WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for July, 1998: Re: Need help with peri-menopausal symptoms

Re: Need help with peri-menopausal symptoms

From: Angela (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 28 Jul 1998 02:48:51 -0500 (CDT)

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: Sophie: "Re: Positive OPK vs. BBT rise"
Previous message: Hans van der Slikke, OBGYN: "Re: Positive OPK vs. BBT rise"
In reply to: Carl: "Need help with peri-menopausal symptoms"

At Thu, 23 Jul 1998, Carl wrote: >
>I am writing for my wife, who is suffering from debilitating symptoms,
>most likely related to peri-menopause. It is our hope that someone can
>refer us to a solution to this very troubling series of "episodes".
>
>Each month, for the last 5 months, my wife suffers from 4 to 5 episodes
>per month, beginning just before her period, up to the end of her
>period. These episodes last from 10 minutes to over an hour each.
>
>The "cycle" for each episode is as follows:
>1. Sometimes the cycle is preceded by rapid heart beat,
>2. The cycle begins with a heart "thump" or dizziness,
>3. The dizziness increase until it reaches extreme dizziness, along
>with faintness, extreme weakness, headache, nausea, aching all over
>body, and the beginning of exhaustion,
>4. Which is usually followed by tremors in her extremities, sometimes
>contortions of her hands (with hyperventilating), and her whole body
>shaking
>5. Recovering, usually after an hour, with extreme exhaustion and the
>need to urinate
>
>Today, she had three episodes, back to back. That is unusual, as they
>have usually been spaced out over a few days, during her period.
>
>My wife is 47 years old and is beginning to experience changes in her
>monthly timing. She is exercising regularly, and eats relatively well.
>She is trying to cut down on caffeine. Her Endocrinologist said her
>hormones were normal (whatever that means). Her internist and gyn have
>put her on paxil. We are frustrated, as there does not seem to be
>answers to our questions easily available.
>--
>Carl
>

Hi Carl,

For what it's worth, while you and your wife are pursuing greater medical enlightenment, I suggest based on my own experience that she really try to get off caffeine, and see if it helps.

I had a similar problem about six years ago, which always seemed to occur at about the same point in my cycle (though it was closer to the middle), and went on for months. I nearly drove myself and my internist nuts. I don't have to tell you it isn't easy to deal with these attacks especially when you work outside the home and don't know when they're going to hit you.

Finally my internist, having ruled out some other problems, told me to try giving up caffeine. That was the end of the problem. Only recently have I begun to experiment with small amounts of regular coffee; I drank decaf exclusively for six years. By the way, I saw a medical journal article recently that listed "caffeinism" as one possible cause of apparent "panic attacks." Perhaps perimenopausal changes are somehow interfering with your wife's ability to metabolize caffeine.

Good luck--I hope your wife gets relief soon.

Angela

Next message: Sophie: "Re: Positive OPK vs. BBT rise"
Previous message: Hans van der Slikke, OBGYN: "Re: Positive OPK vs. BBT rise"
In reply to: Carl: "Need help with peri-menopausal symptoms"

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

use when must restrict search to only the women's health forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: