Indescribable feeling

[OhNoes]

I'm 49 and haven't had a period since August, so I'm thinking this is something to do with menopause. It happens several times a day and during the night, often interrupting my sleep. I can't really find the words to describe it, except that it's almost like a sense of deep dread washing over me and it's really uncomfortable and disturbing. Does anybody else get this, and is there anything I can take to stop it? I get a feeling it's to do with a drop in hormones as it's only been happening for the last couple of months.

It sounds horrible, you poor thing. I’m going through meno at the moment and I can’t say I have felt that exactly - though I do occasionally have periods of despair in the wee small hours of the night so maybe similar. I stopped drinking tea other than ‘relaxing’ teas in the evening, eat earlier and try to get more exercise. It has helped.

Sounds like a form of anxiety attack, which is common during perimenopause.

I have the same feeling just before a hot flush

I was wondering if it was a kind of anxiety attack but it only lasts for about a minute or less. Still quite unpleasant though and if there's any way of stopping it happening, I'd love to know. I don't think I've really had any hot flushes yet, so maybe it's a precursor!

Yes a flush that’s what I had a feeling of impending doom.

Yes, I had this and its horrible. One turned into a full blown pan ic attack and I thought I had a seizure. Never been so scared in my life. Once I realised what it was, it got better as I knew it wasn't anything awful. I learn to deep breathing which helped a lot. I now get some night sweats that come with a bit of anxiety but nothing horrible and no horrible attack for a year.

Havr you seen your gp to discuss your menopause and possible treatments/self-mamagement?

Seems to me like this is super common, I've heard about versions of it for at least a decade. Friend swears that HRT made it stop for her.

Friend has massive family history of ovarian cancer so I worry for her. But she knows what she finds more unbearable.

As swing says, breathing helps. I know it sounds overly simple but if you try to accept it's happening and deep breathe through it, rather than panic and fight it, it tends to be milder and subside quicker.

Sorry to highjack your post OP, but thank you for posting & thank you everyone else for the replies. I'm going through this myself. I've never ever had any kind of anxiety or panic so it's floored me & terrified me. Just knowing this is why & how to deal with it had really helped calm me down. (I really hadn't put 2 & 2 together).
Off to find my herbal teas from the back of the cupboard now

I have this quite frequently. It’s like a surge of adrenaline. Horrible.

I get this before a hot flush. On hrt at the moment and it’s stopped. I could stand the flushes (just) but that feeling was what I couldn’t stand. Sympathy OP.

Thanks for the replies! Your experience sounds awful swing :( Any suggestions on what teas are good? I'm not much of a tea drinker, but I'd be willing to give it a try before going to the doctor.

Another one here who gets this just before a hot flush. Yep, it seems very common - the feeling of impending doom. I’m learning to understand it a bit more now and can calm myself a little and tell myself it’ll pass in a minute, then I’ll get the hot flush, then I can relax.

Always between 2am and 3am for me, as well as occasionally in the evening any time after 6pm.

Can imagine there’d by a fascinating research project for someone about WTF this is.

Yes, a common symptom. As a pp says, and surge of adrenalin.

Horrible, but at least you know what it is.

I found exercise helped me.

There's so much you can do before going to the doctors and medicalising something completely normal and natural. I'm not suggesting putting up with it but hrt isn't always the answer. Diet/exercise/breathing/supplements help enormously.

Yup, I remember that “wave” almost like anxiety and nausea mixed into one. Thankfully short lived.

Well so much for writing I hadn't had one for some time, it happened again this morning. Started with heart rate pumping (only the feeling actual heart rate wasn't much higher), then the sweat and then the sense of gloom. Woke with very blury vision in one eye, pins and needles and achy all over. I certainly remember why it scared me so much before, it is very scary, especially the eye thing. Now almost back to normal.

I'm under a lot of pressure this week with a deadline, very poor sleep, and sadly, I think it triggered it. Now feeling exhausted so going to take it easy.

"There's so much you can do before going to the doctors and medicalising something completely normal and natural. I'm not suggesting putting up with it but hrt isn't always the answer. Diet/exercise/breathing/supplements help enormously."

Truckingonandon - OK let's forget about insulin for diabetics, thyroxine for hpyothyroid patients, anti-biotics for those with bacterial infections - and in fact the whole of medicine which seeks to intervene in totally natural processes - disease and pathogensns, or other completely natural disorders.

That is a spurious argument frequently advanced by the anti-HRT brigdade! Many women will live 30-40 years post-menopause in an oestrogen deficient state which can have health consequences such as osteoporosis, cardio-vascular disease, amongst others not to mention vaginal and bladder problems.

Absolutely - re diet, exercise, breathing - all good stuff - though not convinced by the blanket supplementation that is often recommended.

Ohnoes - it could well be the start of menopausal symptoms but depending on how well you cope then maybe not necessary to start HRT yet. However do beware going to the doctor because likely as not in the absence of flushes and sweats you could well be offered anti-depressants or other medication ( beta-blockers, nerve pain meds, blood pressure meds not primarily intended for anxiety etc) when in fact if you are going to start down the intervention route - HRT is the recommended one ( by NICE).

Wouldn't the world be boring if we all thought the same. Op asked for opinions - I gave mine. It's as valid as yours. I'm not anti hrt - I'm just providing my view on an alternative approach.