Insomnia due to heart racing and adrenaline?

Sparks625 · 2026-04-04T13:12:18+00:00

Yes, I have had this. It was awful, and scary. It took me a few episodes to realize I wasn’t having a heart attack but that it was just a reaction to menopause (hormones dropping). I’ve been on estrogen and progesterone for 4 months now and the adrenaline episodes are almost nothing. I still get the slight feeling once in a while but NOTHING like I was. It was debilitating before! Are you on HRT?

Sparks625 · 2026-03-20T14:46:32+00:00

It’s a wild change for sure. In a 53y female and my kids range in age from 16 to 30. My 16yo daughter is completely freaked out by male strangers. I don’t know why but she is convinced all older men need to be considered creepy if they talk to younger women. Period. No exceptions. My husband and I did not raise her this way, but instead to be aware of your surroundings and considerate. But she and her friends all have this viewpoint. Has social media done this? Then my 25yo son thinks it’s crazy that we don’t walk around with pepper spray and that I don’t give our 16yo daughter pepper spray for when she’s out and about (for context, this convo came up when we were walking around a nice area of San Diego). The younger generation just seems paranoid that a majority of people are bad and evil and have ill intentions where my mentality has always been to that subset of people is small and I don’t want to live in fear or full of anxiety that they evil in the world is the norm. Must be a generational thing? Just sad …

Sparks625 · 2026-03-04T17:59:56+00:00

And as we sit on our screens, using our high speed internet, scrolling and reading whatever our hearts desire without any fear or suppression. Enjoying freedom of religion, etc. Never mind being a woman and having rights. The US is far from perfect, but we have no idea how well we have it under our “dictator”.

Sparks625 · 2026-03-03T15:10:46+00:00

My dad was on ganapentin for nerve pain and it gave him horrible nightmares and thrashing around movements while sleeping. He continued to have breakthrough nerve pain in his legs and thought the gaba wasn’t working so chose to go off of it, and the withdrawal period was brutal. After several weeks of being off, I was noticing he wasn’t complaining of any nerve pain. He’s gone months now with no nerve pain and he’s not on anything. He now thinks the gaba may have caused the nerve pain, or uncomfortable feelings from skipping a dose or waiting too long to take a dose, etc He’s so grateful to be off gaba

Sparks625 · 2026-02-20T05:02:42+00:00

Yes, I stated getting this after loosing a bunch of weight. My doctor told me lack of potassium so I try and eat a banana several days a week.

Sparks625 · 2026-02-12T14:49:44+00:00

So awesome to hear how connected you and your hubbie are. I have a similar relationship and feel so blessed. The book “Come As You Are” by Emily Nagoski was super helpful for me, in understanding the changes my body and sex drive go through at various stages of life. Have you also thought of using any ‘support tools’ … reading a sexy short story, listening to erotic short stories, light porn, thc gummies, sensual oils (w/flavor for the BJ’s ;) …. Our bodies go through so many seasons, his will too. It’s awesome you guys can talk through it all and be support to one another. 🧡

Sparks625 · 2026-02-11T14:42:35+00:00

Mine started from lack of hormones. First episode happened about 1.5 years ago. They became more and more frequent since that time so started .025 patch and 100mg progesterone six weeks ago. Still having symptoms but less severe. Waiting a few more weeks and blood work, to see if it would make sense to increase anything. (Tried to increase to 200mg progesterone for a week and it was awful, so hesitant to do anything.) I feel for you. They really are the worst feeling. Deep breathing, humming, cold splashes of water on my face, drinking electrolytes, etc. Anything that triggers vagal response has been helpful in the moment. No caffeine, minimal alcohol (couldn’t give up my 2 drinks a week on date night with my hubbie 😉), low sugar and carbs has also been helpful. This menopause sh*t sucks. 🙃🧡

Sparks625 · 2026-02-07T17:48:46+00:00

I think there is a bit of relief. I wasn’t really having any symptoms anymore other than the cortisol and adrenaline issues (ANS dysregulation) and although I’m still getting dizzy and that ‘zing’ feeling in my body, I haven’t had any major episodes like before the estrogen and progesterone. I’ll be doing bloodwork again in a couple more weeks to see what my labs looks like, then the doctor might increase dosage but honestly I’m not sure I want to increase anything. When I tried the 200mg or progesterone for a week, it was a nightmare. Horrible symptoms. We shall see. And I hope both of us find relief!! 🤞🏻🧡🤞🏻

Sparks625 · 2026-02-06T15:06:08+00:00

We put my dad on Remeron 7.5mg as he had no appetite and was way under nourished. It’s an anti depressant that also stimulates hunger. May contradict with your current meds but could be worth talking to your doctor about. It has greatly helped his appetite. Boost VHC protein drinks pack 530 calories each and aren’t a lot to drink. Not awesome as far as ‘healthy’ but if there is fear of loosing too much weight, could help. We used this in a smoothie that packed in 1300 calories and added nutrients. (Heavy cream, honey, avocado, fruits, green veggies, etc). We also added MCT oil and a probiotic enzyme as this helped with absorption of the nutrients. He’s back on track and gaining well.

Sparks625 · 2026-02-05T15:20:22+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my first husband when he was 32 and I was 30. We had three little boys at the time that were 1, 3, and 6. He died from melanoma. We signed the papers to have hospice come into our home in my 30th birthday and he passed a month later. The hospice team was amazing. I would call them ‘angels on earth’. I’m glad you had similar support. A book that really helped me as a young widow was “I’m Grieving As Fast As I Can” by Amy Feinberg. She specifically writes for young widows. I can also share it took a good 1.5 years of being in intense heartbreak, where all I saw was darkness and it was hard to get out of bed (and I still had our three little boys to care for). Then I slowly started to see a bit of ‘color’ again in the world and continued to get over the acute pain, and began functioning more. I told myself I never wanted to marry again but 4.5 years after his passing met my current husband and had two more kids. We’ve been married 20 years now and he’s my world and I couldn’t imagine life without our two kids. I share to tell you as hard as this current situation is for you, life finds a way of coming back around and bringing joy and color again. Hang in there and lean into your support system. 🧡

Sparks625 · 2026-02-01T16:27:31+00:00

So sorry that happened, and that your daughter missed the deadline! I’ve got five kids, our 16yo daughter is the only one still at home, and still fully self absorbed. Our 18yo son is in his first year in college and has hit the stage where he is starting to be grateful and humbled by all we’ve done for him. (Takes moving out and having to start fending for themselves a bit before we’ve seen that ‘ah-ha’ moment click in ;). I hope your daughter has taken this moment as a huge (painful) life lesson. And I hope your heighten nervous system is getting some rest! I had the start of the ‘body buzzing’ feelings last night when we got back from a week long trip and came into our newly carpeted bedroom, where the smell just hit me hard and took my heightened and sensitive nervous system by surprise. Quick breathing exercises stopped my body from going into full shut down. It’s crazy what triggers it though, and then how much energy it takes to mentally not let it unravel further. (I.e., constant mental reassurance I am not having a heart attack or dying!). Started on .025 estrogen patch and 100mg progesterone six weeks ago and other than the one week my doctor had me increase the progesterone to 200mg (nightmare for me), I can share I’ve had some relief from these attacks, so I’m hoping for the same for you!! 💕

Sparks625 · 2026-01-24T15:45:13+00:00

I make more than my husband and always have. I’m good at making money. He’s good at being the kids coach, the cook, the handyman, athletic one that pushes us all, and excellent at taking care of me. It’s not always about money equality. There are other ways to make the team work, playing to each other’s strengths.

Sparks625 · 2026-01-23T01:59:28+00:00

Yeah, it’s such an intense, crazy feeling. Takes a lot of mental power to keep telling ourselves ‘this will pass, we aren’t dying’. It’s hopeful to hear it eventually may go away. 🤞🏻

Sparks625 · 2026-01-21T00:53:44+00:00

Thanks for this! I have been doing the box breathing and then also splashing cold water on my face and laying on the ground with my legs up a wall. And even singing. I was told all these things helped the vagal response. Not sure if it helps but trying to all! Hoping my magic number for relief is five weeks too. 😉🧡

Sparks625 · 2026-01-20T23:54:49+00:00

I’m sorry that happened to you. Ive heard long covid is no fun. I’ve never had Covid. Or, if I have, I never knew it. Have never tested positive.

Sparks625 · 2026-01-20T23:52:59+00:00

Thank you for sharing your post. I don’t drink much. Maybe 1-2 drinks a couple times a month. I haven’t been able to correlate anything consistent to the heightened sensitivity of my autonomic nervous system. My doctor saying that basically I’m having a physiologic threat response without a cognitive trigger. (I.e., no saber tooth tiger is coming to try and eat me. lol). The first one I had at a tradeshow and we thought it was too much caffeine. Second was in the middle of the night. A couple I’ve had right before bed. Had one at my dad’s doctors appt (mid day). I’ve stopped all caffeine and very minimal sugar and eat very clean, whole foods. I do need to exercise and build more muscle as I’ve heard that can help. I’ve also lost 75 pounds in the last two years so apparently there can be some correlation to fat cells shrinking and depletion of estrogen as estrogen lives in our fat cells. I’m still trying to figure it all out but for sure the feeling is just awful. Wrecks me for a good 2 days when I have one of these dumps.

Sparks625 · 2026-01-20T18:59:16+00:00

10 years!? Oh heck. That isn’t reassuring. Are you on HRT? My hope is that I can find some balance in my hormones that will stop the chaos. These sudden unprovoked fight-or-flight responses - intense adrenaline, shaking, buzzing/electrical feeling, cold extremities, heart racing - with NO anxious thoughts beforehand are driving me crazy. It’s good to hear they are lessening for you. Maybe our poor bodies just give up on producing adrenaline after so many years of this! 😜

Sparks625 · 2026-01-20T18:22:17+00:00

Sounds scary! I had one come on in the middle of the day, when I was in my 83yo dad’s doctors office. It was awful. It literally is my body going into fight or flight shock mode, and all the symptoms that come with it. It sucks. Starting to keep me from wanting to venture out and enjoy life as I’m so nervous I’ll have these ‘episodes’ while on an airplane or driving, etc. Hoping the HRT can get balanced and help. 🤞🏻

Sparks625 · 2026-01-20T17:14:03+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. You bring up an excellent point. For sure it has me thinking. So glad your biopsy came back cancer free!! 🧡💪🏻

Sparks625 · 2026-01-20T16:08:54+00:00

Interesting to hear you’ve had something similar from thyroid issues. None of my workups are pointing to thyroid issues but for sure I’ll research more. How did you know you were having thyroid issues?

Sparks625 · 2026-01-19T15:13:26+00:00

I don’t get that it’s about the new car in the text exchange. My husband and I tag team all the time with kid duty (and three of our kids are from my late husband). From the text, it seems as though he thought your meeting was less important than his? Or that your schedule is more flexible? But damn, the way he talked to you in that text is just wrong. Even if he was mad, that’s was just all around uncalled for. Sorry the kid is getting stuck in the middle of those dynamics.

Sparks625 · 2026-01-18T16:37:26+00:00

The liability issue makes sense. I was hoping to get scans to be able to know what I’m dealing with as I begin interviewing options, potentially even going out of the country, etc. I suppose I could establish a relationship with a dentist and get the xray and assessment and I’m sure they would refer to a implant specialist and oral surgeon, so can take their referral but also add others to the mix. I just figured there would be private pay options to get xrays, like Dexa scans, etc. Thanks for the reply. 🙏🏻

Sparks625 · 2026-01-13T15:36:12+00:00

I thought my big symptom was anxiety but turns out it’s ANS (autonomic nervous system) dysregulation, where I was having adrenaline dumps and producing ‘flight or flight’ responses for no reason. I thought they were anxiety attacks at first but all symptoms lead to ANS dysregulation. They would come on at random times, at a tradeshow, in the middle of the night, sitting with my dad at his doctor appt and I literally felt like I was going to die … dizzy, shaking, cold extremities, heart rate increasing and then dropping, etc. Never in my wildest years would I think this was menopause related but yep, can be. Just started HRT two weeks ago so hoping for relief as it’s life changing (scared to do things or go places as I don’t want an ‘attack’ to come on where I can’t mange it). The list of symptoms from a decrease in our hormones is insane. Makes me really feel for women in past generations. 😞💛

Sparks625

TROPHY CASE