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Original poster

Adrenaline rushes waking me up at night

44 replies

BlackInk · 04/12/2023 16:53

Does anyone know what could be causing this?

I'm being woken up multiple times a night most nights by racing heart, feeling of blood coursing through body, and general panicky feeling. Takes a while for it to ease off and fall back to sleep, and then it happens again, and again.

I'm knackered. I'm not anxious (although I'm starting to get stressed by the lack of sleep), I'm well past (an early) menopause and have lots of health issues that GP has never been able to get to the bottom of – thyroid nodules, low morning cortisol, stomach problems, joint pain, anaemia, weight-loss, to name but a few. I've had lots of tests for various things and everything seems to come back slightly off but inconclusive... all that's just for background.

Are there any medical causes of this 'adrenaline rush' feeling? I don't seem to get it in the day, although I do feel jittery a lot. Either jittery or dead tired.

Ty

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 05/12/2023 06:55

@Moredarkchocolateplease

For me I have mild anxiety generally day to day. It's not really a specific thing although I do have stressors in my life. It's more an underlying unease that something will go wrong. I work on acceptance through mindfulness and meditation.

But once in awhile something will trigger it and the anxiety will spiral. The current one is financial, I get anxious about paying bills and money and if I'm not careful I can work my self up. If my anxiety is high i can't sleep and that's when the adrenaline rush happens. I will be laid in bed and I can feel it happening in my chest.

It doesn't happen often anymore thankfully but it's an awful feeling. If this isn't your experience if you are sure there's no underlying mental health issues I'd go back to doctor.

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 05/12/2023 06:57

Hate to sound like an American drug commercial, but ask your doctor about propanolol. It can’t get rid of anxiety, but it gets rid of the adrenaline rush feeling.

tokesqueen · 05/12/2023 17:54

BlackInk · 04/12/2023 20:12

I don’t think so @Nonentity2023
I do often wake with a headache in the mornings but never get up in the night and don’t tend to snore, quite underweight. I sometimes gag/cough in my sleep but feel like that’s pressure from the nodules on my thyroid… although consultant was dismissive about that.

@tokesqueen It’s rubbish isn’t it :(
I’m sure I’ve read that pituitary tumours can cause problems with cortisol/adrenaline. Have you mentioned it to your dr? My mum had a pituitary tumour but hers was picked up when her vision became effected.

My scan is in two weeks so I will ask at follow up. It's been going on since last year but certainly getting worse. Once I'm up it's fine.
No stress. No anxiety.

posieleigh · 06/12/2023 04:22

Sounds like hyperthyroidism to me? I know you said have had thyroid tested but how recently? Just reading the NHS symptom list and seems very relatable to what you have written

tryingtocarpediem · 06/12/2023 06:23

I have exactly this and had it for about 6 months now. It's driving me insane. I wake everyday anytime from 3-5 and can feel an adrenaline rush but it won't calm down for me to go back to sleep. I'm just exhausted. I had this back in 2021 when I was stressed at work. Once the project finished my sleep returned to normal. I've quit caffeine, I'm on hrt and sertraline but need to exercise more. I'm really getting desperate so completely understand how you must be feeling.

Original poster
BlackInk · 08/12/2023 09:51

posieleigh · 06/12/2023 04:22

Sounds like hyperthyroidism to me? I know you said have had thyroid tested but how recently? Just reading the NHS symptom list and seems very relatable to what you have written

I've had thyroid bloods done a few times over the past few years. TSH is always right at the bottom on normal range (around 0.4) but T3 and T4 are within normal range (around mid-range I think). TPO normal too. I was under ENT due to thyroid nodules (one 3cm, a few smaller) but after a couple of scans they've decided they look benign and I've been discharged.

OP posts:
cleowasmycat · 08/12/2023 16:46

At 50 you will be in perimenopause and HRT should be given on symptoms and blood tests are irrelevant.
Menopause is actually one day one year after last period, following that day you are post menopausal.

Original poster
BlackInk · 08/12/2023 19:26

cleowasmycat · 08/12/2023 16:46

At 50 you will be in perimenopause and HRT should be given on symptoms and blood tests are irrelevant.
Menopause is actually one day one year after last period, following that day you are post menopausal.

I'm not in perimenopause, my periods stopped suddenly several years ago (age 43) so I'm 7 years past meno. I tried HRT on and off for a few years when my periods first stopped but I didn't feel any better for it, so stopped.

OP posts:
Chocpot1986 · 08/12/2023 19:33

I have Graves Disease which causes my overactive thyroid and I get exactly what you are describing, you have my sympathy, it’s awful. I think it’s worth getting your thyroid bloods done? They can change quickly from what I have read. Also second the Propranolol, I take it when I am feeling jittery and it helps calm me down x

cleowasmycat · 08/12/2023 19:34

May I ask what HRT you tried?

Original poster
BlackInk · 08/12/2023 19:39

Gosh I can't remember now, a couple of different patches (think one was Everol) and some pills (Tiobolone?). I honestly felt no different at all whilst taking any of them and GP was happy for me to stop as my bone density was fine.

OP posts:
Original poster
BlackInk · 08/12/2023 19:40

Chocpot1986 · 08/12/2023 19:33

I have Graves Disease which causes my overactive thyroid and I get exactly what you are describing, you have my sympathy, it’s awful. I think it’s worth getting your thyroid bloods done? They can change quickly from what I have read. Also second the Propranolol, I take it when I am feeling jittery and it helps calm me down x

I can ask. Feel like I keep going back to GP with the same symptoms (plus some new ones every now and then for good measure) but not getting anywhere..

OP posts:
TorroFerney · 08/12/2023 19:41

Moredarkchocolateplease · 04/12/2023 20:55

I get this, have done since my early 30s. Usually in conjunction with dreams about train and plane crashes. Panicky dreams.

I've been told its stress. Which makes sense really!

I get this, wake from a nightmare with adrenaline coursing down my legs, it hurts.

Sparthan · 08/12/2023 22:48

I had this when I was very anxious. I would wake up in the middle of the night with my heart racing. Meditation fixed it.

Pamspeople · 09/12/2023 08:57

I had this, was definitely hormonal for me because starting oestrogen put a stop to it. I wouldn't rule it out, even if post meno.

Horrible feeling, I started to dread going to sleep because it was so awful. Could have led me down a very slippery slope if I hadn't got help with hrt. Good luck OP

TerribleWoman · 09/12/2023 09:00

I get this but it's definitely alcohol related for me, specifically wine related. Anymore than 2 glasses, since peri, does this to me.

Leafysuburb · 09/12/2023 09:03

For me 4pm would be far too late to stop the caffeine. I find anything after 12 impacts sleep quality and obviously the amount also does so 3 cups before 12 is far worse on my sleep than 2.

ShatParp · 10/12/2023 18:25

Oh wow I have just posted about this in women's health and your thread popped up underneath! I'm slightly relieved I'm not alone! It's awful!! Sympathies OP.

MaisieMa · 09/04/2024 21:14

Hi, oh my goodness Blackink!!! So good to hear from you. Yes I get this... multiple times a night, usually when i turn over whilst asleep. I know the exact date it started, i thought it was a side effect of the 2021 jabbY! But its developed!! I Used to get severe jelly legs, like I was looking over a cliff.. but quite painful. Over months/years its developed and now is in all my body apart from my head with chest pain. All tests say nothing wrong. I tend to delay going to bed these days unless Im throughly shattered so I dont wake up. I wouldnt say I was stressed. Docs think it might be menopause related, but when I took HRT I got additional fast flushes in addition to the original slow moving flush with the pain. Drinking wine/caffeine definitely makes it worse, as does a low sugar level, and if Ive put some weight on too. Exercise makes me feel better cos at least i know my heart is working ok!!! Its a horrid thing. The only time I dont get it now is for about two days when i have a cold, so maybe something to do with breathing.. I dont snore. but my blood oxygen level can go down to 92, but docs not concerned. Since the jabby I am aware that my mucous is a lot thicker so might be something to do with that perhaps.. I feel your pain, and really hope that your symptoms are improving xx

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