Yay for Menopause
Replies
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I am 47 in have been in perimenopause for about 2 years for sure! It truly stinks when my body craves a hot bath because it hurts so bad and then you get in and think you are going to die of heat stroke because the bath triggers hot flashes! Ugh ...
I am not a good candidate for HRT so i am taking a combination of supplements that seem to work with night sweats and hot flashes. I take Source Naturals "Hot Flash" supplement. It has black cohosh and other stuff in it. I pair it with maca root and DHEA.
My biggest peeve is that even though I eat at maintenance or I leave a surplus of calories at the end of the day (enough often times to technically lose half a pound a week), it is all I can do to maintain my weight. Forget losing the belly and newly popped out love handles (that I lost for several years). I continue to weigh my food and overestimate calories as a safety buffer and have significantly increased my weight lifting. My body shape is changing for the better, except for that meno-pot belly.4 -
51 here, hadn't had a period since January then last week had it very light for several days, really not much (compared to always being pretty heavy before). Did have a little cramping and was hungrier than normal. Haven't really had any hot flashes yet. Heck, at work I use a space heater all year round because my office is so cold!0
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_BlahBlah_BlackSheep_ wrote: »I'm gonna need someone to send me a postcard or something to give me a heads up that menopause is arriving. I had a uterine ablation 4+ years ago, so I don't get periods anymore. Are hot flashes going to be the first sign? Or something else? I'm 46, so I'm thinking it's not too many years away at this point.
I had a hysterectomy at age 33 so it was a mystery to me too. I had my first hot flash ever at the lab waiting for a blood test for... you guessed it... menopause (FSH level). I'm guessing it was peri at that point though because I would get hot flashes for a while, then they'd stop for months, and resume.
Looking back, I think my first real symptom was developing a sudden intolerance to caffeine. But, like periods and pregnancies and everything else, women's experience of menopause can be quite different. There are women who NEVER get a hot flash. Lucky them.
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So unless you have ever had a hot flash at night - i e night sweat - it is difficult to understand just how nasty they are. It's like your entire body is covered with a film sometimes even you face. gross. And when I had the flu, it just intensified then to the point where I had to sleep wrapped up in a bath towel. literally. I thought my water bed tubes had sprung a leak the first time.
Anyway, enough gory details. What I really want to know is what the mechanism is that triggers these "hot" flashes. I do understand that it is the lack of hormones/ estrogen specific which makes our bodies unable to adjust their thermostats correctly, but I would like to know on a more scientific level what actually triggers them. It has to be a chemical thing. Most of them occur for NO OBVIOUS REASON out of the blue. But there must be some chemical thing going on which triggers our bodies to go off the rail? I do know that when I was losing weight and eating at a deficit (less food at nighttime) that they went almost completely away but in maintenance they are back. So it has something to do with the way our body releases energy perhaps.
And I know that if I google it I will get a million supplements which are claimed to work miracles or special sheets or pillows etc. I am more interested in what it is about the lack of hormones that makes our thermostats broken and what the reaction is. Surely some really smart women must be able to figure that out and come up with something to mitigate that reaction? surely??????!!!!
inquiring minds.6 -
For some reason I have yet to fathom, I coasted through menopause. One day I had my period, then: DONE!!! For good. No fuss, no muss. That was about 14 years ago. I still have the last half-gone package of "panti-liners" in the top drawer of my dresser. Once in a while I look at them and just grin smugly. I'm sure there is probably a nest of spiders in that package now...5
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Welcome to 'the club'! I'm 3 years into menopause. Not gonna lie, the hot flashes were &!*#$ - but I'm loving my curse-free life! No constantly checking my purse to make sure I'm 'packing', no more PMS every month, no more migraines! Yep, things have 'shifted' a bit on my body, but in the realm of things, it's all good!
This!
I feel so much better being on the other side (at 48), the occasional hot flash or night sweats are nothing compared to all the other hassle I had before.
Feeling better than ever!2 -
@SummerSkier I could only hit the like button once or I would have banged it a million times.
We could blame the patriarchy's overwhelming interest in the penis and its dysfunctions eating up research dollars but that would be mean. Actually, just about every reason I could think of for this not being a stronger area of research was mean.
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shewhoismany wrote: »@SummerSkier I could only hit the like button once or I would have banged it a million times.
We could blame the patriarchy's overwhelming interest in the penis and its dysfunctions eating up research dollars but that would be mean. Actually, just about every reason I could think of for this not being a stronger area of research was mean.
Yeah, the sad fact is there has been so little research done. The old paradigm was that women were left out of studies because our hormones would mess with the results, like knowing how our hormones mess with OUR results wouldn't be useful? But there's always been this idea (myth I'd bet) that female hormones are unpredictable and would make any study misleading. We don't really have good settled info on any of the stages - monthly cycles, PMS, miscarriages, maternal fatalities, infertility, menopause.
With more women in science and healthcare now, I'm not sure why this isn't changing more dramatically, unless it's just the wheels of change turning slowly. I was hoping there'd be more progress made by the time I got here, but at 46 I'm thinking it will be sooner rather than later, and it's still a puzzle best explained by witches and the phases of the moon it seems
As a data geek, I'd really love to have some actual data to cling to, and my mom doesn't remember when she started or specifics about anything, so it will be a mysterious adventure for me all the way!8 -
cbstewart88 wrote: »For some reason I have yet to fathom, I coasted through menopause. One day I had my period, then: DONE!!! For good. No fuss, no muss. That was about 14 years ago. I still have the last half-gone package of "panti-liners" in the top drawer of my dresser. Once in a while I look at them and just grin smugly. I'm sure there is probably a nest of spiders in that package now...
Ahhh ... now you are just bragging! LOL j/k Truly, I am envious of this. My mom was the same way but me? Nope!1 -
SummerSkier wrote: »So unless you have ever had a hot flash at night - i e night sweat - it is difficult to understand just how nasty they are. It's like your entire body is covered with a film sometimes even you face. gross. And when I had the flu, it just intensified then to the point where I had to sleep wrapped up in a bath towel. literally. I thought my water bed tubes had sprung a leak the first time.
Anyway, enough gory details. What I really want to know is what the mechanism is that triggers these "hot" flashes. I do understand that it is the lack of hormones/ estrogen specific which makes our bodies unable to adjust their thermostats correctly, but I would like to know on a more scientific level what actually triggers them. It has to be a chemical thing. Most of them occur for NO OBVIOUS REASON out of the blue. But there must be some chemical thing going on which triggers our bodies to go off the rail? I do know that when I was losing weight and eating at a deficit (less food at nighttime) that they went almost completely away but in maintenance they are back. So it has something to do with the way our body releases energy perhaps.
And I know that if I google it I will get a million supplements which are claimed to work miracles or special sheets or pillows etc. I am more interested in what it is about the lack of hormones that makes our thermostats broken and what the reaction is. Surely some really smart women must be able to figure that out and come up with something to mitigate that reaction? surely??????!!!!
inquiring minds.
There's been some research in the "quality of life for estrogen receptor positive women's cancer survivors" sector, but last time I read up on it, there was not yet a definitive answer about what exactly in the brain was being triggered (it's been a few years since the reading).
It's of interest there because some women go into a sort of mega-menopause after the cancer treatment: They are either already in menopause, or are abruptly put into menopause (by chemotherapy or surgical/hormonal treatments for the cancer (for those who care about the tech, by "hormonal treatments" here, I mean things like Lupron that shut down the ovaries chemically)). Then, once menopause is confirmed, additional drugs are commonly used to reduce the normal ancillary production of estrogen by the adrenals and fat cells (here, talking mainly about aromatase inhibiters like arimidex among others; Tamoxifen and kin can also increase some menopause-like symptoms, but by a different mechanism than blocking endogenous estrogen production).
The combination tends to magnify the normal symptoms of menopause.
On the breast cancer/ovarian cancer support sites, you may find quite a bit of practical advice about combatting menopausal symptoms, through means other than estrogen HRT, which is obviously contraindicated for this group. It includes drug strategies, various combinations of supplements, herbals (which often are phytoestrogens, so that's a little fraught: Mechanism of action for the specific phytoestrogen matters) and just plain practical suggestions for moderating the symptoms.
Just my understanding as a non-scientist, from about an 8 year course of "been there, done that" , including being trained as peer support for other survivors. 2 -
lalalacroix wrote: »Does anyone have any night sweat remedies other than black cohosh? It doesn't seem to be working well for me any longer and I'm really suffering. I'm waking up many times at night and sleeping less and less.
(Apologies for the detail!)
Available one the counter in the US is "i-cool" this did wonders for me. . Good Luck Hot flashes are miserable!
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I am so happy for you- 54 here and am trying to force menopause. My doctors, gyro, neurologist and fp... all working together, to make it happen-hope it works! Honestly at 54 I am so over it and embrace the new me to come! Always had the hair problem -PCOS- We really should catch a break somewhere! But again -Congrats!1
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I bought a mattress pad that circulates cold water through it all night (or however long you set the timer for). Room temp. 68F + water temp in mattress pad 68F= good nights sleep. There are several brands available if you google cooling mattress pad. I don't know what to do about the daytime hot flashes, but I know they sure suck the energy right out of me.3
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I take Source Naturals Hot Flash along with maca root and DHEA ... this triple pairing has truly helped me. I like to sleep with a huggy pillow and with the night sweats, I could not do it. I slept with nothing on, no sheets and my own dedicated fan. After the supplements built up in my body, I was finally able to sleep with my huggy pillow again without sweating and I was able to actually use a top sheet again!1
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I really wish I could have gone through natural menopause. I had an unwanted hysterectomy and both ovaries removed at age 33 in 2006. It was extremely traumatic for me and I woke up an entire different person. It took years to feel human again. Not only did I have 20+ hotflashes per day and night (and yes I was on full dose hrt from the start) but nightsweats, mood swings, profound fatigue and exhaustion, depression, body aches, joint pains, muscle pain, body fat redistribution, chest went completely flat, bone density worsened drastically (had my first dexa scan one year post hysterectomy and every two years since). I could go on and on. I went through five doctors and specialists, many combos of hrt, diet changes, exercise routines you name it until I hit on something that helped. I went through six years of anorexia nervosa as a result of the hormonal changes that affected my brain and body chemistry. I still battle my eating disorder but am at least a low normal weight now for the last five years. I really envy those that kept their ovaries and uterus and went through everything naturally. I do feel there is wisdom in ageing, and there are little things I love now that I didn't understand when I was younger. I am in better physical shape than I was for much of my twenties. You don't take as much for granted when you get older, and you enjoy the moment more.14
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How do you force menopause? I'm 53, not really wanting it to happen, but curious when it will. Sick of periods....3
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keodell1966 wrote: »How do you force menopause? I'm 53, not really wanting it to happen, but curious when it will. Sick of periods....
@keodell1966 Read the above post written by @zylkm4. She, like me and others, went thru unwanted surgical menopause, others go thru drug induced menopause due to breast or gyn cancers. Is that what you want to experience?
Just let mother nature take its course and don't rush things unless you must. Menopause is more than a "word" is a stage that may last a long time and you never know how it will affect you. For some women menopause is a breeze, for others a curse.
Take your time reading some of the postings and you will understand what I am talking about. Yes, periods are bad, especially when you are older and been dealing with that *kitten* for many years, but your body will change when it is ready to do it. Any concerns should be discussed with your doctor or gyn specialist. Hang in there, you time will come and then some….
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Anabirgite wrote: »I am so happy for you- 54 here and am trying to force menopause. My doctors, gyro, neurologist and fp... all working together, to make it happen-hope it works! Honestly at 54 I am so over it and embrace the new me to come! Always had the hair problem -PCOS- We really should catch a break somewhere! But again -Congrats!
I believe this is the post @keodell1966 was referencing, not one of the posts discussing early menopause due to surgery or illness.1 -
... Menopause is more than a "word" is a stage that may last a long time and you never know how it will affect you. For some women menopause is a breeze, for others a curse.
I find this endlessly fascinating...how each woman's experience is different. This is true for puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause... I suffered through severe, debilitating, puke my guts up, stay home from school cramps every single month from the first day of my period at age 11. Discovering Naproxin Sodium was a godsend for me. My sister experienced no cramping whatsoever, and thought I was just being overly dramatic or seeking attention.
Now, I feel very fortunate that so far I've only experienced mildly annoying fluctuations in warmth. Put a sweater on, take it off, put it back on... is it warm in here kind of thing. I feel for women who experience severe symptoms. I wish everyone relief and a quick path to the other side of symptoms!
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Gisel is SO right. Menopause is not a stage. Unless you choose to call the rest of your life a "stage". It's not something that you go thru and then you are over. Peri is a stage.
In Menopause you lose those hormones forever. Your body continues to change. Yes - every woman's experiences are different. I am at least 10 years in and at first I did not experience the hot flashes or night sweats or hair loss / thinning or dry skin or other symptoms. They do appear over time in many women. It's definitely not something to long for because it will continue until you die. Some of it is just aging of course and not hormonal related.
I do appreciate the OP positive attitude tho. 1 -
I'm almost 3 years post now. The hotflashes have diminished. The night sweats are better. There are a few other "new" things, but all in all, life is good. But BOY peri- sucked. ha.1
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I had a total hysterectomy at age 38 and been on HRT ever since. I'm 63 and am just now cutting back on the HRT but no issues. I loved it from the first day and never looked back, for all the good reasons that have already been posted. My life was simplified, what more could you ask?1
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Anabirgite wrote: »I am so happy for you- 54 here and am trying to force menopause. My doctors, gyro, neurologist and fp... all working together, to make it happen-hope it works! Honestly at 54 I am so over it and embrace the new me to come! Always had the hair problem -PCOS- We really should catch a break somewhere! But again -Congrats!
I believe this is the post @keodell1966 was referencing, not one of the posts discussing early menopause due to surgery or illness.
Yes, I am not trying to force menopause at all. I was only asking about what it was, as I've never heard about it before. Not interested in forcing it, as I said I am biding my time until it does.3 -
I am in the midst of perimenopause and I am so ticked off! I worked so hard to lose weight and shrink fat. I got to my goal weight, lost the love handles and muffin top and was well on my way to tackle that last bit of jiggle in my inner thighs (which really didn't bother me in the least).
Here comes the night sweats, hot flashes, etc. and within 4 months, I gained back the belly fat which includes a little strip of fat above the belly button that I NEVER had before, even at my heaviest, and the love handles. What did I change? Nothing! I ate at maintenance or left calories on the table (enough to technically lose a half pound a wee). I weighed my food, overestimated my calories as a buffer and kicked up my weight training. Now, I get that with weight training, you will gain weight and I did and I enjoy the muscle I have developed BUT all that time and effort to slim down, only to have perimenopause rear its ugly head and knock back all that progress within months. The good news is that I can sort of still wear most of my "skinny" clothes, even if they don't fit the same as before. However, I did have to buy another size up to accommodate my new belly!
I keep hearing, "well, you must not have been weighing your food accurately or you are not working out enough/efficiently, etc." Bull crap! I get it ... perhaps I shouldn't have had that brownie or ice cream or that extra serving of potatoes. However, if I log it all and it fits within my eating plan, according to the consensus here, it should not matter. CICO right? Well, in peri/menopause, that concept sort of flies out the window! I am not a good candidate for birth control pills or HRT so I simply have to deal with the symptoms the best way I know how - exercise, a good eating plan, a mix of supplements and (not so) good humor. I feel like a hamster on a wheel sometimes ...
Ok, rant over .........10 -
SummerSkier wrote: »So unless you have ever had a hot flash at night - i e night sweat - it is difficult to understand just how nasty they are. It's like your entire body is covered with a film sometimes even you face. gross. And when I had the flu, it just intensified then to the point where I had to sleep wrapped up in a bath towel. literally. I thought my water bed tubes had sprung a leak the first time.
Anyway, enough gory details. What I really want to know is what the mechanism is that triggers these "hot" flashes. I do understand that it is the lack of hormones/ estrogen specific which makes our bodies unable to adjust their thermostats correctly, but I would like to know on a more scientific level what actually triggers them. It has to be a chemical thing. Most of them occur for NO OBVIOUS REASON out of the blue. But there must be some chemical thing going on which triggers our bodies to go off the rail? I do know that when I was losing weight and eating at a deficit (less food at nighttime) that they went almost completely away but in maintenance they are back. So it has something to do with the way our body releases energy perhaps.
And I know that if I google it I will get a million supplements which are claimed to work miracles or special sheets or pillows etc. I am more interested in what it is about the lack of hormones that makes our thermostats broken and what the reaction is. Surely some really smart women must be able to figure that out and come up with something to mitigate that reaction? surely??????!!!!
inquiring minds.
My thermostat is broken in a different way - no flashes, I just run somewhat hotter all the time. I've always run a little hot, and now am running hotter.
Ex: everyone around me is comfortable outside at 80 degrees but I must be experiencing it as 90 degrees or more.
And I like it REALLY cold in the winter.4 -
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SummerSkier wrote: »Gisel is SO right. Menopause is not a stage. Unless you choose to call the rest of your life a "stage". It's not something that you go thru and then you are over. Peri is a stage.
In Menopause you lose those hormones forever. Your body continues to change. Yes - every woman's experiences are different. I am at least 10 years in and at first I did not experience the hot flashes or night sweats or hair loss / thinning or dry skin or other symptoms. They do appear over time in many women. It's definitely not something to long for because it will continue until you die. Some of it is just aging of course and not hormonal related.
I do appreciate the OP positive attitude tho.
I worked in a seniors' facility in my younger day and it was always like a sauna in there because everyone was always COLD. So at some point it turns around.
When do I get to the nice "I feel chilly" part, instead of the "I'm on the verge of spontaneously combusting" part?
I find the loss of skin elasticity particularly dismaying.2 -
My hot flashes are finally starting to subside again. This has happened before. I took the black cohosh for a while and eventually all my symptoms stopped for over a year. Of course my periods returned at that time. I'm thinking that it probably isn't the cohosh but that the symptoms are cyclical. Guess that means I might see a period again soon.1
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I'm 50. Three years since I had a period. I'm almost done with hot flashes, and I feel better than I have in years! I rarely have a headache anymore, no more mood swings, no monthly weight fluctuation!
I exercise more now than I ever have, and I really enjoy it. So am I feeling thankful to be healthy, getting stronger, and enjoying my 50s!10 -
Hey rhtexasgal: if it helps at all, I gained ten pounds in about two months at the tail end of perimenopause. As far as I could honestly tell, my daily habits hadn’t changed at all, then boom - ten pounds. The good news is that after about six months, the scale started moving again, and I lost it (and more) at about a 1 lb/per week rate. It didn’t “magically” drop off the way it (seemed to) have appeared; I was working at it. The point is that as I approached the end of peri and into actual menopause, the normal weight loss process started working again. Bodies are weird.2
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