Could these panic attacks and palpitations be linked to perimenopause?

[Howcananyone]

ended up in a&e twice over the last 3 weeks with what appears to be heart palpitations and panic attacks. All heart and blood tests (iron/thyroid etc) were all totally normal. ECGs were normal other than a fast heart rate at times (mid panic attack). On the second occasion the lovely emergency doctor suggested I went to my GP re perimenopause, I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. Don’t think I’ve ever been to hospital before! It normally starts in the early morning with a racing heart then I seem to have a panic attack. Constantly got medication music etc and breathing exercises but the bad episodes are absolutely terrifying. Is this it? 🙁 got a docs appointment in a weeks time

That sounds awful. For me panic, anxiety and racing heart are all perimenopause symptoms but it's never been as bad as what you're describing. I hope your GP can help.

This was the start of long covid for me. Sudden and frightening. Look up POTs too. Hope you get to the bottom of it.

Yes, I had/have this linked to menopause. Freaked me right out, I’m not an anxious person. Or rather, I wasn’t. In many ways I’m a shell of myself thanks to menopause. It’s fkn brutal. Hope you’re ok op, my sympathies.

Im just so shocked having these, I’ve never panicked about anything in my life now I seem to be having these terrifying episodes. Most of them I can stop to a point and breath through it but I’ve had a few where I’ve just totally lost control. Most recent bad one was on a train. I’ve travelled on trains weekly all my working life and now I can’t 🥴
They have tested me for POTS and that was all fine. It’s been slightly better since having all the tests etc. Most of the time now I’m panicking about panicking. Totally abnormal to me

Oh wow. Long Covid. My doctor initially said it was viral so maybe something in that!

Absolutely could be connected. I thought I was losing my mind. It was terrifying. I had gone to the GP about exhaustion just before these episodes began, and she had mentioned peri-menopause. Because of my gynaecological history she wanted to do some investigations before prescribing HRT. I remembered my DM’s mood swings and anxiety during peri, and I held onto the thought that I was simply going through my own version of it. But it was a hideous time.

HRT. Thank God for science!

so what has your GP said?
a forum is the last place on earth to turn to for medical advice.

Cortisol. We have a cortisol rise at around four in the morning. It’s bloody horrible isn’t it. Mine started after I had covid. Anxiety also kicks in with menopause with loads of overthinking. You are not alone. I find Ashwaganda helpful. Nutrician Geeks magnesium but only one tab because they cause the squits. Bach rescue remedy gummies are brilliant- I think I keep them in business! I suggest when you wake, then get up and sit up in a chair to just read - a nice easy book, then either go back to bed or then potter. Our body takes ages to ged rid of the cortisol so the more you do to reduce the spike, the better. I usually feel better in the evenings. Another mumsnetter gave a link to a youtube talk on this so maybe worth googling.

OP I had this and within a week of starting estrogen patches and progesterone they completely vanished. I also ended up in a&e hyperventilation, racing heart to be told that everything was fine, luckily it was it appears that my perimenopause just started with a bang!

That was at 45 and I’m now 51 and still using HRT I’ve had a few small panics but so so mild nothing like that as as soon as I do I realise my patch has failed, fallen off or I’ve missed a replacement day. I appear to be super sensitive.

i hope you can get this under control it was and is terrible.

Yes. Never had symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks until menopause. HRT has helped greatly.

GP initially wouldn’t offer me any form of appointment as said it was likely viral, then after being in hospital the second time the GP agreed to an appointment (hospital recommend this was managed by the GP rather than urgent care). Got a text from the GP to make an appointment but the soonest one was 3 weeks away so still waiting for that. Not after medical advice here as such, just wondering if these are symptoms others have experienced. Maybe I’m just totally losing the plot 🥲

I did have bad anxiety when I started peri, and I had some palpitations but not really at the same time. The palpitations would just occur randomly, sometimes when I was just sat down relaxing. Ended up having a heart monitor on for 24 hours and was told it was an ectopic heartbeat but I don’t get them anymore (ten years ago)

Absolutely. I have very strong palpitations and there was a time when I was having panic attacks but thank fully they have subsided now. Mine are absolutely helped by HRT, and the palpitations are helped greatly by magnesium and also taking care to not get dehydrated. The other thing that would recommend is getting your iron and b12 tested and get some supplements if you are anywhere near suboptimal, don’t wait to be clinically deficient. When my iron and b12 were low, I felt utterly dreadful, relentless palpitations and panic attacks.

As a pp mentioned its worth getting on HRT because it really helps with these feelings. Prior to starting HRT I was feeling anxious and overly emotional which isn't like me. I have been on HRT for almost 2 years and it's made such a difference, I can cope with things much better and don't feel the anxiety hardly at all these days. I'm 46 so had to push for it (they stupidly claim you're too young in your earlier 40a) I compiled a long list of all my symptoms and saw an understanding doctor also. I hope you get sorted op because panic attacks are awful and have such a massive negative impact on your daily life.

I’ve had this- was told asthma, long covid and am awaiting an appointment re hrt. So basically nobody has a clue. Sorry op. If it helps inhalers have helped the chest, but I get a heaviness sometimes that they’re worried about but tests haven’t shown anything

Have a Google for this and peri menopause.
It's very common.

Maybe think about HRT which could well help.

Do some reading up on it, the types, the different options and go to your GP prepared to ask for what you'd like to try.

The usual process is a 3 month trial, then assess and see if the type and dose suit you and take it from there.

Good luck- must be awful for you if you're on a train etc.

See this is the exact time it normally happens! By the late afternoon/evening I don’t have any issues!
I already take nutrition geeks magnesium as had previously been waking at 3am with racing thoughts, but to be fair the magnesium helped loads with that.

the poor person next to me on the train thought I was dying, as did I. I had to ask them to hold me and talk to me until I could get off at the nearest stop😬 not what some poor person wants at 6am. What have I become 😂

I’ve had a bad panic attack on a train, it’s one of the worst places to have one and it’s confined, busy and you can’t just get up and get off. I’ve had panic attacks for years, cut down caffeine, sugar these two play a big factor. Claire’s Weekes book is fab for anxiety and really helps, there also some old videos on YouTube well worth a look.

Some women do get this in peri but it doesn't mean that is definitely the cause although it sounds like the hospital dr had a suspicion, and it's a positive development that it was mentioned as we don't get enough of that. This article sounds a bit like what you are saying https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/knowledge/i-thought-hrt-was-giving-in-but-its-stopped-my-anxiety-and-panic-attacks
Cortisol does up in place of oestrogen but there doesn't have to be guesswork around it. NHS can do a 9am cortisol blood test and you can privately buy cortisol saliva tests to get readings over a day.

I'd get a blood test for magnesium too. Overdose of it can cause other issues - e.g. a B1 deficiency as well as electrolyte imbalance. There's a fashion for magnesium glycinate these days but some people have a genetic change that actually makes glycine cause jitteryness. Magnesium is certainly really important for us but try to get it through eating high magnesium foods, not dumping a load of excess magnesium into your body that can throw other things out of balance. It's not uncommon for people to feel better when first taking a supplement as it has got you back into range but continuing to take it can push you over range.

I get this. Have had it since COVID and was told it was stress, anxiety, menopause. Then I went into fast AF, ended up in resus and needed a cardiac ablation. I’m on beta blockers and HRT and three years later still get a racing heart at night and palpitations hourly throughout the day. Bloods ok, not stressed, not anxious. Test for POTS negative.

First ever panic attack due to perimenopause. Get to the GP and try HRT.

Thank you everyone for all input and sharing experiences. I have a doc appointment early next week to discuss.
Will update the post with anything worth knowing!

This is really interesting thanks.
i haven’t had a cortisol test, but did have B1, magnesium, electrolyte, thyroid, blood oxygen plus a few others and all were well within normal ranges…. Apparently

This
With of course a follow up with the gp