Wellness

[kutira]

I bought a small bottle of the Lessman vitamins; been on them about 2 weeks; if there is any effect I have no idea what it's doing.

I have been using Remifemin Good Night from the grocery store.  It really helps me sleep.

[MaggieMack]

I have mentioned this before, but it's worth mentioning again. I have used the supplement Pycnogenol for years, derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree. It completely eliminated night sweats and hot flashes, completely! Several girlfriends have also tried it and swear by it. Every few years, I stop taking it, but the symptoms return in a couple of months, so I start up again. Plus, it's good for your heart since it decreases oxidative stress. Give it a try for two months and see what happens. I took 200 mg for several years, now just 100 mg daily.

Here is a study by the government, lots more articles available by googling "pycnogenol menopause".

NIH Study Link

[Trudey]

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@MaggieMack wrote:

I have mentioned this before, but it's worth mentioning again. I have used the supplement Pycnogenol for years, derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree. It completely eliminated night sweats and hot flashes, completely! Several girlfriends have also tried it and swear by it. Every few years, I stop taking it, but the symptoms return in a couple of months, so I start up again. Plus, it's good for your heart since it decreases oxidative stress. Give it a try for two months and see what happens. I took 200 mg for several years, now just 100 mg daily.

Here is a study by the government, lots more articles available by googling "pycnogenol menopause".

NIH Study Link

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@MaggieMack. Where do you get your Pychogenol from?  Does it help with sleep?

[MaggieMack]

I usually buy my pycnogenol from SWanson's, they have good prices. I know that Costco is carrying it online now, will look there when I need to reorder, I usually buy 6 months at a time. If you buy, get the 100 mg capsules. My gyn is fully supportive.

I have no problems with sleep, maybe pycnogenol is the reason! Before, I would wake up ten times a night drowning in sweat.

[Nightowlz]

@MaggieMack @Trudey

I was just reading about the benefits of pycnogenol. Who knew. I did see where it said some people had problems falling asleep when taking it at night. If you are going to try it I would take it in the morning.

[MaggieMack]

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@Nightowlz wrote:

@MaggieMack @Trudey

I was just reading about the benefits of pycnogenol. Who knew. I did see where it said some people had problems falling asleep when taking it at night. If you are going to try it I would take it in the morning.

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@Nightowlz, that is so interesting! I've always taken it at night right before bedtime! I fall asleep quickly, though. I'm going to start taking it in the morning and see if I notice a difference.

[Nightowlz]

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@MaggieMack wrote:

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@Nightowlz wrote:

@MaggieMack @Trudey

I was just reading about the benefits of pycnogenol. Who knew. I did see where it said some people had problems falling asleep when taking it at night. If you are going to try it I would take it in the morning.

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@Nightowlz, that is so interesting! I've always taken it at night right before bedtime! I fall asleep quickly, though. I'm going to start taking it in the morning and see if I notice a difference.

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@MaggieMack I would think if you don't have problems sleeping you are ok taking it any time. If you already have problems sleeping I would take it in the morning. 

[kutira]

@maggymack: Thanks for the reference to that other supplement.  I might try it out; I'm doing OK but not as good as I would like.  My gyn is useless except when it comes to major infections. 

[tends2dogs]

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@Frosted Cake wrote:

I get off and on hot flashes.   They are intense and then go away as fast as they came on.

I do get hot at night.   I fall asleep easily, but wake up constantly throughout the night.  I have a lot of emotional things going on in my life, so my mind never shuts off at bedtime.

I got a little fan at Walgreens that runs on batteries.  I have it at my desk and by my bed.   It helps a lot.   

I have the weirdest things going on, probably menopause related.  I'm tired all the time, yet I can be active.  I think a lot of mine is from depression.  

I have a dry mouth and dry eyes.   (Pretty much dry everywhere - if you get my drift).    My hair actually looks better and healthier and I'm way overdue for a haircut.   My breasts are fuller and I have cleavage where I never had before.   I thought that all goes away at  menopause?  I also have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night when I never did a year ago.   Ugh!

And don't even go there with the stomach bloat!   Where the heck did that come from?   I'm athletic and thin, but my tummy is extended a lot. I do eat a lot of fiber, drink with a straw a lot and eat too fast. I know that can lend itself to belly bloat.   I do take probiotics, but I am so self conscious about it.

I'm not taking anything for my symptoms.  I do take fish oil for my eyes and use Biotene for the mouth.   They wanted to put me on anti-depressants but I refused.

I wish I had an answer for your symptoms.   Just drink a lot of liquids and exercise when you can.

You're not alone.   I'm so sick of having to have had a period for my adult life and then having to deal with this.   Golden years?   Do they exist?

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@FrostedCake  Have you ever had your thyroid checked?Some of your symptom are similar to that being off.  Also, it sounds like you may have estrogen dominance and may need progesterone.  You can purchase it from a health food store or have your hormones checked by someone that prescribes and is knowledgeable about bioidentical hormones.    My PA says that progesterone is like natural valium.  It really helps with sleep and it may help with mood.  It acts like a natural diuretic, too.  You may want to look into 5HTP for mood.  Hot flashes and being hot could be thyroid or one of the other hormones.

It might be worth looking into.  There is nothing like a good nights sleep.

[tends2dogs]

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@Nightowlz wrote:

All mine started when I was around 40 or so. I don't have any of the hot flashes or night sweats. I'm still using Emerita bioidentical progesterone cream & take EPO (evening primrose oil). I was doing pretty good up until about 4 months ago or so. I thought I was finished with all this. Now I'm having the headaches, mood swings, irritability, emotional symptoms back which I hate. They make me a terrible person which I'm not.

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@Nightowlz  This same thing happened to me about 8 or 9 months ago, plus a few other symptoms.  My PA checked my levels and come to find out, my progesterone was converting to estrogen.  I felt uptight, etc......kind of like the old PMS days.  Once I went off the progesterone, it didn't take long for it all to straighten out. 

I didn't go back on the BIHs.  That was my choice.  I feel good, sleep good, good mood, no weight gain, however I do have the dryness that goes along with menopause. 

You may want to check your levels and see if that is what is going on with you.