Terrified, I Don't Know What's Happening To My Mind And Body

Hormones
1

I don’t even know if this is where I should be posting. Nevertheless, I’m in serious need of support and advice. I’m 40 years-old and think that I may be in perimenopuse, although I can’t find anyone on the internet whose symptoms are/were like mine, which has made me feel even more alone. Toward the end of July of this year, I started experiencing an increase in panic attacks. These weren’t like the panic attacks I was used to, they were much more intense, and lasted much longer and came more frequently. So I decided to take a leave from work to get myself together. Since then I have been deteriorating severely both mentally and physically. I’m absolutely terrified, I’ve hardly eaten anything over the past almost 3 months, which has resulted in a 31 lb weight loss, my sleep is horrible, I can hardly get out of bed, when I stand up my body is extremely heavy and my heart rate increases to 180bpm and sometimes higher, I keep having intense anxiety like feelings in the more, I feel like I’m losing touch with reality and that I will never be the same again. It’s just me and my 18 year-old daughter, I been to the ER (A&E) about 90 times since July and I keep being told that there’s nothing wrong with me. If that’s the case, why do I feel so horrible and like I’m dying and losing touch with sanity. I have horrible stomach issues, no bowel movements (more then likely do to not eating, over the past almost 3 months I’ve consumed maybe 1200 calories, I have zero appetite and no doctor see this as a problem). My skin gets really itchy, I have numbness and tingling all over my body, I also have a warm sensation in the back of my left thigh at times, my breast sometimes hurt, as stated before my sleep is horrible, extremely fragmented, intense vivid dreams, unrefreshing, and I sometimes feel horrible sensations throughout my body which wakes me up, and sever apathy and anxiety upon waking up that stays with me all day. Please, is there anyone who can relate? My most troubling symptoms are the terrifying psychological symptoms that make me feel like I’m losing touch with reality and going to go crazy, it’s a constant nonstop doom feeling..Any advice would be appreciated, I’ve had numerous tests done, I’m not on any meds of any kind. I’m so scared and the medical establishment has helped me, could this be perimenopause?

-Colibri

2

Numbness and tingling all over body could be a B vitamin deficiency. Have they checked b12 and folate? You could try a company like Medichecks or private GP if yours are too busy? Have they referred you to a psychiatrist? It could be perimenopause, GP’s are supposed to be better trained in it now so you could ask to see a specialist GP in that? There is a SLAM clinic in Maudsley London you could ask to be referred to who specialise in hormone-psychiatric conditions. If its bad enough that you’ve had to quit work they should take it seriously. Before you ask for a referral, get your FSH checked on day 1-3 of your monthly cycle, that will tell you if you are ini perimenopause - doctor can do this test. It can fluctuate monthly but mine was raised from when my symptoms started. I didnt have anything as bad as your describe but did have paraesthesia for a while - crawling sensations on hands and other areas of body, like insects crawling but that seems to have stopped now. And i did have increased anxiety for a while but it could be coz i was taking Maca at the time for PMDD. Do you know if you could have PMDD?

3

It definately could be perimenopause as women do start it at 40. You could join a facebook group, there are lots of big groups for peri/menopause and they might be able to help?

4

You could try l-theanine or ashwaghanda herb for anxiety in the short term but would be good for them to keep investigating the cause..