Dizziness comes on rapidly and then leaves, followed by rapid heartbeat. Two trips to ER and no answers.

Wife presently going through menopause and experiencing dizziness and fatigue.  Has been to the ER twice for dizziness and got stress test and ultasound and numerous other tests and blood work, all negative.  She has high blood pressure and allergies.  Could depression cause these smyptoms?  Mr. Happy is very concerned.

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

Dizziness and fatigue are very common symptoms, especially in menopause. Palpitations are also very common in menopause. Palpitations are a rapid heart beat that comes and goes. Her symptoms can also be caused by irregular heart beats not due to menopause, anemia, low blood sugar and other conditions. Depression is a common problem and it is certainly associated with fatigue, but not necessarily dizziness. If her blood pressure medication is too high, it can make her dizzy by causing her blood pressure to get too low.

It sounds like your wife would benefit from sitting down and talking with her doctor about these symptoms. When do they come, does anything bring them on, does anything make them better and similar questions to better understand the problem.

She might also need to see a cardiologist for more testing. Her gynecologist might also offer her some thoughts about how likely it is that these symptoms are caused by menopause. If her heart and sugar, etc. are all OK, she might benefit from a discussion about whether hormones are a good choice for her, or alternatives to hormones that can help her symptoms.
Machelle Seibel, MD