Palpitations and anxiety

[SheAndHerAreWomen]

I am on HRT for menopausal symptoms, mostly brain fog, achy joints, lack of libido etc.
However, I am now waking up most mornings with a horrible feeling. I can only describe it as a feeling of 'impending doom' which I guess is anxiety? I have also developed palpitations almost every day which is quite frightening. I'm obviously going to book a GP appointment in the morning, but does this sound menopausal, or could it be something else do you think?

Palpitations and doom are common menopause symptoms. Obviously it’s best to speak to the Dr to check it’s nothing else but hopefully it’s just yet another menopause symptom.

Lower levels of estrogen lead to higher cortisol levels.
It creates a perfect storm for anxiety which can also pave the way for a feeling of dread or doom as high levels of cortisol trigger the amygdala which is the fear centre of the brain and fluctuating hormones can affect the neurotransmitters of the brain.

Menopause can cause palpitations (feeling your heart beating faster than usual) due to the changing hormone levels. This can sometimes happen during hot flushes. Palpitations are usually harmless.
www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/women/menopause-and-your-heart

It does sound menopause related. I had it too. The HRT seems to have stopped the palpitations but I had to go on mitrazapine for the anxiety. It has definitely helped.

They were my first 2 symptoms of perimenopause - I went to the doctor because I thought I was either really ill or mentally falling apart. The fact it was the menopause was a relief but very scary at the same time, as I was only 34. There was SO MUCH I didn't know about the menopause (and still don't tbh).

I've found magnesium (in large quantities) really helps with both of these things - take a good quality supplement, not the oxide, and use the spray on oil too. Ti stopped my palpitations there and then, and I know if I am feeling anxious that I have forgotten the supplements.

Apparently menopause uses huge amounts of magnesium, no idea for what though...

Yes, I am also experiencing this and on HRT .
Palpitations, morning anxiety and the feeling of being unable to cope with life.

Currently on evorel 75 patch, but the 100 doesn't suit me at all, in fact make me feel worse!

No idea what to do next in honesty.

Thanks folks. Yes I've been on HRT for over a year now (tablets), but I don't really feel like it's doing much. Great tip about Magnesium - will give that a go. Regarding ADs, I took Citalopram for a while which took the edge off but I almost went the other way - felt numb and didn't really give a shit about anything! Bloody hormones

Which tablets are you on OP?
Maybe you need a higher dose?

Yes I think your right @Runaround50 I am on Premique Low Dose 0.3mg/1.5mg so that could be why it's not very effective. Had to fight to get that though so not looking forward to taking to the GP 🤦‍♀️

Can you recommend any? I've just looked on Amazon and too much choice!

Mmm.. More than likely the dose is too low or you are not absorbing?
Gp should be able to up your dose ( hopefully!)

When I was on 1mg femeston, I experienced the worst bladder issues ever. Now I'm on a higher dose, anxiety still remains.

You can't bloody win with hormones can you?

It really is shit isn't? I'm lying on the bed having palpitations now and it's horrible. The anxiety only seems to strike first thing in the morning though which is weird. Going to find out if my GP surgery has a Dr that specialises in menopause as I know some of them seem to these days.

Yes it's worth asking at your surgery for sure. One of them might be informed enough to help you move forward and either increase your dose or allow you to switch regime completely l.

It's a totally shite time of life and such a bloody faff trying to work it all out, with sweet FA in the way of guidance.

I totally get the morning anxiety though, it's horrid.

Thank you @Runaround50

Mines called Triple Magnesium Complex - that should bring it up.

and Most big supermarkets have the spray

Thank you x

@dragonatetheparsnips where do you spray the spray? Do you try to target heart (chest) or head or do you just spray on your wrists or somewhere... ? And when you say 'loads' of magnesium, how much are you taking a day?

I found this thread because I'm also on HRT and experiencing palpitations. For me, they come on in the evenings until I go to sleep and then I seem to wake up at 4.30am with them again. Sometimes I can make myself go back to sleep in a state of semi-consciousness but it is hard. They make me anxious and then the anxiety makes the palpitations worse (or my heart beat faster!) which makes me more anxious and so on.....

I also had palpitations before starting HRT, it was one of my peri symptoms. They seemed to get better for a while after I started and now have come back with a vengeance. I had my bloods tested about 10 days ago and my estrogen was still low (233nmol) so I increased from 50 to 75 patch a few days ago. Which I don't think has helped the palpitations, they seem to have got worse.

I'm also on testosterone and that was showing a decent level in the bloods (3% FAI), not too high or low. But I've been trying to reduce it to see if that helps the palpitations. I think it's the estrogen fluctuations though...

My GP wanted me to do a 7-day home blood pressure check because I get stressed at the doctor's. The blood pressure is fine (phew) but the 'irregular pulse' icon has been coming on, on the machine, every time I take it. Even when I'm not aware I'm having palpitations and feel fine.

Anyway, you're not alone. There are loads of us menopausal and peri-menopausal women with palpitations - and we can't all have heart problems. I just don't want to have to go on beta blockers or something - or to have to give up HRT.

Is your iron ok too? I think low iron contributes to the palpitations.

I use hrt, magnesium spray and iron tablets

exercise helps the anxiety too

Yes, definitely symptoms.
I was put on antidepressants

@everythingyouneedtoknow On my inner arms, but mainly because that's an easy place to do it after my evening bath - no particular plan.

I take 2 x capsules twice a day - these ones:

www.amazon.co.uk/Magnesium-Citrate-1480mg-Absorption-Supplements/dp/B094HFS7TN?pd_rd_w=eUlOk&content-id=amzn1.sym.27e83cfc-339a-4ebf-8890-fd116b6fb652&pf_rd_p=27e83cfc-339a-4ebf-8890-fd116b6fb652&pf_rd_r=GNQPPVMR27NWACAS6GCZ&pd_rd_wg=VPJL2&pd_rd_r=9e908e4f-9f96-4719-935e-a61c93680344&pd_rd_i=B094HFS7TN&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_rp_16_t

Sorry for horrible link!

@dragonatetheparsnips thanks for that link... awful night last night where I basically semi-dozed in a state of anxiety with my heart seemingly fluttering all night.

Seems okay again this morning and my blood pressure and ECG on my Kardia device were all okay. But it is in the evenings and overnight when this happens.

I have a video call with the private doctor who prescribed me HRT next week so will see what she says.... It has fixed pretty much all my other symptoms and I feel normal again in other ways - so I hope these palpitations go away.

So glad I found this post. I had my youngest child at 40 and suffered the same anxiety you are describing within days of the birth. Doctor put it down to post natal depression and gave me anti depressants. But I didn’t feel depressed and was only anxious at 4am until about 10am and then I was fine. This lasted a few months but I was also having hot flushes and periods that lasted weeks for the next 2 years. Looking back I was probably perimenopausal then. Got the minera coil fitted and thing improved. That was 7 years ago but the anxiety is creeping back. Made worse if I have had alcohol. I am going to try the magnesium spray but reading this I realise I need to speak to my GP about HRT. Great advice on this thread. Thank you.

To update: My GP (menopause specialist) really wasn't worried about the heart palpitations and things have got a lot better now.

I am still waking up around 4.30am or 5am and I still feel like my hands are sort of throbbing at this time and I feel anxious easily but I'm not getting the heart palps like I was before. I try not to wake up and I can usually fall back asleep for a few more hours. I try to focus on my breathing (breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 6) and it helps me fall back asleep and stops the anxiety escalating.

I'm not sure if I still need more estrogen and that's what's causing this (I am still gradually increasing) or if this is because I am really sensitive to the estrogen increases/changes. But it's something to do with the estrogen, for sure.

I reduced my 75 patch down to 62.5 (I split the difference on the increase) so I can increase more gradually.

Thank goodness I found this thread.
I feel the same. Anxiety and heart palpitations and waking feeling retched.
As the day goes on, I can talk myself around and rationalise but it’s still hard
I tick pretty much all the menopause symptom boxes. The lead up to a period is the worst and I just remind myself it will pass in a couple of days. Hard though.