“I repeat over and over on the site that any complaints a woman has during menopause should not automatically be attributed to the process of menopause. That’s an important disclaimer. In short, before assuming, not that you are, that any of the things you’ve mentioned in your message are associated with peri or postmenopause, you should be checked by a doctor you respect, trust and admire — one who listens to you and doesn’t just hand you a prescription to resolve your problems.
That having been said, let me tell you that during those “worst” years of perimenopause, I experienced SO MANY strange, inexplicable and, oftentimes, bizarre feelings in my body, I conjured up notions of having a brain tumor, Parkinson’s Disease, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Menniere’s Disease, a heart condition, paralysis, a potential stroke, glaucoma — have I left anything out? And I say none of this with humor.
Perimenopause is the singularly most uncomfortable time of a woman’s life. I’ve posted many times about the internal shaking. It’s been my nemesis and continues this day to plague me.
I had the facial tremors and buzzing sensations on a daily basis. The feelings were so strange, they almost defy description. No one could see it, but it felt as though I were having a stroke. I’d often experience numbness in my face and on my left side at the same time — a red flag would go up because I thought I was definitely having a coronary situation or stroke. Facial ticks, facial tremors, an electrical buzzing in the back of my neck and various parts of my body drove me to distraction.
The good part about this story is that most of those symptoms DO go away once you’ve been without a period for about a year or two. Those feelings, in the majority of cases, are due to the hormonal fluctuations your body is experiencing. Imagine turning the thermostat in your house up and down a dozen or more times a day. Your house wouldn’t know whether to turn on the heat or air conditioning.
Our bodies become very sensitized during this process. Feelings are frightening — we can walk around for days feeling vertigo/dizziness and/or a ringing in the ears (tinnitus). There were days I had to grab onto a bannister or railing for fear that I was going to fall over. My legs still pose a problem — becoming weak and feeling as if they’re not going to support me any longer. Pain in the feet, calves, shoulders, joints aching and paining often to the point of bringing tears to your eyes.
My suggestion to you would be to get yourself a thorough examination by your doctor. Have a blood workup, sugar test, thyroid, hormone levels, total lipid / cholesterol profile. Insist on an Echo cardiogram, not just a cardiogram.
Our bodies are composed of so many different types of hormones — not just estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Our bodies react to the constant ebb and flow of these hormone levels. Our central nervous system, nerve endings produce electrical impulses. Those electrical impulses are felt differently by every woman. Some women never feel them, while others are fraught with all sorts of strange sensations.
Once you’ve been given a clean bill of health by your doctor, the singularly most important thing you need to do during perimenopause is do relaxation techniques. Learn breathing exercises. Use the paper bag method (I call it “brown bagging it) I have described in many areas of the Web site and on these boards. I’ll provide a link to that at the end of this message.
Feed yourself affirmations every day that this, too, shall pass — that you are not dying — that although you feel as if your body is going to hell in a handbasket and you’re never going to survive this transition, you will. That, most importantly, there is nothing to be afraid of even though it feels at times like someone is holding a gun to your head and ready to pull the trigger.
Oh, Lord, would it were so that they’d find a way for women NOT to have to go through menopause. And, further, I am sick of hearing *some* people say that it’s all in our minds, or it’s our nerves, or if we had better things to do with our time, we wouldn’t think about it. I’ve never stopped being busy during this transition, but that didn’t ease the symptoms.
To those people, I say … until you’ve walked a mile in another person’s shoes, you can’t know what they are going through. Women in menopause aren’t hypochondriacs. I have to be dragged and feeling as if I’m not long for the world before I go to the doctor. Why? Because during perimenopause, I have learned… doctors don’t have answers to most of our questions other than to prescribe tranquilizers or anti-depressants or hormones…. and although some of these medications may help in the short term and to get you over the “hump” of perimenopause, most of them don’t work in the long term — or through the duration of perimenopause and it concerns me that there are no real long-term studies on these SSRI’s (anti-depressants).
If you feel you need to take something to get through this process, absolutely take it. Don’t make a martyr or yourself. However, remember, these medications only temporarily mask the symptoms. Learning ways to relax and cope with the changes you’re undergoing works far better over the long haul than anything else.
I have provided various relaxation and breathing techniques on this, the anxiety and the panic boards that can be tremendously helpful. The one I’d recommend is something I refer to as “brown bagging it.” It’s in various places of the site, but I’ll give you a link to my article after I’ve finished this message.
It has been my experience and I believe that of many other women who’ve passed through Power Surge over the seven years it’s been online that once you are in the throes of perimenopause, for about one or two years — perhaps a third (but not often), you will experience every conceivable symptom on the list of 34+ symptoms (* see below). I went through severe migraines and was *never* a headache person in my life. They lasted about a year or two – on and off, not every day, but they eventually stopped. I went through the facial tremors, buzzing experience as though I’d had my finger in an electrical socket. The migraines and severe palpitations, hot flashes, night sweats, crying and severe mood swings, horrific depression so much so that at times I would put my head on the pillow at night and whisper to God, “Please, if I have to feel this way tomorrow, let me not wake up.”
Those feelings — horrible as they are — don’t generally last for the full transitional period. They usually occur during the worst phase of perimenopause and only last about a year or two. That doesn’t mean you won’t ever experience them again in some milder form, but the severity and frequency will certainly decrease — and hormone therapy isn’t the magical answer. Many women using hormones still experience many of these symptoms.
Just remember that as long as you’ve been given the okay regarding your health by your health care provider, these are symptoms of menopause and, yes, I say symptoms. People have said to me, “Why do you call them symptoms? Menopause isn’t an illness.”
I tell them that I know menopause isn’t technically an illness, but seeing as how I have never felt worse in my life, I will not say that I am well.
I get very passionate about this subject and one of the reasons I’ve kept Power Surge an independent entity is because it allows me the opportunity to express myself without wondering who’s going to pay the bills if I tell the truth about the medical profession and some of the techniques of the pharmaceutical companies.
I will never get rich from Power Surge, but knowing that this community has helped so many women understand what they’re going through without just dumping medical abstracts at them and pushing pills on them has been the most gratifying and “freeing” experience of my life.
Finally, let me add my favorite words — THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS. Believe me, I thought in my heart I would never, ever survive perimenopause, but the internal shaking eases up even though it’s hell while you’re going through it. The palps will stop as well. It just takes time and a LOT of patience!
Be good to your body and it will return the favor in spades.
For the “brown bagging it” reference and many other helpful suggestions, check out the Power Surge Menopause Survival Tips article.
…and the ever useful…
* The 34+ Signs of Menopause
Dearest”
Power Surge 
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I am so grateful to have found this site. I have been through it! for the last 4 mos i have had internal shaking and been to several drs. I’m 52 post menopauseal and just started the lowest hrt patch. its been 4 wks and the shaking is still here! all blood work shows i have low estrogen, no thyroid or other things. i’m dying for a sedative! but non of my drs will prescribe one, they tried different meds before bloodwork showed low estrogen was the problem and non worked (busperone, wellbutron, and a rx for severe allergies) anyone out there can you offer me some words of comfort as nothing (including herbal rememdies)stops the vibrations inside. Geeze why isnt more research done on this! my own gyn said this wasnt a meno symptom, that he hadnt heard of it before. ugh
I honestly do not know what to do about this internal shaking. I feel it mostly at night. I will wake up for no reason and I feel my body shaking inside. I am on divigel (estrogen .1mg) it has helped with other symtoms but not with e internal shaking! I wonder if something is wrong with me!!!
It was such a relief to find this site. I’m 43. For about 2 months I’ve been experiencing almost constant internal shaking and anxiety. I, too, imagined every possible disease and knew my death was imminent. This far all medical tests have come back negative. I’m awaiting additional heart testing such as echo cardigan and stress test. I’m beginning to think it may be perimenopause. The internal shaking is maddening and depressing!
I too am experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, internal shaking, difficulty concentrating and fatigue. Not mention palpitations sleepless nights. Went to my ob/gyn he prescribed Lopreeza 1mg per day. I have just started trying deep breathing and relaxation apps. This all started 3 months ago. Also does it effect your eating habits. I have trouble deciding what to eat.
I am happy to say I found a solution to my shaking.
I was diagnosed with restless leg syndrome at 44, and over the next few years it developed into shaking when I was trying to sleep: legs, torso, shoulders. It was like being tortured, being awoken again and again by my own body. It was always worse when I was feeling hormonal. I tried many supplements, herbs, treatments, and therapies to address it. (No pharmaceuticals except I once tried lorazepam at my doctor’s suggestion and that made the symptoms worse.) I got used to chronic exhaustion and hoped that when my periods stopped, the shaking would stop. (I am now 52 and still getting periods irregularly).
Long story short, last summer I came up with a new theory that it might have something to do with dehydration and started increasing my water intake. That only helped a little until I added a trace mineral supplement. It helped! Over the last several months the symptoms have subsided. I always thought of the shaking as an “electrical short circuit” and now it seems that may have been correct, since electrolytes (minerals) in the right balance have solved the problem. Now I only get the symptoms if I haven’t had enough water, so I do the opposite of what I used to do and drink a lot of water in the evenings, along with a few drops of trace minerals. (Getting up to use the bathroom a couple of times in the night is no trouble compared to what I used to experience, and I always go right back to sleep). I’m sleeping and so grateful.
The formulation I found at my health food store is called Concentrace, from sea water. I’m sure there are others. A naturopath did once prescribe an electrolyte supplement that worsened my symptoms (I think because it was high in potassium and aggravated my adrenal fatigue), so I think a natural ionic form is better.
I hope this discovery will be helpful to others. Keep trying!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I just experienced the internal shaking for the first time this week. Throw a bit of crying and pounding heart in for good measure 😉 I felt crazy and kept wanting to cry and cry. No, I’m not crazy. This is wonderful support
I felt better with the internal shaking when I went on progesterone cream
I have been experiencing internal shaking for over 3 weeks..terrifying and almost unbearable. I am so thankful for this web site and these posts give me hope.
I too had the internal tremors , I shoot so badly my husband had to hold me tightly just to give me some relief. In addition, there was tinnitus, anxiety and God-awful depression. And a great deal of foggy thinking. And I could not sleep, I would wake up , bolt upright into a sitting position during the night. You think you are going crazy. Dawn
Hi Dawn – I am still having tremors – 5 months later – it’s awful – plus anxiety and depression. I am taking 1 gram a day of bio identical estrogen and lots of minerals and vitamins. I am considering going on an anti-depressant. What worked for you? Did the tremors finally go away?
I have them too and I am so glad it is normal.very strange!!
I found this website by googling my internal tremor, shaking, spasms, heartbeat in the body, vibrations, buzzing, these are some of the names that I call it!
I turned 54 in October. I have had periods every month fairly normally until October 24,2017. I had a really heavy period and just did not feel like myself after that. That started the trips to the doctors! I had a CT scan on Nov 10, an endoscopy and colonoscopy on Nov 17. I felt so bad on Nov 18 that I went the the ER. The young tech did an EKG which came up abnormal. He put the leads on too far from my heart. They released me and thought it was anxiety. I then had to follow up with a cardiologist that did another EKG and and echocardiogram and everything was normal. At this point I was so nervous and shaky with digestive issues that I could not eat. All food made me nauseous! I felt like I did with morning sickness! My weight was dropping and I was scared! I went from my normal 113 to 106. I made myself eat!
My blood work is all normal except I had thyroid antibodies for Hashimotos although my thyroid levels, TSH, T3, T4 were all in the normal ranges. On Feb 15, 2018 we decided to experiment with 1/2 of the smallest synthetic thyroid medication (12.5 mcg) thinking maybe this would help with shaking.
I had an ultrasound on my uterus and ovaries. That was normal and showed post menopausal. My Obgyn was shocked that my endometrial wall was very thin showing like I had been in menopause for a long time. However I had periods every month until October and I am 54. So I think that my hormones suddenly plummeted. The FSH and estrogen levels also show post menopausal.
I get night sweats and hot sometimes during the day but they are no big deal for me, maybe I am not getting the terrible hot flashes that some people get. My main symptom is this internal tremor vibration!!!!! My obgyn hates HRT and said maybe SSRI’s would help. My obgyn does know that this internal shaking tremor can be menopausal but says that no medication, hormones or SSRI is going to take it away. She suggested acupuncture but does not have anyone that she could recommend. I would pursue the acupuncture if I knew of a credible person but at this point I am too anxious to try just any one sticking needles in me.
Thank God my weight is back up and food does not make me nauseous.
I wake up every morning between 3 and 4 am with these vibrations traveling around to different spots in my body, typically, back, stomach, legs and arms.
I have never taken any medication regularly and am scared to try an SSRI. My PA did give me inderal 10 mg and Buspar to try. One night while sitting on the couch I gave the inderal (beta blocker) a try. It made me tired and a little more relaxed but did NOT get rid of the skaking. I also tried Buspar on another night. What a mistake! You know when they say you don’t know how medication will affect you! I got very anxious and hyper! Did not sleep all night! Threw Buspar in the trash the next day!
I basically have these vibration feelings the majority of the time that I sit or lay still. I think I have them while moving but they do not bother me as much. Really fun to sit down and watch a movie! NOT!
REALLY REALLY helps to know that I am not alone. I have always tired to take good care of my health. I maintain a healthy weight and exercise daily (although during those rough times in November and December I could not exercise and felt like a zombie)
I tried Estroven (over the counter) black cohash for 45 days. My obgyn suggested it. I stopped it no help
I take magnesium 400 mg as it is supposed to help and try to eat a lot of dark green leafy vegetables.
My next step is to see a cognitive behavioral psychologist. Maybe try yoga?
Trying to stay busy, stay positive and talk to myself and know that I do not have ALS or any of the terrible illnesses that I start googling with my symptoms
CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW LONG THIS LASTED? I READ ONE TO TWO YEARS AFTER PERIODS STOP?
Hi Jackie – please join our private facebook group – there are over 600 women from around the world with these symptoms. For me – they started in March 2017 – I woke up with severe “internal” tremors, hot flashes, massive anxiety, heart palpitations and brain fog – I thought my life was over..after multiple tests and doctor’s visits, trial and error supplements, acupuncture, exercise ..I found relief with the Vivelle Dot Estradiol Patch (FDA approved bio identical estrogen) and Lexapro 10 mg (anti depressant). Here’s the link – – it’s a great support group – best of luck and hopefully we’ll see you there and you’ll start feeling better soon: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Surgettes/
I went on topical progesterone cream and the internal tremors went away. About 2 years later I had other symptoms i.e. hot flashes and went on biest cream.
Thanks for the great advice to Jackie, Dana 🙂
I am stunned by this perfect description and explanation for my symptoms. I have had the nervy/buzzing/ringing in ears thing, been terrified and told by three doctors, a naturopath, acupuncturist, chiropractor, endocrinologist and neurologist that it would definitely not have anything to do with menopause.
And even, weirdly, that I am not menopausal – though I am 55 and have not had a period for a year, maybe more. This is unbelievably helpful. Thank you.
What I’ve found the most discomforting is the very real sense that people are not interested and automatically either hostile or dismissive in a patronizing way. For example, I noticed some vertigo-like symptoms; a momentary loss of balance and the response? “Maybe you’re just clumsy.” I go to technically good doctors armed with legitimate info and ask for what I’ve read (in articles and books quoting doctors talking about menopause) are good tests to get and I’m told “you’re fine.”
I’m going to try this electrolyte drink and join this community!
I just stumbled into this group because I’m in the middle of a surge right now and it terrified me so I started Googling and got this link. I just burst into tears b/c as a 49-year old woman, I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. I’ve experienced numbness/tingling and the joint pain, insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes, etc. I’m overweight, but working to lose the extra weight that I’ve gained due to fibroids and perimenopause. I just had the UFE procedure (uterine fibroid embolization) in July, so I guess I’m still in recovery b/c I’ve had pelvic discomfort and pain that was going up my spine, so I just started physical therapy per my doctor’s recommendation. My body is still in cycle mode, and this is typically when it comes on. However, I’m so over these symptoms appearing out of nowhere as I almost took myself to the ER today to check my heart and sugar again. I will make the appointment for my annual to make sure all is well with me.
Thank God for this post and this community.
Thank God I found this post. I was freaking out. I’ve had a “buzzing” sensation in my uterus for the past week. I started spotting yesterday, my period is not due until the end of the week. I thought I was losing my mind. I kept checking to see if my phone was laying near my body.
I’ve been having internal shakes and head nodding at nights. Is this normal? I took Cyclacur for 2 months and felt better but I want to go through this naturally. Your article is reassuring, however at nights when symptoms are bad I start thinking there’s something seriously wrong with me. Please email me on this. Thank you, Peggy.
Peggy, I’m very sorry that you’re having these issues. Unfortunately, Dearest can’t email you about this – she died in 2013. 😦
I am just keeping this site going in her memory. Her message boards are still going, as well, at https://powersurge.invisionzone.com/
There is an area there for internal shakes that may be of use to you: https://powersurge.invisionzone.com/forum/16-internal-shaking/
Best of luck to you.
Hi Mary – It sounds like you need to be on estradiol patch. 1 MG estradiol patch took away all my internal tremors.
I’m so sorry to hear this. Can you tell me how she died and how old she was. Was it in any way related to her internal shakes? Just need to know. Thank you Peggy.
I don’t know she died. She was 67 and my best friend 😦
I am flabbergasted by this thread, YOU Mary for taking over your best friend’s work, and all the women who have been writing and seeking help for years. I don’t even know what to say except “Thank you.” I am a physician – a functional medicine physician for the most part, though I have several practices and one is”almost” strictly conventional practice with other providers caring for the elderly in Skilled Nursing facilities and Assisted Living Facilities (SNF and ALFs). But I am also online – originally created and a line of bioidentical hormones and taught women for years how to manage their own hormones since so few doctors knew how to really do it and often either poo poo’ed symptoms, decided HRT had to be pharmaceutical instead of Bioidentical or whatever. I won’t mention that line here because I don’t want this to be misconstrued as a plug for my products. I am still part owner of that business but no longer teach online anymore under that company so that it won’t be misconstrued there either. I have a Functional Medicine Practice in Sarasota FL however that is where I mostly reside my time now helping women with everything related to midlife – as it’s truly holistic and Functional and I don’t mind sharing that here if desired. But what I really want to say is if I can be of any service to you Mary in your work here, please let me know. It’s really interesting that you use a zebra for your picture because I use a zebra many times in my groups because I suppose its the same reason you use it. In med school we were always told to look for the HORSE and NOT the Zebra. They would say – it it looks like a horse, runs like a horse, nays like a horse, smells like a horse… it’s a horse NOT a zebra. I almost died thinking like that in 2001. And that is when I started my work as a Functional Medicine Doctor – Conventional medicine couldn’t help me. I was a Zebra! So I’ve had many Zebra women in my practice since. Thank you again for your dedication.
Thanks so much, Karen. There is no way I could let all the hard work Alice did in her lifetime die with her. I had intended to put up her entire website here but I haven’t quite gotten to it yet.
I actually use a zebra because my main life’s work (in addition to my paid jobs!) is helping people – mainly women – get diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease which is incredibly rare. So rare that my doctor told me I couldn’t have it. Rare doesn’t mean that no one gets it – DUH!
Hello, I’m 45 years old and am so happy I have found this website. I too have all these symptoms(pain in joints, tingling, heavy periods etc) after having my left ovary removed last year in June. The inner tremble really scared me and still does but knowing I am not alone make me feel somewhat better. I have been to so many different doctors and they all look at me like I’m crazy. They say my hormones are normal and all my other test( thyroid etc) come back normal. I have found relief in 10mg of Amitriptyline and i did also find swimming at the beach helped me over the summer. It might have something to do with the seawater. I am waiting for the weather to warm up to see if this will help again this summer. Thanks power surge.