Peri-menopause and Anxiety

ship2shore · Post by **ship2shore** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 6:31 am

This discussion thread was so helpful for me today. I was able to calm myself down after reading through them because I am having PMS which was making me feel anxious and out of breath. I have had mood swings and difficulty sleeping. I am now taking deep breaths and realizing that while I may struggle to keep myself calm for a couple of days that things will get back on an even keel as I progress through my menstrual cycle. I am 43 years old and also peri-menopausal. Thanks for all the helpful advice.

MichiganMom · Post by **MichiganMom** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:03 am

Ship2shore - I wanted to respond. When I saw my M.D. / N.D. doctor lately he reminded me that his was all hormonal and when these things hit - to continue to say to myself "Ok it's just hormones, I'm not dying" - or whatever I need for comfort. I laughed and asked him if he ever saw Miracle on 34th street....where the mother was trying to convince her daughter that Santa Clause was real - that it was really him. The daughter was saying over and over - I believe - I believe - I believe. But here facial expression didn't exactly portray that she did, in fact, believe. He knew where I was going with this and we all got a good laugh. After the laughter subsided (doc, hubbie and myself) I acted like her and said "It's only hormones, it's only hormones, it's only hormones." LOL I told him sometimes I feel like here, although I know it's hormonal - when you're knee deep in weird symptoms it can be a challenge to believe it's nothing major. SO my advise to you is, just as the anxiety program suggests with positive self-talk - "It's only anxiety - it will pass". I now say "It's only PMS - this too shall pass." It always does pass even though I get weepy and cry at the drop of a hat and can sometimes feel like my world is falling apart. The sun rises the next day and the next - and I'm feeling better again and on with my life. Bummer we women are so complicated - don't you think?? I think a man should take all this on....could prove to be an interesting study. haha (and I hear you women saying "They wouldn't be able to handle it.")

Faith_TX · Post by **Faith_TX** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:39 am

Originally posted by MichiganMom:
Faith - I forgot to respond totally and wanted to before I head out. Yes I do feel like I'm going to pass out when it hits. It's a scary feeling, but through Lucinda's program I've learned to calm myself and so far I haven't passed out. I sing on our Praise Team at church, so during specific times of the month I'm very nervous about singing because I get dizzy and disoriented, and adding singing on the team to the mix....I've been very concerned. But so far no passing out and I don't plan to - even though sometimes it feels like I will.

Yeah for some reason I don't get too scared about it. I figure I haven't passed out yet so just ignore it and it eventually goes away.

EileenV · Post by **EileenV** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:28 pm

Hi Michigan Mom,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience in your Aug 2nd post. Everything you describe is exactly what I am experiencing. I'm so happy to hear about what you have found. And thank you for driving home the point about progesterone. Since my symptoms seem pretty much identical to yours, I am really wanting to show your post to my doc and naturopath. I'm going to be having some blood work done and hope there will be some answers. Thank you also for sharing the info from your blood work in your other post and your doc's web site.

My naturopath has really helped me with so many of my health issues and he has been working on my pms/hormone issues as well. But the hormones are taking longer to balance. Maybe he isn't focusing on the progesterone. Again, I'm grateful for your post. I think it will be helpful in my efforts to work with my docs.

Eileen

martaD · Post by **martaD** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 4:00 pm

Maybe the lightheadedness and the feeling of going to pass out are low blood sugar? That can cause that. Has you had you glucose checked along with all the other blood work? Has you doctor checked for hypo or hyer glycemia?

MichiganMom · Post by **MichiganMom** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:46 am

Yes I am hypoglycemic. You're a smart cookie. LOL When the hormone roller coaster starts it begins to also throw off the endocrine system, primarily adrenal and thyroid, but the thyroid is also linked in specific ways with blood sugar. When my period is coming on I have more issues with blood sugar regulation AND my thyroid tends to be reacting as well. My doc found that my thyroid goes on a roller coaster ride as well, along with my hormones. I guess I should open a theme park inside my body - could be a way to make extra money. haha Thankfully the highs and lows are less and I'm starting to feel like I'm leveling out, but I tend to be impatient and don't do the waiting game well. The Fruit of Patience is being worked on. haha I've told a number of people that obtaining hormone balance is more challenging than bringing healing to a cancer patient. My BIL had stage 4 lung cancer and is going the natural route, and he's doing fabulous and it's almost completely gone. His cancer arrived around the time I started having hormonal stuff and anxiety. Maybe we're going to run through the finish line together, who knows, but he's doing absolutely fabulous and his doctors are amazed when he has scans to check his progress....just food for thought....wondering why hormones as so challenging to balance. Maybe it's because we women are so emotionally driven. Have a great day ladies!!

Mary Wargo · Post by **Mary Wargo** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:07 am

This may be a little off the subject thread here but since MichiganMom mentioned one of her blood tests were to test for Vit D levels I thought I would mention this. I'm showing some bone loss now and since I was concerned about my calcium and Vit D3 levels I had my doctor test for this. I was actually deficient(not low but deficient) in Vit D3 and I live in a high sunshine state! My Endocrinologist put me on 2,000 mg of D3 and my levels are now optimal. A friend of mine has actually increased her bone density by increasing her VitD3 levels. I thought I would mention this as this does go along with the drop in hormones at menopause for a lot of women.

LMM · Post by **LMM** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:31 am

Hi,
That Vit D thing is interesting , because at my yearly check up in March, he checked for my Vit D level, adn it was low. I don't really know why he even checked. Now i am thinking i am having hormone fluctuations that are causing some symptoms and last night i had night sweats. Does anyone have night sweats once in a while? Should i go to my OB doctor to see if i am in perimenopause?

Mary Wargo · Post by **Mary Wargo** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:11 am

LMM - Sounds like your doctor is up on things. You're lucky, I had to ask for these tests. I had night sweats a good 8 years before menopause so I guess it depends on how badly it is effecting you whether or not you want to try to do something about it. Since bone loss occurs in some women after menopause maybe your doctor was making sure your levels of VitD3 were sufficient beforehand since VitD3 and calcium is important for bone density.

LMM · Post by **LMM** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:39 am

Mary,
thanks, i am only 36, so can i be starting perimenopause? I know i have anxiety, and i want to be careful not to "blame" my symptoms on other things. but it sounds like everything matches up. How old are you? I have really distracting head sensations too. I also have had Mirena, a non-hormonal IUD for birth control in me for a 1 1/2 years. could that be causing hormonal differences or low hormone levels?