His and Her Health

I feel like I am loosing it. I just had a period for 25 days. I am 51 and am having anxiety and panic attacks, my blood pressure is very high at times during a panic attack. I am hot one minute and cold the next. I was put on Norvasc for my blood pressure. My heart pounds and flutters and then I take an anxiety attack. Is this all related to perimenopause? What can I do?

Lots of information for you at www.menopausewise.com and www.redhotmamas.org

darlene51 First, let me begin by saying I've never responded to a chat board. I'm probaby motivated by the fact that there are others out there in cyerspace that are feeling some of the same things I've been experiencing. Of course, the best advice to any symptom that is consistent, is that you seek the advice of a good doctor who will really listen. As for some of the roller-coaster emotions, I guess where this chat board helps in letting people know that their not alone. I've read some on the message board that sound so familar to what I'm experiencing but I didn't reply to them because some were posted 1-3 years ago. (Boy, I hope their doing better now!) I think the worst symptom for me is the "cotton candy" thinking. The inablility to focus on detailed paperwork for my job. Doing task in an organize matter has just flown out the window so to speak. But life goes on...and I don't think even taking a Calgon bath to take the "this" away would help ( I've tried it, didn't help) so if it helps knowing that your not alone I hope my letter has helped. If anyone has anything they'd like to add or suggest, go ahead and reply I think everyone's viewpost might shed some light to us all.

<small>[ 01-06-2009, 11:01 AM: Message edited by: Moderator ]</small>

Dear Darlene,
Thank you for contacting us regarding your health concern. I've consulted with our Medical Expert and here is what he had to say:

Hi Darlene,
It's clear you are having a difficult time. We don't have enough information to know for sure what is causing your problem, but the first thing to do is talk with your doctor. Some of your problems might be due to the Norvasc. It can cause flushing and anxiety like feelings. Other condition where the body releases too much adrenaline can also cause these feelings. Sometimes doctors check for this by collecting a person's urine for 24 hours and testing it for the amount of adrenaline in it. Of course you also are in or near menopause and that could be adding to the problem. But it might not be the whole problem. Checking your blood hormones for FSH and estradiol can help tell where you are in menopause. Your doctor might want to get an ultrasound of your uterus to see how thick the lining is and help tell why you are bleeding.

You have several things to figure out with your doctor. Make an appointment and ask for help with this. You might also want to get a referral to a mental health professional to assist you with the panic attacks. It should be possible to get some relief, so keep asking and get these problems under control.

Machelle (Mache) Seibel, MD
Professor,
University of Massachusetts Medical School