topic Re: Menopause experience in Wellness

Menopause experience

Natureluvr — Sun, 08 May 2022 01:09:37 GMT

Well, it’s that time for me. I’m starting to have night sweats on a regular basis. Waking up drenched and not sleeping well. I have an appointment with my GYN next month but I’d also like to hear from ladies who have gone through menopause and find out if you took hormones or not and what worked for you and didn’t. Thanks in advance!

Re: Menopause experience

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 08 May 2022 01:24:39 GMT

I've been through it naturally, no hormones. I did have some abnormal bleeding, had a few tests and procedures. Ultimately ended up having a complete hysterectomy.

You might like to do some reading on supplementing with Rosehips Seed Oil for help in managing your symptoms.

Re: Menopause experience

Meowingkitty — Sun, 08 May 2022 01:42:38 GMT

I took Femhrt for a few years My periods stopped the first month never to return again. So I didn't have to go through wondering if I was going to have another one, so that was wonderful. No hot flashes either. I was on them probably 5-6 years. I didn't stop cold turkey. I gradually decreased my dosage over a few months and I've been great ever since.

Re: Menopause experience

patbz — Sun, 08 May 2022 01:45:04 GMT

I got married at 40 and had my only child as I turned 45. Within 6 months I was in full blown menipause. At first I took hormones but within a year there was a lot of publicity against taking them; I took myself off them and then let my gynecologist know. I never had really bad symptoms ( and what I had quickly went away).

Re: Menopause experience

Lisa Y — Sun, 08 May 2022 01:46:46 GMT

@Natureluvr

About 5 years ago, my dr. asked me about if I was having symptoms. I wasn't and didn't notice anything new. Because I was of the age when most women start menopause, he asked how I felt about hot flashes. I said I wasn't interested and I've been on hormone replacement since then. I haven't looked back.

(Side note-I actually had a few hot flashes when I was pregnant, so I knew what they were like.)

Good luck with whatever you choose. It has to be right for you.

Re: Menopause experience

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 08 May 2022 01:48:09 GMT

I went thru menopause years ago, I was in my late 40's. I had very few hot flashes, but did have what I called my summer of discontent...I was moody and crabby, but it did not last long. I could not take hormones (my mom had breast cancer) but really had few symptoms so I was quite lucky. I hope this is an easy process for you.

Re: Menopause experience

SurferWife — Sun, 08 May 2022 01:50:41 GMT

I entered menopause ~3 years ago. The two worst things that I experience are hot flashes, although they seem to have subsided over the last 6 months or so, and not being able to fall asleep at night, which I solved by taking Good Day Sleep supplement. They are chocolate! I fall asleep when my head hits the pillow & wake up refreshed & well rested! The night sweats haven't been an issue for me. I do get hot at night but that's really because my husband can't take the AC as cold as I prefer, so I bump it up so that he doesn't get too cold.

Re: Menopause experience

NEvans2 — Sun, 08 May 2022 02:42:50 GMT

I started menopause when I was in my early forties. My friend told me about a tofu shake that she was drinking and it really helped me. Take a regular size container of tofu and quarter it. Drop a quarter of it into the blender with 8oz. of your favorite juice and blend. Take the other three quarters of the tofu and put it in a container and cover with water. Repeat the next day. I liked it with orange juice or cran apple or cran raspberry juice. The oj one reminded me of an Orange Julius. You only need to do one a day. If I remember correctly it took about four or five days til I noticed a difference. I ran it by my doctor and she said a lot of her patients did that. She also said it would only work for so long. It worked for me for a year. After that I went on HRT for a year. I highly recommend the tofu shake, it's a good place to start. Good Luck.

Re: Menopause experience

Malcontent — Sun, 08 May 2022 02:53:15 GMT

@Natureluvr

The bottom line is: you’ll survive.

Buckle up and Enjoy the menopause ride.

Re: Menopause experience

mac116 — Sun, 08 May 2022 03:09:53 GMT

I had a very difficult time going through menopause with drenching night sweats, extreme irritability, hot flashes, etc. My doctor prescribed the lowest dose hormone replacement which I took for over a year. I knew when I began to feel normal again, so I was weaned off. Every woman is different, and needs to make the best decision for themselves with their doctor.

Re: Menopause experience

Spacrazy — Sun, 08 May 2022 05:25:24 GMT

@Natureluvr I just drank, smoked and cursed a lot - kidding. All the women in our family have difficulty in the “change.,.”. If I recall I was so depleted i had to go for a series of iinjections (instant relief with those.) until I was balanced enough to go on the patch - great results with that as well. Good luck. This too shall pass.

Re: Menopause experience

Desertdi — Sun, 08 May 2022 06:57:26 GMT

None (thankfully)

Re: Menopause experience

Pook — Sun, 08 May 2022 10:14:26 GMT

@Natureluvr My mother had no symptons - just stopped at around 42 but she had estrogen based breast cancer and was told too much estrogen was why she had no menopause symptons so was told to never take estrogen. I started into it around 40 and it lasted about 8 years. Every time I would get to 11 mon without a period - it started again!! The hot flashes were horrible even having to leave a restuarant they were so bad! I never had sleep issues but would wake up soaked every hour most nights but did fall asleep quickly. I was never impatient but started to want to thwack people for little things and I cried for no reason a lot! My GYN suggested that I eat one yam (not sweet potato) daily and it worked as long as I did that faithfully! They are also rather good eaten raw I found out. Unless you do complete hormone balancing and compounding of all hormones, hormones can cause other issues and very few doctors do this.

Re: Menopause experience

CalminHeart — Sun, 08 May 2022 11:14:40 GMT

I did it without hormones and am glad I did. Yes, I had night sweats, hot flashes, etc. It was what it was and I survived just fine.

We installed a ceiling fan in the bedroom.

I took an ice pack to work each day. It was wonderful to rub it on my forehead or back of my neck.

I also stopped at the restroom on the way to my office each morning and got a few cold, very wet, papertowels.

I also kept a fan in my office and it ran winter, summer, fall, spring.

Re: Menopause experience

Roscoe the Rascal — Sun, 08 May 2022 11:41:31 GMT

For me menopause was a blessing because I had awful PMS. Those months and years were difficult for me. My poor hubby is all I can say. He didn't know if I was coming or going. Neither did I.

I never really had all those menopause symptoms. I think I had a real hot flash once.

No hormones here and mom and sister both had cancer. I do take a 10 mg pill for anxiety daily and always have and I think that helped me out big time.

We as women sure get hit don't we when it comes to all this stuff.

I have more issue with other menopause curses like weight in the middle and have to work hard to keep that off. Pre osteoporosis so have to do weight bearing exercise and walking is not enough. Watch cholesterol more and stuff like that.

The older we get the more we get. Sucks but I am pretty healthy so worth the extra I do for me.

Re: Menopause experience

violann — Sun, 08 May 2022 11:55:09 GMT

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at about that time of my life, had ONE flash, at work and NOTHING ELSE , EVER.

I was almost always cold my whole life, and had also enjoyed hypER thyroidism, what with its warm feet and hands, increased energy, and clearer brain functioning, but since the flip side was skyrocketing BP, I accepted care and became hypothyroid as my new life style.

Thyroid disease IS a major nuisance but I'll always assume that it spared me the woes of menopause.

Re: Menopause experience

teganslaw — Sun, 08 May 2022 12:04:38 GMT

I had occasional hot flashes but that was all. I didn't have hormone replacement therapy because I could handle the flashes. No other symptoms, the menopause experience went OK. It was actually a relief for me.

Re: Menopause experience

jlkz — Sun, 08 May 2022 12:10:19 GMT

@Natureluvr

One of the best things for me was finding a gel-filled, ribbed, flat pad that I could sleep on. When one side got too warm, I simply turned it over. Getting asleep and staying asleep was very important to me once I stopped taking hormones.

I had two of these pads ( think I got them from QVC almost 30 years ago ) and then passed them on to two of my younger friends. By now, there must be something better out there....so Google may help you find them.

I can remember describing what turned out to be my first hot flash to the young doctor my PCP had brought into her practice. He went through all these questions, thinking it might be some problem with brain function or artery condition !

At some point after menopause, expect body changes: bra size increase, extra padding in places where you don't want it; weight gain that insists on staying around, etc. You may have to camouflage some of the changes with different style clothing. The " new normal "......

Re: Menopause experience

Ainhisg — Sun, 08 May 2022 12:30:03 GMT

I went on HRT at 49 (am 59 now) and never looked back. My doctor says I can stay on it as long as I want, and for me and my situation, the benefits outweigh the risks. New research says that the sooner you start it, the better off you are. It helps bone mass, your skin, heart health, and brain health. I had to go off of it at 54 to have a certain test run, and my symptoms were worse than ever. I was never so glad to go back on HRT in my life! In addition, I use Estradiol cream topically as I have severe issues in that region. Make sure you go to a gynecologist who is up on all the latest research. In addition, yes, the body's metabolism slows down, but exercise and follow a sensible eating plan. I count calories, walk three days a week, and lift weights two days a week, but that is just what works for me.

Re: Menopause experience

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 08 May 2022 12:36:56 GMT

No hormones for me! I had a hard time and it took me a long time to get through it but I did finally! Yes, I would feel like I was burning up from the inside out. My face would get beet red and I would perspire underneath my hairline. Very uncommfortable! Drinking lots of cold water and having ice chips handy helped a lot. I would often take a cold cloth and apply it to my wrists. I also learned that I needed to dress in layers so that when one of my heat spells came on I could take one of them off! Also, wearing natural fibers helped, too -- such as cotton. I tried to stay as cool as possible. Take deep, slow breaths and practice some yoga! It may seem like it will never end, but it does!