Hot flushes with palpitations

[PenguinsRabbits]

Past few weeks I started getting feeling of heart coming out of chest. At same time I have started going hot in chest and face about 20 times a day / night.

Been checked at hospital and heart is fine, bloods were fine, blood pressure 109/67 and no infection and periods have started going very haywire (3 last month) so I now am guessing this must be hot flushes with palpitations. I am mid 40s so right age. At hospital they suggested psychological but really don't think it is, not really thinking about anything at time and told DH about one and he said I felt very hot. Does this mean I have just started peri-menopause and is there anyway of guessing how long it will be before periods stop? Online it seemed to be suggesting you can be like this for years and years which is depressing.

Is there anyway of treating this? Not sure what medication I will be allowed - have fibroids, unexplained bleeding, increased stroke risk/MRI of brain said possibly had several TIAs, normal blood pressure. They are quite annoying though feel relieved to know its not the heart. Anything naturally you can do? First ones came on with heatwave in France and heat seems to make them worse.

Thanks very much.

Hi these do sound like typical hot flushes, hormone fluctuations in peri and meno cause surges of adrenaline which give the heat sensation and also not uncommonly palpitations, you did the right thing getting checked out as it could have been something serious. Unfortunately peri can last for up to 10 years so it's hard to say how long you will be experiencing this. I'm a great fan of HRT but with your history I would be asking my GP for a referral to a menopause specialist to discuss your options .

Thanks very much. I didn't realise you could get a specialist, that's good.

As above PP said. BUT it may not be easy to be referred under NHS.

Have you had CTs etc to diagnose a TIA? what's the history behind that?

In any case, you ought to be able to use transdermal HRT ( not pills.)

The British Menopause Society has a list of consultants and clinics on their website under Specialists.

Fibroids don't count against HRT, but you need the bleeding investigated- have they any idea what that is from?

Thanks very much.

I guess the unexplained bleeding isn't unexplained now as I've been investigated twice for it over past 5 years and both times they thought it was fibroids and biopsies were clear. Last time was around a year ago and they removed one fibroid but had to leave a small one in due to its location. I think I had 3 periods last month - bleeding for 3-4 days each time so guess that's just menopause approaching.

I had a brain MRI which showed scattered white matter hyperintensities on both sides of brain, which A&E doctor thinks is early small stroke syndrome and says I am higher risk for stroke. I don't get migraines. The A&E doctor called me with the result as it was done as non-urgent after a clear CT and bloods but I failed lots of neurological tests and they recorded weakness down one side and in one eye as well as failed balance test, Rhomberg test, test where you put one hand on top of other. I had gone in after having collapsed a few times, couldn't speak for around 5 minutes after one or move then slurred speech and problems moving an arm which came back after. Been having health issues for 2 years after being really healthy for years. Symptoms are similar to MS and some are 24/7 like balance and dizziness but they are saying its not MS. Said its untreatable.

No obvious risk factors for stroke - don't smoke, healthy BMI, very rarely drink maybe 1 drink every 3 months, no diabetes, normal cholesterol, bloods all normal at hospital, healthy ish diet, don't think there's a family history though both granddads died before born (one in 30s cancer, one in 40s asthma) and my Dad takes beta blockers and has done since 18. Quite surprised by the TIA - was expecting more something like MS or Lyme as had a bite 2 years ago and 95% of symptoms started about 3 weeks after that (bladder before) but Lyme test was negative.