Hello ladies,
My main issue is a weird off balance feeling. I am not to bad at home but it is worst when I go shopping or to restaurants - basically everything I love.
The feeling is is really hard to describe but I just can't focus , feel hot and lightheaded.
Is this perimenopause? My doctor say anxiety. I am anxious when I go out that I will feel funny but I am convinced that the weird feeling caused the anxiety and that the anxiety wasn't there before.
I have citalopram and currently only a tiny dose as don't really want to take that.
Do you think this is anxiety or my hormones?
Appreciate your advise
Lou x
Hiya Lou
I think it's both. The hormones surge and cause the feeling of being Wonky, and then the brain reacts causing the anxiety. Ultimately though, it's the hormones causing everything. I know it's important to me to believe it's hormones and not me being anxious so I understand how you feel. I've no idea why it happens, I get it when I shop too. I find it a bit easier if I listen to music or an audio book while I shop. Or sometimes I run an internal dialogue just talking myself through the shopping experience 'right Sara, you're now going to walk to aisle 2 and then get tomatoes'....... Ridiculous, but works for me! I'm so weird lol xx
I have had this for 10 yrs... great at home but can come on anytime while out. Shopping centres... fluorescent lighting makes it worse. I also think it’s hormonal & then causes you to be anxious because of the feeling. It’s a total nightmare. As soon as I come out from shop into fresh air I’m fine and I don’t feel so anxious..... keeping in mind I wasn’t anxious before I went into shop, I love shopping! But struggle a great deal with this horrible “ thing “ ... I call it thing as the doc doesn’t know either sobgsvdnt been back in over 5 years what’s the point they just don’t know. So I just get on with it and if I’m having a bad day I don’t go shopping, if it kicks off in shop I leave. 🤨 that’s it. X
I am going back to the dr today for this exact problem. I have BPV. I was also told anxiety. Been on Lexapro 3 mo. Vertigo worse...I weaned off. Mine is all the time. I get migraines too though. Terrible while driving... I will update you 🤗
Feel better that I am not alone, sorry that we have to suffer. It just sounds nuts when I try and tell people how I feel. If I had told myself this a few years ago, I would have thought I was crazy.
It has seemed to of got worse over the last 2 years. I would have episodes of it and then it would suddenly just go and I would be normal. Seemed to have stuck around for a long time now.
I am trying to do something everyday as could easily be house bound. I am signed off work at the moment but do worry if I can ever go back. I have worked for the company for a very long time so I am really hoping the insurance kicks in.
I will very slowly increase the citralpram - I only take 2.5mg a day as in my heart I don't think it will help. Got to try everything though.
xxxx
I also suffer with migraines, I take amitripyline 15mg which helps but still feel that I have a low grade headache most the time. Do sleep well though on the amitripyline. Also feel like I constantly want to pop my ears .
Interesting that the anti depressants didn't help. Don't think they will help me as don't think it's that. Only taking them as want work to see that I am doing everything I can to return to normal.
Xxxx
Hi trevis
is there any pattern to when you get this?
I am now on the mini pill so no idea where I am with it, started to bleed today and have a headache with it. Wondering if the headache makes me feel weird.
Xx
I agree with your doctor. It is anxiety. I have the same problem. A few years ago I posted on here a list of anxiety symptoms. The post was called "Over 100 Anxiety Symptoms". Like I said it was a while back but you can Google it and it should come up.
Thanks for your reply
I find it so hard to accept as I have nothing to worry about - life is good.
It's hard as anxiety can produce so many symptoms - every symptom you look at, anxiety pops up. I do wonder if doctors too easily say anxiety. Like you said, there are 100 symptoms.
I get that it sounds mad.
Seem to find loads of peri menopause ladies with this but none that have come out the other side.
Xxx
Forgot to ask, have you overcome your anxiety? If so, how.
thank you
Amitripyline is an antidepressant too.. tricyclics...old one though. Not really used for depression anymore. At the dose you are at it is mostly prescribed for migraines, nerve pain. I believe I have vestibular migraines or migraine associated dizziness. Interesting though, my dr originally put my on amitripyline and I threw it out after 2 days...it gave me a migraine. I did not give it a chance. I am going to have him put me back on it today. I have been reading that amitripyline or norotryptine is what is usually prescribed for vertigo associated with migraines.
Another thing too...you do not have to be suffering a migraine attack to get the vertigo. If you have ever had migraines it can affect your vestibular symptom. I always have that dull head and pressure. Worse if air pressure if heavy, or my period is due. If anxiety was the cause of my issue...3 mo on Lexapro should have made a difference...it made my vertigo worse. I too have stopped working, it has ruined my life. It is constant, especially if I am cleaning and moving around. Only relief if if I am sitting up and still in bed. I never got migraines until perimenopause...so I believe dropping hormones are responsible. Hang in there Louise, it is a sucky feeling. Mine has been since December and getting worse although my periods are very light. That is estrogen deficiency. 🤗
No unfortunately I have not. I have some good days and some bad days. I have to take them as they come. Recently I was doing pretty well and was learning to cope with my symptoms. But the past two cycles came with some crazy stuff and the anxiety shot through the roof. I pray, I do breathing exercises and try talking myself down from the episodes. It's not easy. I don't want medicine for it. That only makes things worse. Can't wait for this to be done.
We do sound so similar. I constantly seem to have a dull head.
I think that maybe I am worse when I have my period. I started the mini pill 2 months ago and my body is still adjusting. I feel bad today and have started to bleed again although very slight.
Good luck with the amitriptyline, I take 15mg and doctor said I can increase to 20 if needed. It does take a while to work, my only side effect was that I was so tired. Take 5mg for a week at about 7ish in the evening. When you feel less tired increase to 10mg. I would give it a good 6 weeks there before increasing anymore. I don’t have bad migraines now but the full head and off balance is still there. I do love that I sleep well on it, so many ladies complain that they can’t sleep.
I used to also feel that the floor moved but that stopped when I went on the mini pill, gives me hope that it is all hormones.
Are you on sick leave from work? I have worked for my company for over 20 years so I have 26 weeks paid leave and then insurance that may kick in. I would much rather be at work and I am stressing if the insurance will cover me. Have till Christmas until I get to that point. Hoping for a miracle before then.
Xx
Thanks Louise! Fortunately...but unfortunately I am self employed. I am a licensed pet stylist/groomer and absolutely love what I do. But this vertigo is terrible, I cannot stand fir hours with scissors in my hands when my targets are always moving! No pay, not eligible for disability..., it is really putting a strain on things at home. I have to get better though... I will let you know how I make out at the dr today. Leaving soon... I absolutely hate driving!
I think you are right about the meds.
I am taking a 2.5mg dose of citralpram - may as well take smarties as it’s so low. Don’t want to become dependant on drugs.
I think I need to focus on what I can do rather than what makes me feel bad. Today is a bad day, tomorrow may be better.
Take care xxxx
Oh that sucks.
Good luck with the doctors.
I struggled to drive too, I stopped driving in February but since being on the mini pill something has changed and I am driving again.
Xxx
I feel like there is something really wrong with me! I have been in bed for two days with this weird dizzy feeling with tingling in the lower torso area. I am not dizzy like falling or vertigo, it’s just a sudden off feeling in my head and then sometimes a weird tingling/flushing in my lower torso. I do not always get then tingling though. I can’t put my finger on what it is but it is causing me anxiety too! It’s almost like everything in my head just stops for a second! Anyone else have this feeling?
Hi Louise, I’ve suffered this from puberty (so may initially be hormonal)
so I’ve done 40 years trials and research.
A lot of restaurants and shops have hard flooring and the noise can be excessive and sends vibration through your ears which disturb balance. Get soft earplugs for that.
Also as in bright fluorescent lighting which flickers but not to the naked eye. Get lightly tinted glasses for that.
One thing that massively helps is a low salt diet around 2g a day. Also low sugar and lots of still mineral water.
My anxiety started from feeling dizzy/off balance and only reduced when I watched my salt/sugar intake and used the above.
Also the blood rushes to the head with hormonal changes that can affect balance too like just before a period.
I also am worse when I’m tired.
Hope you try these 4 things as it could change your life.
Best of luck.
Christine x
Thanks Christine
I will give all your tips a try. I have healthy meals but eat far too much chocolate and too many cups of tea with sugar. Time to make a change there.
Xxx