nicole
February 28, 2018 at 3:23 PMThe joys of being a woman right. I watched my mom go through this 7-8 years ago and was surprised by how in the dark doctors can be about perimenopause, and menopause in general. One doctor kept pushing her to take antidepressants, which were not the answer at all. Another had her on a soy supplement that was intensifying her symptoms. It wasn’t until she did her own research that she found supplements and strategies that worked. You’d think with all of the advanced in modern medicine they’d have it figured by now.
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 3:55 PMThe joys, indeed. I’m also surprised at how badly it is handled. Like everything else, you just have to figure this shizzle out yourself, because nobody has your best interest at heart and no one knows your own body as well as you do. I’ve even learned all about ‘nervines’ something I’d never even heard of before, in an effort to address my wacky symptoms. xx
Sue
February 28, 2018 at 3:38 PMHi Lisa, thanks for sharing. I’m going through the insomnia and at times forgetfulness and feeling tired and suspect that I am perimenopausal but haven’t got around to getting a blood test to confirm it as yet. I guess that is next on the list and then seeing what options are open. I will look forward to hearing how you get on.
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 3:51 PMHmmm, it sounds like you could be, but a blood test would be the surest way to confirm it isn’t something else, like anaemia. I’ll keep you posted, for sure! xx
Suzanne
February 28, 2018 at 5:02 PMPerimenopause is so frustrating – the brain goes fuzzy and sleep becomes unreliable just when there is a medical mystery that needs to be solved!
I am on the other side of it now – it was a long haul. At 64 my remaining symptom is a hot flash once or twice a day.
HRT for a year or two did nothing to relieve my symptoms. In fact, I finally decided they were just teasing out the torture by extending perimenopause.
I gave up on male doctors early in life and have always used women, but if the doctor hasn’t experienced perimenopause herself, it is still difficult to communicate how confusing and weird the symptoms are.
Friends in the same boat were an invaluable source of shared experiences and strategies. (Yoga!)
For myself, it finally came down to mindfulness- recognizing the symptoms as a temporary imbalance and moving through it.
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 8:50 PMYes, exactly! When we need our resources the most, they leave us! My meditation is really helping with the mindfulness aspect like your yoga seemed to… I observe my reaction, and know the impermanence of it. It will ALLLL pass.
I’ve also been adamant about having mostly women doctors, but my closest and most convenient medical practice is round-robin style. You never know which GP you’ll get. For this issue, I need to insist on a woman doctor though. Interesting that HRT did nothing for you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! xx
Heide Villeseche
February 28, 2018 at 5:08 PMOh my goodness, now I have two very big thank yous for you….first, I ordered the Bitch Perfect lipstick because I’ve been searching for a peachy nude for a long time, IT’S PERFECT <3 . Secondly, I had no idea my dizzy episodes are also a peri menopausal thing!! I know I'm in peri menopause, and it's caused high blood pressure, had no idea that those short bursts of dizziness were also a symptom….THANK YOU!! Wishing you much success with the supplements you're trying, and know that you are making a difference for other women out there too 🙂
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 8:53 PMOh Heide! I’m so pleased you like Bitch Perfect; isn’t it PERFECT?!? The dizziness was one of the first things I went to the doctor about because it was so random. I didn’t get it when I stood up from sitting or lying down, I’d just get it out of the blue, which was alarming. Thank you, I wish you much success in your perimenopause. Let me know anything that you try that works well! Thank you also for your kind comments. xx
thestylesplash
February 28, 2018 at 5:32 PMI’ve had a fingers-in-ears approach to the menopause, but lately I’ve been wondering if I’m perimenopausal. I’ve been quite forgetful at times, but then I was anyway – I blame it on trying to do/remember too many things at once. I am tired a lot though, and certainly have no trouble sleeping. I often have a daytime nap when I’m not working! The menopause feels like a voyage into the unknown, I really don’t know what to expect. I can’t help feeling a little bit sad that it means I won’t have another child, even though we haven’t tried for one. I just don’t like having options taken away from me. Men have it much easier in that respect.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 8:55 PMYeah, I also blamed it on being over-scheduled and having a young child who is a priority over everything else, so my shizzle just slips to the back burner. It is worth checking out, just to be prepared, but keep vigilant for any other symptoms that might arise. Menopause does feel like a voyage into the unknown, especially since it seems to be SO DIFFERENT for everyone. xx
Robin
February 28, 2018 at 5:46 PMLisa, I can relate to you on many levels. The only difference is that I have to add hot flashes to my experience. I’ve had the air conditioning on full blast in my car in the middle of -5 degree weather. I sweat to the point that my reader glasses fog up when I’m at work. Insomnia, anxiety, short temper and brain fog and extreme fatigue are all a big part as well. Thanks for writing about your woes. Even though it doesn’t change anything, it’s comforting knowing so many are going through the same things.
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 8:58 PMOh gosh, your hot flashes sound really intense! Poor you. I feel you on the anxiety, short temper, brain fog and fatigue for sure. Let me know if you try any remedies that work for your hot flashes, in case I have those on my horizon. I’m incredulous that I’ve not had them because I’m so hot natured. Wishing you long cool drinks and cold breezes xx
Abby@Midlifecrisisnut
February 28, 2018 at 6:02 PMI hear you Sister! And welcome to the club of the Crazy menopausal ladies 😉 I have never yelled, thrown stuff or lost it altogether than now at menopause. I don’t mean to scare you but for me it’s been the worst roller-coaster of my life. And I’m sorry to add at this point but there are no drugs that will ease any of this craziness. Not even HRT. Or thyroid hormones. Or steroids. Or maybe it’s just me who’s particular unlucky? Could be. As I write this I’m having the worst Streptococcus infection ever, with super high fever, numb body, dizziness, hives etc. What I noticed is that menopause completely wrecked havoc my immune system, it’s overreacting all the time. I’m sorry to sound so negative, but no matter what people say about menopause there’s just so much more stuff that’s not covered anywhere. I hope Lisa that you’re at the order end of the spectrum with way milder symptoms and that you’ll find a way to adjust your HRT well. …On the positive side, I’m absolutely in love with your bunny. He’s the cutest! I’ve never actually seen black ones, so that’s really special. He’s so velvety, so royal! Missing you and sending you lots of hugs and health above all. Love xx Abby
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 9:04 PMOh Abby, I think you are the High Priestess on this topic, honestly! I remember yours stared so early for you too. You’re right, there is so much more that happens that doesn’t seem to be addressed in medicine. Your immune system has been such a drag on your life; I hope at some point very VERY soon you just age right out of all of this. It seems so unfair. Surely this can’t keep going on forever?!?
Is the bun bun adorable? We’re all pretty besotted with him at home. You can’t believe how bossy and opinionated he is. Love and hugs and health to you too, gorgeous. xx
No Fear of Fashion
February 28, 2018 at 8:03 PMI am stupefied. My goodness… little old you, being lovely and sequined, getting a bunny, having a lovely husband and an adorable child. And now this?!? It must be like being hit by a train. I sympathise with you. What shook me most was the diagnose Long QT Syndrome. I did Google it. Oh my. You don’t mention it anymore, but are you taking anything to “calm that down”? I can fully understand how you got panic attacks when you had nightly heart palpitations.
As for perimenopause, I never had it. Michelle’s posts on that phenomenon really surprised me. I had never heard of it before. And we Dutch do talk a lot about strange subjects. Although… menopause? Hmm not that much. My friend Pat did with me (she was a great believer of taking hormones after she tried everything under the sun).
I only had about 4 hot flashes every day (daytime, not trouble at night), which lasted about a year. Then a year of nothing and again half a year but only 1 or 2 hot flashes during the daytime. No forgetfulness, no tantrums, no swing moods. Now I realize how lucky I have been.
I hope you can find a good balance, stuff that works for you. Apparently you are already finding remedies. And yes, it must be very relieving to know you are not going mad.
Greetje
PS, coffee does not disturb my sleep. Strange right?
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 8:44 PMFirst, I am SO jealous that coffee doesn’t disturb your sleep! It disturbs everything about me, but it also provides a big hit to my dopamine receptors (ridiculously addictive) but after going off sugar, I didn’t care much… that is, until this recent issue.
Yeah, it was all pretty upsetting, and I know I’ll get it sorted, even if that means I just get through it as best as I can. Since I won’t be in the nuthouse, I’m pretty grateful. I’m not too worried about the Long QT syndrome, either. I am being closely monitored, and according to a top heart doctor here, I’m just that one unlucky person who has it but isn’t affected badly by it. It doesn’t seem to run in my family. Still, before I knew that, I stopped going to cardio classes at gym. There isn’t really a medication to take for it.
You’re so lucky you never had any drastic symptoms from perimenopause… very lucky indeed. xx
Vanessa Thomas
January 9, 2021 at 12:17 PMOmg I am 48 and I have been going through all of the above and I am blown away , I thought I was in a bad way, I felt like a hypacondriact telling or whinging to my partner all the time, feeling every beat taking my pulse, not sleeping just laying for hours, it’s so exhausting. I’ve always suffered anxiety and palpitations but it’s worse then ever, I have low iron but never looked in to ferraton levels. I have been plant based for 5 years and eat organic when I can, grow a lot as well, but I love a beer, but the next day I suffer bad anxiety and tighten up in the shoulder blades, so maybe I should try n cut down on the beers lol , thank you all so much for all the advice and knowledge am forever grateful, I feel less anxious already this has been so much help 🤗🤞✌️♥️
Lisa
March 30, 2021 at 2:35 PMVanessa, it is such a crazy time of life, isn’t it?! Definitely look into iron supplements to help if you’re plant based. I love a good drink, but even I have cut down so much because I can’t process them the way I used to. It isn’t worth the feeling The Day After 🙂 . xx
melissa williams
February 28, 2018 at 8:37 PMA thousand times yes! Thanks for putting this out there Lisa and if I ever get my act together again, I’m going to piggy back on this post with my own update. I’m sorry you have been suffering with this, I’m right there with ya. You’ve gotten some great advice here, and I’ll throw what has helped me into the pot as well. I have gone the herbal route and so far so good. I take DIM supplement (used by body builders for ages because it removes EXCESS estrogen from the body. Progesterone cream- 1/4 tsp daily rubbed into the skin (I still can’t believe this works for me- but the difference is night/day) and a handful of really good, high quality vitamins and supplements (Dr. Weil and Goop both have good quality supplements that are prepackaged into daily doses for peri-menopausal women). And of course, the whole exercise, nutrition piece but I know you’re all over that. This is such a great post- and I’m so happy that you have Michelle! (And I’m happy that you’re both writing, so I have you BOTH!, lol Many thanks.)
~Melissa
https://freshairandfalselashes.com
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 9:36 PMYes, I’d love LOVE to hear more of your experience on this; you and I are such kindred spirits in our viewpoints on health and beauty, that is for sure. I’m googling your supplements now and I’ll discuss the cream with my doctor. I miss your posts! xx
Anna
February 28, 2018 at 8:50 PMIt strikes me as really unfair that women’s bodies go through such huge changes. We need more stamina, strength and restful sleep, and those are the very things our bodies deny us. Worse? All the symptoms I’ve had in perimenopause and since my hysterectomy are identical to symptoms of other health problems. Getting proper treatment means weaving through a labyrinth of other possible causes and treatment options before anyone suggests that it’s all interconnected and hormone related. Sigh.
Thanks for speaking up, every little bit helps. I do hate this vibrating feeling I get. On top of everything else, it’s so annoying not to just rest.
Oh, and your advice on Bright Line Eating has helped me lose and keep off more than ten pounds so far. I’d begun to think that extra weight would never budge. Thanks for that too.
Lisa
February 28, 2018 at 9:16 PMThe WHOLE palaver feels unfair. Do the killer whales feel this? I NEED TO KNOW! You’re so right about the symptoms being identical to other things. It leads to so much confusion, and not getting the right treatment, and having to do even MORE trial and error to get to the bottom of things. Lord, that vibrating feeling is THE. WORST. I was reading my son a bedtime story tonight when that started. I’m glad to know what it actually is now, but it is very very unsettling.
I’m thrilled the Bright Line Eating is still going so well for you! From everything I’ve read, cutting out sugar, flour, and booze are great for us in perimenopause, so I hate to think what my symptoms would be if I weren’t. Hugs to you, Anna xx
Anna
March 3, 2018 at 2:56 PMOh, and my OBGYN assured me that the vibration feeling wasn’t due to the estrogen I take. If not that, what? Ugh. So uncomfortable. Still, life is better since I got to quit progesterone. Whew.
Lisa
March 3, 2018 at 8:49 PMWell if it isn’t oestrogen, I wonder what it is? Maybe just fluctuations rather than actual levels of oestrogen? Hmmmm. Whatever causes it, I sure have it. Interesting that the progesterone just didn’t work for you, while many love the progesterone cream. xx
Anna
March 6, 2018 at 4:02 AMMy OB-GYN’s original advice was to take progesterone and estrogen at bedtime, but I figured out that the progesterone was the culprit keeping me wide awake for at least five hours after I took it. Never tried the creams, though. Now? I’ve figured out that taking estrogen too early in the evening means I wake wide awake in the early hours. I’ve been experimenting with it right at bedtime, and so far so good.
Lisa
March 6, 2018 at 1:01 PMThat’s very good information, Anna, thank you. I bet someone reading this will have exactly your issue with sleep and hormones! I’m glad you figured out something that works for you. xx
Kathy
February 28, 2018 at 10:22 PMApparently killer whales are one of the few other animals that experience the menopause as humans do,don’t know how they feel about it though!There was a very good programme on radio 4about this a few months ago don’t know if it’s still available as a podcast.
Lisa
March 1, 2018 at 3:02 PMI’ll definitely go look this up, thank you Kathy! I love Radio4. xx
Virginia Daffron
March 1, 2018 at 3:31 AMLisa, I hate to hear about this for two reasons: 1. It’s happening to you; 2. That means it could also happen to me!
I don’t think you should totally discount the having a young child/facing challenging personal decisions/working hard to be a successful social media thought leader stresses. Even losing weight is a big stressor. It seems like there are lots of factors that could contribute to your body struggling to be in balance, especially at our age.
One symptom you mention that I’m certainly experiencing is the losing a word phenomenon, which is quite inconvenient in my newish career as a newspaper editor. Argh! Words are my thing and I love them. I really don’t like not being able to find the one I want.
I had to cut out coffee (and caffeine of all kinds) after my one and only morning cup. That did it for the insomnia problems that had been worsening for me.
To use a British-ism, the symptoms you describe sound pure rubbish. I’m hoping for changes large and small that bring you relief. Have you tried or considered CBD oil? I take it and generally feel it is doing me a lot of good (for sleep, mood and digestion).
Hugs!
Lisa
March 1, 2018 at 3:06 PMYes, I’m sure you’re right. Maybe my symptoms are more pronounced because of my stress profile, but maybe I’d still be losing my mind even without those, who knows!?
The losing words issue is just horrible. Like you, I’m a lover of words, and when I can’t find the right one it really frustrates me. It is a awful for a blogger as for a newspaper editor, I’m sure!
CBD oil is such a great idea; I hadn’t considered it, but I will definitely add it into my handful of daily supplements. Hugs back to you! xx
Heather Harja
March 1, 2018 at 5:13 AMThank you for your post. It’s sad that women don’t share this experience with others. They keep it to themselves. I’m an odd one in that I started peri-menopause at 33 with hot flashes, palpitations, tachycardia, insomnia, odd abdominal pain like being punched in the stomach, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, memory problems, and fatigue. But I’m 49 and still not done yet. Periods are still super regular. I was tested for everything. Diagnosed with a ton of BS diagnoses. Given drugs for heart, depression and anxiety…only to have them make things worse with side effects. Even ended up with surgeries I didn’t need.
I finally gave up on docs. Started tracking my symptoms on a period tracker. Started googling odd symptoms with ovulation or PMS. What I found was very reassuring. There is nothing physically wrong with me despite docs telling me I had things I didn’t because they didn’t know anything about peri-menopause. I now do. I now know for me, sleep is a must. And I need more than usual because my hormones make me feel like I have to pee several times a night. Or I just wake and get up to stretch and figure, WTH, I guess I will pee and go back to bed. I moved to the mountains for calmness and serenity. I ski and snowboard for exercise. I don’t see docs because I know my blood pressure and heart rate will be high and I don’t want them overreacting and trying to throw drugs at me. I eat right. Take simple vitamins. And most of all, I listen to my body.
Somehow we all will get thru it.
Lisa
March 1, 2018 at 3:18 PMYes, I’m really fascinated by WHY women keep it to themselves. On a private Facebook fashion page I post in, the idea of shame came up. Men, and other women who aren’t in that phase of life, are often very insensitive to the issue.
What a pity you were misdiagnosed with so many things, and SURGERY too??
Your approach really seems like the way forward. As much as people scoff at the idea of diagnosing your medical conditions with Google, it SURE HAS BEEN helpful to all of us, hasn’t it? It helped me put so many of the pieces together. We’re all smart and grown up enough to be able to figure out what is quack science and what is helpful or rings true for us. I’m so inspired by your intuitive knowledge of your body and the lifestyle changes to manage your symptoms and happiness. Thank you for sharing what is working so well for you. xx
Val
March 1, 2018 at 7:43 AMOh, perimenopause is the worst! It was like adolescence all over again for me. The good news is that menopause is a huge improvement; you just have to get over that hump. And doctors really don’t recognize the weird symptoms – I told my doctor that along with hot flashes I was having burning-hot FEET. (I mean, I’d be sitting at the computer with my bare feet on an ice pack!) If not for the internet, I’d never have known that quite a few women have that symptom during perimenopause. So sharing your experience is a good thing!
Lisa
March 1, 2018 at 3:23 PMOh yes, I’ve HEARD of some people having burning feet with perimenopause! Gosh, poor you. I really don’t know where we’d be without the internet to figure out perimenopausal health for ourselves. I keep hearing that expression “Heaven helps those who help themselves” in my head with regard to digging for answers on this issue. We all get through it, just less quietly now that we have the internet to form communities and tribes online! xx
Amanda Bonds-Carmon
March 1, 2018 at 12:05 PMYou symptoms and mine are alike. Mine started with night sweats, however, a few years back. May 2017 the anxiety set in and has been kicking my butt. Heart palpatations, dizziness , out of body feeling, everything else you said. I go from hot to cold then hot again. The nights are the worst, I stay hot most of the time. I got 2 birds, we already have dogs 🙂 2 birds have now turned into 8. Love them. They help with my anxiety so much. I’ve been to the emergency room and even had a stress test done, and they found nothing. I am only 38, however my mother had completely stopped at the age of 40. I am also have issues with my monthly. I was going 40ish days btwn my monthlys, now I’m down to 20ish. Sometimes I will have 2 in one month. Last month it only lasted for 1 day and I stopped. Perimenopause is hell, but we will SURVIVE. KEEP ON PUSHING ON LADIES. BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL!!! HUGS!!!
Lisa
March 1, 2018 at 3:29 PMYes, except for the night sweats, our symptoms sound the same. My husband is worried my one bunny (and another on the way) will also turn into eight, like your birds 🙂 You’re having the typical erratic monthly cycle. My cycle has become slightly shorter (24 days instead of 28) but is still quite regular. Since you’re only 38 and your perimenopause started so early, perhaps you’ll be free and clear of all of this soon, like your mother? Here’s hoping! Wishing you cool and restful nights ASAP! Thank you for sharing your experience. xx
Emerald
March 1, 2018 at 12:48 PMOh no Lisa, it sounds like you’re having a hellish time! I’m lucky in as much as being arty I didn’t really notice being any more forgetful, seeing as I’ve always had several things on my mind at once and am prone to jumping down the odd creative rabbit hole. I was lucky too with the hot flushes – none of them – and haven’t been short-fused.
What did happen was I broke my collarbone while out cycling. That was three and half years ago – I’m 52 next month – and so all the preparation I was making went out of the window for nearly a year. I had to wait for it to heal, the bones didn’t meet so then I had to wait for an operation which was cancelled once. And then the recovery. So my fitness suffered and for me st least that seems to be the best way to deal with menopause and its blessed warm-up act.
I asked the doctor to put me on HRT three years ago and she prescribed the lowest dose patch. Last week I went to speak to a specialist about changing it as I’m a stone and half heavier than I was and want to get the stone off (the extra half I needed!). So I’m starting with an oral dose soon which the specialist says she recommends for my bone health. But the extra weight is par for the course, she says.
I must add this info to Michelle’s post as I said I would report back. But definitely a trip to your GP is a good idea and they should be aware that this it’s that time. Good luck and let us know how it goes. X
Lisa
March 1, 2018 at 3:35 PMYou’re lucky that your day to day didn’t present you with too many menopausal symptoms. I totally agree with you that staying fit and exercising is one of the best ‘medicines’ for perimenopause. I’ve always been pretty good about the gym, but I need it more than ever (daily) for my frame of mind to stay positive and not get overwhelmed with anxiety. Such a pity that your injury took so long to heal, because that keeps you away from what you need to make you feel better. I also read that women our age are more prone to injury because of the decrease in collagen; apparently ligaments and tendons are affected by this as much as our skin, so my personal side note to myself is not to push myself QUITE as hard as I normally might in gym.
Very interesting about your HRT. Thank you for sharing that information. I will definitely report back as I progress a little further into this journey, and I look forward to seeing how your progress too! xx
martha a bailey
March 1, 2018 at 4:31 PMmaam. GOD bless you. i can not express how your heart, these words are a tremendous blessing to me. i am 43 now and this is describing me to the exact. i too had all kinds of tests done in the beginning-wasted money!!! no dr considered it was peri. i felt like i was on a wild goose chase concerning my self. but it was a lady at my church that said listen dear, you are beginning meno and you need to research it so you can know how you need to care for yourself NOW. i was like wait, what??? but i was blown away when i began to study and find info. you are sooo right in women dare not share all of the particulars because of fear of judgement. but i speak right up because i want to learn from the next woman such as you! thank you again. you are a blessing to me.
Lisa
March 1, 2018 at 8:04 PMI’m so glad this was helpful to you, Martha. That really makes my day to read that. And see how many women have our same symptoms who commented on here? Amazing, I just wish people talked about it more; there is nothing to be ashamed of, it is just a fact of nature that ALL women have to contend with, to a greater or lesser degree. I’m glad you started finding the right information and know what is happening to you. Maybe we’ll make it easier on someone else who reads this. Thank you for your kind words. xx
Little Red
March 2, 2018 at 4:15 AMI hear ya. For me, so far, my most prevalent symptom has been a sporadic menstrual cycle. Some months, it completely skips and one time I bled for a month straight. There has been some weight gain as well. I experienced some hot flashes last spring. Otherwise, it’s been okay so far. I hope that since I only suffered from serious cramps but no other PMS symptoms, that my perimenopause experience will go relatively smoothly.
Lisa
March 2, 2018 at 9:52 PMIt sounds like it is all going really REALLY smoothly for you, Little Red! Lucky you; long may it last. xx
Ashley Burke
March 2, 2018 at 1:50 PMThank you so much for this post. I’m 33 & have checked off almost all the symptom boxes for perimenopause but I thought I was going a little crazy thinking I was “out of place” with myself at times. As if I was 2 people for just an instant. Will definitely read more of your work. Thank you again for making me feel like I’m not alone.
Lisa
March 2, 2018 at 9:54 PMOh, Ashley, you’re so very welcome. I’m glad it gave you a bit of relief; you can see from my experience and all the commenters that you are definitely not alone. I promise to share anything I try that is particularly helpful (like supplements or information I find). Thank you for your kind comment 🙂 xx
Lazy Daisy Jones
March 2, 2018 at 6:19 PMHi Lisa Im not good at commenting on blogs of people I dont know (apologies in advance)
But I so feel your pain. For me perimenopause was worse than actual menopause.
At least thanks to Michelle you have ahead start on recognising what’s happening.
The worst thing for me was becoming very sensitive to others, I took everything personally! Short tempered OMG I was a dragon. Brain fog I still have.
Take very good care, always remember you are special and unique and dont be too hard on yourself. Take lots of time out and avoid pressured situations.
sending love, remember it will pass!
best Ashley xx
Lisa
March 2, 2018 at 10:00 PMIsn’t it strange that perimenopause is worse than menopause for most people? Why do we have to learn this the hard way?! I’ve often heard of the sensitivity; I don’t suffer from that on any level, fortunately or unfortunately 🙂 I’ve also heard exactly the opposite, that sometimes women feel very liberated that suddenly they don’t feel the same empathy that they used to (there is biological reason for this, apparently).
Your advice to avoid pressured situations is something I’m taking on board immediately; I needed to see that in print to clarify it… this has been bubbling in the back of my mind for a few days. Small things are so overwhelming right now, so avoiding pressure gives me the space to cope. Thank you for your wisdom and your very kind comments, Ashley xx
passion fruit, paws and peonies
March 3, 2018 at 7:51 AMA great read Lisa. I had visited the doctor over a few years and they kept suggesting I was depressed. I knew I wasn’t. I felt crazy and was terrified I was getting alzheimer’s (both my Nan and my Great Grandfather had it). It was only when I got a bladder infection I couldn’t shift – low oestrogen does this to you too – that I was told it’s because I am in my Perimenopausal stage. Before then I thought it only happened to women in their 50’s! Like you, I’d never read an article explaining perimenopause and my aunties never really spoke about it. My case is a little complicated because of a hormone related disease I have so I have paid to visit a hormone specialist. I’m now on hormone replacement and it has made significant improvements. I had the most terrible brain fog – and for a intelligent woman it felt so debilitating. Testosterone cream has made a huge improvement in that – when I first got tested it wasn’t traceable in my blood at all! Latest research (I’ve been told) has shown no connection to breast cancer. But to be honest, I felt so ill and crazy I was happy to take the risk! Like Ashley I avoid stressful situations and people as my blood pressure is so high right now. So, HRT hasn’t put everything right. I never thought I’d be longing for my menopause so much! I read Michelle’s post months back and thanks to you ladies writing these posts, it feels less lonely xx
Lisa
March 3, 2018 at 9:03 PMYes, depression seems to be the catch-all diagnosis if they don’t know what else to say and you’re of a certain age, isn’t it? A few of my friends even suggested that to me, only to have me scream “I. AM. NOT. DEPRESSED!!!!!” at them! I’m so glad the HRT has worked reasonably well (even if not perfectly) for you. I’m making a note of the testosterone cream being helpful for brain fog; I may need that at some point. VERY interesting information about oestrogen and the bladder infection too; I’ve not heard that one before.
I’ve made myself go to gym every single day this week and do really intense classes… that has either worked wonders OR I am simply in a phase right now where the hormones are so nuts. I don’t know. All I know is that this week has been an easy week compared to the last few months.
I’m so glad that my post and Michelle’s post have been helpful to you; it IS nice to feel a camaraderie over this shared experience which is confusing, alarming, maddening, and ongoing! There is an end, and we have each other to share information with until we get there. Hugs to you, Maria xx
sylviaontheweb
March 4, 2018 at 1:21 AMSorry to read you are struggling Lisa. I’ve been in peri-menopause stage for a while now and on the whole it hasn’t been that bad. Unlike you I knew about the condition as I had read several articles about the condition. However, what struck me in your article was this phrase: “Another thing I have been experiencing is a bizarre all over physical numbness. My whole body feels dizzy. “. I have that! And I never really connected that with peri-menopause. I could never quite explain this and sometimes it lasts for days and I thought it was due to stress, lack of fitness, too much work, feeling overwhelmed etc. Now I still think all those play a part but now I realise it is actually a hormonal thing too. I think that during that time we need to look even better after ourselves. Not work too long, make sure we get good sleep, keep stress under control, regular exercize and then sometimes accept that we need to rest. So hard for me as I have a million thing I want to do but you just can’t fight the body. I also struggle with eyepain and headaches but no idea if that is (peri)menopause related. (probably too much computer use). I think I’m moving into menopause stage now actually as I haven’t had my period for a while…. Wishing you lots of success coping Lisa. Sofar I’m just going with the flow and am not taking any medication or supplements….
Lisa
March 4, 2018 at 10:17 PMYou’re so lucky that your perimenopause hasn’t been bad… some really lucky people don’t have it at all! I would imagine that the weird fuzzy dizzy feeling that you’re getting is perimenopausal. SO many people have that. It is SUCH a weird feeling, and quite hard to accurately describe it to someone who hasn’t experienced it. Sometimes I feel like I’m almost vibrating. The headaches sound perimenopausal as well; I get them more frequently than I ever did. I don’t know about the eye pain, that’s the first I’ve heard that symptom. Thank you for your wishes, Sylvia, I’m better now that I’m figuring all of this out for myself! xx
emmawriblog
March 4, 2018 at 12:19 PMOh Lisa – I feel your pain! I think it’s so important for us women to talk about this subject. I started perimenopause aged 41 and am now 3 years in! In that time I have developed an autoimmune issue (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome) which I am sure is related. I am now on a low-dose betablocker which has given me a new lease of life and massively helped with the brain-fog. I also now suffer from restless leg syndrome (which again, I am sure is related to my hormones). I sometimes get 2 periods a month! I too, am not keen to go down the HRT rabbit hole. I’ve heard good things about sage being a hormone stabiliser but need to do more reading. The things that have really helped me so far are Ferrograd C (high dose of iron) and something called MegaMag Calmeze (magnesium and B vits for relaxing muscles, sleep and nerves). I hope we all manage to somehow find things that can help us through these years of ‘madness’, even if it’s just a shared sense of humour! X
Lisa
March 4, 2018 at 10:09 PMI totally agree, Emma. It is SO important to talk about. There is so much shame and fear and confusion and misdiagnosis… if we all don’t talk about it and help each other, who will? Restless Leg Syndrome seems to be a real theme, I’m hearing this a lot on blog comments and private emails. Like you, I’m on a high dose of iron (I’m a vegetarian, plus these perimeno heavy periods are dreadful!) and magnesium with B vitamins. I’m convinced the meditation and the shatavari supplemts (in the Pukka womankind tablets) are what is helping me the most so far. Your autoimmune disease sounds really upsetting too, what other effects does it have? What a relief the beta blockers are helping you… the brain fog is so frustrating, isn’t it? I’m going to research sage now too, thank you for that! Keep me posted on how you’re getting on with it, I promise to do the same! xx
MT
March 4, 2018 at 2:28 PMBy God you can write my friend! Absolutely enthralling read that obviously will strike a chord with many women for years to come.
This is an excellent piece of work Lisa, brava…
Reading over the comments I noticed (as with my own Menoposts) the common misconception of age for symptoms. In my experience 40 plus is quite normal to start experiencing perimeno. This could explain why so many of us are blindsided when they start. Keep sharing darling girl, we all benefit from the insight xxx
Lisa
March 4, 2018 at 9:59 PMThank you so much, Miss MT. You helped me SO much, and I am hoping that I can in turn help some other women out. I’m still amazed at how much stereotyping and misinformation is out there… and how many people WHO ARE NOT DEPRESSED get prescribed anti depressants. THAT is depressing! Love to you xx
Brenda Pierro
March 4, 2018 at 3:06 PMHi Lisa. I don’t normally post comments, but this blog really got me. I just broke down when I read it because I felt like it was me writing it. I pray that what your doing works for you. I am 48 yrs old and was told about a year ago I was in peri menopause,although I know it’s been much longer than that. My periods started becoming irregular about 4 years ago ( I should mention I also have endometriosis and get ovarian cysts). But the last few months have been a nightmare. All the symptoms you are experiencing plus my restless leg syndrome is back with a vengeance. I started getting the panic attacks about a month ago (just figured out last night what they were).I have had about 3 bad ones so far, and they were so scary,I thought I was dying! I wasn’t stressed out at the time,just in the middle of baking a cake, when I started to feel like I was dreaming, then my heart started to race and my extremities and especially my lips started going numb and tingling. I wasn’t dizzy,it was almost like an out of body experience. One of the scariest things I’ve ever felt. Sat down and my husband took my bp with I thought would be low but was very high instead. Anyway, saw the Dr a few days ago for pains on my side which turned out to be a cyst that burst and 2 more endometrial cysts. Went through all the anti depressants that did nothing, now he wants to put me on low dose of estrogen.My mom had breast cancer post menopausal but he said it was still safe. I’m still a little Leary but am desperate to feel better.My husband and kids don’t quite understand what I’m going through and miss the old me ( which upsets me more). They try to help by telling me I just need to get out and do more things like I use to, but it’s not that easy. I’m so anxiety driven that sometimes just the thought of going out is stressing enough. Sorry this is so long, but it fell good to get that out to someone who understands lol. I would love to know how those supplements work for you so please put an update. Thank you and I pray you get relief!
Lisa
March 4, 2018 at 9:57 PMOh Brenda, I’m so sorry you are going through the same thing I am. There are moments where it truly is terrifying. I KNOW what is happening now, and that makes it so much easier. I am doing four things right now. I don’t know which one is helping the most, or if it is just coincidental, but here is what IS definitely working and making me feel (mostly) normal again: 1) I’ve cut back to one coffee a day. 2) I’m taking TWO of those Pukka Womankind tablets that I mentioned, daily. They’re full of Shatavari, which is great for us (Google shatavari and anxiety or shatavari and stress… you’ll see what I mean). If you can’t get them where you are please send me an email and I’ll send you some. My gut says these tablets are what is making the biggest difference so far. 3) I’m going to gym every single day just to get my endorphins going and to wear myself out so I’m less prone to anxiety and panic. 4) I am meditating DAILY, no exceptions. The Calm App I mentioned before is life-changing for me. The Anxiety series (7 days) teaches you how to name feelings as they come up, which really helps you see patterns. It also has the effect of turning a light on to see there are no monsters under the bed, if that makes sense?? You learn to stand outside yourself and see that these waves of panic will pass, you just have wait them out. The meditation is really helping me a lot.
Poor you with restless leg syndrome… the sleep disruption from that will make your anxiety and panic much worse. I think you should definitely speak to your doctor about how to address that. I know exactly what you mean about the panic striking you when you least expect it, and when you’re not under stress. Keep me posted how you fare on the low dose of oestrogen; let me know if it helps you at all.
I know it IS NOT that easy to go back and just do more things like you used to. You’ll get back to the old you, it will just take some time. We’re all here to help each other figure this stuff out. I honestly mean it, let me know if you can’t get your hands on those Pukka tablets and I’ll gladly send you some. Keep me posted, and please, know that you are not alone. xx
Mutton_style
March 6, 2018 at 9:09 PMGoodness . I got off lightly . Hardly any symptoms. I hate to think how those payroll figures would get you on an open position! I’m in that business still but really should retire.
Lisa
March 6, 2018 at 9:40 PMYou are one of the lucky lucky lucky ones! I’m pretty tough physically, so I am really surprised by this craziness. xx
Kathy Long
February 22, 2019 at 3:47 PMI am having a terrible time with anxiety related perimenopause mine is usally worse in the mornings and tapers down in the evenings. I am going to try to find some of the Pukka tablets you mentioned, are they available in drug stores or do you have to order them online?
Lisa
February 22, 2019 at 4:41 PMIn the UK, I can buy them in pharmacies and some grocery stores. In the US you may have to try Amazon or somewhere like that. I am so impressed by how well they work. Let me know how you get on! xx
Heidi L.
March 9, 2018 at 3:00 AMI am sorry you’re going through this.God preserve me from it for a few more years(I hope), but super good move getting a rabbit. Especially a Rex as they are awesome and so good with people. I’ve had one(Betram T(he), Bunny) for 7 plus years and I loves him. Hope it gets better soon.
Heidi
Lisa
March 11, 2018 at 9:31 PMThank you Heidi! I hope you DO avoid it for as many years as possible, or have the luck to evade it entirely, like some women seem to. Hi to Bertram from Balthazar! My midlife crisis bunny is a blessing 🙂 xx
LA CONTESSA
March 21, 2018 at 5:48 PMGOSH……….I’m a little late as I do not get your notifications but HANG IN THERE GIRLFRIEND!The BUNNY is a REX!!!!He is ADORABLE. I use to have an 8 pound BASIL running around the CASA!FOG………I’m getting that too but went through this all at age 40.A long time ago!!!
“THIS TOO SHALL PASS”……who said THAT?
XX
Lisa
March 26, 2018 at 12:04 PMWhat a pity you don’t get my notifications by email! Maybe I go into Spam or something? Isn’t the bunny a beauty? I love mini-Rex buns; they’re so sweet. Soon he’ll have a girlfriend.. I’m looking forward to this passing; the fog is so annoying; I don’t know what is worse, that or the anxiety. Sigh. xx
LA CONTESSA
April 8, 2018 at 9:35 PMNOT IN SPAM I WISH!!!!!!
AT least I would know to check there…………….just bear with me as I might be LATE but I’ll catch UP!!!
A GIRFRIEND……..YOU will have TONS of BUN BUNS!!!!!
XO
Maja
March 25, 2018 at 3:26 AMHi Lisa,
I rarely comment on blogs but I’m an avid follower of yours and the Over40Collective. This post struck a cord. I’m 48, but my symptoms started when I was 42. I ignored a lot of symptoms that came with hormone fluctuations until one day my body decided it had had enough and I had a massive panic attack while driving on a highway. I’ve since had all sorts of weird symptoms you describe, and when it first started to happen it was outright frightening and no one had an answer. I had what I like to call ‘systems gone berserk’.
I spent a truckload of money going to doctors, naturopath, physios, psychologists, supplements. Until someone said ‘you’re most likely perimenopausal’. What a huge relief! I wasn’t going mad or dying of some weird illness.
Then I started reading and educating myself. I wanted to see if I could do this without resorting to HRT. I’m not against it, but I’ll leave if for when the Big M finally hits.
Some of things that have helped me. Slowing down. This was the hardest as I’m the full throttle kinda girl. But seeing a psych who introduced me to mindfulness meditation and Jon Kabat Zin was invaluable.
Sleep hygiene. This was tough too but my circadian rhythm was like a rave party!
Moderate exercise that doesn’t overload my central nervous system. Yoga, pilates, walking, swimming. I never truly liked gym anyway, but i need to start more weight bearing excercise to prevent bone erosion.
Chiropractor. Mine does trigger point therapy and for some weird reason his torturing is my remedy.
Magnesium, turmeric and probiotic. My holy trinity.
Learning about human and female physiology. This was an eye opener. Our ancient bodies are out of sync with our post modern lifestyle and they have brilliant mechanism for alerting us that we’ve gone too far!
A couple of books I’ve read recently that may be useful “The Period Manual” by Dr Lara Briden (not specifics to peri, but a lot of info in there about hormones) and “The Female Fat Solution” by Dr Beth Westie (how to eat in sync with hormones, as my weight keeps yoyoing).
Sorry for the long post.
I’m deeply grateful to you and Michelle for writing about this and getting other peri-warriors to open up.
Cheers,
Maja
Lisa
March 26, 2018 at 12:14 PMHello Maja!
Thank you for your VERY informative comment! For someone who doesn’t comment often, you do it very well 🙂 You say so many wise things; moderate exercise that doesn’t overwhelm the system, slowing down, and sleep hygiene that you mention are all things I’m implementing. I’ve not tried a chiropractor yet, but I do have a brilliant acupuncturist who I’m certain can help. I’m going to explore the books you recommended too.
Turmeric and magnesium are both something I take daily too. I can’t believe what a difference those Womankind capsules (with turmeric and shatavari) are making. I can definitely feel a difference if I forget to take them for a day or two!
I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the post, but I’m sorry that you had such worrying symptoms like I did. I wish I had known what was happening to me. Michelle’s post was so very helpful, so I hope that mine will be as well. Thank you for sharing your experience with me. xxx
Allison McCaskill
March 26, 2018 at 11:15 PMA friend posted this in a private Facebook group, and clearly it’s helped more than just me, but a profound and heartfelt thank-you. At first I felt kind of stupid and ashamed that I hadn’t done this research myself, but hey, that’s one more thing I can chalk up to the brain fog, right? It’s another example of how when you’re sunken deep in something like this it’s really hard to find your way out or assess it from the outside by yourself. The biggest reason I’m so happy to have read this is that I’ve had a blog I love writing for years (tiny, small following but extremely rewarding) and I’ve just felt like the words aren’t flowing at all the same lately. I was blaming it on my antidepressant, and when I tried to lower my dosage it wasn’t pretty. So I’m going to keep trying to write my way through it, missing words and all, and hope it passes.
Lisa
March 27, 2018 at 9:38 PMI’m so glad that this helped you, Allison, you are SO very welcome. You’re absolutely right, when you’re sunken deep in the fog it is very hard to have any kind of perspective and use your usual ‘tools’ that you use to help yourself. My initial heart issues started last summer, and the anxiety went on for months, so although the sequence of events seems ‘condensed’ in the post, it was actually quite a long drawn out thing. It took me a WHILE to figure it out… and it was only the really unusual panic attacks that rang a bell from Michelle’s post that allowed me to figure it out at all! Don’t worry that you didn’t do your research; no one seems to even know that these are menopausal symptoms. If you don’t have hot flashes, no one talks about it!
As for your blog, all I can say is keep reading and keep writing. If I don’t read enough to feed the words into my brain and write enough to practice giving them a way out, I really can’t think of the words I need. Words will lead you through the fog, just relax and let them come to you. Keep me posted, and thank you for your kind words. xx
Dawn
January 20, 2019 at 1:51 PMHi Lisa I know your comments about your experience was over a year ago and I wondered if your physical symptoms have eased? I have been going through this for nearly a year and everything you have said is identical to how I feel and symptoms I am experiencing. I have literally cried reading your blog. I have seen various Doctors, had so many blood tests and scans and everyone of them comes back clear. I am now under a Neurologist for this weird vibration feeling, tingling out of body feeling etc and again nothing seems to be wrong with me thankfully. I have put peri-menopause to each Doctor I have seen and it is always dismissed although I am 51 and my blood test says otherwise. Just feeling so down and frustrated but at the same time just reading your blog has really helped me today. Thankyou. I hope you can say there is a light at the end of this very dark tunnel I am in. Ps love everything else on your blog xx
Lisa
January 21, 2019 at 9:43 AMHello Dawn. Oh, I really feel for you. It can truly make you feel like you’re losing your mind, can’t it? Yes, some of my physical symptoms have eased in recent months. They return now and then, but they aren’t as constant, and because I know what they are now, they’re less frightening. If all of your tests have come back fine, then I am sure your symptoms are down to perimenopause. Have you tried some of the airy fairy supplements, like the Pukka Womankind one that I mentioned? That one has been a REAL lifesaver for me.
I don’t know if you experience what I call the ‘quiet rage’ as well, but the day before my period I feel furious about everything. I’m aware of what it is, but it is still such a horrible feeling to experience. The vibration and the dizzy out of body feeling is really the worst symptom though… well, that and the flooding (if you get that too). I am considering having an ablation for the flooding but the other symptoms I’m just learning to manage. If mine hadn’t eased up, I definitely would have found some professional help. Like you, all of my tests and scans came back fine (except for an unrelated heart issue). Most doctors are so dismissive of the severity of the symptoms, which is deeply frustrating. From their perspective, no one is dying due to these weird symptoms and they don’t really know how to treat it; it really is about trial and error rather than a pill or a cure. I’m considering HRT at some point, but I’m not quite there yet. Have you thought about that? If you can’t get anywhere with traditional medical doctors, consider finding a specialist in women’s health issues. There ARE specialists, they are just hard to dig up. The book The Wisdom of Menopause, by Christiane Northrup M.D. is one that could be useful to you. There is a resources section in the back that could steer you into finding a good specialist. Let me know. xx
Dawn
January 21, 2019 at 10:46 AMThank you so much Lisa, your comments have really helped me stay positive. Sometimes I have felt I am losing my mind with these weird symptoms that none of my friends can relate to. The vibration feeling is so hard to explain. As the Neurological cannot give me answers, I am considering HRT and I’ll be looking into getting some supplements.
Once again thank you for relating Lisa, really appreciate you responding so quickly.
Regards
Dawn x
Sheryl
January 21, 2019 at 3:55 PMHi Dawn and Lisa. I never ever write on these blogs, but as I’m sat here googling “am I near menopause yet” for the fourth time in 6 months, I came across this post and thought I’d share my story. I’m 42 and started with the dizzy, tingling out of body sensations when I was 35. I have found that symptoms of peri get better but then something else turns up to replace it. Knowledge is key though and so knowing what is happening in your body and reasons why really help to make you feel “normal” (I’m rolling my eyes at that word!).
All the women on my mothers side got menopause early – by 44 they were all done, dusted and out the other side. I have no idea whether I’ll be done by then – my periods are still fairly regular, anywhere between 25-32 days but I haven’t skipped any yet.
I can definitely say though that I’m much better equipped to deal with perimenopause now – a new symptom arrives and I just shrug it off! Exercise, diet helps (I’m now strict paleo, which is amazing if you haven’t already tried and sorted a lot of my symptoms). The only thing that really bothers me now are the migraines which I always used to get but in recent years are really awful at the beginning and end of each month. I also get irritable and snappy but I know when to expect this now and seek my own company where possible!!
I hope I get to menopause soon, but in the meantime I’m getting to know my body very well indeed!
x
Lisa
January 21, 2019 at 6:42 PMHi Sheryl! Thanks so much for commenting and sharing what you’ve experienced. You’re so right about when one symptom starts to go away, something else shows up to replace it. The dizzy out of body experience was really what I struggled with the most. I worried about driving, going up and down stairs, and frankly, just writing. It is hard to write well and think of words when your brain feels like it is buzzing inside your head.
Your paleo diet helping your symptoms is really interesting. And migraines… I’ve not had those (at least not with perimenopause), but I’ll watch for them on the merry go round of symptoms! We do indeed get to know our own bodies very well in this process. For me, meditation helps a lot as well because I can observe myself experiencing this process without getting too worked up about it. I can say that now that I know I’m not losing my marbles, 🙂 Thank you again for commenting; I appreciate it and I’m sure other women who read this will too. xx
Lisa
January 21, 2019 at 6:34 PMOh, I’m so pleased, Dawn. You’re DEFINITELY not alone. If my friend Michelle hadn’t posted about her experience, I really wouldn’t have ever thought about Menopause… I mean, these aren’t the symptoms anyone ever talks about or reads about unless you really dig around online. I hope your symptoms improve. Mine sort of wax and wane; there are times they are SO strong (like the other night when I closed my eyes to wash my face I was so dizzy I felt like I was falling) and there are some months where I hardly notice them. Find a doctor or specialist that understands you and your symptoms, and do some trial and error on your own to see if you can find any easy solutions. Keep me posted, and stay positive xx
Jen
January 23, 2019 at 7:41 PMHi Lisa! I know I’m a bit late to the blog but so glad I found it. I’m 48 and in perimenopause and my symptoms are quite unusual. They started out as just really intense pms symptoms which turned into acne, nightsweats, anxiety, sadness, feelings of dread, weight gain,heart palpitations, etc. Eventually I realized that I was estrogen dominant and had low progesterone. I went online to do my own research because I do not trust doctors with issues such as these. The supplements I have found helpful are DIM, wild yam cream and a product called femmenessence macaharmony. I added them slowly, one at a time, and have found the Maca harmony has completely gotten rid of the acne and I feel great with great energy most days of the month except for about 7, off and on, in between the first day of my cycle and ovulation. During these days, I feel nauseated, panicky, and today I felt as if I may be unknowingly hyperventilating which kind of frightened me because this is actually a brand new symptom. I’ve taken the day off and that’s how I found your blog. Although I know what this is, and I know that it will pass, it’s so nice to read about others experiences and to know that I’m not alone in this. The emotional symptoms I can handle pretty well, but these strange, physical symptoms are freaking me out. Just wanted to say thank you!
Lisa
January 24, 2019 at 9:32 AMOh gosh, Jen. You’ve really had a time of it. Like you I’m ok at coping with the extreme irritability or occasional sadness or whatever rainbow of not-so-great feelings come my way on a monthly basis. The physical symptoms are also what scare me the most. The heart thing and that anxious vibration that I feel in my body and in my head just seem, well, WRONG. Like something really bad is happening to me and I didn’t know what it was or how to make it go away (like a stroke or a heart attack).
I have written down ALL of your supplements so I can try them. As I mentioned to Dawn, sometimes trial and error and your own research is much more effective than going to a doctor who just dismisses your frightening symptoms. I hope you feel much better after your day off, that your symptoms tone down and become more manageable, and that you feel very supported and understood here. I’ll keep you posted on how I get on with the supplements you recommend. As I said in the post, Pukka Womankind has been a game changer for me. What works for a few months doesn’t always continue to work as the hormones change and fluctuate, so I’m keen to have your recommendations in my arsenal. Thank you for commenting, and please keep me posted on how you’re doing. xx
Lisa
January 24, 2019 at 8:39 AMIt was so wonderful to read these stories. I always believed that menopause was simply hot flashes and mood swings which I am not having any problems with. I am 50. My major complaints which I had no idea were related to menopause were tinnitus, nausea and vertigo.I also deal with brain fog, lack of motivation, insomnia, occasional migraines and evening heart palpitations. The one thing that helped me immensely with the vertigo was drinking more water during the day. I never have been a big water drinker. I also have limited my salt intake and eat small meals throughout the day. I also walk every other night. Nothing has helped with the tinnitus but now things are more manageable. I never feel great but at least I can function. I know this won’t last forever.
Lisa
January 24, 2019 at 9:43 AMYes yes yes! I also thought that menopause was a few hot flashes and mood swings. That’s all anyone ever talks about and that’s why I had NO IDEA that all the shizzle I was experiencing was related to menopause. Oh gosh, you’ve got such classic symptoms, but again, none of the ones people talk about. My friend Michelle has the tinnitus quite badly, and hers is made worse by tiredness; she really tries to be vigilant about getting plenty of sleep because that helps her. I’ll ask her if she has any other tips for that symptom and report back if she has any. Your other symptoms really sound so much like mine, especially the heart palpitations at night (made MUCH worse if I have any wine, especially red wine, even a glass) and the brain fog and vertigo. It can be alarming and even overwhelming. I know it will pass, but gosh it sure is scary and unpleasant in patches, isnt’ it?! You are not alone, that’s for sure! xx
Jen
January 24, 2019 at 11:54 AMHi Lisa and Lisa! Just wanted to quickly comment on two things. I just read yesterday about how vitiman d3 combined with k2 really helps with tinnitus. You can google that and do a little research. There are many options to choose from on amazon and I’ve found that reading the reviews helps. In fact, I read a lot of reviews by people who were taking it specifically for tinnitus. Also, to the other Lisa, I had that crazy vibration feeling last year when I was having the amalgams replaced in my teeth along with anxiety. I went to a wonderful healer/massage therapist who said it was my vagus nerve causing the vibrating which is related to the nervous system. It eventually went away but that may be something else you’d like to research during this wonderful, transformational journey we’re on.
Lisa
January 24, 2019 at 9:21 PMHi Jen! Oh that is VERY interesting about D3 and K2. I’m off to google that right up. Vagus nerve, well that also sounds like something worth investigating. Thank you for such good information. I hope you’re feeling better today. xxx
Beth
October 14, 2020 at 4:03 AMThat’s interesting the vagus nerve was brought up. I posted in a reply comment below about my journey with perimenopause and heart palpitations being horrendous and stumbled across hiatal hernias causing heart palpitations (due to vagus nerve being irritated or pinched by the diaphragm). I have a hiatal hernia, likely from pregnancy, and tried exercised for awhile that I swear helped, but then my heart palpitations started back up along with other hormonal side effects (breast changes, prolonged bleeding, insomnia) so I abandoned the idea, but if you look in hiatal hernia forums, heart palpitations are mentioned frequently. I also read alcohol irritates the vagus nerve which could be why alcohol causes increase in palpitations but then I’ve also done some digging and found alcohol temporarily increases estrogen which could explain the heart palpitations after….maybe cause estrogen is dropping later in the night?
VermontGirl
August 19, 2019 at 9:49 PMLisa, I have had tinnitus on and off – been better lately, been drinking more water (I too have never drank enough) and I do notice it’s worse when I’m tired and also I can almost tell when my hormones are fluctuating / dropping now if I get some ringing or buzzing. So very weird but I do think it’s another one of those symptoms that people don’t mention as much.
Lisa
August 31, 2019 at 8:13 PMYes, I’m often told that tiredness causes tinnitus to flare up and become much harder to ignore. My friend Michelle has that as one of her main perimenopause symptoms, and I know it drives her mad sometimes. I hope yours is very short-lived and you don’t have it bother you too much. Lots of sleep and lots of water for you, lady! xx
Veronica
March 13, 2019 at 1:07 AMI could not have read this article at a better time! I am 43 and for the last year have had so many of these symptoms. Lightheaded, insomnia, crazy mood swings, anxiety, and most recently the heart palpitations. I have had palpitations for a while but they were very random, the last few months they have been almost daily. I too have gone to every doctor and had a million blood tests that come back fine. The heart palpitations have made my anxiety go through the roof! I have been to ER a couple of times thinking for sure I was dying and they say almost everyone experiences palpitations at some point in their life. I just happened upon an article about heart palpitations and perimenopause. I think I could check off almost every symptom that was listed. After reading through these threads I started the magnesium and calcium supplement this evening. Can anyone tell me about how long it takes to work for palpitations (if it is going to work for me). Again, thank you for the informative article!!
Lisa
March 14, 2019 at 9:41 AMI’m so pleased that this article was helpful, Veronica. The heart palpitations are really scary, aren’t they? I’ve pretty much given up red wine because that causes nocturnal palpitations for me as well. It seems to be that if you are AT ALL prone to palpitations, you’ll definitely have them as a perimenopause symptom. From what I’ve read, I’d imagine it will take a good month for the Calcium and Magnesium supplements to really kick in and have any effect. Keep me posted! xx
Sheryl
March 13, 2019 at 12:58 PMSorry to hear you’re suffering too. I have found that using a magnesium oil spray is far better than a tablet. We absorb magnesium really well and it goes straight into our tissues and blood stream, a tablet is often not in our system long enough to absorb so effectively we pee it out before any benefits. Try an oil spray. It took me two weeks to feel the benefit but I’ve nit had the palpitations since, I sleep better and my migraines are a bit better when I use it. I’ve been using it for 3 years now and my body knows when I’ve missed a few days and needs a top up! It’s great stuff. I also found a high dose of the b’s (busy bees!) to be amazing too! I’m in the UK and get all these from Holland and Barrett.
Lisa
March 18, 2019 at 11:09 AMMagnesium oil spray?! I’ve never heard of this but I will definitely get some, today. I’m going right past a Holland and Barrett to pick my son up at school. Thank you so much for that excellent recommendation. Also, apologies for the late reply, for some reason my website put your comment in the wrong place. xx
Veronica
July 9, 2019 at 9:49 PMI just now saw the response above about magnesium oil spray. I’m going to the pharmacy today to see if I can find some!!
Lisa, did you try it and did it help with your palpitations?
Lisa
July 9, 2019 at 10:30 PMIt seems to help unless I’ve had any red wine. Those palpitations, even the magnesium doesn’t help! Let me know how you get on with it; I do find it helps my sleep in general. xx
Jan
March 28, 2019 at 8:59 AMSo pleased to have found this site and wealth of information and suggestions. I gave in and booked an appointment with my DR to get HRT but my bloods are showing other issues so that’s all on hold for a few weeks. I’m getting horrendous PMT without the P and it’s very random timings so when its just the emotional mood shit starter I don’t stop myself to put 2 and 2 together re whats at fault. Yesterday I was really depressed and weepy, all was doom and gloom and I couldn’t focus to work, I also had very unpleasant thoughts last night about punishing my partner (we don’t live together) and he hadn’t even done anything wrong!
I’m slim but look 5 months pregnant today, everywhere swells, even my feet. Sleep will be 4 hours max for 4/5 days from now on.
I’m been trying starflower oil for the past 3 weeks but am going to get magnesium oil asap.
Lisa, I shall delve further into your other posts when I have time but congrats on your site. x
Lisa
March 28, 2019 at 1:13 PMHi Jan, and welcome to the crew! My quiet rages and mood swings are FAIRLY predictable (I use my fitbit app to track my cycle so I know when my anger is likely to peak). If it was random like yours, I’d struggle even more. Keep me posted on how HRT goes for you. It has worked so well for my friend Michelle. That’s my next step, I think, after a uterine ablation to stop my insane periods. Also, really try the Pukka Womankind or the menopause supplement. It is amazing what a difference it makes to my moods and sleep. STARFLOWER oil?! That’s a new one to me. I hope you get on well with the Magnesium oil.. it is brilliant for sleep. I feel like if your sleep was good, the other issues (depression and weepiness) would be much less for you. Your body is going through big changes and needs rest. Off to read up on starflower oil. Thank you so much for your compliments; I hope you enjoy reading and I hope you are feeling much less menopausey soon. 🙂 xx
Jan
March 30, 2019 at 10:04 AMDear Lisa and all. Sharing my findings, post another meltdown yesterday, with you since Magnesium oil is what prompted my research – so thank you Sheryl and Lisa very much!
The blood work I had done recently had high Calcium (ie not absorbing it properly) and high parathyroid hormone and high other thing that I cant remember but it is a signal of inflammation. This is what I came up with this morning (copied and pasted chunks of what was relevant):
What are the symptoms of a lack of magnesium?
Now lack of magnesium can cause a huge list of symptoms. And in the menopause, these can sometimes actually be mistaken for hormonal problems and it is in fact just a lack of magnesium. So low levels of magnesium can interfere with your sleep. It can give you poor [SP] sleep pattern. It can cause low mood. It can even go as far as causing depression. It can cause muscle and joint aches and pains. It can cause fatigue. It can cause those horrible food cravings. It can also cause that kind of brain fog that we sometimes get. It can give us night cramps and restless leg. It can cause nausea. It can also cause low thyroid issues. It can cause high blood pressure. It can affect your hair and nails. It can make your hair really weak and it can cause split nails. And it can also trigger migraines and headaches.
Magnesium and calcium metabolism are closely related. The intestinal absorption and the renal excretion of the two ions are interdependent.
Magnesium is needed for calcium absorption. Without enough magnesium, calcium can collect in the soft tissues and cause one type of arthritis. … PTH draws calcium out of the bones and deposits it in the soft tissues, while calcitonin increases calcium in our bones and keeps it from being absorbed in our soft tissues.
Furthermore, severe hypomagnesemia induces functional hypoparathyroidism. In vitro studies have demonstrated that magnesium can modulate parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion in a similar way to calcium. An acute decrease in magnesium concentration stimulates PTH secretion, and an acute increase in concentration decreases secretion.
Buying Mg oil spray today
J xx
Lisa
March 30, 2019 at 9:23 PMThank you for the extensive and very helpful information, Jan. One of my best friends swears by magnesium for eliminating food (especially sugar) cravings. It is fascinating how MANY functions it seems to affect, especially hormone related ones. I’ve recently started on the magnesium oil spray as suggested by Sheryl, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it works on me. At the very least, it should improve my sleep! xx
Melissa Yeager
October 8, 2019 at 7:16 PMJan, 1 1/2 years ago I had the same thing. High calcium & PTH. Doc said not to worry til calcium is over 12. We will wait and watch. Hm. Well, I’m not really a wait and see kinda gal. My research led me to the Norman Parathyroid Center in Miami. World of information on their website. Best thing I ever did. Turns out I did have a tumor and from the size I’d had it about 5 yrs already. Please check them out at Parathyroid.com. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Take care, Mel
Lisa
October 10, 2019 at 11:27 AMWow, what amazing information. Thank you for sharing it. I’m going to go explore that website. I’m so glad you’re well, Mel. xx
Sheryl
March 30, 2019 at 3:22 PMHi J,
Good luck with the oil! I rub into soles of feet and legs at night and arms for day!! ? I find it tingles when you first use it but the tingle wears off eventually! Keep with it, it’s really worth it.
Sheryl
Lisa
March 30, 2019 at 9:18 PMI’ve started using it too! Thank you again for the recommendation, Sheryl 🙂 xx
Julie
April 17, 2019 at 11:35 PMHello – I am relieved to hear other women are experiencing the same symptoms. I’m 39 and have been going through perimenopause for over 3 years now. It’s so hard to go from weepy to angry in 2.5 seconds and not know how you got there. I’ve even started crying in yoga class. On the bright side it’s hot yoga in a dimly lit room so no one can really tell if you’re crying or just sweaty. Lately, a new symptom I’ve been experiencing is this out of body feeling. It’s like I’m not even in the same room with myself. Today I have zero focus and feel like I’m just floating around. I work from home but at this point I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, it is pretty isolating. Monday I started seeing a new doctor who specializes in bio identical hormones. I’m doing a bunch of testing then she’s going to come up with a game plan for me based on results. Crossing my fingers it helps with all my “crazy” symptoms.
Lisa
April 18, 2019 at 11:51 AMHi Julie,
Let me know how you get on with the bio identical hormones; I know a few people who have had huge success with that. I’m thinking of going down that route myself.
That out of body feeling is terrifying isn’t it? It truly made me think I was losing my mind. Working from home is tough when the zero-focus-symptom strikes. At least if you’re in an office, you can perhaps make yourself look busy long enough that it eventually passes and gets you back into the groove! Keeping my fingers crossed for you. xx
Emma Mascall
May 11, 2019 at 12:20 PMHi Lisa
Found your blog after sitting near you at a bloggers dinner the other night.
Can I just say thanks for a great blog post- as you say so little is written or spoken about on this subject and no idea why! I went to a talk on nutrition for menopause recently and it was packed so we are all craving information.
When I went through menopause at 32 following surgery I felt like I was properly losing it, my poor soon to be a hubby was at a loss. The thing I felt most keenly was the up and down moods and super short temper. I have now been on HRT for almost 10 years, it has worked for me because of going through menopause so early. I supplement with supplements but I am dreading when I have to stop taking it. In the beginning it was all hit and miss getting the levels right I was told to try for 3 months and see how you feel. I’m not sure men would put up with this sort of trial and error process.
More recently the brain fog and feeling tired and unmotivated has been kicking in with a vengence. Just knowing others are going through the same, that I’m not mad and having tips like these really helps. I’m going to put some into practice so thank you.
Lisa
May 11, 2019 at 6:41 PMHi there Emma! I also have no idea why there is so much secrecy and/or shame around the topic of menopause. Wow, menopause at 32. I have a few friends who went through it in their early thirties as well. I’m so pleased that HRT has worked so well for you (and for so many others). I intend to investigate it myself soon.
The brain fog and tiredness is awful… if it is a drastic change from ‘normal’ for you, it truly affects your self perception and identity… really tough to deal with. I highly recommend just a few minutes a day of meditating and making sleep a top priority. A good night of sleep is life changing these days! Keep me posted on how you get on. xx
Alden
May 21, 2019 at 8:31 PMI found this blog when I googled something like “my brain feels like it slipped on ice.” It’s a relief (though also a little scary) to see how many women have similar symptoms. And I, too, have experienced that panic at the thought of having to explain to my children that I’m going insane! I’m 48 and my periods are still practically like clockwork, but for the past few years, in addition to an increase in general anxiety (which I’ve always had), I have started to have such bizarre and indescribable sensations. Sometimes it’s the brain-slipping-on-ice, as if I lost consciousness for a split second while my body was still going about its business. Sometimes the floor seems to rock ever so gently under my feet, just long enough to send a panic jolt through my entire body, while at the same time being so subtle that I think I must have just imagined it. Sometimes my brain buzzes. And sometimes I feel both fidgety and sluggish, as if my blood has turned to fizzing mud. (Your “vibration” description is the closest thing I’ve ever read to what it feels like.)
And since I have health anxiety anyway, every one of those things gets my anxiety going and then it turns into a vicious cycle. All I can do is try to belly-breathe and remind myself that it will pass. While I am in the throes of it, I don’t even believe that, but I try to act as though I do! And eventually it does pass, but I still live in fear of several more years of this. I have some Xanax to get through the worst times, but I’m terrified of getting dependent so I don’t dare take it more than a few times a month. And supplements and hormones and vitamins… it all seems like such a rabbit hole that I’m afraid to even go there. So for now I am mostly just muddling through. But every month when my period arrives right on schedule, I think, “Crap — not there yet.”
Lisa
May 21, 2019 at 9:29 PMFizzing mud! I KNOW EXACTLY THAT FEELING. I think if you had anxiety before (I did too) it becomes especially pronounced during perimenopause. In my reading, this is because perimenopause stresses the adrenals in the body’s nervous system, making them extra responsive to stress triggers. Other perimenopause symptoms can trigger stress, so it makes a vicious circle of responses. It sounds like you have a touch of vertigo too; I’ve had that strange tilting dizzy sensation before too, but I’ve not had it lately. The weird dizziness is what made me finally go to the doctor.
I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this, but it will pass. The best thing for me has been meditation, so I can observe myself and my reactions, and not get swept up in the wave of fear of what is happening to me. I’m sending you a big commiserating hug; I know how frightening and frustrating it can be. Keep me posted. xx
Amy Ford
July 26, 2019 at 2:06 PMWow… I’m so happy I found this and read what all of you have been going thru. I dont feel so alone. I started with horrible anxiety and panic about 5 months ago and my head starting feeling funny. I have a burning in the back of my head and my neck and shoulders are so tight and stiff. It sent my anxiety thru the roof because I thought I had a brain tumor or something. The daily tension type headaches would come and go and the back of head still feels tingly and burning. I went to the orthopedic and everything looks fine. I’ve been to the Gyno and asked if it could be Peri and he said no.. that I wasnt that old. I’m 43, and everything I’ve read says it can start as early as the 30’s. I do have my cycles but they are getting cIoser together and maybe last for 2 days, and they are so light that its just a brownish discharge. (sorry for the description) I too also get that dizzy, unbalanced feeling just randomly. Some days I think “Hey.. I’m feeling better” then bam! there it is again. The anxiety\panic is worse about a week before my period… I can just lay down to sleep and here is comes out of no where. I hate this feeling and hate the fact that I have years of this? I did start organic Maca Root (Macalife) about a week ago and can tell a difference in my mood and energy level. The only thing that has helped my sleep in Magnesium, I have started taking that in the evenings and I can tell it relaxes me however when I lay down I can still feel my heart rate increase and I have to think on other things to get my mind off of it so I can go to sleep. I dont feel like doing anything, I’m afraid of feeling this way when I go out.. its terrible! I just want to feel like myself again.
Lisa
August 5, 2019 at 2:48 AMOh Amy! Reading the description of your symptoms, almost ALL of it sounds exactly like me. 43 is absolutely not too young for this to start. I have a friend who had full on menopause at 30. It varies widely, and doctors really should know that we are not all the statistical average… there is a ding and a dong on the outside edge of every bell curve! The dizziness, the narrowing cycles, the anxiety, the sleep issues, and the headaches all sound so familiar to me and certainly sound classic perimenopause. I can only say that doing good research (I will try your Macalife!), doing a bit of trial and error seem to be the best ways to help get through this. You almost have to be your own doctor, if that makes sense. I hope you know that you are not alone, that many of us are in the same boat, and by sharing information we all make it so much easier on each other. Keep me posted and I’m wishing you lots of calm and strength. That anxiety is a killer, but knowing what it is when it descends makes it easier to handle. Hugs to you. xx
AMY FORD
August 5, 2019 at 2:34 PMThank you so much Lisa!! Thought I was going crazy for a while..when I was told that I was too young for the perimenopause stuff, I think it made it worse because I thought something was seriously wrong and it scared me. I stumbled on that Femmenessence Macalife by accident, I was in my local Nature store where they sell all natural supplements, I was getting lavender oil and I was asking if there is anything natural for Perimenopause symptoms and they recommended the Macalife. I did my research first and read reviews and since its organic I figured it couldnt hurt at this point because I’m desperate to feel even a little better. Its been a little over 2 weeks since I started taking it and I’m just amazed at the results. I finally feel like my self, I’ve been fixing up the house, doing yard work.. I have plenty of energy and I havent been as anxious or jittery AND my last cycle was July 10th and here it is the 5th and I still havent started yet. Plus.. I’ve been sleeping sooo good. Maybe I’m getting back on track?? maybe its a placebo effect?? I dont care what it is but I feel so much better. I do still get the tightness in my head like tension when the littlest thing bothers me… I still dont know why I feel stressed over the smallest things because I’ve never been like that. So.. I’m trying calm myself down when I feel like I’m getting worked up (which is always at work.. not at home) Thank you again for this blog… just knowing what I’m going thru has helped me and of course knowing that I’m not dying of a brain tumor or other illness. I dont think we are educated on the whole Peri thing…I’ve always heard of Menopause but not Perimenopause. I had no clue that women in their 40’s went thru this hell ! Thanks again
Lisa
August 31, 2019 at 8:08 PMMacalife sounds amazing. The fact that your sleeping is back on track is fantastic news; for me that ruins my days getting several nights in a row of terrible sleep. I hope you get on track and STAY on track! Thank you again for sharing your symptoms. It really does help to know we’re NOT going crazy, we’re NOT alone, and we ARE going to be ok. So many of these symptoms are deeply frightening when you don’t know what is causing them. I’m wishing you smoother sailing and good health 🙂 xx Lisa
CanadiaNat
July 30, 2019 at 6:54 AMI’m just about 36 and starting to think I’m becoming perimenopausal. My mom thinks she probably started symptoms in her 30s- though people didn’t really acknowledge perimenopause back then- so I do have a family precedent for early start. (The bad news is that it lasted a good decade for her and it was rough to get through, especially the mood swings).
So far I’ve noticed:
I am getting daytime sudden overheats where I’m turning bright red and feel like I just ran around the building on a hot day (though they only last around a minute) fairly frequently.
Sometimes I start sweating a lot at night before bedtime though that’s not regular.
I’m so much more irritable and short fused than I used to be.
My stomach is periodically bloating up at least an entire pant size.
I’m bone-tired SO OFTEN and sleep doesn’t seem to cure it.
Additionally, I have some symptoms that people don’t mention but I think they may be connected: overactive gag reflex (brushing my teeth is sometimes a fresh hell) and an off-and-on really strong sense of smell.
Because of an IUD, I don’t have normal periods so I can’t tell if that part is changing yet. I also have some joint pain and mood/anxiety challenges from pre-existing health issues so who knows if it is one or the other causing those symptoms.
Honestly, it is really helpful to hear from other women and see that I’m not just becoming a hypochodriac. I wish we had better resources and better doctors (mine brushed off concerns with “you’re aging” when I’ve mentioned the gag reflex thing and basically said I would just have to live with it) but even more than that I hope we can continue talking and being open about the weird diversity of human experience in these areas.
Lisa
August 5, 2019 at 2:35 AMYour last line “more than that I hope we can continue talking and being open about the weird diversity of human experience in these areas” says it all. I am furious that your doctor brushes off your signs as just garden-variety aging, when clearly some of the symptoms need to be addressed and at the very least acknowledged.
It really is helpful to see and hear of the experiences of other women who are open about their challenges. I hope that you find ways to address the things that are affecting you. In my experience, trial and error with alternative medicine and doing a lot of my own research has been better than any doctor. I have seen a few doctors (alternative and traditional) that specialise in perimenopause and women’s health, so that may be an option for a second opinion for you. I’m considering that myself. Keep me posted xx -Lisa
VermontGirl
August 19, 2019 at 5:47 PMLisa, thank you so much for starting this conversation! I have been floored since this process has begun for me that so many women are hesitant to take about their symptoms (like you said, aside from the “classic” hot flashes and night sweats). I am 51, have been having more physical symptoms much as fibroids, polyps, and cysts for the past 4 years or so. In the past six months I began to have some intermittent hot flashes, intermittent ringing in my ears, changes in digestion, itchy skin and – the most uncomfortable for me, on and off restlessness / anxiety / “not feeling like myself” (some of this stuff can be so hard to describe!). As I have learned more and more about the unbelieveable control hormones have over ALL of our body’s systems, I have tried start saying “OK, today it’s going to be this – but tomorrow it may be something else” … not easy to do for a control-freak professional woman. I have not ever been prone to anxiety or excessive worrying – although I did have a bout of some post-partum anxiety I worked through on my own – most likely also due to hormone fluctuations.
For me, it so helps to know that I am a) not alone, and b) NOT going crazy or seriously ill. It’s just that many women are very sensitive to their hormones – and the crazy fluctuations of this time can wreak havok. I am reading the Dr. Christiane Northrup book right now myself, and am looking forward to the liberation of menopause! I know it may be a while yet (my periods are just beginning to become irregular) … but the advice I’d give is: keep your girl posse close because we ALL are going thru this and – find an excellent doctor who will listen and is knowledgeable about menopause (many doctors in the US are now becoming accredited in specifically this area).
My love and sisterhood to all of you! xoxo
Lisa
August 31, 2019 at 8:18 PMOh goodness, you’ve really got the full range of symptoms. Like you, the restlessness and anxiety (sometimes bordering on panic) is the most disturbing. Also, just like you, it was so much easier to deal with ALLLL of this when I realised that I wasn’t going properly crazy (which was a genuine concern) and that I wasn’t seriously ill with a heart issue. You offer such great advice and support. I’ve just found a doctor locally who is well versed in menopausal and hormonal issues and I’m meant to see her in a couple of weeks once school starts again for my son. Love, sisterhood, and good health right back to you xxx
Svetlana
December 14, 2019 at 3:19 PMLisa, it’s already December, how are you feeling?
I am 47 years old, symptoms replace one another, and it seems that there is no end to this.
I think I’m in the process of transition from premenopause to menopause))
I do meditations and treat myself with homeopathy, I defeat some symptoms. but then others appear))
Lisa
December 31, 2019 at 3:51 PMI’m SOOOOO much better now, thank you Svetlana. Like you, my symptoms seem to peak and cycle through and eventually disappear to be replaced by something else. At the moment, it is all relatively calm. Either my symptoms have calmed down, or maybe like you I’m moving into proper menopause? I don’t know, but I’m grateful that things are better for the time being. xx
Melanie Parle
December 17, 2019 at 10:44 AMHi Lisa – I was so please to find this peice – I was smiling all the way through because it mirrors my experience so far – As well as the palpatations did you have raised bp?
Lisa
December 31, 2019 at 3:49 PMHiya Melanie! No, I didn’t have raised blood pressure, just crazy palpitations and irregularity. xx
Amy
January 19, 2020 at 3:14 PMReading everyone’s experiences is so reassuring. Thank you, Lisa! I’ll add mine.
My perimenopause symptoms were much worse in the beginning (age 46), and now, at nearly 50, they are lessoning and changing. I’m hoping I’m close to menopause.
Symptoms at age 46- insomnia, night sweats, palpitations, tachycardia, bouts of drops in blood pressure and shaking, nighttime “buzzing” sensation, heavy periods, shorter cycles, sore breasts, tinnitus, anxiety, emotional.
Now at almost 50- less of the above, skipped periods, lighter flow, unpredictable spotting, dry skin, dry hair, dry vagina, low libido, spacey and forgetful, low tolerance for bullsh***.
What helps-
iron and magnesium supplements (never together! calcium and magnesium at night, iron and vit c in the morning);
evening primrose oil
CBD oil
exercise!
low carb diet
no caffeine, alcohol or chocolate (during the beginning of perimenopause)
dealing with emotional issues- setting boundaries in relationships, letting go of my young adult daughter, speaking my truth.
time and patience
Lisa
January 20, 2020 at 2:20 PMThank you for this wealth of experience and information in one short comment space, Amy. I love your What Helps section especially. I’m implementing almost all of yours (except for the caffeine and chocolate!). I hope you feel better and like you are coming out the other side of menopause now. I’m looking forward to wrapping up my perimenopause phase. So far, no such luck, but knowing what it is makes me feel so much relief. xx
Rachel
February 18, 2020 at 3:31 AMTHANK YOU for this post! I thought I was losing my mind & dying of heart disease! I’ve been to the ER like 4 times for heart palpitations & dizziness. I blamed it on my thyroid just to find out that my thyroid medicine is working. Endocrinologists keep sending me to cardiologists & cardiologists keep sending me to endocrinologists when they don’t find anything wrong with my heart! No doctor has ever told me that this could be peri menopause! I’m 43; my mom started at this same age. Duh! It now makes perfect sense!!!
Lisa
February 20, 2020 at 9:38 PMOh Rachel, you’re so very welcome. I’m glad you appreciated the post. I’m sorry that you’re going through this; it can be quite frightening but you’re definitely not alone. The heart thing, for me anyway, really improved once I cut my alcohol to almost nothing and really cut back on caffeine. These things never affected me before but during perimenopause they really seem to trigger my heart palpitations at night. I hope you can tweak a few things and get your heart under control! xx
erinknox
February 18, 2020 at 12:23 PMI have a question for you all – did you find that herbs helped? I am seeing a naturopath who has me on Femtrol (combo of dong quai, black cohosh and some other phytoestrogens) and also Kava at night, CBD oil, and just added some valerian at night. Do you think this is too much? I’d love to hear if any of you have had relief from these natural remedies. I am almost 52, peri symptoms didn’t start for me until 50. And my periods are still fairly regular! Ugh. Did you all find symptoms were worse in the beginning? Did you find things started to level out when you started skipping periods? I know I must still have a fair amount of estrogen as periods still coming once a month (although getting closer tgthr and a bit lighter). I am mainly struggling with emotional ups and downs, anxiety and night sweats, poor sleep. PMS. Any suggestions/encouragement appreciated!
Amy
February 18, 2020 at 3:24 PMSymptoms were definitely worse in the beginning for me! They were worst during that time when my periods were getting closer together, though I was bleeding so heavily and often, I had trouble storing iron, which I think contributed to a lot of my symptoms. That was 3 years ago, now I’m skipping a lot. I’ve had probably 4 cycles in the last year, and a lot of light spotting. The night sweats, sore breasts, anxiety, palpitations and blood pressure wonkiness has improved. Now my main symptom is everything is dry- hair, skin, vagina, eyes, constipated, etc.
I’ve tried herbal remedies off and on, but I still feel like my hormones are on such a roller coaster, what helps one week, hurts the next! I do take CBD, which has helped tremendously with insomnia. I also take evening primrose oil and follow a lower carb diet, which curbs inflammation.
Lisa
February 20, 2020 at 9:44 PMMy symptoms were worse in the very beginning; they are getting somewhat more manageable now. I’m less foggy, less anxious, and sleep SOOOO much better, but my periods are still insanely heavy. I’m not willing to go the Mirena route yet because I know my skin will break out horribly and that’s actually worse for me than ultra heavy periods! Taking strong iron supplements has also helped me a lot. I agree that what helps one week hurts the next, it really is such a roller coaster that you just have to treat what you have RIGHT NOW! xx
Lisa
February 20, 2020 at 9:39 PMI’m interested to see the replies because I’ve not tinkered with naturopathic remedies yet, but that is really my next stop! xx
Jen
March 31, 2021 at 2:47 PMBecause we can’t and also don’t want to stop or prolong this transition, I think natural remedies are the best way to go. I also think you are giving very wise advise to all of us suffering through this to focus on managing the symptoms rather than trying to stop them. I’ve been going through this for several years also, and when I feel the worst, (which are usually feelings of impending doom or health anxiety) I come back to this site and re read your blog and all the comments. It really calms me down to know that I’m not alone and “this too shall pass”. Anyway, there are some natural remedies that I have found to help, and although I still have my moments( usually around my period or ovulation), things have calmed down quite a bit. As I’ve mentioned in this comment section before, femmenessence Maca life has been the best by far I have taken. It balances rather than adds hormones. You can also consult with one of their practitioners via email for insight. You can go to the website and read all about the product, and I also find amazon reviews to be helpful when deciding if I want to try something. Also, wild yam cream is helpful in aiding your body to subtly increase progesterone. Not enough to stop the natural process ( we don’t want to do that bc we have go through this) , just enough to take the edge off. Wild yams can be converted into natural progesterone cream, but I like to use just the wild yam bc it’s milder. There are several on amazon to choose from, but I use moon maiden bc the wild yams used in the cream are harvested practically in my back yard in the Great Smokies. I take holy basil at night along with spaying the bottom of my feet with magnesium oil. I sleep like a baby unless I’ve had alcohol to drink and even one drink seems to mess me up. I love my cocktails, so this is a real bummer for me.
Hope this helps. Don’t forget to breath everyone!
Erin Knox
February 18, 2020 at 6:03 PMThanks Amy. I’ve heard form other people that symptoms often “peak” earlier / as you hit mid-transition (while your body is struggling to adjust) and then get a bit more manageable as you get closer to actual menopause. But the only thing I seem to really be learning right ow is how unpredictable and changeable this whole process is!
May I ask how you do your CBD? Dosage / time of day? I do 1 ml mid day (infused oil).
Lisa
February 20, 2020 at 9:48 PMI so agree Erin, it really is totally unpredictable. What works one month doesn’t seem to have any bearing the next.
I’m also doing CBD oil, at bedtime 5 drops of 1500mg (or 15%). I wish you smoother times ahead. It is such a roller coaster, at least we’re all on it together. xx
Julie
March 9, 2020 at 9:55 AMThank you so much for this thread. I am going to be 50 this year and have been battling very heavy periods for several years. I even had to quit my nursing job because going home to shower and change got old. I tried Mirena a couple times a few years ago. The first one stayed in 2 months (but worked amazingly well until it fell out). The second one stayed in 2 weeks. After that I never wanted to go back. Last November. I finally went to see a GYN again (a DO). After having a month where I bled every single day and nearly had a meltdown, she put me on continuous high-dose norethindrone (synthetic progestin). It has taken over 3 months but I believe it has finally kicked in. I was very fearful of both ablation and hysterectomy as I’ve made it this far without ever having surgery. I am hoping that the HRT will help me avoid these procedures. I also take red raspberry LEAF tea every day, and high-dose NSAIDS on the days I do bleed, which are less and less.
Sometimes I feel little “flutters” in my chest, and this thread has eased my mind on that. My blood pressure has seemed to go up a little bit, and I am now starting to have the bad indigestion/bloating/gas problems. The reminders about diet and exercise I have read here will be observed! My poor husband freezes under the blankets next to me, and at this point I pretty much have no patience for anyone stupid. LOL!
Thanks again, and I hope some type of medication can help you with your periods so you don’t have to go through surgery.
Lisa
May 10, 2020 at 7:05 PMThanks so much, Julie. In the time after I wrote this post, everything has mostly calmed down, thank goodness. I’m just dealing with it all and don’t find it nearly as overwhelming or as frightening as I did for a while. I avoid red wine, take iron supplements daily, work out more, am fanatical about getting good sleep (I prioritise everything around my sleep hours now) and all of it seems to help. I shall investigate your raspberry leaf tea and the other suggestions you mention. Thank you for sharing your experience! xx
Marie
March 9, 2020 at 3:36 PMI IF I were you, I would ONLY use natural progesterone cream. Its not TOXIC and has zero risks. I feel for any Woman dealing with heavy periods. I thank God I do not. At 56, never missing a cycle, at my age I would’ve already had heavy periods if I were going to. My Mom had her last period at age 63, yes you read that right 63. Mom had 7 kids, I by choice have zero. I’ve always heard Women that have Children ALWAYS have heavy Perimenopausal cycles. Seems true after speaking to Women that have had children. Hang in their.
Lisa
May 10, 2020 at 7:00 PMThanks so much, Marie! xx
Annita Rucker
April 14, 2020 at 6:39 PMLisa- I’m very interested in what helped your dizzy feelings. This and the brain fog are the worst for me. I’m 52 and started birth control last fall as an option for continuous periods. It really helped my bleeding but my hair started falling out at a very significant rate. I went off the pills at the end of December 2019 and within 10 days I started having dizziness. I tried massage, acupuncture and supplements. Some weeks they helped and some not so much. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 business closures here in Kentucky, no massage therapists or acupuncturists are open. Can you offer any specific advice that helped you with dizziness? I would be forever grateful! Thank you so much for this article and comment thread, I realize I’m not alone.
Lisa
May 10, 2020 at 6:48 PMHi Annita, you’re definitely not alone. It is good to see and feel that there are so many other women who have the same issues. The dizziness seemed to pass after a while with me. I did a few things like cut down on caffeine, and SERIOUSLY upped my iron levels (I didn’t realise I was anaemic, which didn’t help at all). I think a lot of my dizziness had to do with my iron levels being depleted after having such extreme heavy periods every month, so a daily heavy iron pill has worked wonders. Please have your levels checked, and maybe that will help? Other than that, I’m hoping that your dizziness will pass, like mine did. Hugs to you! xx
Kath
May 6, 2020 at 9:19 PMI had problems with periods my whole life from age 10, and am now 46. Migraines, fibrocystic breasts, period pain so bad I could not walk, vomiting, bad temper outbursts, heavy bleeds, monster fibroids, acne, and generally feeling like death.
Started with perimenopause I believe at 39, have been having continuous night sweats/ flushes for 3 years, going on 4 now. It is debilitating and all I can do is wait the night out whilst rolling around in a pool of my own sweat. Oh, plus I have hair coming out in handfuls, broken brittle nails which won’t grow properly, and horrendous digestive/ GI issues which have me visiting the bathroom up to 20 times a day. Morning sickness, loss of appetite, panic attacks, return of acne, crying, palpitations, explosive temper (my bipolar is made 1000x worse), horrible depression where I can’t get out of bed for a week, back pain, two tennis elbows, worse BO, no energy. I am starting to bleed less now every month with a shorter cycle, so may be nearing the end but who knows. I don’t even want to think about it.
Nothing works. Nothing. Docs will not prescribe HRT because of the worldwide shortage, and because thinking nowadays promotes women going through menopause naturally, as if a woman comes off HRT as she will eventually need to, she will have to go through all the menopausal symptoms again. Natural methods, i.e. sage, work occasionally for hot flushes but only occasionally. So basically I am stuffed.
And the kicker in all of this is that I am infertile, so all the years of all this rubbish was all for nothing. I am done with this gynaecological stuff. I am really done.
Lisa
May 10, 2020 at 6:40 PMOh gosh, Kath, you really got extra servings of the most difficult parts of being a woman, didn’t you? I have a friend who had issues nearly as awful as yours (not quite, though!) and she had no luck with traditional medicine, but found a homeopath that worked wonders for her. I sure hope that you are at the end of this whole menopause palaver and that it is smoother from here on out. Hugs to you, you’ve really been through the wringer. xx
loes
June 15, 2020 at 8:34 PMHi Kath and Lisa and Marie and all others. As most, I am happy to read along this blog and the comments. I by now know that I am in peri-menopause with no longer frequent but still very extreme symptoms. I am 53, still very regular, one month heavy bleed, the other month more normal. I started with my first heat flush 2 years ago in March on one of the hottest days in tropical Panama country… they brought me to a doctor because I collapsed under the hot flush which was more like a meltdown. The people thought I had a heat stroke but it was “only” a hot flush with hearth palpations and my whole upper body beet red … it lasted over an hour… And unfortunately that has been the pattern with me. Not often, but when I get them, it is total collapse. Last Friday night I woke up with hearth beating like crazy and dizzy but stumbled to the bathroom and turned on the cold shower. Sat down, got cramps and vomited and still hot and shivering and loosing consiousness according to my husband, who has to help me onto the toilet in the process as the cramps make my bowels want to move too. The thing is, it lasted for one hour and fifty minutes. Now I am really really happy it does not happen every month anymore. It is scary as hell. And it wrecks me completely. And yes being irritable and loss of mind and all that… all there too.
This one was the first in 5 months. And before that, I could generally relate them to a few factors:
No red wine or heavy meat or difficult digestible foods
No white wine mostly, although sometimes I can have one glass…
Making sure I have slept enough (that was the cause this time… I am taking care since march of two rescue owls and sleep on and off to feed them but generally in the past week not more than 5 hours in a row. I would catch up on sleep in the middle of the day. And add to that the stress of having no income from the tourist industry due to the coronavirus pandemie… and worry is an added ingredient for disaster.
Two years ago this happened way too often. And every time my hot flush was classified as a volcanic eruption or a tropical meltdown (meaning I am in a puddle on the floor of the shower for up to 100 minutes) UNTIL I visited a health store and read all the ingredients lists on everything they sold for perimenopause… and found sage to be a very common ingredient. So I bought fresh leaf organic sage and have been drinking that as my morning tea every single day. And it has kept my symptoms mostly at bay. If I take an extra cup of sage tea, I can occasionally drink that glass of white wine and just get a normal hot flush.
There was a time I was away from home and had brought my sage tea but somehow did not use it. Thinking not too much of it. Considering it all in my mind. And again the next morning… a few hours later I was on the bottom of a small boat somewhere on the ocean looking like a boiled crab ready to serve… with no possibility for conversation or anything. Cramps like hell and 90 minutes later I was exhausted but normal… (until I stepped on a sting ray not even 10 minutes later… but that is not relevant here). So since then I am fanatical about my sage tea… and it had taken 5 months for me to have one of the meltdowns again.
And reading the above, I just know it is due to the lack of sleep.
It is amazing how rigorous we have to choose for ourselves and our health to keep it managable!
Nevertheless, I am willing to speak to a doctor about my symptoms as somewhere there is indeed this fear that there might be something else. But generally, those something else would not just be there once a month and come and go after my steady 100 minutes or so…
Good luck to you all.
Beth
October 15, 2020 at 2:43 PMYour acute cramps, vomiting, heart irregularities and dizziness almost sound like you might be experiencing ovarian cysts! I’ve had that periodically and went to the ER to be told I had an ovarian cyst. When they rupture it is a DOOZY. The pain left me on the floor vomiting, dizzy and shaking! There are different types of cysts but I’ve wondered if I have the type called Corpus Luteum cysts since they can produce extra hormones…which might explain all the symptoms once they rupture or dissipate. It’s like the biggest hormone drop ever (almost like after pregnancy). Such heavy bleeding, insomnia, heart palpitations, etc. Everything I’ve read about them is they’re caused by an imbalance of estrogen (estrogen dominance) relative to progesterone. Tough to say though because so many of my symptoms sound like low estrogen but maybe that’s once the cyst decreases. Currently my MD has me on daily progesterone but I think I’m going to start cycling it to see if that helps with the perimenopause symptoms more. Also, I have the same problem with alcohol/wine which totally sucks because it affects my social life so much! I read it can increase estrogen temporarily but I also think the breakdown of alcohol into acetaldehyde messes with the CNS (central nervous system) and vasomotor symptoms so if your body is already in a sensitive state it might exacerbate it more! Possibly due to seratonin in the gut and if you have a hiatal hernia it can mess with the vagus nerve. Anyways, for reference I’m 38 and been dealing with this for 2 years. It’s truly awful! I hope you’ve found some relief! Also, I have low ferritin without anemia (likely from heavy or long periods) and I’m trying to up my iron intake since I’ve read from many others with similar symptoms that they had low iron as well. Kind of wonder if there’s a correlation. I will try to remember to share once my ferritin levels are up if my symptoms resolve!
Ana
August 18, 2020 at 11:18 PMHi, I am glad I found this article. I have many of the symptoms discussed here for perimenopause. I have dizzy spells, cold hands, symptoms of anxiety, changes in vision, pressure on head. symptoms that I had never felt before. Doctor’s normally don’t have a clue about this and we have to suffer wondering what is wrong with us. It has been more severe since I turned 45. Now I am 46. I feel so concern sometimes thinking what it is wrong with me. I went to the OBGYN and she gave me low dose birth control pills. Can any of you guys have any experience with low dosage birth control pills for perimenopause symptoms?
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:47 PMHi Ana, I’ve heard of that, but I’ve not been prescribed that myself. Maybe someone else will be able to chime in with their experience with that. You definitely are not alone! xx
Bluesky
September 2, 2020 at 7:57 PMThank you Lisa for sharing your story about perimenopause. I think I’ve been going through this about 10 years now (now 45) but looking back the terrible anxiety I had at the beginning where I could not even leave the house. I even had to go on a course about overcoming anxiety it was so bad. Periods became erratic about 7 years ago where I could flood anywhere, I don’t know how I coped when that happened in a park with my children and I found myself trying to jump to a public toilet. I think I must have had every symptom from anxiety, depression (which has been particularly bad), tinnitus, palpatations, joint pain, allergies (and yes I’m now understanding this so much more that symptoms can get worse before a period) back problems feeling like your back muscles can just give way, headache, breast tenderness, the memory fog is just so embarrassing when you can’t get your words out or remember someone’s name. My children have made light jokes about me getting old with the memory fog! fatigue, extreme tiredness, extreme anger out of no where. Feeling very cold, numbness, pins and needles, weight gain, weight loss, facial hair growth, loss of facial hair (eyebrows), then there’s paranoia and thinking everyone is either out to get you, or spying on you. There really is zero support for women going through this, it hurt me more that nobody seem to care like the doctors. They were more bothered about doing test after test (to which I then got paranoid that they were just after my blood, hence me feeling weaker from all the tests but no answers just told everything normal). I have left jobs and been left unemployed because of the lack of support and symptoms I’ve not felt I could talk about. Then there is the cost, sitting here now eating a pizza that I felt I had no choice to order because sometimes on the first day I can’t get out of bed. head aches, full of fuzz and numb and feels like its been in a car crash on the first day along with legs that feel paralyzed. Just lately I worked it out (when my head wasn’t fuzzy!) just how much is it costing me.. It would be at least £25 – £30 per month. It’s good that the menopause is now being taught in schools as part of the curriculum, I had no clue about any of this and just think it’s like a nightmare that millions of women go through with no advance warning. My hope is for the future that any women would be able to discuss this without shame, that workplaces and governments would offer more support to women.. for example a day off here or there if they need them at this very difficult time and or opportunity to work from home should they need to. Much more support could be put in place though, for a start the NHS clinics need a huge update and really need to get a grip on this. I read somewhere (sorry my minds foggy atm don’t have the link but it’s true because I know that I read it!) that a lady was saying you can request from your doctor to be referred to a menopause clinic and they apparently cannot refuse. I didn’t know that. I am now afraid of going to the doctors because I have been so angry with them over the years for them offering me zero support but taking so much blood for me in tests (hence probably became more symptomatic because of what they were doing!) they also sent me from hospital department to hospital department.. everywhere from breast to ear, nose and throat, I had cysts removed at one point I was getting loads.. but what I’m saying is really how you felt that there isn’t the support in the healthcare system. Menopause is sadly still in the stigma (all though hopefully beginning to rise out) I’ve come to the conclusion that I am better off self employed at this stage in life working from home. That is my rant…! However here are some great tips that have helped me and really help a lot of my symptoms. The biggest one is low carb diet. I’ve learnt to make chick pea pasta and chick pea bread, I eat courgette noodles, quinoa, sweet potato fries anything that is away from the white flour, rice, potato, cakes etc.. but that all goes out the window on my 1st day back! pizza, chocolate, fizzy!
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:45 PMThank you for sharing your extensive experience with perimenopause. I hope in the future our health care will be more open to supporting and helping us through this than they currently are. Thank goodness for places like blogs where this can be discussed and shared openly. I’m pleased to read that you have a good handle on how to best help yourself. Wishing you a smoother path ahead! xx
Valerie
September 6, 2020 at 1:34 PMLiterally, in the US there is more common knowledge about erectile dysfunction made publicly known through drug advertising. Usually as a result of too many cheeseburgers blocking arteries…on the other hand you have our very complex reproductive cycles beginning their journey into death, which could use a LOT more palliative support. So grateful for blogs like this—these are the only places where you find validation. Only my nutritionist and one functional medical professional have acknowledged what peri can do, but the ER doc, my female GP never mentioned that chest pain, racing heart, anxiety beyond belief because of such new experiences as being part of this experience. American television taught me that ‘the change‘ is nothing but hot flashes and crying spells. I’ve had one night sweat and a couple of heat-up moments, but the only way I can tell I had an episode of some kind is the extreme cold that comes over my hands and feet with an overall chill. Capsaicin definitely aggravated racing heart. Low thyroid function I guess never let me heat up enough. Dizziness, forgetfulness, the latest is just feeling that my heart is quivering and sometimes I can feel it in my entire body cavity. I’m happy to have periods still as they are 35 years familiar. I wish I had known beforehand what to expect so that I could have been in better health prior to arriving at this age, which like many of you is 48. I have too much of a toxic load along with an extra 50 pounds and some autoimmunity issues. When COVID hit in March, the stress of our small business having a clean-up job after a suspected case triggered shingles, except I didn’t know what they were until June after the nutritionist confirmed it. I had added nerve pain up and down my arm and in my back from it, so with all the heart activity, I for sure thought it was the end for me haha. Once I got proper immune support, I started with the blisters, etc, but still haven’t licked it yet, so having residual pain in the nerves. Trying to eat high lysine, low arginine on top of my already plant based diet that has gradually helped me shift the first 55 lbs.
Like the author, I had to learn to accept what is the current state of my hormones, find whatever natural support there is and then next I am working on increasing my exercise. My racing heart/stress cocktail is 1000 mg of B1, about 1600 mg of Valerian Root, and 2 doTerra Serenity softgels and copaiba softgels for nerves and heart. I also bathe daily in Serenity & Copaiba oil topically. Hydration is very important, the heart seems to act up more, especially at 4 am when the cortisol starts to kick in. I drink a pint of water and go back to bed.
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:40 PMSuch great information, thank you Valerie. I agree, there is so little information available to us on this topic, and the way menopause is portrayed in the media is not at all the way I’ve experienced it. Continue to look after yourself so brilliantly… we’re our own best doctors sometimes, aren’t we? xx
Marie
September 6, 2020 at 8:32 PMDon’t forget your Magnesium SUPER ESSENTIAL for a healthy heart!! What most do NOT know. If you have a heart attack, YOUR Magnesium levels ARE ALWAYS VERY LOW, NOT GOOD for our heart. Water, clean filtered water is also essential. Sugary drinks even deadly aspartame, “fake sweeteners” DEPLETE Magnesium as does Coffee! May I suggest the best Magnesium type? Glycinate. The brand i purchase and use daily is Dr. Martin’s nutrition. Racing heart and dizziness/lightheadedness ARE NOT JOKE. Be good to your heart
Blessings Marie
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:37 PMThank you, Marie! Magnesium is definitely super important. I need to make sure I’m always taking it. xx
diana
September 8, 2020 at 10:05 PMJust another thank you from another woman suffering in silence. it’s true the “common wisdom” is that menopause=hot flashes. In the US people barely even know the term perimenopause, let alone that it is really when all the symptoms hit. I had terrible night sweats for years in my starting in my late 30s and no doctor had any idea, or barely even any interest in what was causing them, but they were so bad that my husband would wake up and find not only that I was soaked but that he was wet because of me! I’m now 48 and the night sweats show up only rarely, but I have a handful of other symptoms — none of which includes hot flushes! — but all of them affect my daily life and no doctor has ever explained them to me. I finally had one new doctor explain that I was in perimenopause just because of my irregular periods, and it was only after doing my own research that I realized that all these symptoms were perimenopause, and also got some guidance on how to address them. The sleep disturbances and vicious irritability — like PMS on steroids — were the most hard to deal with at first. I started waking up at 4 or 5am and not being able to fall asleep at all, or worse yet, until it was time to get up, making me miss many a morning appointment or meeting! i started taking magnesium (bisglycinate) which has really helped with the sleep disturbances, though I also keep a spray bottle of topical magnesium by the bedside for when I still occasionally wake up in the middle of the night. I didn’t think the magnesium was helping with the PMS-like rages — until I forgot to take it two days in a row and suddenly felt like I could set things on fire with my thoughts alone. 😀 I also have other symptoms like acne, brain fog, and an inability to regulate my body temperature (not hot flushes but often freezing feet and/or hands, or just getting all over cold and not being able to warm up at all). But lately the scariest symptom has been heart palpitations. They’re frightening, especially the middle of the night ones! And because of personal circumstances related to the Covid pandemic, I’m now living temporarily away from my regular home, which in the US means that I’m out of range of my regular medical insurance (an HMO — grrrrr!) and cannot afford to pay out of pocket to go to the doctor where I am. So I was just sitting here terrified that I had developed some kind of serious heart condition, when something prompted me to go back to my perimenopause research, and lo and behold, it’s a perimenopause symptom. Based on some things I read, I’ve just added Ashwagandha to my daily regime, hoping that in addition to the magnesium, it will help calm down the heart palpitations. I’ve only been taking it a couple weeks but it does seem like the palpitations have lessened a lot. Then today I came across your blog post and I just had to write a thank you and chime in with my experience as well. Reading your experience and that of the other commenters is so reassuring! I’m reading so many people talk about the same symptoms I’ve been having — it really dropped my panic about these palpitations, and I no longer feel completely insane, LOL! 🙂
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:35 PMOh good, Diana! Isn’t it amazing how reassuring it is to hear that other women have these unusual symptoms as well? I’m so glad we’re creating a safe space to talk about it and share information on blogs now. No more silence and fear over these completely normal things… I hope your symptoms improve as you move through this phase and into the next one. Thank you for sharing your experience. You’re definitely not insane 🙂 XX
Jovanna Quinones
October 18, 2020 at 8:48 PMThank you for posting this. Found it on a random google search about perimenopause. I feel like I could have written it as I was the same type of person PRE-perimenopause. I feel like I’m just not “with it” like I used to be and it is depressing me. The supplement you had linked is no longer there. Can you re-post somewhere? Thanks
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:26 PMAh yes, it looks like they don’t make that supplement any more, I’m going to have to find something to replace it with. xx
Charane
November 8, 2020 at 3:51 AMI am so grateful to have come across this blog. Thank you for sharing it has made a world of difference to me reading this.
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:23 PMI’m so glad to read that, Charane. You definitely aren’t alone; it is amazing how differently we all experience this change in our lives. xx
Irene
November 17, 2020 at 9:09 AMHello, and thank you so much for your strory. I also had such symptoms and was worried what happened with my life. But my premenopause was really early because of stressed life with my husband. It started at my 35. Thanks God I met a great gynecologist, she prescripted me omega 3, vitamin D and Menovit and it changes my state of mind and health condition. I ordered vitamin D and omega 3 as the gynecologist advised. I know that everyone’s body is unique and some thing can be helpful only for me, but we always should take care of ourself health and visit gynecologist regularly. I wish all women to be health and happy!
Julie
November 21, 2020 at 12:40 AMIsn’t it amazing just how much stress plays into it? Probably totally explains why my condition became unbearable while I was working 5 years on night shift at a long term care center! Also I bled very heavily with terrible clots when the lockdown started, and also my bleeding was worsened election week despite finishing a 6-mos stint on Lupron Depot and remaining on norethendrone acetate. Ugh, it really shows up, even if I don’t think I physically feel stressed!
Lisa
December 27, 2020 at 12:17 PMStress is just the worst thing for our health. I try to do everything in my power to mitigate it. You probably are very good (like I am!) at suppressing stress. Being aware of it, tracking it, and keeping stress at bay through meditation, walking, a pot of tea or whatever works, is so important. xx
Jova
November 17, 2020 at 6:48 PMHi Irene – I saw your comment on here and wanted to ask .. what is Menovit? Thanks!
Irene
November 18, 2020 at 11:31 AMHey Jova,
Oh sorry I write it inccorect. It’s Menovital – tablets that contain Soya Isoflavone, Starflower, Red Clover and Vitamin B, helps to deal with menopause.
Jova
November 19, 2020 at 12:52 AMawesome! thank you – i will check it out 🙂
Blue
December 31, 2020 at 10:13 AMHi, I just want to say to any ladies experiencing the back problems and palpatations at night.. I have found over the years that having a low carb and low salt sugar diet really helps. Think spiralised noodles or chickpea pasta, sweet potato chips, frittata, roast veg and quinoa, low salt soups (and watch any processed foods always read the packet as I’ve been caught out with high salt loads of times especially in canned soups!) also bread.. We can get sensitive to gluten but still not show in tests, it’s high in carbs. Wine I have one every now and then. Think natural sugars, make your own chocolate.. Look up dark chocolate with coconut oil honey vanilla essence, it was a brilliant save when I found out about this. Also check out banana bread with chicpea flour and honey and egg. My ultimate best find though has been socca bread. Made from chickpea flour, easy to make flatbread, can use for any meal and very low carb.
Lisa
March 30, 2021 at 2:40 PMThank you for this, Blue! I’m going to look up all of these things. I avoid sugar and flour wherever possible, except as a ‘treat’ which I always pay the price for. xx
Candi
October 9, 2021 at 10:10 AMBlue this is so great. I changed my diet when I started having symptoms not knowing it was perimenopause. I cut out gluten as I feel it has been a trigger for me.
Laura
January 27, 2021 at 1:39 PMHi,
I am only 34 and have had some extreme anxiety and dizzy-ness for a while, coupled with unbearable mood swings, intrusive thoughts, irrational behaviour, hot sweats on a night, struggle with weight loss even though exercise frequently and I eat well – I have recently had blood tests and the doctor suspects pre menopausal. I was really relieved to read this article and that it is not just me feeling and having these symptoms. However, one thing I have done that is strange is use completely the wrong words for things during speaking, saying totally incorrect words – I asked for a goat, not toast the other day, told my son he would need to get back outside – rather than get back to bed – etc although internally, i was thinking the correct word. Argh. I have terrible arthritis as well which is also now exasperated with the hormone drops. I have to have some more blood tests to confirm the low oestrogen and high LH hormone rates.
Thanks for the article
Laura
Lisa
March 30, 2021 at 2:32 PMThat saying the wrong word thing is very familiar to me as well, Laura. I think it is part and parcel of the brain fog. You think one thing but your mouth says something else! I hope you move through your peri menopause quickly. It really can be unsettling. xx
17 Unmissable Reads, Best of the Blogosphere - Not Dressed As Lamb
January 28, 2021 at 11:12 AM[…] has talked openly and honestly about her “so-called” perimenopause and talks about her strange, never-before-experienced brain […]
Sarah Bennett
March 29, 2021 at 2:55 PMHi Lisa, I was just wondering if you still have the internal vibrations and/or dizziness? Thanks, Sarah xx
Lisa
March 30, 2021 at 2:21 PMYes, Sarah, I’m afraid to report that I do! They’ll disappear for months on end, and I think maybe I’m over this symptom entirely, but just this last month, I’ve had the vibrating feeling back for several days at a stretch. xx
Sarah
March 30, 2021 at 4:33 PMHi Lisa, thanks ever so much for the reply. Can I ask, after a couple of days do you just wake up one morning and the vibration is gone and then they randomly come back? xx
Lisa
March 30, 2021 at 5:40 PMMine disappeared for MONTHS, and then one day I noticed my muscles felt heavy, and while I”d be sitting still I’d feel that weird buzzy vibration feeling again. It lasted for 5 days this most recent time, and is gone again today. I notice it seems to be more common just around my period, so I imagine it has something to do with the hormones fluctuating at that time of the month. xx
Sarah Bennett
March 30, 2021 at 6:51 PMI’m sorry that they have returned after months without them and glad that they have gone today.. wonderful that you have opened this blog for women to not feel so alone and a chance to share what their going through.. I’ve read some of your other blogs this afternoon, all interesting and enjoyable and I hope your return to the finance industry has gone well for you.xx
Lisa
March 31, 2021 at 1:33 PMThank you so much, Sarah, that is really kind of you 🙂 All going well, and looking forward to the day I’m not plagued by these symptoms anymore! I’m pleased this post has been helpful for you. xx
Sarah
April 1, 2021 at 12:48 PMIt is good that you have a child/family to look after and work so that your mind is not so much on the vibrations when they arrive.xx
Sarah
April 3, 2021 at 5:09 PMHi Lisa, I’ve been doing a little research and just thought I’d mention this. Some women mention magnesium and when I looked this up magnesium deficiency can cause ‘tingling’.
LR
April 9, 2021 at 4:49 PMI came upon this while googling “impending sense of doom” and “long QT” and this is exactly what I am feeling right now. I was just diagnosed with long qt and put on beta blockers and recently reduced my dosage per doctor’s orders because he was concerned my bp was too low. But now my anxiety is higher and today it was at its worst. My sleep hasn’t been bad although not great (it’s interrupted by a 4yr old wanting to pee several times a night), My temper isn’t bad but I feel I’m about to blow any second. And today, I have this feeling that something bad is going to happen…not to me but in general. My mom has been telling me I am going through menopause (she started at 45) but last year I asked my doc about it and he didn’t think I was. This was when I was having heart palps and having random night sweats and before I was diagnosed with long qt. The beta blockers have helped with the anxiety and heart palps and heart cough but it is a drag. Thanks for sharing and I will look into the tips you provided
Lisa
August 4, 2021 at 2:53 PMYou for SURE sound perimenopausal to me! Let me know how you are getting along, LR. Your doctor being a ‘he’ and not thinking your going through perimenopause is like your electrician having an opinion on your haircut. He’s no expert! xx
Sarah Bennett
May 13, 2021 at 1:12 PMHi Lisa, I thought of you earlier for some reason and hope that all is ok with you.xx
Lisa
August 4, 2021 at 2:49 PMHi Sarah! All is well… busy and tired, but I’m well. Thank you for thinking of me 🙂 xx
Rochelle
August 3, 2021 at 8:44 PMThis blog was meant for me to find! Thank you so much for literally sharing your experiences as I have been in the exact same boat. And I mean the exact same! I had my son take me to the ER last week because I thought I was having a stroke. My lips, my hands and my feet were tingling and sort of numb. I had kinda felt just off all week. Foggy, tired and just out of it. This is not like me. So of course, at least for me, i start to panic or think about ridiculous things which in turn gives me anxiety. Blaaaaaah……..long story short, had a CT scan, ran my blood work and all was clear. My heart had done a weird flutter during that week I wasnt feeling right so they decided to put me on a heart monitor. When I feel weird I have to push the button and log the symptom. Not sure how productive this is because I feel like it gives me anxiety having ti do this. Maybe counter productive? They sent me home thinking I have anxiety. Not a mention of menopause. It took me calling a friend who is a doctor. She asked me questions and boom, you my friend are peri menopausal. Totally makes sense. I guess I always thought peri m/menopause meant you get bitchy, hot flashes and gain weight. This is sooooo much more than I ever would have expected. I kid you not I feel like a switch went off over night and I became a new person. The dizziness, the jolts of electrical shock shooting thru my body, cold snaps, headaches, brain fog, absolutely no energy, tingling lips, hands and feet……ladies just know you are not alone and you are not crazy!!! Thank you so much for your blog. You have for sure calmed my nerves.
Hang in there ladies…….
Lisa
August 4, 2021 at 2:46 PMI’m SO pleased this spoke to you and helped you, Rochelle! That’s made my day. It is SUCH a tough time, and if you don’t get the usual symptoms everyone talks about, you really are in the dark about what is going on with your own body. It does pass… mine seems to come and go as hormones rebalance and fluctuate. xx
Candi
October 9, 2021 at 10:44 AMHi Lisa
First off I started feeling “off balance” the tilting feeling back in June 2021. I had had an episode of vertigo some months earlier but this was/is not the same. I initially noticed my vision was changing so I went to get my eyes examined and asked the Dr was there any correlation between what I was feeling and my visio . All I remember him saying is that my eyes were healthy and that I could use reading glasses. I later saw an opthamologist because I had this squeaky sound near my eye.(weird I know) This Dr did some sort of flush of my eyelids and everything was fine, no blockage. He followed that up with a orbital CT scan and again, everything was fine.
Next I saw an endocrinologist. My thought was if this is hormones an endo will surely find something. I even asked if it could be perimenopause “he” said “no you still have a few years as you’re having regular cycles.” (Which I had told him about prior to him saying this) Everything was fine. Next I saw an neurologist who suggested a sleep study but also did a brain MRI to check the pituitary. He saw something small but not substantial enough to do anything about. Let’s take a wait and see approach, he said. He did however suggest some lifestyle changes, meditation, more exercise and asked about my sleep. He suggested a sleep study. I thought about it and decided that wasn’t the answer. I saw a GP who had a background in infectious disease and tropical medicine as I started thinking maybe I have a bacterial infection. She said everything looked fine after doing extensive blood work….and gave me something to help with sleep as my anxiety was really bad….heart palps, couldn’t sleep thinking I was going to die and that my daughter would find me dead one morning. It was super scary. Turns out I did have a bacterial infection (gyn diagnosed) but it took my primary doctor who had been on maternity leave all this time. I decided to go see her knowing she was back and she said based on all the tests you’ve done and symptoms you’re in perimenopause. “She” is also the one who lead me to this website. I am ever so grateful for her. It took a woman to figure it out. My GP also has a background in OB and GYN which is a plus!
Lisa this blog is so helpful. I am so grateful to have been sent here. So many things here resonate with me. There were many nights I was going to go to the ER but didn’t. I also switched to a whole foods plant based diet over the past two months and it seems to be helping. I and am now gettig a certification from Cornell in plant based nutrition. I hope to be an example to others. I am currently living in Asia where the diet here consists mainly of fruits and veggies(there are so many to choose from) along with legumes, nuts and rice. Soy is also big here.
Sorry to make this so long but just wanted to say thank you and let’s keep the conversation going as this is such a great help. I no longer believe I’m dying it’s just hormones. LoL
Cheer!
Ardella
August 20, 2021 at 12:44 AMI had what I felt was a lump the right side of neck with shoulder discomfort went right to ER they said it was my lymph note then asked if I had a toothache or nasal drip I said no so they just gave me an ibuprofen and follow up with my doctor it could be an infection so my doctor said with the lymph note that it’s normal sometimes that happens and gave me some antibiotics then a week later I started spotting but not heavy and for the last 18 days that’s all I’ve been doing is spotting just enough for a pantyliner but here’s the thing just b4 this I did not have a period since February so 5 months off and now this and I’m 52 🤷🏽♀️ it’s scary but medical professionals don’t seem worried
Eileen
August 23, 2021 at 10:52 PMThank you, thank you, thank you. I happened across your blog by googling my symptoms and I literally cried with relief reading it. Why on earth aren’t we told about this stuff??? I’ve now just found a menopause specialist not far from me and am booking an appointment first thing tomorrow and I’m also going to send your blog to all of my girlfriends!! xoxo
Ardella
August 23, 2021 at 11:29 PMGreat and that’s a good idea to to find a menopause specialist in my area I never thought of that…
marybellinda33
September 29, 2021 at 7:02 PMPD natural herbal formula we ordered from TREE OF LIFE HEALTH CLINIC, his symptoms totally declined over a 3 weeks use of the TREE OF LIFE HEALTH Parkinson’s disease natural herbal formula. He is now almost 61 and doing very well, the disease is totally reversed! (w w w. treeoflifeherbalclinic .com)
Anna
October 19, 2021 at 1:26 PMThank you SO much, Lisa, and all the other ladies who have shared their stories here! I am 54 and thought I had all kinds of serious illnesses. My last regular period was more than three years ago. I have no previous medical issues. My symptoms were anxiety, sleep disruption, night sweats, insane hot flushes, fatigue, migraines, generally feeling funny and not myself, numb hands, tinnitus, light vertigo but the WORST was the brain fog and memory problems! I was so scared – and then the really bad panic attacks started. Thank you also to Laura who wrote here of how she said “goat” instead of “toast’. I say the wrong word several times a day and have been SO scared that it was a symptom of something more sinister than menopause. Was SO relieved to read Laura’s story! I have now been on HRT for a month, I am a bit scared but the hot flushes are gone, as is the sleep disruption and anxiety. If only my brain could be back to normal as well, but I guess it is early days yet. I will have a mammogram soon, though, as I have not given birth and thus have a slightly elevated risk of breast cancer. My female GP had no clue and I had to go private, to a female gynecologist at a holistic clinic to get help. She told me HRT has other medical benefits in addition to relieve menopausal symptoms and that it can protect the heart and prevent osteoporosis. I am shocked that many of these symptoms, especially the mental and cognitive ones, rarely are written about in the papers or talked about publicly. It really is a man’s world. Again, thank you all so much! (PS. I just said “vacuum cleaner” instead of “lawn mower” when talking to my to my husband.)
Hormones and health anxieties: a toxic mix – imogencampbell's Blog
January 31, 2023 at 1:06 PM[…] story that impacted me was that of blogger, Lisa of The Sequinist. Her post, My So-Called Perimenopause, just resonated with me at the time, and I distributed it among my friends so as to keep them in […]
Alyson Austin
June 17, 2023 at 12:50 PMMy perimenopause symptoms began almost immediately after finishing breastfeeding my son at around the age of 42, and it began with heavy bleeding. This lasted about 5 years and at it’s worse I was losing around 500 mls each time. I was anaemic, and constantly ravenous. Anyway, the heavy bleeding dwindled off last year and has been replaced by almost constant abdominal bloating, caused mainly by indigestion and wind. This I find way more disruptive than the occasional hot flashes I experience. So how am I dealing with perimenopause – by focusing on what I can control, and that’s exercise. I wake up, run, do yoga, and finish off with exercises to strengthen core muscles. This also helps with sleep. It hasn’t all been healthy managing though and have had frequent issues with drinking and smoking in order to try to escape or numb the mental and emotional anguish caused by it all. Am worried about my skin and bones further down the line which it turns out are also dependent on healthy doses of estrogen. I keep thinking, how could evolution do this, make the efficient functioning of our bodies dependent on a chemical which isn’t even there the whole of our lives ?? Grrr.