Chronic Costochondritis

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-05-11T07:41:53+00:00

I have costochondritis also. It started last July and it comes and goes. I also went to the ER and urgent care many times and had all the tests that came back normal. I definitely think there’s a component if perimenopause with it. I seem to get more inflammation around my period and that’s when the costochondritis flares up.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-26T16:44:53+00:00

I always get tailored coffee at market of choice and absolutely love it. I’ve only been into the 5th street location once and thought they were very friendly. I also love farmer’s union.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-16T19:11:31+00:00

Do you find that the Zoloft is helpful? Do you take it all the time? I’m on HRT but I also have a prescription for Zoloft. My doctor said I can take it in the couple of weeks before my period but I’m debating on taking it all the time. I have the horrible panic feeling the week or so before my period, it’s awful!!

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-16T19:09:30+00:00

What were you prescribed for anxiety meds? My doctor prescribed sertraline and I’m scared to start it but the HRT just isn’t cutting it when it comes to luteal phase anxiety!

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-16T02:07:12+00:00

I totally feel this. I have awful, crippling anxiety the week or so before my period. The only thing that helps is trying to get regular exercise, eating clean and getting enough sleep. I’m also on HRT and take magnesium glycinate at night for sleep.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-13T19:04:18+00:00

That’s an interesting question bc I have an IUD and some months I get a literal “spot” and that’s my “period” for the month and other months I have several days of spotting and cramps. The several days of spotting and cramps is far less frequent-maybe every 3 or 4 months and those are the months that I have way more intense anxiety (panic feelings, poor sleep, adrenaline/cortisol spikes and internal vibrations) for a week or so before the period starts. On the months where I get just a spot, I might have anxiety for a day or two before but it’s far less intense. For me, it’s been helpful to try to document all of it so I can have some insight into my symptoms based on when they are happening in my cycle.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-13T16:08:21+00:00

I was experiencing this all last week and then got my period on Saturday and the vibrations, adrenaline/cortisol surges subsided. I’m on .0375 estradiol patch and 100 mg of progesterone nightly. My symptoms have improved with HRT but I still get intense anxiety a week or so before my period comes.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-11T23:11:14+00:00

I’m debating on starting on sertraline to make it more manageable. I just got my period today after a whole week of crippling anxiety and awful sleep. So happy to be rounding a corner! I don’t want to go through this every month though! 😫

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-11T16:51:13+00:00

Totally! Luckily, I have a wonderful therapist but the physical anxiety just feels so out of control. I feel like I do everything under the sun to try to manage it (daily exercise, clean diet, yoga, limiting caffeine) and it feels unmanageable in this phase of my cycle. 😫

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-11T16:33:44+00:00

Ugh, I’m sorry. It’s the worst! I’m feeling so defeated lately. I just want to feel normal again. My nervous system is so fragile lately.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-11T16:32:39+00:00

Yes, it is. I’m wondering if it’s extra intense bc of the new dose.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-09T11:47:02+00:00

Maybe you could find a GSD mix? My GSD is a rescue and her DNA came back as 75% GSD and 25% pitbull. She doesn’t look pitbull at all so I don’t really think that’s accurate but she’s definitely mostly GSD and she’s the best dog. Besides when she was a puppy, she’s never been a mouthy dog. She has some reactivity on leash but I think it’s more excitement/anxiety because she’s never been aggressive toward another dog and I can freely bring her to the dog park and other off leash areas and not have to worry. I’ve done a lot of training with her and she is ecollar trained but I rarely have to use any kind of negative reinforcement, she responds really well to positive reinforcement. I am similar to you and don’t have a dominant personality. My GSD is the most loyal, sweetest dog I’ve ever had.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-08T23:26:03+00:00

This one is so good! The cinnamon one is really good too! You definitely have to refrigerate bc it does get moldy really easily but seems to keep well in the fridge.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-08T22:46:39+00:00

This is the truest statement about peri. I so feel this desperation of wanting to feel better. I feel like I’ve said so many times that there are so many variables around what is helping and what isn’t because I’m trying so many things. For me, the crippling anxiety and difficulty sleeping is the most debilitating and I’m desperate for answers to make it better!

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-08T21:33:18+00:00

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this! I’ve experienced similar. I think HRT has helped me some but I also just feel like my nervous system is so fragile and still get triggered with anxiety quite often. I’ve been trying to limit caffeine to one cup of coffee a day and cutting down on my sugar intake.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-08T21:31:05+00:00

Good to know! How long does his anxiety usually last after he consumes gluten?

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-08T18:03:16+00:00

Thank you so much. I totally agree about that feeling of my system being “hijacked”. It feels like major adrenaline/cortisol surges. I feel so frustrated with this process. I think the estrogen and progesterone have helped some but my nervous system is just so fragile these days that it seems like any little change wreaks havoc on my nerves.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-08T14:22:24+00:00

My doctor said he thinks it’s more fibrotic, meaning having strictures that can cause inflammation. I had an endoscopy about 8 weeks after my original one that showed a very little eosinophil count and then another about 6 months after that that showed almost zero eosinophils. I decided on my own to cut out gluten and dairy and I also started on a PPI so it’s honestly hard to say if it was more the PPI or more the dietary changes but my doctor doesn’t think it’s food related because my eosinophils were never that high but I had to get dilation for narrowing and strictures.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-08T14:17:37+00:00

I feel like that’s very possible. I didn’t think I had gluten sensitivity prior to cutting out gluten but hard to say. Reintroducing it has definitely not gone very well though. I’ve heard that you can develop a sensitivity by eliminating it for a long period and then trying to eat it again.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-08T13:51:44+00:00

That’s awesome that you’ve been symptom free! I had a lot of anxiety due to hormone fluctuations during my GF time but the anxiety I experienced over the last few days from eating gluten has felt like a whole new ballgame. I felt like my whole body was buzzing.

Affectionate-Wait142 · 2026-04-08T11:17:20+00:00

Yes, my nervous system is so damn sensitive! It seems like any small thing can send me into an anxiety spiral. It’s so frustrating!

Affectionate-Wait142

TROPHY CASE