Anyone have the symptoms of shortness of breath with chest tightness, (air hunger) with lots of belching after eating? If so please describe... And does it get better? Mine started like 3 weeks ago and it's awful feels like i can't get a deep enough breath.
I'm also experiencing food allergies/sensitivities also to soaps and flowers and different smells, all make me choke/ cough and feels like chest tightness. Never ever have I had asthma in my life but feels like it now! My anxiety/ panic attacks are bad, antibodies are high for rheumatoid arthritis, and hashimotos, just don't know how to deal with all these new symptoms that keep getting thrown at me other than to sit and cry, cry cry! Anyone else having similar issues??? Are these symptoms all consistent with the menopause change??
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Yes my love have and still have those symptoms
I was ten years in peri and I am now 13 months without a period so officially in menopause
I would like to say I feel better but I don't
The symptoms you mention are awful I've had two upper endoscopy and although they found a small stomach nodule the consultant insists it is not causing my stomach issues
I also get frequent nausea and bloating
I'm 50 in September and this just needs to end
I've also been told I need surgery to remove a thyroid nodule as biopsy showed changes so on top of all the crappy symtoms I'm due surgery anytime
I know how scarey this breathless chest eating thing is
When it first started for me ten years ago at the start of peri I lost a load of weight I was scared to eat
Then health anxiety kicked in and I was convinced I was dying felt so ill
I'm sure you will get great advice from all the ladies here
They are truly a God send
Sending hugs x
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Gypsy,
The air hunger that you describe is definately a symptom of menopause. Our entire body changes and yes, women can have allergies/sensitivities/arthritis pains and anxiety. These are all very normal reactions.
I'm sorry and wish there was something more to offer. Some women have seen improvement with HRT. But also those who struggle with replacement. So hang in there, not sure if these symtoms will go away. Typically women simply discribe that they problems continue to change over time. Not sure if you are menopausal from your title, but am assuming you are skipping periods, yet not a full year past your last period.
Yes pretty common symtpoms with the shortness of breath, its mainly caused by increased heart rate and anxiety just makes it worse. You will find that it comes and goes and gets worse around ovulation and period... it does settle over time as most of the symptoms seem to do .. but then you get new weird ones. Over time you learn that its just part of the cycle and as new stuff comes along at first you freak out.. then you deal with it. The alergies too pretty common.. i had them really bad 4 years ago when peri first kicked in. You just need to cut out things that are stimulants of any kind.. alcohol smoking.. caffine.. refined carbs and sugars. again you adjust with time.. 4 years on and my allergies are alot better . TRy and get some meds for your anxiety so you can calm your system down a bit and that will help settle things. for alot of people things do get better with time and you learn to adjust.
Hello.
I went through a period early this year where I coughed and hacked and was clearing my throat constantly. The cough was unproductive. The Dr listened to my lungs on more than one occasion and said they sounded fine.
I still clear my throat quite a bit. There is also a feeling of swallowing past a lump. My acupuncturist says the throat clearing and lump feeling is thyroid. She says adrenals need to be supported too.
I am having acupuncture twice a week and taking an herbal adrenal support supplement.
I was having bad anxiety, health anxiety, Panic attacks, crying for no reason uncontrollably, anger, agitation, night sweats etc...
The acupuncture and supplements are really helping. My anxiety is so much better. I will feel anxiety occasionally but it is milder and passes quickly. It is usually situational anxiety that is very mild and doesn't last long.
Right now I am experiencing foggy headedness, my head feels huge and feels like it's going to explode.
Sugar makes symptoms worse.
Take care. Try different things and find what works.
Dear Gyspy
Yes shortness of breath was a symptom for me especially In the mornings but it did go away but like most symptoms, I found they might return again for a while! I suffer from a panic disorder generally but menopause increased my phobia! I had random panic attacks out of the blue. Common In peri/meno x
Hi Gypsy, I've been experiencing these symptoms for almost 3 years now. In the past few months I've been able to cope with them better by using deep breathing techniques when it happens or before what I've learned triggers the episodes, for me lack of ventilation makes symptoms worse so I'll start the deep breathing before I go on a bus or into a shop or someone's house etc. I also do alot of things to try & minimise my anxiety (which makes it worse) which I think has helped me cope better.
Yes have these very symptoms, the chest tightness and short of breath I have had on and off for two or three years, the throat thing I just started this a month ago. At the moment I a getting some tests done to ensure my heart is working good. I also started going back to the chiropractor as I have had chronic back issues for 12 years My upper back was locked up, and he said this can cause chest tightness feeling. I will say that has improved. Get your iron levels checked as this can cause breathlessness too. I am also starting to take more magnesium.......Stress makes things so much worse, which I know when we feel short of breath we go into anxiety mode.....try some relaxation techniques. Keep a diary when this all happens, I find if I get any of this it is leading up to my period or right after when hormones are changing....Know you are not alone, we all are experiencing this, but if you feel worried a trip to your doctor to rule out anything is a good idea....gives you peice of mine 
Ladies thank you for responding! It really helps to read what everyone else is going through with their symptoms, makes me feel not so alone in my journey!!! The breathless chest tightness and reacting to different foods and smells is definitely a new one for me, and quite scary...
I'm 46 and believe I'm going through my change as I have so many horrible symptoms, I'm just not sure where I'm at in my cycle because I had a hysterectomy when I was 27, doctor left ovaries but took everything else. I do believe I started to experience peri symptoms that weren't to bad in my 30s I think my ovaries were declining. Hysterectomy was for pre cancer cells in my cervix, and after taking uterous it was all contained to the cervix and not had made it to uterus yet! So because of all that really can't take HRT, and pretty sure I wouldn't want to anyways. Well not sure where I'm at in cycle but do know and feel very imbalanced in the hormone department with all my crazy symptoms. Thanks again ladies for all the wonderful replies..
Hi.
I actually was dealing with the breathing pressure gas stomach thing for over a year. Couldn't figure out what it was and even was scheduled for an endoscopy. Long story but it turns out that I became very lactose intolerant. Now I hadn't even considered that since I love cheese and dairy and have been eating it my whole life. Also sometimes the symptoms of lactose intolerance can be delayed a day or so. I spoke with my gastroenterologist and she said yes around perimenipause time or even at any time in your life you can lose the lactose enzyme and develop it. I had to go completely without any dairy in anything for a few weeks and all my symptoms disappeared. Now I can have fairy back but I have to take several of those Lactaid type pills.
Hi if I had to write how I felt and suffered I would have written pretty much what you have said . I think as time passes we all teach ourselves coping strategies that sometimes work. I can't believe that I have exactly the same combinations of symptoms as you .
Hello.
That is wild that we have the same combo of symptoms.
I am clearing my throat a lot today. The more I exert myself, the more often I clear my throat.
I have ringing in my ears, especially the right ear. My right ear will sometimes have a thumping sound in it. It sounds like someone is thumping on my eardrum. SO annoying! So incredibly weird.
Hello.
I get chest tightness with a burning sensation sometimes upon waking up. I get a rush of adrenaline then a tight burning feeling in my chest followed by anxiety.
I lost my sense of taste and smell, then they came back. Sometimes they are extremely heightened.
Take care
Hi Stuggling50,
Yes that anxiety is awful it makes one feel so wired and disconnected from self it's just the worst argg!!!! The breathless feeling that I get with the tightness in chest can happen after eating, if I'm just walking around, or if I get a good wiff of something that I'm assuming I've become sensitive to, my chest immediately gets tight and hard to breathe (very scary) I cover my face right away and remove myself from the room to get fresh air and then it passes, but the breathlessness can hang around for hours.. So I'm hoping these are just some nasty new symptoms of peri/memo and they will go away as quick as they came (wishful thinking)
So I did notice the extremely heightened smells for a couple of weeks before the breathing issues started, and I really thought how strange! And I also got the very bad ringing in the ears and sensitive to noise, now that hurt was awful but it passes and hasn't returned thank God!! This is all quite a ride and I'm so ready for it to end.. I noticed when I was 42/43 I started getting really a 2nd I do mean really bad shoulder pain (frozen) then it would go to other shoulder and I didn't put it together with peri/memo until recently. But I did go to doctor for blood work and my antibodies were very high consistent with rheumatoid arthritis, along with high antibodies consistent with hashimotos.
So really not sure what's causing what but it sure seems like my body is attacking itself! I did read peri/memo hormone imbalance can wreck havoc in the body causing everything, I'm just hoping to wake up one lovey morning and be normal again! Hugs to you, hope your feeling well again soon...
Hi Missmira,
That does make so much sense with the dairy! I have given up so much in my diet gluten grains wheat soy, I eat very basic and it's almost the same thing everyday because of everything I've become sensitive to, I'm really scared to eat anything as I feel I'm reacting to everything. I haven't tried to reintroduce anything at this point as my symptoms are still there with me, I haven't given up milk, and I probably should but I feel it helps me with low blood sugar I reach for a glass of milk and it seems to help! Maybe it is making things worse! It's defeinatly a real tough time in life at this moment, and with all other stresses in life it only makes peri/memo that much worse! My aunt says hold on it will pass, but was quite the ride! She remembers hanging clothes out on her clothes line when she was going through her peri/ meno, and collapsing in the grass for a really good cry! Thinking to herself I can't even carry this basket or hang these clothes, and then after her cry she got up straightened herself out and went into the house. Those little things that she shares with me really help me to cope and get on with this time of my life! She says there is no avoiding it so be strong and ride it out! She also says that her peri/memo the worst part lasted 2 years and it ended as quick as it came on for her, she did say she went through milder symptoms before the worst part came on, but ended after those 2 years, so I hold on to that hope! Feel better soon hugs to you..
Hi Michelle,
Yes the stomach bloating/ issues are awful! I just feel like some days are just to much to cope, these peri/memo symptoms can be of the chart I tell ya!!
So sorry you have that nodule on thyroid, and have to go through a surgery , good luck and feel better soon! I had 2 nodules this time last year not on my thyroid but on top side and backside of finger joints, and they went away all on their own, that I was amazed, was wondering why are these shrinking until gone completely. I read on doctor google that peri can bring them on and that they can disappear. Hugs to you...
Hi Gailannie,
I did figure the air hunger breathlessness was a symptom of peri/meno, Thank you for confirming!
I just love to read about all the good advice and knowledge you offer on this forum to all these ladies who are struggling everyday with these awful symptoms! You are very knowledgeable and much appreciated!
Also may I say with all your knowledge if you don't already blog about it on the internet about peri/memo , then you should, I believe that is your calling!!! Take care, and big hugs....
Thank you for your kind words. I'm certainly happy to offer my experience, years of study & research.
None of this is easy. And for some, like me, not even replacement therapy is easy.
Hi Gailannie
I definately agree with Gypsy, you are so knowledgable with peri. I too have been having the shortness of breath,I guess you would call it chest tightness, the best way to describe it would be it feels like something is sitting in my chest and i feel the lump feeling in throat. While moving around, I get tired quickly whereas my body begin to feel weak and off balance with the shortness of breath ,chest feeling and heart palpitation. This brings on the anxiety. The chest hurts sometimes. I do have gerd also, i dont know if gerd is contributing or what? But this has slowed me down where im at the point where i cant do much. I have seen cardiologist and lung specialist , all check ok. This breathing issue and chest feeling has been going on for about 3 weeks now. The palpitaions have been going on for months, at first lightly but now its ongoing. A few days ago I also had a cardiac blood test done to check for blood clots , it was fine. I know that my progesterone level is at 0.4 . One of the ladies mentioned iron level could be low. Well my rbc and hemoglumin are fine. As far as the iron itself ferritin and iron saturation i havent gotten it checked since months ago and at that time they were extremely low. What are your views on all this?
May I add, when stomach is bloated the symptons are worse.
Hi Struggling
Are you still.dealing with the chest issue?