Refusing to accept I’m perimenopausal

[Humphreyshead]

I’m 40 and have recently been reading up a lot about peri menopause and menopause.

I’ve been struggling with anxiety and heart palpitations for around 2 years. The anxiety is getting worse, but I don’t know whether it’s due to the heart palpitations making me anxious, peri menopause, or something else entirely.

I’m normally a strong minded person, independent and active. But over the past 2 years I’ve become more and more anxious about going out on my normal activities of cycling and running alone.

I’m a mountain leader and have never ever had an issue going out in to the mountains on my own. Since the age of 18! But when I do it now I become so anxious that I’ve become dizzy and panicky which is just not like me!

Could this genuinely be peri, or do I need to seek additional help? Could it be heart related?

I’ve had ecgs and blood tests which have only ever shown low iron. So no ‘real’ problems with my heart apparently! But I’m not sure. I went on a the waltzers at the fair yesterday Abe when I got off my heart felt so heavy for a good half hour, my legs were wobbly and at one point I felt light headed. I’ve never felt like this after fairground rides before.

No one can tell for sure on the internet. Go and see your GP. Hope you get the help you need.

Low iron makes you feel like shit. It's a big deal OP.

It’s really making me feel like shit. I feel like I can’t do my day to day activities. It makes me sad.

Blood tests a year ago showed ferritin levels of 11 and thyroid ever so slightly under active. But the dr didn’t seem worried and said just come back in annually for bloods. I had them a few days ago but no call yet.

I’ve just booked a gp appointment.

Your ferritin is low.
I had terrible palpitations and breathlessness when low in iron. Had to have a high dose ferrous fumerate for 3 months before they went.

Yes, could be. Read the NICE guidelines before you see doctor, forewarned is forearmed.

I’ve been to the drs. The bloods I had last week show a higher iron level of 23 which is good. Thyroid’s fine too.

She says it’s a classic case of anxiety. Unlikely to be peri as there are no other symptoms, and I have had a few things go on over couple of year which could result in anxiety.