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[Zimbomeno]

Hi.  Finally found this site to be able to talk with ladies in/been through same situation.  Despite a negative menopause blood test am 100% sure I am well into 'it'!  Question I have - some years ago when some of the symptoms started I began to have racing heart (primarily when in bed during the heart) when it felt like my heart was racing (but no pain).  Sometimes happens in early evening now.  Ended up at my GP who did heart tests, so did heart specialists.  I think we were all fooled as menopause test showed I was NOT in menopause.  Argh. Anyway, I cannot go on to any hormone stablizing meds (long story...but can't take any type of artificial hormones incl. pill etc) and although by the looks of it from what I read about what some women are going through I am actually not going through too much at all, I would like to know (yes, finally the question....) are there any natural type of things I can take or dietary changes/things to include/exclude which may help me, particularly with the palpitations?  Not missing not having my periods any more 

[Rowan]

I would advice not to eat foods that cause bloating and gas especially in the evening as this can cause pressure near the heart and cause palpitations, have small light meals.

Make sure there are not any foods  that you eat that you could be sensitive to as this can cause the pulse to race.

Taking a magnesium supplement, Magnesium Taurate can calm palpitations and relax.

I would go easy on caffeine and dark chocolate too. Stress also can cause palpitations also, this can set them off for me.

Have you had your thyroid checked? another cause of palpitations.

Hope this is of some help.

[Chocolatechaos]

Palpitations were one of my perimenopause symptoms too. Before I was prescribed hrt I used menopace or supermarket equivalent. These supplements seem to calm the palpitations for me.

[goldgalaxy]

I've had palpitations on and off for years, mainly after eating my evening meal. I tried lots of things to stop them. Relaxing, moving about, not eating certain foods but nothing seemed to work. Until my partner suggested cutting out caffeine. I started drinking decaf coffee and decaf earl grey tea and now I get them very rarely. I am so much more relaxed because they can make you feel very anxious even when you know they're not harmful. Chocolate, as it also contains caffeine can be a trigger. But, if I do ever get the occasional fluttering, the best thing to do is start moving around and being busy, that really helps.

[starfish]

Hi,

My sympathies, palpitations have been my worst symptom by far. I get racing pulse and also 'skipped' beats (ectopics). Much better controlled now I take care of my stress. I take a low dose beta blocker (bisoprolol, but there are others) which also helps so might be worth considering.

Other things worth considering: yes cut caffeine and chocolate (shame - but needn't be for ever); might be worth getting a food allergy test (I had one done privately which showed mild intolerance to gluten and casein, so I'm very careful not to have much of either, just in case). Supplement wise magnesium definitely. Check thyroid as has already been suggested - also iron/ serum ferritin levels, and vit D levels. Iron and vit D can be corrected with supplements if low.

There are lots of herbal remedies which calm anxiety, and hawthorn and motherwort are identified particularly to help palpitations. I'd say worth consulting a herbalist about this (if you're interested). Avoid hawthorn if taking beta blocker unless doctor says ok as they both slow pulse. Finally - gentle exercise and hot baths - can't go wrong with these!

Hope this is of some help, I did a lot of reading up and trying things as they were so frightening, but I do think it's possible to reduce them and take the fear out of them. Wishing you well,

Starfish x

[Jenny23]

Has anyone found that their heart palpitations are decreasing over time? I had an onset of palpitations 4 months ago along with severe anxiety. Anxiety, palpitations, feeling of shortness of breath and heavy breathing last 24x7 and came out of nowhere. Have made multiple cardio tests and blood tests and all normal so far. The palpitations and anxiety are debilitating. Have started Accupuncture 1 month ago 2-3x a week and it has helped a lot in addition to meditation, breathing exercises. Has anyone tried acupuncture and were you able to get back to normal. Doctors so far are all indicating that this is perimenopause/menopause transition and unfortunately is per of the hormonal changes. So scary. I also find that exercises are difficult because the palpitations get stronger. Walking a lot has been ok for the most part but any more rigorous exercise increases the internal shaking of the heart which gives a sinking feeling of fear. So exercise does not work even though it is supposed to help. Would appreciate any advice.

[CLKD]

Welcome.  Jenny23.

Hormonal upheaval is normal, however it can throw up some weird and over whelming for women.

Some find that keeping a mood/food/diary useful to chart progress.  If your tests have been 'within normal limits' that should ease worries a little. 

Do the palpitations become worse with exercise?  Have a good look at your diet/fluid intake to C if anything needs altering.  Deep breathing can help anxiety as can appropriate medication.  Some HRT might help . 

[CLKD]

Keep to this thread?

[Jenny23]

Thank you CLKD.

Yes the palpitations feel like they are increasing with exercise. The heart feels like trembling inside with higher heart rate. This came out of nowhere and I have always been such a healthy person eating a normal healthy diet. No alcohol whatsoever and gave up green tea and any caffeine when this started 4 months ago. Vitamin D is low so taking a supplement. Taking vitamin C occasionally but otherwise trying to get lots of vitamins through food intake. Not sure what to do with myself and not sure that anxiety medications are the answer. If this continues too much longer will have to give HRT a try. My hesitation with HRT is that I am very sensitive to side effects and any medication side effects throws off my balances and throws me into anxiety at this moment.

I hope accupuncture continues to help. I feel like one symptom is getting better for a week or so while another symptom is kicking in and then back and forth like that.  Very hard to feel calm when the entire body feels so out of whack.

[CLKD]

Some find HRT levels can affect how we feel so they begin with a lower dose and work up to a comfortable level. 

Some anti-depressants can help with anxiety as can some HRT regimes.  It's Trial and Error.

[Wrensong]

Hello Jenny23 
Many of us on here have experienced palpitations during the menopause transition & they are known to be quite common at this stage of life.  There are many threads discussing them if you'd find it reassuring to do a search.  Mine started in perimenopause & continued throughout those years until 3 years post when I started HRT & had a change of thyroid medication, the 2 changes within a few weeks.  Please don't think this means yours will persist for so long; I think the thyroid condition contributed to a difficult menopause & even now many years postmenopause after any change of dose, thyroid medication or HRT, the palpitations return for a couple of weeks, though they are far less troublesome than they were before starting HRT.  I have also had a long period without HRT postmenopause & the ectopics didn't persist for long after the initial tapering off, so again, please don't think they will continue forever whether you try HRT or not.

I agree they can be extremely unnerving.  Like you I had all the cardiac tests & only benign ectopics were found.  Mine came in long episodes of an hour or so 24/7 & were especially bad when sitting relaxing in the evening & overnight which affected my sleep & even made me afraid to go to sleep.  As you've found, exercise was also one of the things that set them off - cycling specifically, but even during fast walking (my usual pace) I found that when I stopped e.g. at a kerb waiting to cross the road, my heart rhythm would become irregular.  The body's internal pacemaker seems to get upset by the hormonal changes.  I was prescribed Propranolol for a while but this didn't stop the ectopics although it did blunt the sensation of each beat.  That said, many women do find beta blockers helpful.

I haven't tried acupuncture for them but I did practice meditation & controlled breathing exercises to help me cope with the stress of perimenopause which I found very difficult, with extreme symptoms in addition to the ectopics.  Meditation resets the body to a calmer default state when practised regularly over time & whatever you enjoy by way of relaxation should also help your body cope with the changes.

Please don't be alone with any worries & do post as often as you like, there is always someone here to hold out a hand.
Wx

[Jenny23]

Thank you Wrengsong. I am at a loss and feel so alone at this. The change has been shockingly sudden. In addition to the palpitations which came out of nowhere I also have developed severe anxiety that came out of nowhere at the same time as well. I feel my whole body shaking and it affects my brains (brain fog) making me feel either that I will faint or that I can not engage in mental work in the same way. It is like out of body experience that is so scary. 

I have to say the last four months have been a nightmare. There is a menopause clinic that I will reach out to discuss all of this and treatment.

The medications scare me especially because the side effects can make things worse.

But I have to find a solution to go back to normal. I feel like crying all the time for no specific reasons or for small reasons and even thought my life is technically supposed to be great with an amazing family I can’t escape the anxiety and palpitations and the feeling of doom that is grasping my whole body and mind. Hard to describe. My husband has been amazingly supportive but I feel like I am bringing him unnecessary anxiety as well that I have to figure out how to alleviate.

I appreciate your support. It is hard to share this without fearing people will judge you. This whole thing came out of nowhere.

[Jenny23]

Wrengsong, how has HRT been for you and have you had any side effects from it?

[Booroo]

Thank you Wrengsong. I am at a loss and feel so alone at this. The change has been shockingly sudden. In addition to the palpitations which came out of nowhere I also have developed severe anxiety that came out of nowhere at the same time as well. I feel my whole body shaking and it affects my brains (brain fog) making me feel either that I will faint or that I can not engage in mental work in the same way. It

I have to say the last four months have been a nightmare. There is a menopause clinic that I will reach out to discuss all of this and

The medications scare me especially because the side effects can make things worse.

But I have to find a solution to go back to normal. I feel like crying all the time for no specific reasons or for small reasons and even thought my life is technically supposed to be great with an amazing family I can’t escape the anxiety and palpitations and the feeling of doom that is grasping my whole body and mind. Hard to describe. My husband has been amazingly supportive but I feel like I am bringing him unnecessary anxiety as well that I have to figure out how to alleviate.

I appreciate your support. It is hard to share this without fearing people will judge you. This whole thing came out of nowhere.

treatment.

That was me a year ago.I would lie in bed at night shaking from head to foot and heart going like the clappers v scary. It was anxiety it’s a total sod it really is but started hrt and 99%time I don’t get them at all if I do it’s like hello bye and breathe but it’s paralysing cos u think you’re going to die at the time.x

[Booroo]

Think I accidentally deleted some of your post am sorry mine went in the wrong place!