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

If you read some of the posts on this forum you'd be amazed at how little some GPs know about menopause and how some have prescribed the wrong drugs.

The 'best' one was Oestrogel (alcohol base) to be used as topical vaginal estrogen- to be rubbed in!

She said she has an appointment..... 🙄

our GP practice moved to an online triage system last year, you can’t call them anymore and ask for an appointment. You have to fill in an online form with your symptoms and they decide whether you get an appointment, and who with and when. And whether it’s telephone or face to face. They also decide whether it’s a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or clinical staff that you see.
I’ve filled the form in 4 times in the last few weeks and only the last time secured an appointment with a ‘clinician’ which was deemed not urgent so a 3 week wait

that is not a justification for relying on the advice of a forum full of self styled medical "experts"

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Many posts contain links to medical sites or quotes from medical papers (eg NICE, BMS, various research papers.)

Hi OP - I pushed about something similar a few weeks ago! Never had anxiety in my life and now getting panic attacks ghat meant I had to leave my job. Doctors useless just trying to get me on sertraline because I’m 39.

I ended up seeing a private doctor that was a menopause specialist. Just awaiting a follow up this week then will try HRT. I’m hoping like many posters on here it works a miracle as it’s completely life changing how it comes out of nowhere and in situations you’re usually fine with. I really resonated with your panic about panicking.

do you mind me asking how old you are? I got some really good advice in my thread about being firm with the GP as a lot still have quite outdated views on HRT

Yes, absolutely classic perimenopause anxiety.

Dr Noor is fantastic and went through exactly this

This was her personal experience (links to instagram video)

www.instagram.com/reel/DanLjbiKGVh/?igsh=dTVnZ3licDBqazZ6

Yes and yes. My anxiety and panic attacks and palpitations ramped up in perimenopause and menopause.

update 😁
so I saw the doctor last Monday, he agreed given I’d had most other things ruled out that we could consider perimenopause issues. But he then said I’d need to make another appointment with the practice nurse to discuss HRT, and I’d need to fill in the online form etc and wait for an appointment again.
I went home and immediately researched private clinics/a specialist. I needed to talk about it properly with someone as I’d been having nightly 3am panic attacks and it was making me so miserable and anxious and a shadow of my former self.
I arranged an appointment at a private clinic within in 2 days (yes it was pricy). The appointment was face to face for 90 mins. Went through absolutely everything and whole life medical history. They came up with a HRT plan, explained everything including demos, made a plan for my coil change. I got the private prescription and meds same day. Been on them a full week now and they have pretty much stopped all panic attacks and anxiety 😁 I haven’t had one since day 2 of taking it. I’ve stopped waking up at 3am with a racing heart and I’ve had no episodes in the day. I even managed the train commute today!!!! I’ve had a few fleeting moments of anxiety but they are less and less by the day and any I have had I’ve managed to just distract and breath them away. I’m back to exercising (which id become frightened of) and life is pretty calm again!
I have a follow up with the private clinic in 3 months time!

Hi, I was 41 at the start of summer. I too saw a private clinic. See my update above as to how quickly it’s changed things for me 🩵 I feel like a new person

Watched this! Absolutely hit the nail on the head!!! Although mine made me think I was having a heart attack or I couldn’t breathe. It was absolutely debilitating. Since about day 3 of the HRT I don’t think I’ve noticed my heart racing once. No palpitations, just normal again!

That's brilliant news @Howcananyone . My anxiety settled very quickly on the patches too.

@Howcananyone - so good to hear you are feeling back to normal on the HRT. There's something so wrong at the heart of our medical system that a woman who develops unexpected anxiety and panic attacks for no obvious reason will be directed towards SSRIs and talking therapies rather than have her hormones considered first. Not to mention the absurdity that the GP couldn't just get on with it in that appointment.

So pleased for you @Howcananyone