How to cope with symptoms at work? - Menopause Message Board

Happymom07 · 09-13-2006, 11:00 AM

First I am not even sure if I am experiencing peri or not. I had a hysterectomy in my early 30's but they left my ovaries in place... I am now 46... I have no reference as to having periods so it's hard to say if it is peri or not. A year ago I had a few rapid heartbeat episodes that put me in the emergency room. Scary stuff, but they never found a cause. Thyroids and heart checked out OK. I had some food sensitivity tests and I was very sensitive to milk. I removed it from my diet and slowly got better, but still had episodes of waking every hour or two with a rapid heartbeat at night. That slowly faded too over a couple months.

Now I find myself going through the very same symptoms but with a few added ones. I had 2 very bad rapid heartbeat episodes of 150 bpm... Other than that I have had what feels like could be hot flashes throughout the day and night.. a strange and sometimes warm feeling with an elevated heartbeat and a feeling of weakness--sometimes I sweat and sometimes I don't--it lasts about 2 to 5 minutes and afterward sometimes I feel cold and wil shiver. I also have the internal vibrating/trembling and get this during the evening and sometimes wake up with it. I also get momentary dizzy spells and brain fog. Sometimes I am jittery and very anxious.

I am having trouble coping at work with all these weird symptoms. I don't know what is wrong with me and that adds to my anxiety at work. I am always afraid my heart will start racing at work.. it has in the past and I went to the hospital by ambulance. Right now I am wearing a 30 day event monitor. The doctor has taken blood tests for various viruses and Lyme. I am still waiting for the results. My hormone tests were normal he said.

Just how does everyone cope at work with all these weird things happening to you? I need help with this.

Thanks,
Happymom07

Belle2003 · 09-14-2006, 12:38 AM

In the past I had weird symptoms too and I found out by reading the menopause posts on the board about everyone else going through the same stuff. They recommended this book by Anne Gittleman called Before the Change. It lists vitamins, supplements and creams to help with specific symptoms. This book was a life saver to me.

I was at the time irritable; I could cry easily; I would wake up with my heart racing and I was bloated. My family would walk on egg shells not knowing what mood I would be in. Shortly after taking the supplements for my symptoms that were listed in the book, I started to feel better. My family could definitely see a change for the better.

I am still in perimenopause and I am scared that these supplements will stop working as I hit menopause.

For me at work one of the hardest things to deal with is when I am hot and everyone else is cold. I usually wear a tank top to work while my co-workers are in sweaters. I also have a little fan at my desk for when they turn off the air conditioner. It is a small office and it seems no one can agree as to what a comfortable temperature is.

So check the book out at your library and stock up on the vitamins that will help with your particular symptoms.

deinee · 09-14-2006, 08:07 AM

The racing heart and skipped beats were my first peri symptoms 10 years ago. I am 52 now. I had all the tests, have worn the monitors many times, everything normal. My doctor started me on Tenormin 50mg. twice daily and it has been a life saver. I still have skipped beats everyday, but the racing episodes are almost completely gone. The only side effect I had from the Tenormin was some weight gain, and alittle fatigue at first. Who knows, both of those symptoms could be from the peri too! The heart problems is one of the worst peri symptoms there is. I feel so much better having the beta-blocker to help relieve the symptoms. I know my heart is healthy and the hormones are causing funny beats, but I just couldn't live with them they way it was. Don't be shy about asking for something to help if all your other tests come back ok. You will be more comfortable at work and have a better quality of life. Take care, Ann

katidid95 · 09-15-2006, 09:40 AM

About a year and a half ago I also started experiencing the rapid heart rate (trip to emergency room), dizziness, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, you name it. My doctors were baffled and all the tests I had came back normal.

Sometimes you have to be your own health advocate. I finally figured out that it was probably a combination of things including peri, stress/anxiety (I'd had a death in my family) and diet.

As a start, certainly get checked out by your doctor (as it seems you are doing) to put your mind at rest. I was convinced I was dying of some horrible disease. Take a look at your diet and exercise regime. There are some really good books out there on peri and menopause that may help with this.

I also sought out a doctor that treats menopause more naturally and am now on bioidentical hormones, which I believe has helped tremendously also.

One supplement you should really consider is magnesium (400-500 mg/day). I actually started getting episodes of the really rapid heart rate in my 30's (like 180 bpm) 3-4 times a year, only lasting 3-5 minutes. Since I started taking magnesium, I've only had 2 in the past year.

Happymom07 · 09-15-2006, 06:22 PM

I want to thank everyone for their replies. I went to the used bookstore and bought the book by Ann Gittleman along with another one. I will work on conforming to her diet and vitamin suggestions. I also went to my gyno today and he ordered estrogen and progesterone tests. He said more than likely my estrogen is fine but my progesterone is low and I will need progesterone cream.

The hardest part of all this is my anxiety at work since I have had two episodes there that sent me to the hospital. It is a fear I will just have to conquer somehow.

It would also help if these hot flashes would quit happening 3 to 6 times every night and I could get some sleep! Why are they so more frequent while we are sleeping?

Thanks again!
Happymom07