I'm probably not going to be a help at all and I apologize for that, but figured I'd offer my two cents anyways knowing that that's probably what it's worth. :c)

I'm at the tail end of menopause it would seem. On a typical day, I'm happy one minute and kind of pissy the next, and heat flashes seem to appear at the most in opportune times. I will occasionally experience what you describe but since I know what it is, I just try to keep my self calm and it doesn't take long to pass.

When I had my daughter many moons ago, I was scared to death of the needles and decided to go natural for the birth. I have that same fear with medications and hormones used to help control menopause and decided early on, I'd just experience whatever came my way naturally and deal with it the way we are meant to deal with it. The reason this was (for me) the best alternative is because it seems that most hormonal treatments pushed by the medical field in the past came back in the news years later to warn they were problematic for a lot of women and even cancer causing.

I honestly believe there are some things our bodies need to experience naturally and I personally feel that the changing of our hormones is one of those things.

Seems like I remember palpitations when peri started. Then again I have mitral valve prolapse, so it's hard to say what the real cause was.

I wouldn't be quick to jump on the HRT bandwagon. Keep doing a little more research.

Lukk, I was tempted to go with HRT that first year, but now that I've been enduring menopause for over 10 years that probably wouldn't have been the best decision. The first year was by far the worst for me. Now it's just an occasional inconvenience.

Here is a link that might be useful: here's info from the Mayo Clinic

This site has a link to alternative treatments. I've heard of Black Cohash but am not familiar with the other herb. Do some research and ask your doctor before you start any of that stuff.

http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/irregular-heartbeat.htm

After my hysterectomy several months ago, I talked to my GYN and the GYN Oncologist about HRT. Neither recommended unless I was having symptoms that were unbearable to live with since I was young (50yo). Both said not be good to take long term, since it could cause heart disease, blood clots and strokes.

I would research and talk to professionals you believe to be the best in your area.

lk, get thyself to HysterSisters forums. I know that's not what this is about, but feel very confident in saying if what you're experiencing is a symptom of peri, someone over there has had or is going through the same. And they are loaded with info on HRT and herbal remedies. I could not have gotten through all the problems I had without those ladies. No catty or snarky stuff, just women of all ages sharing experiences, serious worries and plenty of hand holding when a hand is needed. I hope you'll check them out.

Natal - There were women at where I worked at the time going through it and they were all on the hormone therapy bandwagon and whatever else they could find to help control the symptoms. The problem was the side effects for a lot of that stuff was often just as bad or worse. And then like I mentioned before, reports started popping up that it wasn't really a good option after all. It was just something I never even considered. I've been a life long sufferer of migraines and figured if I could manage to live life with those I could handle menopause too.

You mentioned every kind of test, but did they test your thyroid? My sister had symptoms like you're describing and turned out she was hyperthyroid. She's also entering peri-meno and is taking estrogen only.

I had a total hysterectomy about 5 years ago and have gone on & off HRT, but estrogen only, lightest dose possible. I started it when my symptoms were too much to bear, but now they're pretty much leveled off and I don't take it any more. I didn't have heart palpitations, so I can't say if that is helped by HRT or not.

I went through this a few years ago - for me I was 38. I went to a cardiologist as well, and he did an ECHO and a halter monitor for 48 hours and a stress test - all fine, although I had TONS of heart palpitations that made me a nervous wreck. I also decided mine were from perimenopause. Even though I was young, my hormone levels were low and family history was full of early menopause as well.
I found a great website as well - powersurge.com The forums there were very helpful to me - they are broken down and there is one just for heart symptoms. It's really amazing what many women have to go through.
Sometimes heart palps can be a sign of low progesterone and low thyroid. I have both, but not enough yet that I am willing to treat. Although I think my thyroid might be getting worse and it's probably time to re-visit that again.Low progesterone seems to be one of the first signs of perimenopause as well.
I highly recommend the website as well - lots of great information there and women who have done lots of research on both sides of the HRT decision.

Here is a link that might be useful: Power surge - halfway down is the heart forum

You're not alone...

Here is a link that might be useful: If you have arm pain or other symptoms, though, go to the ER

I'm assuming, since you have an endocrinologist, that hyperthyroid, Grave's disease, etc. have been ruled out? A rapid heartbeat is a classic symptom of these.

If it were me, I would consult another cardiologist for a second opinion. Just to be certain you don't have atrial fib. The symptoms you have described are the exact same symptoms my DF was experiencing. After testing with a good cardiologist he found that he has atrial fib (sp?). Also, I know that AF symptoms can be secondary to hypothyroidism. AF increases the risk of stroke, and women are at a higher risk and have fewer symptoms when having heart attack/stroke.

I am in the middle of menopause and thankfully haven't experienced any cardiac symptoms whatsoever. Hot flashes aplenty, but no heart racing, etc. I hesitate to use HRT, and prefer a more natural path to deal with all of the lovely symptoms that have cropped up with this new phase of my life.

Really as well intentioned as we all want to be for you with this, you need to seek a second opinion for the cardiology symptoms. Don't stop until someone can give you a reason why you are experiencing symptoms. You can take all test results you've already had with your prior cardiac workup to an appt for a second look by another board certified cardiologist.

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 had a similar situation with heart racing, I'm in menopause and I'm also a heart failure patient. I chose to be treated at the Mayo Clinic, a place I can't praise enough because it's awesome on diagnostics. All departments coordinate, all test results are in within hours after the test, and I can get questions answered on the spot, with complete and accurate data. How close are you to the Cleveland Clinic or Mayo? I'd quit with all the separate doctors and go the "one stop shopping" route. Get it all diagnosed at once by doctors who work together.

Yes, I have to go to a different state to get to Mayo. It's worth every minute of my time and cent of my money. I go every spring.

I ended up not using supplements or HRT and the heart racing stopped on it's own.

Well sounds like you have definitely done the cardiac follow-up. Glad you have that out of the way. I guess the menopause can cause a myriad of symptoms, as everyone seems to experience things that others haven't.

I didn't read whether your gyn has done bloodwork to definitively verify that you are, in fact, in the early stages of menopause? If you haven't had that test, I think that may be advantageous.

Also, following up with the endocrinologist is a great thing as well.

I think my biggest concern was that heart disease is a silent killer of women. That is why I suggested a second look by a cardiologist, but you've really done alot with regard to that particular aspect of this. Have any of the cardiologists mentioned that your VT might be exacerbated while going through menopause?

Keep us posted!

lkp, this is on the net, don't know if it tells you anything you don't already know (link below):

"During perimenopause (the time period before menopause), there is a marked decrease in ovarian estrogen production. This is associated with an increase in heart rate (sinus tachycardia) and an increased frequency in palpitations and non-threatening arrhythmias, such as premature ventricular contractions or PVCs.

Menopause causes a further decline in estrogen as the menstrual cycle stops. This time period is associated with irregular heart beats, palpitations, spasmodic chest pain and nightmares in women 40 -64 years old 2.

The Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study (HERS) found no benefit in use of hormone replacement therapy to reduce cardiovascular events, and hormone replacement therapy may even increase risk of thromboembolism (blood clot) during the first year 3. HRT is also associated with lengthening the QT interval [link to explanation above], although the relevance of this finding is not known 4. On the other hand, HRT may decrease palpitations and other symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, and sweating. Therefore, it may be considered a treatment option in low risk female patients to relieve symptoms of palpitations."

The site has more info about arrhythmia & some women-specific info too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cleveland Clinic

What caught my attention was your mentioning "since losing about 70 lbs two years ago". That is a huge weight loss and some of it is muscle loss and heart is a muscle. I hope all the doctors who tested you were and are aware of your weight loss. It might be very relevant getting to the bottom of what is going on with your health.

@lkplatow, wondering if your PVC palpitation problem resolved on its own. I am facing the same exact scenario as yours now. What steps did you take to resolve it ?