So....I'll try to be brief. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder last March, after suffering a panic attack while traveling for business. Since then, I've had a multitude of daily physical symptoms...dizziness/lightheadedness, body aches, headaches, insomnia, night sweats, increased body temperature, feeling weak in my limbs, general fatigue, shakiness....you name it, I've had it. I've just about worn out my welcome at my GP's office, I've been there so often....I've been to the emergency room four times, had an MRI, multiple ECGs, countless rounds of bloodwork, an upper endoscopy...everything comes back clear. So why do I feel so sick all the time? I did have my hormone levels checked, and my doctor confirmed that I'm at least perimenopausal (I'm 45 years old)....could all of these symptoms (and truly, they occur daily) be related to perimeopause? I've developed a serious issue wtih health anxiety due to all of this, because I can't accept that these symptoms are harmless...I'm convinced that something catastrophic is wrong with me. Help!!!
Hello WearyKitty,
I really do feel for you as I started the same as you. Mine started Nov 12 when a close friend of mine was told he had throat cancer and before too long I had convinced myself that I had this aswell. I went to the GP with my concerns and he was really kind and tried to calm me down saying that I had digestive issues as I had delevoped a lumpy throat feeling and it was not throat cancer. I kept trying to think positive until Jan 13 when I woke up one morning with a very strange feeling of that something didnt feel right inside my body and like you panic that there was something so very wrong with me. I couldnt go to work, didnt want to see anyone other than my husband or my son. This lasted for two weeks until my period started and I felt like me again. During this two week spell I booked myself into a Bupa health check where I had everything check (no scans) but ECG, lungs checked loads of dififerent bloods, hearing,eye sight, even checked for diabeties and guess what everything came back as it should have been. I was fine for about 3 months until I woke up again with this very strange feeling that something didnt feel right, again this lasted two weeks and again couldnt go to work etc, once my period arrived I felt myself again. Within two weeks I started feeling strange again, and a repeat of what happened the previous two times. This time I took myself off to have a mamogram, and checked for ovarian cancer, thyroids and gain everything came back ok. So why was I feeling this way and why did I feel that something terrible was about to be found. I visited a lovely lady GP who suggested that my hormones were out of sync and pehaps I tried a low doseage of HRTas this may help, but at this time I wasnt ready to do this. I found some cream called serentiy off wellsprings and started using this and cycles started coming back every 27 days. This was good for about 3 months and then my cycles started to become every 21 days or sometimes every 23 days and my anxiety seem to come back, not as bad as last year but still felt shaky. I found a tablet called Menopol plus off simply supplements and i take this twice a day, together with starflower capsules and Busy B vits which have a min of 100mg of all the main B vits. I did finally agree to try the HRT to help give me a monthly bleed and with the help of all of the above mentioned I am feeling a lot more like myself and not worrying about all the doom and gloom (which by the way is another symptom of the peri). I think I have finally realised that i have joined this nasty journey and have been trying all I can to get to grips with it and trust that it isnt something nasty happening. It is easying saying this when you are feeling great but perhaps if you start taking your B vits anything between 100mg - 300mg to help balance out your hormones you may also start to believe that you too have joined this journey and not something sinister about to happen. I have found so much comfort from this forum and especially from a lady called Jay who sadly has been on this journey for about 9 years and had experienced all sorts. The other ladies on here are all so lovely and will help put your mind at rest that we have and are still going through these funny things. Take care and please do read everyone experience and you will I am sure find comfort too. Take Care Joy xx
Thanks so much for your response....it really does help to know that I'm not alone on this journey.....take care 
Hi Wearkitty,
i too had all the same symptoms as you have described. It is very scary indeed. I was in my dr.'s office many times and he kept saying it could not be menopause related. I got so sick and was feeling so ill and I ended up in the ER 4 times. Nothing would show up. I then started to have allergic like symptoms and got numb in my face, lost 35 pounds in a couple of months and was finally sent to the mayo clinic with what my dr. thought might be neuro-endocrine tumors. Before that though, I saw every specialist under the sun, and had every blood test, X-ray, upper GI, etc, and everything kept coming back fine. Even up at mayo, they could find nothing wrong other than going through menopause. I was put on a med to relieve my allergy like symptoms and reactions and was able to finally eat again although I still suffer bouts of those symptoms. After a year, I am better, but still not myself. I continue to have bouts of anxiety as well and I am dead tired, still suffer from hot flashes, the list goes on and on. I just want to feel like myself again. My MD still does not think any of this is menopause related, but I am convinced it is. The timing coincides with all that has happened. So hang in there and don't feel you are alone. This is not all in our heads. It is very real.
I'm so sorry you're going through all of that....sounds horrible! I'm convinced that most of what I'm feeling is related to perimenopause and/or anxiety....it's just difficult some days to accept that fact and move on....the mind can play terrible tricks on your body!
hello wearykitty, reading your post just reminded me of me when it all started oct 2012, i too had all your symptoms and i've had every test known to man but all came back clear except for the glucose tolerance test which proved i have low blood sugar and this is why i get dizzy but i can be dizzy all day so i don't really believe its all down to low blood sugar. Anyway through a lot of trial and error i'm not as bad as i was but i do have some syptoms daily and as my GP is absolutley useless and doesnt seem to know what to do with me, After reading many of the posts on this forum i am putting this all down to perimenopause (i'm 51 years old)
I know how you are feeling and feel so sorry for you its so life changing but believe me as you have had all those tests like me we just have to face it that this is how it is and try and i know how trying it is but please try and made the best of each day, i'm told it will pass. Wearykitty try and be strong, have some Reflexology or do something for yourself it will help with the anxiety. I'm trying to get mine under control and i know i can't do some of the things i used to but so what dont beat yourself up about it we will do them again in time. Sending you a big comforting hug x
thanks for the hug, anxiousface....i'm finding it very helpful to read about the experiences other people have had with these symptoms....sometimes i think the worst part about feeling this way is how lonely it can be...no one who hasn't been through it can understand how scary (and real) the physical symptoms are...even my close friends and family have told me to "pull it together, it's just anxiety"....if only they knew how badly i'd love to do that!!
Wearykitty,
I know exactly how you feel. I, too, have had 2 visits to ER, blood work, worn heart monitors, had EKG's, echocardiogram, nuclear imaging, stress test, etc... It is embarrassing to have the doctors tell you "there is nothing wrong". I don't WANT them to find something wrong, however, I also fear there is something terribly wrong and my family will pay the price for me not following through and checking out these odd and awful symptoms. Some women I know who are my age tell me, "you are too young to be going through all of that" (I am 47).
If symptoms are causing anxiety and fear, along with the discomfort of the symptoms themselves, there are not harmless. I have decided that the only way for us to survive this ordeal is to educate ourselves and find others who understand and can relate to our issues and share their experiences with us. Please don't scold yourself for what you feel and fear. You are only human and you want to be as healthy as you can be for as long as you can be. Our health is priceless and we are the only ones who can be in charge of maintaining and protecting it. Don't give up! Hang in there and be your own best advocate. I know I am now and I am not accepting what others tell me just because they don't understand or want to deal with me. I am researching female drs who deal with gynecology and menopause issues and I am going to change doctors. Best wishes and I hope you are not weary for much longer!!
OMG i really feel for you. I'm just having my 3rd hot sweat within an hour, iv my head hanging out of the caravan window. Its a relief that others are going through the same and im not going mad.
i'm totally agree with you and millette, no one does understand that hasn't been or going through this horrendous life changing and yes very scary time. I feel very alone also but i get a lot of help and advise from this site.
Yes, this sounds so familiar, I thought something catastrophic was going to happen to me, with all those signs of anxiety, didn't feel like eating, sleep deprived from soaking sweats, loss of weight, change in bowel habits, bleeding haemorroids, losing interest in all I usually love, couldn't cope with simple tasks or work for that matter. Oh yes, GP visits, tests, calling the nurse, calling 111, Samaritans, tests all clear. Since anti anxiety counciling, meds for anxiety and HRT I'm back to old self. Yes it seems it's all down to perimenopause, the change really truly traumatising, but you can survive this and find yourself even a better self. Just be kind to yourself, trust the Drs and talk to psychology therapists who can explain what your adrenaline is doing to you and how you can turn your symptoms around. Be patient, you will re grow! Xx
Hello there..let me tell you and hopefully you may feel reassured. Every single symptom you mentioned I have had and still happening. I too have had anxiety symptoms and just recently travelling on the rrain has been a problem fir me
Thank you for putting alll your experiences into words on this forum, I've just woken feeling so bad, I've logged on for help. I've woken up from bad dream, again. My nights are a nightmare. I need sleep but my hot flushes wake me through the night. My anxieties fill me and start to take over. I'm losing self esteem and confidence so fast. I don't know how far along in the menopause I am but I'm in it deep. I have tried several forms of HRT and I don't like the side effects. I had an op last year, they said I had ovarian cancer but I didn't. Thank goodness I refused a full hysterectomy, I had the tumour and ovary removed. This through me further into the menopause. I'm now doing everything as naturaly as I can, to combat my symptoms from eating soya, flax, seeds and taking supplements. I've stopped drinking alcohol and coffee. I swim, do yoga. It must be helping but my insecurities are threatening my relationships, which sends me into a panic and my hot flushes get worse. My lack of confidence, mood swings, tiredness, my ageing ugly body is upsetting me. I have deep dark thoughts that I can't tell anyone about. When will this end? I'm really sad lots of the time. I need to do more to help myself but I don't know what.
Hi there,
I can completely relate to your post and many of the others. I too got very ill last year and the anxiety attacks were the most crippling of all. My daughter refers to it as my 'mini nervous breakdown' it's not far from the truth. The pain and the weakness in my limbs are gone now and the anxiety is under control, believe me it will pass. if you look at some previous posts on here you'll see a lot of us are trying diet, breathing techniques, supplements etc with varying degrees of success. Take your health into your own hands and things will improve because unless you happen to find that rare doctor who addresses our problems you'll continue to suffer. We can and do help ourselves here!
Oh wow...thank you. I somehow don't feel alone anymore. The things we women have to endure!
Hello Tina,
I am so sorry that you are feeling this way but thankfully you have found this forum which I know will give you a lot of confidence and comfort knowing that you can talk to others that may be experiencing the same as you. I can promise you that you will not be left a lone to deal with these experiences.
Last year when I started with my bad anxieties which lasted for two weeks at a time I found a good accupunture who has been fantastic to me. Not only can they help with moods, if you are suffering from anything else like digestive,sinus,you name it they can help you. I have also found reflexogolgy really good aswell and very relaxing, if you find a good one they can pick up on anything that may be troubling you and work on those areas. When having the accupunture tell them that you are not sleeping well and this is another thing that they can help with. Another thing is to book into have a relaxing massage. I know all of these cost money but they are all natural and you choose how often you go but they all will help no matter how often you can go. For my anxiety I have found Menopol plus from simply supplements (have a read of their reviews) to see what they contain and how they can help. As previously mentioned I have increased my B6 vitamin to at least 200mg daily and have found my happy go lucky nature has reappeared and I am feeling myself again.
I think as others have mentioned it is trying to educate ourselves on what may help relieve our symptoms as we are all different. But hopefully by reading these forums and there is one on here that in the titled "Is it Anxiety or Peri menopause(or something like that)" and has over 600 replies of ladies experiences.
I do hope that you will truly find comfort in knowing that you will start to feel like yourself again and all of this will make us all so much stronger than we already are. Massive hugs to you sweetie! When I started with my experiences last year I explained everything that I was feeling to my husband and I think by doing so (and him also knowing that I have nevered suffered anything like before) he started to support me in everyway possible and without his love and understanding and support I dont think I would have found the strenght to go out there to find a way of getting the old me back again - as I like her a whole load more than the frighten lady I had became. Even if you only find one person that can relate to you or just listen and support you and tell you that there isnt anything terrible going on, then you will gain strenght from their support. Please, please if you want someone to bounce off then just write a few words on here 
and I know someone will reply and comfort you. Take Care Tina. xxx
oh tina your really going through it and i know how you are feeling cos i've been in that exact place. please please take on board what snatchpiece has wrote because its excellent advise and i agree with her totally. It took me months even a year to realise i should be giving myself some me time but of course my newly gained anxiety didn't let me but i now push myself to do things and feel proud when i've acheived them but i know its not that easy cos there is only so much i will do or go. I found reflexology and Reiki such a help but you do have to learn to switch off , i aslo take vitimin B12 & B6 and after what snatchpiece has said i think i will look at having accupunture. I know what you mean about the dark thoughts and its really not like me but i do get them from time to time which is very frightening but we have to snap ourselves out of it. Try and explain to your partner how you feel and its not you its your hormones dictating and it will pass in time but you need his support and when you get moody just to ignore anything negative what you say and just be there for you. sending you a comforting hug x
Hi Weary Kitty, I also developed anxiety issues during my beginning peri years. I would wake up in the middle of the night and feel like I had to walk around the house, which I did just to calm myself down. My heart would race, I felt out of body like. I worried all the time that it would happen. Finally my dr put me on citalopram and it has worked like a charm. It really took the edge off if that fight or flight feeling. I was so bad one time at the dr office, while waiting for her to come in the room, full blown panic, I had to go to the restroom and splash my face continually with cold water. I was drenched when she came into the room, but I didn't care. I also developed ocular migraines during this time where your vision is like looking thru a straw. Not too pleasant. Had upper endoscopy due to problems swallowing also developed at this time. All I can say is the citalopram and a few ativan here and there have helped me immensely. Knock on wood, I feel pretty good I feel like the panic is under control, and I am alot calmer. So Ask your dr about an anti-anxiety med.....It might do you a world of good. Peace of mind is always a good thing. God Bless...stay strong--Jeanne
Oh wow that's me too waking up in the night with heart pounding walking round my bedroom throwing the window open so I could feel the cold air on my face..I have also had to call 999 because my heart was pounding for far too long. These attacks seem to be more frequent. Even getting on the trains in the morning now seems to be a chore as I fear these attacks. One thing for sure is I am just so pleased to have found this forum and reading all the similar feelings with other women helps me to feel better about things. Thank you!
Hahaha Toddpodd-I tell my husband all the time that women have to do the really hard things in life (aka as the crap) because men would not be able to take it! We have had to endure menstruation and the hormone frenzy that goes with that, uncomfortable undergarments to look nice ( I tell you if I ever find the MAN who designed pantyhose, I will strangle him with a pair...probably the pair that is supposed to fit my size, but is only about 12 inches long when I take them out of the package!), we women have to carry the babies, do the labor, deliver the babies and then care for them, along with everyone else in the household. Women are "supposed" to be gentle, loving, sweet, beautiful, intelligent, sexy, industrious, willing to give of themselves 24/7, have multiple talents and then be available to be love machines at night when our hubby gets the urge? Oh, brother! Let me wipe the perspiration off my face, change my sweaty nightie, put some wrinkle cream on ( and now occasionally acne cream again!), take care of the dryness in my privates, put on my push-up bra so I don't sag, shave my legs and comb my hair. I'll be there in about an hour and a half, dear! I love my family with my whole life, please don't get me wrong. It's just I'm wondering when it's going to be my turn to take REAL care of me? Well, it's my turn now.
Oh, well...at least I'm not bitter... ;D
PS: anyone else dealing with anger? Gee, I don't like that aspect of this at all. I almost yelled at some sweet, young teenager in the drive thru window at Taco Bell because they couldn't make me a Pina Colada smoothie because the machine was broken. ?????? Anybody??? Somebody??? There are seriously some days I think I could do murder... This is scary.