Crazy menopause symptoms ??

[herestolife]

Hi, I was hoping maybe someone here can shed some light on the craziness of menopause.  I was thrown into menopause by chemotherapy a year ago (breast cancer).  I don't many hot flashes and rarely have night sweats like "normal women" do. Instead, I get high blood pressure when lying down. Mostly at night, sometimes in the day if I take a nap, but as long as I'm horizontal, my BP goes up. Drives me insane, keeps me up many nights a week. I've talked with others, researched online, been to doctors. No one says this is a typical menopause symptom, yet no one can find any other explanation other than menopause.  I didn't have  normal periomenopause into menopause transition. I got here almost overnight with chemo.  I also have Hasimoto's which is stabilizing now that I've dropped gluten. But the high BP at night, oy!  It comes with some shakiness, jitteriness and I have to get up go sit in a chair, just get  vertical.  Very destructive to my sleep pattern. Any ideas?  Is this really due to hormones??

[DevotedPharmTech]

Sounds like postural hypotension to me but I am NOT a physician! NOT DIAGNOSING just offering info. I was curious, because I had this symptom two years ago. My blood pressure was lower when I stood up but it was technically still "high" it just got higher when I layed down. (202/112 not overstating it at all either)

My doc px'd me Valsartan with hydrochlorothiazide and my body returned to homeostasis. I was lost and had no clue what was wrong with me. I never considered it might be a menopause symptom. I just thought I had schizophrenic HBP.

I might suggest that you keep a blood pressure diary. My doc loved me for keeping one. Document your blood pressure numbers at least three times a day for a couple of weeks. It MIGHT help your doc figure out YOUR specific issue.

[Sanjivani Wanjari, MD]

HI,
High blood pressure in lying down position is really difficult to explain. It can be because of stress, and due to lack of sleep (and not the cause of it). This may not be related to the menopause or to disturbance of hormones. You should check out with your physician to evaluate other causes of raised blood pressure. Also blood test for high cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels should be done.
The answer is based on information provided. Exact advice is not possible without a proper examination and investigations. You are requested to consult your Doctor. Take care and keep us posted.