Palpitations driving me crazy! Anyone else suffering?

[BooseysMom]

Right now I'm lying in bed with my heart thumping at what feels like a thousand beats every minute! The GP told me when I first complained of this i have an ectopic heart beat. Had an ecg and apparently it's nothing to worry about. But omg it's truly awful esp at night when I'm trying to sleep. So with menopause awareness week I now know for sure it's Peri. I'm 47 and have all the symptoms. GP won't do hormone tests as I'm still having regular periods. Last ones done a year ago were normal. I've given up ttc (we'd been trying for a few years after I had DS at 41) as frankly I feel that ill 90% of the time. The hormone surges and dips are truly horrendous and there's no pattern to them any more. I don't want hrt as my mum had breast cancer at 60. Anyone else in the same boat? Would be great to hear from others also suffering. Maybe we can help each other thru this as atm I'm feeling at the end of the line

I had terrible palpitations from about 40, they started fairly infrequently but got worse over the last few years so last year I saw the gp and a cardiologist, and he put me on a beta blocker and I haven’t had any since.

I’m 53 now and I think I’m past the worst of the menopause (post hysterectomy so I haven’t had any periods for about 7 years) I don’t get any hot flushes now and the brain fog is clearing

I’m 47 and the last few months the palpitations have really ramped up, as too have the night sweats and horrendous pmt!

It’s great fun this peri lark! 😁

I have dreadful palpitations and reckon it's peri

Nice to hear from you all. Thanks for the replies.

@Costacoffeeplease .. i was offered a beta blocker. My dad had a heart attack at 60. Your name reminds me I was advised to cut caffeine right down but I don't think it makes any difference to the palps. I haven't had any coffee since 12 today and it's awful atm. I only have 1 coffee and 2 teas a day. Plus can't even eat or drink anything I like without it causing heartburn ..esp wine.

Yes @somewheresorted it's just non stop excitement! I just want it over and it hasn't even properly started yet!

Is anyone on hrt?

Just to provide some reassurance, I had palpitations around the peri menopausal period. They frightened me and sent my anxiety levels soaring. However, now I'm the other side (4 years post meno) I never have them and quite a lot of other symptoms resolved, including the anxiety.

To be fair other new and interesting problems turned up to replace them like random aches and insomnia

@damekindness.. Thanks for the reassurance. It's good to know it eventually stops. I've always suffered with severe pmt and have been on all sorts of pills and the coil to no avail so didn't really want to get into the hrt thing. I guess i just have to ride it out. I get insomnia and ageing all over too so they won't be a surprise!

Ageing?! Meant to say aching.. although yes, ageing is also another pesky symptom

I understand your reservations with the HRT BooseysMum - I’ve just been prescribed It by my GP and I mentioned that the pill had made me depressed in the past, but she assured me that as HRT is a lower dosage than the pill, I should be ok..

So I will try it and see. The night sweats are bad enough that I’m willing to give anything a go, but if it’s not right for me I’ll stop it and try something more natural.

As it is I try and eat well, exercise regularly and I gave up alcohol 4 months ago as even that exacerbated my symptoms.

If you can catch the palpitations just as they start and either hold your breath, let out a really long breath or cough, or have a really cold drink it sometimes stops them getting going

Hi there, I have been suffering from palpitations for months now...been to A&E twice, had ECGs including a 24 hr Holter Monitor...all results have come back clear. I am 50 years old still getting regular, heavy periods and no other real peri symptoms apart from the awful palpitations. It is horrible and worse in the mornings when I first wake up. I have a prescription femoston 1/10 to help out, but I’m reluctant to start taking it because I am still very regular with my periods so I don’t think my hormone levels are low enough. After doing some research into the benefits of taking a Magnesium supplement to relieve perimenopausal symptoms particularly anxiety and increased heart rate which is thought to be linked to low levels of this important mineral, I have started taking some Magnesium Citrate supplements. (You can get them off Amazon). I was very sceptical but I can honestly say they have made a massive difference to my symptoms. I have only been taking them for 3 days but I feel infinitely better...still a bit anxious but without the awful throbbing that has been a regular constant feature since September. Please do some research into Magnesium supplements as some people believe that a triple approach (including Magnesium taurine as well as Citrate and one other type)) is the best. For now I will continue with the Magnesium Citrate as it is really helping me. But it would be interesting to hear if others have had positive results with different types of Magnesium. Good luck and I hope you find relief soon.

My palpitations, insomnia and aching were due to low iron and ferritin levels. I am in perimenopause but sorting the iron stopped those symptoms.

Low Iron levels can also cause heart palpitations, as told by a heart specialist when my daughter was investigated.

I have these - spent Christmas Day in bed with it. I have told my GP it is perimenopuase and I am on HRT but she still wants me to do the heart monitor - I don't know why as I am also suffering bad anxiety attacks and insomnia if I even have so much as a glass of wine. I think I need a menopause specialist and I would advise you to find one too. There are so many combinations of things to help but we are all made up of different hormones and genes so I think we all need a tailored solution. If I find something that works I will let you know. I also have low iron.

I'm 48, pretty sure I'm peri-menopausal, and yeah, the palpitations started a few months ago. Nothing actually wrong with my heart, but at their worst they were happening most of the day. I too did some research about Magnesium and started taking some combined pill from Sainsburys of all places. It's Magnesium Hydroxide and B6, seems to have made a difference, I still get them but much fainter and shorter than before. Coughing helps too sometimes. Off to the doctors again next week, not sure why at the moment.

@somewheresorted.. well done for giving up the alcohol. I find wine can cause the palps and heartburn so I cut down to half a glass a night and now even that causes it so next step is go teetotal. I love wine so dreading it.
Thanks for the msg. Good luck with the hrt

@Costacoffeeplease.. Thanks, I'll try that..sounds like the cure for hiccups too!

@Madridmama...Thanks for the advice about magnesium. I take a cheap multi vit with minerals which doesn't help. It has magnesium in but prob not enough. I'll try magnesium citrate and see if that works for me too. Or the magnesium hydroxide and B6 ..Thanks @bushtailadventures for the recommendation.
Thank you all for your help . Funnily enough it's not as bad today. I'm lying in bed and feel quite relaxed compared to yesterday

Me too for palpitations in peri, alongside headaches and anxiety. The rest of the symptoms I can come with but not those three!

Was ambulanced three times for this. Got so desperate saw a cardiologist privately. Had an echocardiogram, had the monitor for a week. He put me on a low dose of beta blockers 1.25mg, still had a bit of trouble so gp upped it to 2.5mg a day. Apparently if you hold your nose, close your mouth and blow that helps as does drinking cold water. Lie with three pillows propping you up on your back. Take some gaviscon extra for acid reflux. Avoid booze, caffeine in the evenings. Eat early, avoid chocolate. I got some ear buds and listen to netflix on my tablet to relax me when I get to bed if it threatens to kick off. I do have to root around for an ear bud in the morning because it falls out when I am asleep.

It is a beast and I haven`t had a period for 7 years.

@justasking111.. that sounds awful. Do you still get them now? And if so are you still on beta blockers? Thanks for the advice. Yes def eating later makes it loads worse. And wine is no linger my friend

One way of stopping them is to behave as though you are pushing out a 20lb baby - it really does work!

I take v small dose of beta-blocker which mostly does the trick.

Still on beta blockers like @misshappening it is mostly controlled now. I have been to a bbq this afternoon, drank pepsi max, ate a burger and some salad, then a small piece of cake. It is a toss up whether it will affect me tonight.

Hi OP
You could have GERD as well as being peri menopausal. Perhaps ask your doctor about that. Bad heartburn or indigestion can kick start palpitations but so will peri. An acid blocker and HRT will sort you out. Wrong that your gp won't test your hormone levels simply because you are still getting regular periods.

Thumping away here, have taken ranitidine, maalox, drinking water. I think I shall stick to water at events from now on, it could have been the waldorf salad I suppose. Sheesh it is no fun.

@Namaste6. What is GERD? I know right! The last lot I had was a year ago. A lot can change in a year. She just wouldn't because AF still coming every 25- 28 days.

@justasking111..Oh no. Yes it's just such fun! I'm with you atm..thumping heart and acid as I've just had chili and dared half a glass of red wine. I shall be raiding DH's Rantidine shortly

Ask for a referral to a cardiologist for investigations. I thought I was suffering with anxiety and ignored my symptoms...ended up in resus and eventually established I had an atrial flutter. I've since had an op to fix the "short circuit" on my heart.

I know I'm now at risk of fibrillation, and know that Sod's law means that if it happens by the time I see someone it will have settled so a dr recommended I buy this shop.gb.alivecor.com/products/kardiamobile?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3Pvlx6-84gIVieR3Ch0PQgWoEAQYASABEgIDTvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&variant=17995438657 is a handy way of keeping an eye on things. Appreciate I shouldn't have to but, it does give me peace of mind when I think it is going to happen again.

I used that machine for a week cardiologist gave it to me. Moved surgeries and our gps loan them out to patients which is useful. The thing is it takes an expert to analyse the readings.

Finally settled down at 11pm, so I got some sleep. Your diet is really important once you hit the menopause. Was talking to a friend at the bbq, she was saying they rarely eat red meat now, sticking to fish and chicken. It just settles better in the stomach.