So far, I have seen 4 different cardiologists, 3 of which are electrophysiologists who specialize in arrhythmias. I have had every test under the sun. I even wore a portable heart monitor for a month. I do not have A-fib, I have "ventricular tachycardia" and PVC's -- they have seen it on the monitor so they know exactly what the abnormal rhythm is. When I ask why it is happening, they say that some people are born with abnormal pathways in the heart that can get irritated and misfire, especially when exposed to things like caffeine, adrenaline (from exercise or stress) and hormonal changes. I have had bouts of palpitations on and off since I was in my 20s, but each time, cutting back on the caffeine fixed them. This was the first time I've had the VT as well as the palps, and while cutting back on caffeine helped a lot, it hasn't made them totally go away -- and like I said, they seem to be related to my menstrual cycle. So I'm guessing that if I was prone to palpitations my whole life because of some inborn tendency of my heart, menopause may be rough going for me....which is why I would consider the HRT, even though I am normally very anti-hormone meds in general (like I said, I've never even taken the pill). I did see the endocrinologist for a thyroid workup after one of my thyroid numbers came back abnormal. But apparently, it wasn't an important number because they tell me my thyroid is fine -- all the important numbers like TSH and T3 and T4 are right in normal range. I do have an appointment with a second endocrinologist in a couple weeks -- I made it a few months ago (she was out on maternity leave) before I saw the first endocrinologist and I figure it can't hurt to get another opinion on both the thyroid and the menopause stuff. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, and for the links. I will spend some time checking out those sites today and see if there's something I can try supplement-wise that might help before I go the HRT route. Please keep the feedback coming if you have any experience with any of this -- supplements, HRT, or menopause in general. I am so not ready for this, LOL!

I just want to say that NONE OF US are alone or crazy. My story is long... PMS started as a young teen and I had no idea what was going on. It eventually led to self-medicating, then to a slow and painful lifestyle of extreme addiction. Going on three years sober I'm grateful that I am now able to feel and understand my body to some degree. However (in a nutshell) since I hit my 40s - I'm now 42- the PMS has WORSENED. Not only the familiar severe anxiety that I have struggled with since a young teen but this horrible nausea that persists for up to two and a half weeks out of every month. I just started a birth control pill about a month ago and I'm praying that it works. I wish there would be more medical attention given to women's bodies and hormones and potential relief for some of the symptoms that are so debilitating. I have so many great things to be thankful for but I still don't feel like I can function at 100%, at least the hundred percent that I expect of myself! Thanks for listening. BTW I feel solid spiritually and I have a very healthy diet and exercise routine. Those help, I KNOW!! Any encouragement or suggestions welcome️

Sorry to hear what you are going through. I am in post-menopause, however, I am still having symptoms especially anxiety. I tried progesterone cream twice over the last 2 years and it did make the anxiety worse. I know progesterone cream helps a lot of women but I am not one of them. I recently got my Dr. to prescribe Beta Blockers for the anxiety. I haven't taken them enough to know if they will help. I am seeing a Naturopath Dr. currently and he has given me a couple of different supplements to get my body to make its own hormones. He said I literally have no hormones. Testosterone severely below normal levels and the same with estrogen. I know it is awful for you. I tried HRT about 4 years ago and it made matters worse. I am going to stick with the naturopath for now. I really work hard to learn to accept this whole menopause thing and have the best attitude I can but it is still overwhelming at times especially with the anxiety.

I've been battling perimenopause for about 3 years now. I've noticed subtle symptoms (acid reflux, panic attacks off and on, insomnia, night sweats and mood swings and some anxiety) about 3 or 4 years prior to that. Just didn't connect the dots then. I went thru stressful situation and had sinus surgery Dec. 2013, after the surgery, it's like my body just went into complete shock. I started feeling strange and weird and then the horrible horrible anxiety and panic attacks struck me. Keep in mind this was a different kind of anxiety and panic attacks to the point I almost became motionless. I couldn't speak, think I was just at a complete shock that I could go thru this so fast. And then came the depression and anger that came out of nowhere. I was going into fits and rages and all I wanted to do was SCREAM at the top of my lungs, yes you heard me right. My daughter really thought I was crazy and so did I. Went to doctor and found out iron levels were very low and also vitamin D. Started on these and started to feel some better. And then other symptoms started, feelings of doom and just a deep deep feeling of fear of everything. Here I am a single mom and the only bread winner in the house so I had to go to work feeling like this day in and day out. The crashing fatigue came too, and it was sooooooo soooooo bad, I would go outside on my breaks and sleep in my car, still didn't do any good. The brain fog, oh lets just say it was thicker than the London fog, lol:-) I would have all these feelings all at once, imagine that. The plot thickens, then I would go thru times where my head felt like it was swaying or slight dizziness or vertigo. I've been to all sorts of doctors and all they would tell me is everything looks ok, well let me tell you I sure didn't feel ok. I actually felt like I was dying and going crazy at the same time. I mean literally felt this way. The symptoms just kept coming and I finally went to pharmacist that specializes in bioidentical hormones. Found out my cortisol was high, testerone was low for someone my age, and progesterone a little low. Started progesterone and started to feel some better but made symptoms much worse in the beginning, they tell you this when you first start the cream. Needless, to say most of these symptoms have gone but still have issues with insomnia mainly and general malaise from time to time. I've learned also what my triggers were, chocolate, caffeine, sugar and oh boy alcohol (feel good going down, but next day made my life a living hell). I had to really eliminate these but was so freakin hard. Let's just say PERIMENOPAUSE has more to do with just menstrual cycle, this stuff really messes with your mind, emotionally, psychologically, mentally. I all the mental stuff, felt schizophrenic, bipolar, depressed, maniac you name it. Symptoms much worse during two weeks before period. The PMS is much worse too. I've had so many feelings, sensations and intrusive thoughts with this stuff everyday for about 3 years straight, it's gotten better, but just wanted to let someone else know this stuff doesn't go on forever, the worst of my symptoms lasted a good year or so. I wanted to check myself into psych ward everyday of fear of loosing control and going crazy. I tried antidepressants and didn't work much so, tried vitamins (B vitamins especially) and magnesium, Flaxseed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil. These seem to help the most. I hate to say this, but with perimenopause it's ususally TIME that makes these symptoms go away. Because it's nothing more than imbalance between Estrogen and Progesterone that is if everything else checks out ok with your doctor. God knows I tried everything and wend to every doctor (ENT, natural doctor, Chiropractor, PCP ( a thousand times for 3 years), 3 Endicrinologist for them to tell me everything looks fine, well sure didn't feel that way. Anyhoot, best wishes to all, and this too shall pass I promise:-)