Yay for Menopause
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I'm 53 - three years since I've had a period. Cons of menopause: I've REALLY had to watch what I eat. I've always had to - I'm very petite and small-boned - but since menopause 'hit' - like rhtexasgal mentioned -any body fat I had has 'shifted' to my mid-section....and it's NOT a good look! I workout 6 days a week, do weights 3 days a week, I weigh around 118, and I STILL have this horrendous inner-tube-of-fat around my mid-section......! The hot flashes have diminished......Pros of Menopause - no more periods (WOOT), no more migraines (I was getting about 10+ a month - GONE)! No more mood swings, no more mood cravings.........I guess the 'pros' outweigh the 'cons', but I still hate the mid-section inner-tube-of-fat........LOL! I guess if I ever fall off of a boat, I'll float forever......8
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I'm 53 - three years since I've had a period. Cons of menopause: I've REALLY had to watch what I eat. I've always had to - I'm very petite and small-boned - but since menopause 'hit' - like rhtexasgal mentioned -any body fat I had has 'shifted' to my mid-section....and it's NOT a good look! I workout 6 days a week, do weights 3 days a week, I weigh around 118, and I STILL have this horrendous inner-tube-of-fat around my mid-section......! The hot flashes have diminished......Pros of Menopause - no more periods (WOOT), no more migraines (I was getting about 10+ a month - GONE)! No more mood swings, no more mood cravings.........I guess the 'pros' outweigh the 'cons', but I still hate the mid-section inner-tube-of-fat........LOL! I guess if I ever fall off of a boat, I'll float forever......
I hear you on the "inner tube" thing! I've never had a small waist. But since I had a twin pregnancy at an "advanced maternal age" (kind of slid right from postpartum into perimenopause - good times!)..... no matter how light I get, I carry my special kangaroo pouch around with me! I try to view it as a badge of honor.
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I’m 46 and have been peri for the past 4-5 years. I cannot wait for menopause.3
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Just got my period after a six month lapse. Now I get to start counting to 12 all over again. 😫15
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I am finding this thread very interesting and thanks, all, for sharing your experiences. I will be 42 in a few weeks, had a hysterectomy just after I turned 40 (voluntary treatment for extremely large fibroid, seemed preferable to a myomectomy since I don't want kids), kept my ovaries, so I have to pay attention to signs other than periods for menopause when it comes, but based on family history, I probably have at least 8 years left (give or take, it is obviously a process as those above are describing). Gleefully threw out all pads, tampons, etc. in the house. Celebrated my last period (came 2 days before my 40th birthday) ever since I knew it would be the last.7
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So I was reading a thread on facebook from one of my friends who is diabetic and another of her friends (male) talked about his symptoms when he is going thru a blood sugar crash.
I have always attributed my night sweats to menopause but haven't understood what the trigger was. I now have a possible connection between why women get hot flashes and night sweats. Possibly due to a blood sugar dive which hormones no longer control. Esp since I tend to get a lot of my calories in the evening many of which are carbs etc... WOW. LIGHTBULB MOMENT!!! I wonder if we took a blood sugar reading during a hot flash whether it would show an extreme low? or maybe those type of sweats from low blood sugar dives and hot flashes are not similar at all.
Just food for thought.8 -
keodell1966 wrote: »How do you force menopause? I'm 53, not really wanting it to happen, but curious when it will. Sick of periods....
I am working with my doctors ( gynecologist and neurologist) right now trying to force menopause- I went on the pill for three months straight, hoping when I paused this week I would not have a period- FAIL this month. but will try again for 3 months. I am having a horrible peri-menopause-migraines everyday, insomnia, my progesterone is totally out of whack.
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I started having perimenopause at age 42, after it hit, my Dr took tests to see what level my hormones were at & prescribed hormone cream that was mixed up for me. Dr was very much into herbs & natural & said this hormone cream was good for the heart too. It helped with the hot flashes but I've always been a "hot" person, even in my 20's & still get hot flashes years after menopause0
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Found this thread very interesting. I'm 49 and Oct 1 was.my 1 year anniversary TOM-free. Hopefully it will continue, but I haven't had it too bad! I have had a few nights when I woke up due to night sweats, but not that many. I do have minor hot flashes at night, but nothing major. Mainly I wake up due to sleep apnea, and kick the blanket off occasionally, but not really sweaty, just hot. I'm working on losing weight. I've lost almost 50lbs.since.summer. I still have a lot more to lose, but not finding it too, too difficult. I just love not getting my period.anymore!! I can live with the rest. After reading many of these other posts, I consider myself very fortunate!4
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Found this thread very interesting. I'm 49 and Oct 1 was.my 1 year anniversary TOM-free. Hopefully it will continue, but I haven't had it too bad! I have had a few nights when I woke up due to night sweats, but not that many. I do have minor hot flashes at night, but nothing major. Mainly I wake up due to sleep apnea, and kick the blanket off occasionally, but not really sweaty, just hot. I'm working on losing weight. I've lost almost 50lbs.since.summer. I still have a lot more to lose, but not finding it too, too difficult. I just love not getting my period.anymore!! I can live with the rest. After reading many of these other posts, I consider myself very fortunate!
Congratulations on your weight loss! That's great that you're not finding it too difficult. And it sure is nice not having a period!
I can relate on a symptom level. And although I was already in maintenance going through menopause... I gained a few of the vanity pounds I had lost (like 3-5 to the top end of where I'm comfortable). I floundered about for a year trying to lose them. But once I got my deficit dialed in properly, I am in losing mode again.5 -
I'm 63 and I'm at my lowest weight....ever! I'm lovin life. I'm retired so I can get out and walk whenever I want.7
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Peri was blinking awful. Permanently tired because I couldn't sleep, tetchy, loss of libido (dryness - eugh), awful frequent heavy periods. However, I did lose quite a bit of weight. Then got past that and am on HRT. Pluses of which are sleep relatively ok, not irritable, minuses are that I have put on some weight, and get spots. Hmm. Dryness and lack of libido still an issue.4
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You have the right attitude!
I struggled with getting older and the whole menopause thing, I think because in my mind I'm still 22 and it's just the cognitive dissonance.... hahah!
I'm solidly through the process now at age 59, and feeling great. I did HRT for a few years, because after two years of night sweats and sleeplessness, I decided my quality of life was important! I also started on vaginal estrogens because my sex life is very important to me, and whoooo-doggy, did THAT make a difference! (I highly recommend it, and the sooner the better, along with regular....ahem! "Exercise" of our lady parts to keep them functioning well, and preventing bladder leaks, pain, etc.)
The things that helped me were:
1. Finding older female role models who were *still* vibrant, active, and sexy as hell. Helen Mirren comes to mind.
2. Finding examples of older women *still* being valued and cherished, either by their partners, or by their family and community. So, finding my worth in things other than youth, physical beauty, etc.
3. Becoming focused on what has improved with age. I'm a singer, and my voice and repertoire are 100x better than they were in my 20s, for example. I know more, I'm more skilled at a lot of things, I'm wiser, and people come to me for advice and assistance. I have something to offer the young pups coming up. That has value.
4. Don't spend a lot of time looking at myself in the mirror or worrying what others think about me. I keep in shape and I guess I'm attractive for my age--I take care of myself--but I refuse to put myself down for things beyond my control. My partner thinks I'm beautiful and sexy, and I try to see myself through his eyes. He doesn't notice the cellulite or fondly remember the way my *kitten* used to look 20 years ago. Why should I?
5. I think of the people I find truly beautiful and amazing. Youth has nothing to do with that, nor does their looks. I know many compelling people who have neither.
I think mindset is key, and it sounds like you've got a great one!
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Hahah.... I realized that the site's auto-correct changed a few words here! It changed "A**" to "Kitten". Which is probably cleaner than some of you may have been thinking...!
("Kitten" is not an improvement here! )8 -
I think that reframing the societal ideals about menopause and aging for women is empowerment. Good for you!2
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Here’s a “boo” for menopause...just had bloodwork done, and my cholesterol is high, specifically my “bad” cholesterol. This happens in menopause due to reduced estrogen, among other things. I’m not happy, since I already limit meat/saturated fat, alcohol, commerical baked goods and just lost about 20 pounds while exercising 4-6 days a week. My diet is going to become even more restricted! Would prefer to stay off meds as long as possible.10
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Here’s a “boo” for menopause...just had bloodwork done, and my cholesterol is high, specifically my “bad” cholesterol. This happens in menopause due to reduced estrogen, among other things. I’m not happy, since I already limit meat/saturated fat, alcohol, commerical baked goods and just lost about 20 pounds while exercising 4-6 days a week. My diet is going to become even more restricted! Would prefer to stay off meds as long as possible.
BOOO! That sux. Especially when you are already working hard!0 -
Here’s a “boo” for menopause...just had bloodwork done, and my cholesterol is high, specifically my “bad” cholesterol. This happens in menopause due to reduced estrogen, among other things. I’m not happy, since I already limit meat/saturated fat, alcohol, commerical baked goods and just lost about 20 pounds while exercising 4-6 days a week. My diet is going to become even more restricted! Would prefer to stay off meds as long as possible.
Ya know I had NO idea that our blood work gets worse as we get older due to menopause. I have been trying forever to get my cholesterol below 200 but it is usually just over. I finally realized that having bloodwork this year that was pretty much the same as the past 10-15 years was actually a WIN vs no improvement. SImilarly my BP which was always 100+/60+ something since I was a teen has climbed to where is is more likely 110+/70+ the past few years. A sign of aging .
However there is more and more research out there that our cholesterol #s are not as influenced by our diet as is traditionally thought. My family genes give me high #s (but the ratio is always really good!) and bad teeth. Nothing I can really do about what my ancestors gave me, Possibly at some point the docs will recommend statins but who knows.....
Just musing. But sometimes all we can do as we age is KEEP THE GAINS and that in itself is a win when so many of our peers are slowly sinking.
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Soymilk, tofu, lots of vegetables and fruit, whole grains, and fatty fish all helped with my menopause symptoms. Advised to add them to my diet by my OBGYN. Soymilk and tofu ended my hot flashes, adding moderate portions of whole grains (roughly 1/2 half cup per meal per day) and lots of vegetables and fruit helped me drop the 15 pounds I gained after "the change", and the fatty fish (sardines, salmon, herring, mackerel) made my skin glow again, stopped the dry eye, and helped with the dreaded dryness in other areas as well. I also exercise daily, 3 good aerobic workouts, some weight training, swimming, stretching. I mix things up over the course of the week, depending on my schedule and how I am feeling. I would like to drop another 10 pounds by my 55th birthday, so I have started tracking my calories again on the site. Nothing extreme, but I would love to get back to 145 which was my achieved goal weight the year I turned 50.
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SummerSkier wrote: »So I was reading a thread on facebook from one of my friends who is diabetic and another of her friends (male) talked about his symptoms when he is going thru a blood sugar crash.
I have always attributed my night sweats to menopause but haven't understood what the trigger was. I now have a possible connection between why women get hot flashes and night sweats. Possibly due to a blood sugar dive which hormones no longer control. Esp since I tend to get a lot of my calories in the evening many of which are carbs etc... WOW. LIGHTBULB MOMENT!!! I wonder if we took a blood sugar reading during a hot flash whether it would show an extreme low? or maybe those type of sweats from low blood sugar dives and hot flashes are not similar at all.
Just food for thought.
Smart. Very smart.
My grandmother started having hot flashes/night sweats at the age of 44 and they didn't stop until she was 94. They attributed all of it menopause/hormones but didn't connect the dots to glucose regulation.0
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