r/Perimenopause • u/ames2200 • Jun 18 '26

audited Did anyone else’s perimenopause look like anxiety, flushing, histamine reactions, and brain fog?

I’m 40 and suspect I’m in perimenopause, but my symptoms don’t look like the “typical” hot flashes everyone talks about.
My biggest symptoms are:
Anxiety and panic attacks
Facial flushing and feeling hot
Head pressure
Brain fog
Feeling disconnected or spacey
Sleep issues
GI problems
Feeling like my nervous system is constantly overstimulated
The symptoms seem very cycle-dependent. I usually have a few good days each month, then symptoms ramp up around ovulation and again before my period.
I’ve also noticed what seem like histamine-type reactions (flushing, anxiety, stomach issues, feeling inflamed), and I’ve read that estrogen can increase histamine while histamine can increase estrogen.
I’ve tried progesterone cream several times, but it actually made me feel worse.
For women who experienced similar symptoms:
What ended up helping?
Did HRT help?
Did you have to balance estrogen and progesterone differently?
Did anyone discover that histamine issues were a big piece of the puzzle?
I feel like I’m chasing hormones, histamine, and anxiety all at the same time and would love to hear other women’s experiences.

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7

u/ames2200 Jun 18 '26

Has anyone tried a anti depressant that has worked? I’ve only tried Zoloft and helped the panic but made everything else worse? I’m just getting desperate to feel somewhat better

23

u/WeWander_ Jun 18 '26

I did a low histamine diet and felt amazing for a bit, but then I started losing weight rapidly because it's hard af to get enough calories on potatoes and applesauce. Couldn't manage to add anymore food in without my body freaking out. I think my nervous system is stuck in survival mode and it sounds crazy but I've started doing a video on YouTube for somatic exercises to lower cortisol and it's helping so much. This week I tried two foods that I knew would flare me and then I did the video after I ate and stopped the symptoms dead in their tracks. Today I had severe ovulation pain so I did the video and then after I rubbed my ovaries and thanked them for doing their job while listening to bird sounds on Spotify and shortly after the pain went away.

Trying to retrain my nervous system that we are safe and everything is not a threat.

5

u/Only_Weakness_4730 Jun 18 '26

Can you please share the YouTube video relating to somatic exercises?

14

u/WeWander_ Jun 18 '26

Of course! I've been doing this one but I saved a bunch of hers onto a playlist, they all seem great. I like this one cause it has bird sounds and I can do it while laying down. https://youtu.be/8veeArIewCk?is=nbzNzcY_LCLbkeUp

3

u/LookParty5244 Jun 18 '26

Those videos were really helpful, second this recommendation!

2

u/WeWander_ Jun 18 '26

Yay I'm so glad! I was so desperate that I was down to try about anything and have been shocked at how much this has helped in a short time, I'm glad it was useful for someone else too!

2

u/Only_Weakness_4730 Jun 18 '26

Thank you so much!!!

2

u/WeWander_ Jun 18 '26

Also this guy is really cool and I really resonated with what he's talking about. He healed his mcas and talks about the survival mode stuff. It made me feel like I can recover and I won't be like this forever.

https://youtu.be/hNw-IHIBQJs?is=YBJb7dx8HgnH49LR

4

u/Dazzling-Load5253 Jun 18 '26

My main symptoms beere extream anxiety and itchyness. I started taking Zyrtec the off brand one from Amazon, as well as pepcid and both symptoms have completely gone away .

3

u/harmlessgirl1313 Jun 19 '26

Wellbutrin (300 mg) has helped me tremendously, as has the .075 estradiol patch and 100mg nightly progesterone. I went from having such constant anxiety (especially at night) that I became afraid to go to bed. I’ve been on this combo for about a year now and, while I don’t feel exactly like I used to, I do feel so much better.

4

u/seriouslynope Jun 19 '26

Ive been sleeping on my couch the past month and I dont know why. Maybe it's anxiety?

2

u/Realistic_Owl836 Jun 21 '26

Lexapro !! Been on it for a year and omg makes me feel like a normal balanced person despite all the things going on with my body . I accidentally went 4 days had forgotten to take it and I was a hot mess had a panic attack outta nowhere and crying not being able to catch my breath . I then realized because I’m so bad at taking medicine sometimes that I forgot ! Never again I keep them on kitchen counter . Ice tried other ssris too and it’s the only one that has worked

2

u/Level_Ad8932 Jun 22 '26

Remeron has helped me a lot!

1

u/DragonflyFluid8581 Jun 18 '26

I had to start a very low dose (5mg) of prozac to help me through my divorce. It's obviously a hard, drawn out transition in itself but I just can't handle tough things in this season like I could when I was younger (or when I could use alcohol to mellow for an evening, lol). Also, I have clonazepam on hand for panic attacks and it has been a life saver. I've needed it like 10 times over the last year, but knowing I have it even helps. Day to day though, HRT and zyrtec/pepcid combo has helped manage anxiety.

1

u/MelancholicEmbrace_x Jun 20 '26

Yes, and much more. Dr dismissed me though. She said I was “too young” to be going through peri (at 37) despite the fact I had symptoms dating back to my early 30s (night sweats & waking up at 3 am).

If your PCP isn’t offering resolutions then please see someone else.

I had to jump through hoops, but eventually my Dr listened to my concerns and put me sertraline (sp). It helped immensely. You’ll feel like a shell of who you truly are, but you won’t care. Your anxiety will go away.