palpitations and hot flashes

hi gals,
tomorrow i go to get a nuclear stress test and an ekg. i have always been a very anxious person but have always tried to keep stress under control without using medication. however, after the hysterectomy i seem to be more stressed out with family life and work. i have been having a little chest pain lately, a little elevated cpk showed up in my blood test and palpitations with hot flashes. i noticed that when the hot flashes are coming my heart seem to beat a little faster. i do not want to take any form of estrogen because i have fibrocystic breast and i am scared. i am trying to do this menopause thing the old fashion way but life is so stressful that i am now scared of a heart attack or stroke because of my lack of estrogen now. the vaginal dryness is greatly relieved by using replens. i was a woman who loved sex but now it is just a chore that i do. i do not want to hurt my husband's feeling but i can do without it, cuddling and watching tv is fine with me. i have consoled myself that having the surgery was the right thing to do by requesting a copy of my medical
records. it shows several fibroids and one that was discolored and with unusual margins. it was benign but i keep thinking that it may have changed to something else if i did not have the surgery. if any one has problems with palpitations with hot flashes please let me know. i will tell you guys the result of my stress test and ekg. love everyone. we will all stay positive about these surgeries

Am so glad you are having the docs rule out other problems. Otherwise, sounds like you've pretty much hit on what is probably going on with your body.

I had horrible palpitations, unbearable chest pain, and some pretty freaky symptoms after my ovaries were out of commission. I developed intense anxiety, complete with panic attacks (...unlike anything I'd imagined they would be..........unbelievably physical and seemingly unwarranted), slowly turning into a panic disorder (...developed a fear of being anywhere that would be unsafe should another attack hit..). I didn't even have any prior history of anxiety.

Until my hrt took effect, Lexapro(antidepressant) and Buspar(anti-anxiety) became my salvation.

I can understand your fear of hrt, but believe that you definitely need some sort of medication help. I didn't want to do it, either...........I'm one of those people that doesn't even like to take Tylenol. But, found myself in a position that, without medication help, I would go insane or not be alive today. I know I sound rash, but it is the truth.

These are chemical imbalances that we experience, just like a diabetic that is unable to produce their own insulin. If not in check, these imbalances can cause all kinds of bodily functions to go haywire.

I just thank God that these remedies are available to us. Once anything else is ruled out, I hope you do pursue some form of medication. You deserve to feel the best you possibly can, Princess. Take care...........s.....Deb

Hi Yolim, I too am having experiences with palpitations and night sweats. In fact I almost didn't have the surgery because of it. It took a while to find an Anesthesiologist who was willing to participate in the surgery because my TSH levels were all out of wack. Thus causing me to have the palpitations. Since the surgery 12/15/05 they seem to have gotten worse which I will let my surgeon know at my six week appointment next week. My advice for both of us is to not panic, take it easy and try to relax until we see our doctors and get the results of our test. My prayers are with you.

The day after the surgery I had chest pain and couldn' t breath. Test showed I was clear of any clots. But then a week later I went back to GYN and he said something funny was happening with my heart. Long story short, numerous ekg's which revealed an abundance of PVC's, a nuclear stress test which I failed, supposidely a clot was evident, 2 halter monitors again revealing PVC galore, and a CT Scan which then showed no clot...I am now on 2 heart medications. One for the PVC's (Toprol) and another for an arythimias (Tombocor)...I kept my ovaries which are working fine (I am 34). In essence I traded one major problem for another. I am so thankful that I had the surgery but it triggered something in my body to reveal heart issues. So maybe I should be thankful on both counts...

Good luck with your stress test. I know it is scary. But maybe it is happening for a reason and like me, hopefully something very minor will be revealed.

hi sisters,
i got that nuclear test and the ekg and passed both test. however, i am still not feeling like my self before the hysterectomy. it feels like as soon as i jump one hurdle another pops up. again i have consoled myself that the hysterectomy was the best way to go before i got too old to have it or before something changed and caused a malignancy. i do watch what i eat and i exercise, has moderate amount of stress in my life but has been given meds to take when the anxiety begins. i am also going to take dancing class, so looking forward to that, it will be salsa, merengue, cumbia and bachata. what i need to know now is what happens to the area where the uterus was? sometimes i feel a discomfort under my right rib cage and notice that i seem to feel myn colon spasm or pushes out after a big enough meal. i check my medical records after the hysterectomy and hernia surgeries but the mri showed no hepatic, splenic, adrenal, kidney or pancreatic mass. does anyone ever have this feeling of fullness or discomfort under the right rib cage? also, does anyone feel chilly a lot. i live in chicago and it is cold now but i get chilly even in the house with the heat on. granted i also feel hot when the personal summer is happening. this is so confusing. it will be one year since i had my hysterectomy on 04/27/05. shouldn't my body be setting down now. how long will this menopause deal last? help

Have you had your thyroid and gallbladder checked? These are 2 areas that can undergo changes, and cause symptoms that you describe, as a result of hormone withdrawl. That is what I experienced.

Hope you find all your answers. Take care......s...Deb

I had pretty severe palpitations also the first 3 or 4 weeks post op, plus major shortness of breath. It really surprised me, since I was so active pre op. It'll be 6 wks. tomorrow, and I haven't noticed either for the last week or so, I'm thankful for that. As for eating, if I overdue it just a little, I hurt in my belly, which I'm thinking is probably a REALLY good thing, since I need to lose a few pounds anyway!

Fibroid Woman,

If I may be so personal, do you still take the anti-anxiety medication? The reason I ask is because I have been on medication for anxiety before my surgery and am afraid of getting out of control panic attacks due to my previous surgery. Does it ever get better? Do you feel that hormone therapy helped with your condition?

I still take the Buspar. However, instead of 30 mg per day (15, twice per day), I only take 2.5 mg at bedtime. So, I have cut way down after being on hrt. Am still afraid to stop the Buspar completely.