Palpitations nonstop, could I be anemic?

[Toastandjams]

Since last weekend I have nonstop palpitations, seemed like my heart beats fast and loud, big thumps. I can also feel it at night.
Also I had suddenly cracked both corners of my lips, which now healed and have often restless legs syndrome at night for months.
And I feel like confused, forgetful, saying wrong words- like opposite what I want to say. Brain fog.

I had palpitations in a past and had tests done like ECG, heart Echo and Holter. All they find was some minor valve regurgitations which need no follow up.
As these palpitations seems nonstop I rang my GP on Wednesday and over the phone he said that as I had a ,,case of these ,,in a past and nothing was shown, than it’s unlikely it’s something else.
He said it’s my anxiety and he sent me a link about relaxation.
Now these palpitations are non stop.
I checked my heart rate, it’s apprx in 90-100. Blood pressure is normal ( I normally never check my blood pressure - have a monitor here since I was pregnant, like 10 years ago)
I rang again GP on Fri, spoke to another Dr and she is send me for a blood test.
I had very mild anemia about 6 yrs ago, which was literally borderline for blood tests, had a fast pulse and felt out of breath.
Had to take iron pills and it helped well.
I worry now as I’m not sure what’s is it. I feel funny like fainting..
Any Dr or nurse here who can tell me?
My blood test is on Wed.
I want to take iron pills now but I think if I’m anemic it will mess up the blood results?

[Newgirls]

If you are over 45 do consider if it’s peri meno too.

I reckon take the iron?

[Toastandjams]

I’m 46. I could be but that suddenly?
Menoupause in my family always run late in mid 50s..

[picklemewalnuts]

Low thyroid is another possible.

[Aquamarine1029]

I’m 46. I could be but that suddenly?
Menoupause in my family always run late in mid 50s..

Yes, peri-menopause can start that suddenly and the experience of other women in your family is irrelevant. My mother started going through menopause when she was 54 with essentially no peri issues, while I started peri with a massive bang when I was 43. I would look into HRT because it's a lifesaver.

[Toastandjams]

The blood tests I’m having will test for thyroid as well as for low iron.
I just can’t wait until the test as it’s really bad uncomfortable feeling.
I can honestly feel my heart feeling in my stomach.
I would take the iron pills as I got them here but I’m thinking it may masks the blood test real iron so it won’t show..

[Elieza]

I got that from dairy.
I’m peri-menopausal.
I had no ideal that as I got older the passages in my head and body get thinner and lose elasticity, just like skin.
There is a link in some people to dairy causing phlegm.
So thinner passageways and gunk bunging them up cause hissing in my ears and sometimes dizziness and heart palpitations as the passageways your lungs are next to the heart and the gunks bunging them up and they are pressing on the heart passageways or something.

Sounds mental but when I don’t eat dairy I don’t get any hissing, dizzy spells or heart palpitations. After the last time I swore never again as they were thundering away for hours. My GP said if it went on for over a few hours to contact him but it stopped just prior.

I take supplements to keep my calcium up now instead of butter, milk, and cheese I used to eat.

My bp is normal. I’m on iron b12 and folic acid

This may not be relevant to you but just mentioning in case it’s something worth trying as I know how horrible it is.

[JellyfishandShells]

My actual menopause was 54 , andI was lucky enough not to get much in the way of things like night sweats etc then - but I had a whole list of health oddities going on from about 46. My GP said at the time that he thought that’s what some of them could be - and they are now resolved. I did have some anemia - not surprising with how heavy my periods became around then.

[Newgirls]

Loads of good info on the meno boards here

Basically your oestrogen starts falling in your 40s on average, with last period being early 50s. So you can experience many physical changes before the last period. Inc heart palpitations, thinning skin, forgetfulness that you describe. Iron is good but you may need low dose hrt at some point - def read up on it all 👍

[Toastandjams]

Yeah the brain fog is crazy.
I notice i mumble words and say actually opposite what I want to say. I feel like I want to 100s things at the minute, running around like headless chicken ( or hen)
I always thought it’s because of I don’t drink enough water as I’m always bad with hydration but now I try to drink loads and still feel like that.
Than my legs get this as soon I lay in bed this restless syndrome where I have to constantly move my legs. This goes for a months .. not every night but pretty much often.
And recently corners of my mouth got cracked literally overnight..so I hope it’s the low iron as having symptoms for it.
But the hear is terrible.. I’m literally sitting here typing and feel it thumping like drums..

[Toastandjams]

I don’t eat much diary.. I don’t drink milk and only but not often have cheese..

[HappyHammy]

I think if you are having constant palpitations and have a heart condition you need to get it checked by a medical professional in hospital and an ecg while youre having them.

[DrCoconut]

Can peri menopause cause all this? I've kind of got myself convinced I have something awful here. I feel sort of like you OP only more dizzy spells than palpitations. I'm having blood tests for deficiencies, thyroid etc next week (and have recently had treatment for low ferritin but normal haemoglobin) but at 43 could it be my age?

[monkeytennis97]

I'm 46 I have had the same for about 2/3 years. Was going to have tests prior to lockdown. For me I think it's peri menopause

[HappyHammy]

Maybe call 111 for advice if you feel unwell or an ambulance. Dont drive if you are feeling faint.

[roundturnandtwohalfhitches]

You might have Vit B deficiency. The cracked corners of mouth and palpitations are symptoms. When I get cracked mouth corners I have a spoonful of marmite everyday for a few days and they disappear.

I am also prone to low iron- and now take spatone everyday.
My levels are usually okish when tested but it was explained by a doctor that some people are more sensitive to iron levels so when my bp has fallen through the floor and I'm dizzy all the time- it's time for the iron tablets.

[JanuaryBirthdays]

I'm 31 and have been having palpitations since Sunday. Constant ones when I lie or sit down but seem to be a little less when I'm up and about. Had bloods done and only thing was a slightly lower iron level. ECG was fine, but of course I didn't have palpitations at the time of having it done! Which was a little frustrating. I've since bought magnesium and iron tablets - started taking today and will go back to docs next week if they don't work.
It's scary isn't it, but lots of info out there about magnesium and iron helping them. May be worth a try?

[Toastandjams]

@HappyHammy I said this to both GPs when I phoned them and the first one said it’s all in my head very rudely and sent my anxiety pack in email. The second Gp is sending my for blood test but only after I mentioned that it could be anemia?
No one mentioned ecg...or heart tests.

[Toastandjams]

@HappyHammy they both revered to my previous Cardiology letter and all is ok.. the condition I have is minor and should not cause this.

[Toastandjams]

@JanuaryBirthdaysi got like that too.. First I could feel it only when I sit down. Now it’s worse literally I can feel it nonstop. Big jumps inside my chest.
Like those when you scared of something...when heart beats when You are really scared..Loud thumps

[Dontletthebastardscheeryouup]

I’ve had this. Caused by non existent iron! Iron deficiency anemia.

I had an ecg for 24 hours and frequent bloods. I think I’m probably iron deficiency anemic again but all my blood tests have been cancelled.

Iron tabs make me really sick.

[Toastandjams]

@Dontletthebastards
It’s horrible. I had mild anemia in 2014
, my heart was so fast..like 150 pulse.
It was only tiny borderline but the symptoms were so bad.. some GP said I don’t need iron . But another GO said I should have iron so I took it and I felt soon better.

[Khione]

When your results come back from the blood test ask for a copy of the results. Depending on which system your surgery uses these may be easy or hard to understand but the information is in there.

Then do some research on what they actually mean as for many vitamins and minerals being classed as 'within' range is not nearly good enough for optimal health. Ditto your TSH (thyroid test).

For many things you need to be in the top third of the range to have optimal figures. For thyroid the TSH range is 0.4 to 4. I do not feel at all well if my TSH goes above 1 and best when it is right at the bottom of the range. (or even below)

[Toastandjams]

@khione I normally ask for these but the surgery is shut.
I'm actually having the blood test in my home as they send nurse around to do blood tests now.
So I cant walk to reception and ask for print out.
My last blood test was in January but not sure if full blood count. I phoned yesterday to see what my ferritin was and she (receptionist)said cant tell me as not medical trained.

[Northernsoullover]

Do you drink alcohol? If so try cutting it completely and see if that helps.

[Toastandjams]

@ Nothernsoullover
Occasionally I do. But I had no alcohol for few weeks now so it can’t be that..