Heart troubles - the WORST night - Menopause Message Board

pixiek · 03-03-2006, 04:52 PM

It was really bad last night...is this peri? Just when I went to bed, just as I laid down, my heart started beating rapidly, and when I just start to drift off to sleep...as those sleep "hormones" kicked in

....and I would jerk awake and my heart would still be beating faster (not extreem but hard and faster than usual for me)...and then I felt pain in my breasts and I am not sure but my left arm got numb and hand feel asleep easily off and on and this went on for two to three house until I finally knocked out...is this also peri-meno related? (my stupid thyroid again!?) It was pretty bad and kind of scary...I am afraid to go to sleep tonight! Pixiek

Wizard · 03-03-2006, 07:23 PM

Hi:

When all of this peri stuff started for me, I had a lot of the heart symptoms. I seriously thought at one point that I was having a heart attack and had my husband take me to emergency.

I could hear my heart pounding really loudly and it felt like it was beating too fast. The ER doctor said that it was the effect of anxiety.

I have also had tons of problems with numbness in my arms and legs, tingling and I was constantly waking up to find that either one of my legs or arms had fallen asleep. During the worst of it, I did resort to taking Clonanzepam to get a good nights sleep.

Jo

katidid95 · 03-05-2006, 04:34 PM

Almost a year ago, this was a real problem for me. My heart would race (usually ONLY at night) and pound like anything. It was so bad I went to ER, my GP who then referred me to a cardio. After everything checked out okay, I just had to live with it. But it was by far the most horrible peri symptom that I've suffered through. I think it was a combination of my hormones and diet. I've been taking lots of supplements and have been on bioidentical hormones for a few months (because all of my hormones were menopausal levels even though I still cycle). I'm 47.

Anyway, it's been kind of up and down (my home life was stressfull over the holidays) but since things are calmer now for me, I have to say this particular symptom is almost back to normal now. It flares up on occasion like when I have too much sugar, any caffeine, or if I get stressed.

julielee · 03-06-2006, 11:38 AM

I'm still undecided on if this is peri of heart attack. I have the arm (left mostly) go numb all the time while sleeping and my feet/lower legs when sitting around. I have the rapid heart beat and CHEST PAINS (it is like sharp stabbing for 3-10 seconds) I haven't seen much about that on this board. I don't know. I have been to regular dr and er a few times who all tell me everything is fine. I'm 40 by the way. This is VERY scary for sure though. Oh and I also have my left pinky will have like this numb vibrating feeling for hours on end....

julie

katidid95 · 03-06-2006, 05:44 PM

Julie:
I believe all of the symptoms you describe can be explained by other things like anxiety, gastro problems, possible even carpel tunnel for some of the numbness you described. HOWEVER, you need to eliminate the possibility that something is wrong with your heart if only to give yourself peace of mind. I remember at the worst of it, I was so convinced something was wrong with my heart that my chest hurt so bad from anxiety, I literally couldn't sleep.

Get your GP to refer you to a cardiologist and get the required testing. Don't just keep guessing at it and going through more sleepless nights. I know how scary all this can feel, but believe me worrying will only make things worse for you. (And I haven't figured out a cure for worrying!)