How Unmanaged Symptoms Landed this Patient in the ER, And How She Finally Found Support

When Jamie Lee began experiencing symptoms of perimenopause in her late 30s, she was met with dismay. Incredulous friends and doctors replied that she was too young for menopause — that what she was experiencing was likely the cause of something else. But when her unmanaged symptoms landed her in the ER, she knew she had to do something.

We spoke with Jamie about her tumultuous experience seeking care, the variety of interventions she tried, and how she finally found the support she needed.

On how it began…

Initially it started with sleeplessness, and I just thought, “oh, I don’t know – it’s part of aging, or I’m just depressed, or I’m just anxious.” And then last year, I had palpitations, in addition to extreme mood swings.

I went to urgent care because it just felt like my heart was jumping out of my chest, and I was out of breath. They did an EKG, and they said “we’re not sure, but we see this blip on your chart. Go to the ER.” So, I went to the ER, and they did the battery of tests, and said everything looked normal but recommended I talk to a cardiologist.

I had read somewhere that palpitations can be a symptom of perimenopause, but of course my cardiologist said “I don’t know, no idea.” With that, I went to my gynecologist, who was still citing the 2002 WHI study and wouldn’t give me hormone therapy.

“I went to urgent care because it just felt like my heart was jumping out of my chest, and I was out of breath.”

On what she tried instead…

The mood swings and the energy sap got worse every luteal phase of my cycle. So I did my own research, and said if my OB/GYN won’t acknowledge it’s perimenopause, maybe it’s PMDD —I could get support for that. I went on a very low dose of SSRI during the last 10 days of my cycle, which didn’t really help. I tried meditation. I tried black cohosh. I tried chasteberry supplements.

I did so many things and then it was this year that I started getting the hot flashes, mood swings, anxiety, the fatigue…all of it worsened this year. When I noticed that it wasn’t getting better once my period started and ended, I thought, “I gotta do something.”

On finally getting help…

Out of desperation, I went online to menopause.org. I watched the M Factor and I downloaded the new book The Menopause Brain. I learned that there are estrogen receptors in every single organ of the body, pretty much. And that made so many things make sense, because I felt like I was going insane. I couldn’t remember words or why I walked into rooms, and I couldn’t stay focused. That’s when I found that Elektra has insurance-covered telehealth services and that I could get this appointment really quickly, within a week or two. I booked the appointment and literally within a day of putting on the lowest dosage estrogen patch I was prescribed, I started feeling better.

“That’s when I found that Elektra has insurance-covered telehealth services and that I could get this appointment really quickly, within a week or two.”

On what surprised her most about menopause…

It really does feel existential. I remember one day I woke up, just dreading my day and asked myself “why am I dreading my day? I have my dream job, my dream life.” I went outside for a walk thinking maybe I’d feel better and as I was walking outside, I realized I couldn’t remember the name of a sparrow. I was looking at the bird thinking “what is that called?” That felt existential, because it was as if there were holes in my brain.

On what she thinks is missing from the menopause conversation…

People see me and they think, “oh, you’re too young, plus you’re still getting your period.” That’s what my OB/GYN and PCP said. But I’ve read that when you’re a person of color, your perimenopause journey may start earlier. And, if you’re neurodivergent — if you have ADHD or are the spectrum, you’re more likely to be sensitive to the symptoms. I think that [information] is really useful to share.

“People see me and they think, ‘oh, you’re too young, plus you’re still getting your period.’ That’s what my OB/GYN and PCP said. But I’ve read that when you’re a person of color, your perimenopause journey may start earlier.”

READ MORE:

• An Elektra Member Talks Menopausal Rage and Her Path to Relief
• An Elektra Patient Opens Up About The Menopause Symptoms That Took Her (And Her Doctors) By Surprise
• An Elektra Member Talks Debilitating Hot Flashes…and How She Found Relief
• Brain Fog, Mood Swings, and Hot Flashes: How This Elektra Patient Took Back Control