Menopause Support Group
Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age. It normally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, when the body begins to slow and stop the production of eggs, estrogen and progesterone production decreases, and menstruation diminishes, eventually stopping altogether.
After spending the last six months of my life thinking I was dying of some mysterious disease I learned that the " internal" tremors I was feeling were actually due to estrogen deficiency
and simply part of my perimenopause. In Jan 2009 I began to suffer severe heartburn, panic attacks, insomia, sweats etc. One day I thought I was having a heart attack and began a long journey of trying to figure out what was wrong in my body. I saw my cardiologist who luckily has known me for ten years ( he is also my family doctor) and he ran an ekg, an eco, a stress test, a 24 hour holter monitor ( all normal) to convince me I was suffering from severe anxiety.
About the same time I decided to remove my much diseased gallbladder ( four years) which now had a rock garden of gallstones. I had an indept adominal sonogram which revealed ONLY gallbladder disease and in April 2009 had it removed. I seemed to recuperate quite well for about a month and my panic attacks lessened so my doctor assumed they were because of the stomach issues my gallbladder had been causing.
I also went to see a GI doc to make sure nothing else was brewing inside me. I had an endoscopy ( only revealing a sluggish stomach). I went to see two gyn's other than my regular gyn for a second and third opinion.
I had another abdominal sono and a transvaginal sono. Both were fine except for a minor cyst on the right ovary. My menstrual cycle had been hellish since I turned 45. I would get my period on and off and at times bleed for two weeks straight. I kept asking if it was perimenopause and every doctor told me I was too young at 45. All this time my panic attacks became frequent again so my family doctor prescribed CYMBALTA. I had a horrid reaction and spent three days in and out of the ER with super high blood pressure and a rapid heart beat ( both of which I never had before) until an Indian female doctor in the last ER visit told me she thought it was menopause and gave me compazine to quiet down my queasy stomach and it seemed to stop all the crazy sensations I was feeling. I will never forget those three days. My body felt as if I was literally burning interally and I could feel a horrible pulsating in my head, neck and through my body as if I had swallowed a cell phone on vibrate. It was non stop and I thought I would go crazy.
After three days on the compazine ( I hate taking prescription drugs) I felt normal again so I stopped taking them. My family doc suggested Lexapro which I had taken years ago for a few months to just keep me calmer and boy was that another mistake. I again began feeling the burning sensation in the back of my neck, in my arms, on my thighs. I felt as if I was sunburned and I wanted to rip my clothing off. I did not understand and neither did my doc since I had taken it before.
I endured another few weeks of hell. The constant vibration inside of me would not let me sleep. I had massive headaches, neckpain and I was going nuts. I went to see a neurologist/psych who ran a few tests. MRA of brain, MRI of neck, EMG, EEG and gave me Klonopin and VOLTRAN gel for inflammation , none of which I took. I went to see another NEURO and took aLLLLLLLL my extensive bloodwork, testing etc copies with me. He ordered an MRI of my brain and another MRI of my neck with contrast. I was begining to feel like a human guinea pig. He discovered a small lesion in my cervical spine and some herniations from a bad car accident 10 years ago. No brain tumor or whatever other disease I thought I had. I went to see an ENDO who ran tons of blood work on me. Thyroid included. He ran tons of hormonal test, adrenal glands etc. He humored me and tested for diseases i had researched online. All were normal. My thyroid was a bit up and my blood sugar was a tad low but my hormones showed I was perimenopausal. He told me to get some good black cohash and basically endure it. All the time I kept telling all these doctors I was TREMBLING, VIBRATING INSIDE!!!!!!!!!!! All were clueless.
All the illnesses that would signify any form of trembling sensation ( inner) had been ruled out. So I came home time and time again very sad. Happy that I did not have a dreadful disease but still without an answer. I did not know which was worse.
I did online research for hours at night, I could not sleep since sleep meant to tremble till I was too exhausted to stay up any longer. I sat there with my coffee and dunkin donuts and read and read and read.
One night I went to bed and my husband who was lying beside me asked me " if i was cold?" I said " NO why?" and he asked " why was I shivering?" I jumped for joy. I was not shivering I WAS TREMBLING SO LOUD HE FELT IT! FINALLY HE FELT IT. I WAS NOT CRAZY, I HAD A WITNESS TO MY VIBRATING!!!!!!!!!!
In all my searching I came across a woman who also trembled/vibrated etc. I looked up her posting on powersurge.com and learned it was a symptom of the onset of menopause. All my life I had heard of hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, dryness etc. but NEVER of trembles, heart palps etc. Even most of my friends thought I was crazy when I asked if they ever felt what I was feeling. FINALLY others who were just like me "living vibrators" ...........
So what did I do? I read and read and read and I eliminated that nightly coffee and those munchkins and alot of sugar and chocolate from my daily night and I am begining to see the change. I still get heart palps and tremble but not to the extreme I use to. They seem to be calming down. I had purchased CALTRATE D and SLOW MAG and now I am in search of Black Cohash and I guess everyone is different because different things work for different women but I am finding relief. Had I listened to most of these doctors I would have been on elavil and vicodin and all sorts of meds by now. I must say I keep my xanax bottle handy. I only took it twice since prescribed in Feb but it makes me feel secure to know its in my pocket book should I need it. When my heart races at 120 while I am still in bed I do take an INDERAL 5mg which helps ( cardiologist prescribed) but only once in a blue. When my physical feelings get the best of me I drop what I am doing and take a drive or take a walk and relax and it goes away. I am grateful for the nights I do sleep. I do have some really vivid dreams ( with no meds) and I am learning what to eat and what to avoid, again different for every woman.
Most of all I am happy that I am not crazy or dying or all the other things I originally thought and I embrace my fellow tremblers and hope as some have said " this too shall pass " as the body shifts into menopause.
I still have days i wish I could " turn the batteries off" on my trembling but I have more good days than bad after making diet changes.
My kids and husband have learned to adapt to the new mommmy. I have 7 children ages 10 to 30 and I tell my younger ones at home that since they have an older mommy ( 47) I am going through older mommy things........They are just happy Mom is not really sick as we originally thought.
As for hormone therapy. My mother in law who had no history of breast cancer in her family and did take hormone therapy has advised me NOT to. Just live with is like she said! She lost a breast a few years ago.
So any fellow " thumpers" as my husband calls my vibrating. Feel free to contact me. YOU are NOT crazy and you are NOT alone!!!!!!!!!!!!
and simply part of my perimenopause. In Jan 2009 I began to suffer severe heartburn, panic attacks, insomia, sweats etc. One day I thought I was having a heart attack and began a long journey of trying to figure out what was wrong in my body. I saw my cardiologist who luckily has known me for ten years ( he is also my family doctor) and he ran an ekg, an eco, a stress test, a 24 hour holter monitor ( all normal) to convince me I was suffering from severe anxiety.
About the same time I decided to remove my much diseased gallbladder ( four years) which now had a rock garden of gallstones. I had an indept adominal sonogram which revealed ONLY gallbladder disease and in April 2009 had it removed. I seemed to recuperate quite well for about a month and my panic attacks lessened so my doctor assumed they were because of the stomach issues my gallbladder had been causing.
I also went to see a GI doc to make sure nothing else was brewing inside me. I had an endoscopy ( only revealing a sluggish stomach). I went to see two gyn's other than my regular gyn for a second and third opinion.
I had another abdominal sono and a transvaginal sono. Both were fine except for a minor cyst on the right ovary. My menstrual cycle had been hellish since I turned 45. I would get my period on and off and at times bleed for two weeks straight. I kept asking if it was perimenopause and every doctor told me I was too young at 45. All this time my panic attacks became frequent again so my family doctor prescribed CYMBALTA. I had a horrid reaction and spent three days in and out of the ER with super high blood pressure and a rapid heart beat ( both of which I never had before) until an Indian female doctor in the last ER visit told me she thought it was menopause and gave me compazine to quiet down my queasy stomach and it seemed to stop all the crazy sensations I was feeling. I will never forget those three days. My body felt as if I was literally burning interally and I could feel a horrible pulsating in my head, neck and through my body as if I had swallowed a cell phone on vibrate. It was non stop and I thought I would go crazy.
After three days on the compazine ( I hate taking prescription drugs) I felt normal again so I stopped taking them. My family doc suggested Lexapro which I had taken years ago for a few months to just keep me calmer and boy was that another mistake. I again began feeling the burning sensation in the back of my neck, in my arms, on my thighs. I felt as if I was sunburned and I wanted to rip my clothing off. I did not understand and neither did my doc since I had taken it before.
I endured another few weeks of hell. The constant vibration inside of me would not let me sleep. I had massive headaches, neckpain and I was going nuts. I went to see a neurologist/psych who ran a few tests. MRA of brain, MRI of neck, EMG, EEG and gave me Klonopin and VOLTRAN gel for inflammation , none of which I took. I went to see another NEURO and took aLLLLLLLL my extensive bloodwork, testing etc copies with me. He ordered an MRI of my brain and another MRI of my neck with contrast. I was begining to feel like a human guinea pig. He discovered a small lesion in my cervical spine and some herniations from a bad car accident 10 years ago. No brain tumor or whatever other disease I thought I had. I went to see an ENDO who ran tons of blood work on me. Thyroid included. He ran tons of hormonal test, adrenal glands etc. He humored me and tested for diseases i had researched online. All were normal. My thyroid was a bit up and my blood sugar was a tad low but my hormones showed I was perimenopausal. He told me to get some good black cohash and basically endure it. All the time I kept telling all these doctors I was TREMBLING, VIBRATING INSIDE!!!!!!!!!!! All were clueless.
All the illnesses that would signify any form of trembling sensation ( inner) had been ruled out. So I came home time and time again very sad. Happy that I did not have a dreadful disease but still without an answer. I did not know which was worse.
I did online research for hours at night, I could not sleep since sleep meant to tremble till I was too exhausted to stay up any longer. I sat there with my coffee and dunkin donuts and read and read and read.
One night I went to bed and my husband who was lying beside me asked me " if i was cold?" I said " NO why?" and he asked " why was I shivering?" I jumped for joy. I was not shivering I WAS TREMBLING SO LOUD HE FELT IT! FINALLY HE FELT IT. I WAS NOT CRAZY, I HAD A WITNESS TO MY VIBRATING!!!!!!!!!!
In all my searching I came across a woman who also trembled/vibrated etc. I looked up her posting on powersurge.com and learned it was a symptom of the onset of menopause. All my life I had heard of hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, dryness etc. but NEVER of trembles, heart palps etc. Even most of my friends thought I was crazy when I asked if they ever felt what I was feeling. FINALLY others who were just like me "living vibrators" ...........
So what did I do? I read and read and read and I eliminated that nightly coffee and those munchkins and alot of sugar and chocolate from my daily night and I am begining to see the change. I still get heart palps and tremble but not to the extreme I use to. They seem to be calming down. I had purchased CALTRATE D and SLOW MAG and now I am in search of Black Cohash and I guess everyone is different because different things work for different women but I am finding relief. Had I listened to most of these doctors I would have been on elavil and vicodin and all sorts of meds by now. I must say I keep my xanax bottle handy. I only took it twice since prescribed in Feb but it makes me feel secure to know its in my pocket book should I need it. When my heart races at 120 while I am still in bed I do take an INDERAL 5mg which helps ( cardiologist prescribed) but only once in a blue. When my physical feelings get the best of me I drop what I am doing and take a drive or take a walk and relax and it goes away. I am grateful for the nights I do sleep. I do have some really vivid dreams ( with no meds) and I am learning what to eat and what to avoid, again different for every woman.
Most of all I am happy that I am not crazy or dying or all the other things I originally thought and I embrace my fellow tremblers and hope as some have said " this too shall pass " as the body shifts into menopause.
I still have days i wish I could " turn the batteries off" on my trembling but I have more good days than bad after making diet changes.
My kids and husband have learned to adapt to the new mommmy. I have 7 children ages 10 to 30 and I tell my younger ones at home that since they have an older mommy ( 47) I am going through older mommy things........They are just happy Mom is not really sick as we originally thought.
As for hormone therapy. My mother in law who had no history of breast cancer in her family and did take hormone therapy has advised me NOT to. Just live with is like she said! She lost a breast a few years ago.
So any fellow " thumpers" as my husband calls my vibrating. Feel free to contact me. YOU are NOT crazy and you are NOT alone!!!!!!!!!!!!
With the internal tremors -I believe the body is crying out for estrogen. Nothing would relieve these tremors - I was on 20 herbal supplements, I tried medical marijuana (which made me paranoid), alcohol (which makes it worse), a complete diet overhaul (no sugar, no gluten or dairy - didn't make a difference but I lost 10 lbs...sugar does seem to effect the tremors in that it makes them worse as does stress. I did acupuncture 2x a week for 6 weeks. It helped with my anxiety but did not alleviate the tremors.
**Please keep in mind that when your doctor tests your estrogen - you might be in the normal range - but if you are tremoring - it's not normal for you.
I highly recommend the book "Screaming to be Heard: Hormone Connections Women Suspect and Doctors Still Ignore" by Dr. Elizabeth Vliet. You can buy used on Amazon.
Anyway good luck - but my recommendation is to get on Estrogen as soon as possible. I also am on Lexapro 10 mg which helped reduce the anxiety and depression that goes along with this awful symptom.
I was inspired by your post and took time and registered to share my experience with perimenopause.
When I completed 42 years, last years, my menstruation was delayed by 15 extra days for 6 months. Next 6 months it was normal but as soon as I turned 43 I began to feel sick.
Initially unexplained sweating. 2 months later constipation for few days (I have hardly suffered constipation before) followed by severe gastro attacks, indigestion and nausea, irritable bowels syndrome, pounding heart, palpitation, breathlessness, pricking sensation around the lower abdomen followed by perspiration, burning sensation in the abdomen, hot flushes followed by chills, night sweats. Only belching/burping would give relief after 2-3 hours. At times heavy head and dizziness which would lead to lack of concentration and affecting my though process. Also leading to fatigue/breathlessness while doing daily household chores or even walking half a meters distance (I did a lot of walking all these years)
After two months of treating gastro symptoms and meeting a family physician for stomach infection, matters became worse. One fine night I suffered from abdominal tremors leading to high blood pressure, 191x105. Drove to the hospital at 4:00 am. Doctors could not do much but gave high BP medicine. Physician indicated it's infection in the stomach. I proactively did a urine and blood test. All was perfectly fine except for acid traces in the urine.
3 days of uneasiness - heart burn, neck pain, chest pain (straight in the heart), severe stiffness and PAIN in the left arm and shoulder and neck, numbness in legs and hands - Physician panicked and so did I!
An ECG was recommended - the ECG test was done under severe gastro condition and so the ECG reflected abnormality "Septal Infarct". Aaaahhhh!
I began to believe i had a cardiovascular illness. The physician concluded I had a heart attack earlier, may be 6-7 years ago. I wondered 'WHEN??'
Urgent meeting with a cardiologist revealed that it's not a case of "Septal Infarct", but minor fluctuation (due to gas) can cause the ECG machine to produce incorrect output. What a RELIEF! Cardiologist suggested Antacid and pills for acidity. Cardiologist concluded that the abdominal tremors were responsible for the high BP.
Symptoms reduced but not relieved completely.
I read about hyperthyroidism and did a thyroid test. NO thyroid issues.
Symptoms prevailed so I did 79 blood tests - cholesterol, cardiac diseases, thyroid, blood counts, glucose, etc. etc.. (no hormone test was included in this package). The report showed one unit high count of RBC. But LDL Cholesterol was 174. Doctors suggested no a concern for cholesterol.
I checked the internet for symptoms of perimenopause. Oooohhhooo... and there it was..
So met a paralysis specialist who introduced flatulence medication and an Antacid Syrup without Aluminum, He concluded so signs of illness related to paralytic stroke. But BP was a concern. He also suggested a visit to gynecologist.
After a week the pain in hand and heart and neck subsided. But the gastro issue was not treated. And the sudden high BP only during the nights continued. Which was my MAJOR concern. As doctors suggested that I cannot take high BP pills as my BP is normal most of the time except when the gas starts forming and breathlessness begins followed by abdominal tremors.
Met a gynecologist and she suggested Ultra-Sonography of the abdomen and pelvic. The reports were perfectly normal. Every organ is perfect including the ovaries and the uterus.
The gynecologist suggested pills to work on the hormones and concluded these are signs of perimenopause. and that every woman has different symptoms.
The final conclusion of every doctors was 'STRESS'.
Two days ago at around 12:30 am I had the abdominal tremors and this time by the grace of GOD Almighty I did not panic but treated myself with a High BP pill and stood my ground. It passed away..
So today I started my search regarding 'Perimenopause and High Blood Pressure' and also 'Perimenopause and Abdominal tremors'.
I reached this site and was relieved to read the symptoms that many experienced.
I hope that my post will help many.
Thank you all!
I have so far had tests done on my heart... all came back normal, had a sonogram of my liver and gallbladder... normal. I had some blood work done which showed my thyroid normal as well. After reading all the horrific stories of these women going to a conventional doctor and being told they are just stressed or it is just anxiety and offered a pill, I have decided to seek out a naturopathic doctor, as I feel she will help treat my whole body and look into any and all deficiencies as well check my hormones and offer me the best possible solution that is also best for my health overall. I have not seen her yet but I will follow up as soon as I get some answers from her.
What I have done on my own in researching endlessly, is I have found that taking magnesium has helped with the vibrations alot. I was skeptical it would help but was also desperate for ANY relief. They are not as often and not as severe as before, so I would highly recommend giving the magnesium a shot. I have also started taking Vitamin D3. Not sure if that is having any role in helping yet since I just started a few days ago, but I felt I might be deficient in it anyways, since most people are.
Right now most of my symptoms are pretty under control but the lightheadedness and headaches are still daily and tiresome. The vibrating seems to be better, but still is there, just less often and to a milder degree.
Hoping this helps to reassure many women out there that we are not alone. I feel for you all, as my life has just turned upside down all of a sudden. Praying for answers and relief during this phase of my life and if I get any new info on how to cope better I will definitely be back to let you all know.
Take care ladies!
Magnesium deficiency was the cause of my internal shaking (and over 50 other symptoms!) Magnesium symptoms are far too numerous but two excerpts from an article by Dr. Sidney Baker describes your symptoms:
"Magnesium deficiency can affect virtually every organ system of the body. With regard to skeletal muscle, one may experience twitches, cramps, muscle tension, muscle soreness, including back aches, neck pain, tension headaches and jaw joint (or TMJ) dysfunction."
"Magnesium deficiency symptoms involving the peripheral nervous system include numbness, tingling, and other abnormal sensations, such as zips, zaps and vibratory sensations."
Magnesium is the most important co factor for vitamin D absorption and all the major minerals (calcium, potassium & sodium) are dependent on magnesium being present in order to function. Magnesium deficiency is often misdiagnosed as only 1% of the body's magnesium is stored in the blood.
https://drsircus.com/magnesium/uses-of-magnesium-oil/
Hi. How about a few herbs to help you as you stand on the slippery slope that is menopause. I am sorry it's starting so young; you are not alone. As you read through the posts your will find women in thier thirties and a couple in their twenties. You will also find that most recommend HRT, which you don't need at this point. Try the natural route first with herbs and Estroven to supplement your hormones. You won't go through the real shift until you run out of viable eggs. Then the real fun begins. You feel like someone stuck a flame thrower inside you and everything goes crispy or you feel like a lobster in boiling water. Everything cooks and you sweat like your still in the shower. You will find all kinds of symptoms listed from the usual night sweats to bipolarism and a link for and article linking schizophrenia to menopause. Panic attacks are also not unusual so if you experience one, don't be shocked. Sometimes the brain isn't going to work right and sometimes we can do and say some very insane things. Expect to have a battery of doctors and at least one psychologist in your medical dossier by the time you are full menopause. If you have children, bless you! They will be a comfort as you console your body through this process. If you do not, I am sorry. You are not alone. Expect everything to be magnified as you cope with childlessness on top of it all.
Herbs to try: black kohosh, ashwagandha, NON GMO soy milk in moderation, limit sugar intake, probiotics, eat papaya and fresh pineapple for papain and bromelain (digestion), use Estroven vitamins and for mood swings St John's Wort or SAm E. If you do not get out in the sun a lot, watch vitamin D levels. For the tremors, try Lavender. Use the essential oil as a perfume or purchase the plug ins with lavender fragrance. It si very calming and also edible, so check coffee stands for lavender and order a lavender chai instead of the triple shot mocha. Aso, omega 3 oils are a necessary for the brain. Eat a lot of fish or take the supplement. The mineral to take is magnesium, and other herbs you can take for the shakes are valerian, scullcap, or passionflower. Good luck and blessings as you move into this life season. Stay in touch with us and know we are here for support along with info.