Menopause

[kerriannb]

This could be rather a long story, so I'll give you the short version. I had been having issues with moods, periods and a few other things for a while and was checked out for lots of things a bit over 12 months ago. After some tests and a bit of tooing and froing, my gyno suggested a partial hysterectomy mainly to combat the heavy periods that I was having extremely frequently. This solved the problem (funny that), but over the last few months I have, apparently been awful to live with (my view was living with an Alpha male and two teenagers was more than enough reason to be awful, but that is another story). I have also been sleeping really badly and having hot flushes and night sweats. We have a wonderful Indian husband and wife doctor team and I normaly see the husband. I decided to go and see his wife a few weeks ago, and she sent me for a blood test, which was a bit strange, apparently. Anyway, she suggested that I try HRT as she if certain that I am going through menopause at the tender age of 43!
Now, I have absolutely no issue with going through menopause, except for the awful symptoms, but I do have an issue with the amount of medication that I am now on (anti-depressants x 2, fluid tablets, lithium, and now the HRT. I am really feeling the expense, but am hoping that if the HRT continue to work as well as they seem to be that some of the others with go by the wayside. My real issue is the HRT. Has anyone had any experience with these, and the side effects, and has anyone found anything else that works. I am happy with how the HRT is working, as I am feeling the best I have for ages, but have heard so many stories...... I don't care if I take natural remedies, or prescription stuff, as long as I can combat the flushes etc, as they are driving me nuts. I have worked out that I need to dress in layers so that I can take them off, and that linen is a complete no-no as it prickles too much. Bras have been thrown by the wayside unless I go out, and i have to run and put one on if someone arrives. I am sleeping on fresh sheets several times a week which is lovely, as I love getting into a freshly made bed - I have to look at the bright and funny side here......
Has anyone got any ideas/stories they are happy to share? My 30 year old sister (who is a science teacher) told me that I should be glad that God has made our bodies so wonderfully and I will make sure that I remember to share that with her when she is going through this!

[Sally]

Kerriann I'm so glad you can look at the funny side

But I don't have any advice sorry, whilst I would love the "no period" side of meanopause, I'm really in no hurry to get there & would be shocked if I were there right now.

If I'm anything like my Mum, I'll be nearly 60 before I'm there.

[miss~nance]

Kerrie I can so sympathise with you. I started menopause early last year and just fell apart. Menopause changed my personality - I went from a very confident person to one who couldnt face people with out fear of them not liking me, couldnt make decisions, coldn't complete simple task that I do everyday, my memory - which has always been bad - had almost dissappeared & even though I have always been a very emotional person I found I fell apart a the silliest of things.

I also suffer night sweats and only sleep in bouts of 1 -2 hours b4 I wake up very uncomfortable. I found that having a water bottle next to my bed helped immensly.

I chose not to take HRT and did try a herbal option (the Dr Cabot one) but wasn't very good at taking them so now I am flying solo.

[MaryC]

I had a hysterectomy at 53 and therefore had a sudden onset of menopause. I did have problems early on with hot flushes, but they haven't caused me too many problems for a couple of years now.
I haven't taken HRT at all. Gail, you sound as if have had a rough time of it too. You have both made me realize that I've been doing menopause not too badly at all!

[kerriannb]

I must admit that I am feeling great at the moment and the night sweats have stopped, although the hot flushes have not. I am getting a fair bit of nausea with the HRT, so will see how it goes. Getting a good nights sleep makes it so much easier to cope with the rest of the day too.

[Chrissy]

Kerriann my mum is on HRT and, without it, is a total mess. It's been wonderful for her...

Thinking of you (and the other girls here going through this time in your lives)

[kerriannb]

Chrissy,

Please PM me -we need to have a coffee.....

[miss~nance]

Went and saw menopause the musical last night. It was very funny - a bit crude for my liking in places. BUT it made me realise I don't have it too bad.

Having said that i had a very bad niht of no sleep so got out of bed at 6am, no point just lying there.

[NanaJac]

I am a bit late to join this discussion but have so much sympathy for anyone in menopause! I struggled for a few years before I was made aware that it was Menopause that I was dealing with. I was anemic and not aware of that either, I just thought i was really sick but didn't know why. A good nights sleep was a distant memory and my moods and general nervous system were terrible, erratic, crying, angry and generally just not coping. I was sent to a gyno because of pain during ovulation...HE tested me for everything in the book...the list of blood test was as long as my arm ( well....that is a bit extreme!) Only two results came back....my iron was horribly low as was the ferritin which was sitting on 0....so dangerous for my overall health & yes I was on the brink of menopause.
So desperate was I to feel even remotely normal that I submitted to my worst fear....weekly injections in the butt, for months ( I am now cured of that fear ) as well as daily tablets of iron and a general overhaul of all my lifestyle habits. Anemia seems to go hand in hand with the fact that we ladies do have very heavy periods leading up to menopause, its seem par for the course. Many Doctors do not take this seriously enough, being anemic is quite debilitating. It also affects your ability to sleep well. I even had restless leg syndrome and depression associated with the anemia. My overhaul of health habits made a difference, firstly removing all unnecessary stresses and finding and arranging my happy space for peace at home!
I now drink water day and night, have jug beside the bed. I walk or swim daily, and am about to begin a Live Longer Live Stronger weights and resistance training program as my Gyno told me that the women who exercise and keep a good healthy diet seem to cope better. I do have night sweats and interrupted sleep, hot flushes at any time night or day, caffeine sets them off so no strong coffee, but still its all at a a lesser level and I find if my walking or swimming extends to at least an hour I do sleep a deeper sleep when I get it so I have begun to improve a lot. My general over all sense of well being is greatly improved as a result. My walk time is a time i spend with God and often worship Him and appreciate His creation in this time. I do not take HRT as they tried it twice and unbeknown to us all at the time...the compromise in my system due to anemia and stress meant my immune system was down and I developed the shingles!!!! YOU NEVER WANT SHINGLES...Well we did not know that was coming and I was given a rather strong patch of HRT which made me feel like my wiring system got blown at the mother board! NO HRT for me, it was worse than the symptoms and the pathway the shingles took is now too sensitive to tolerate HRT effects. I am very happy the last several months as my body has responded to the exercise and i feel rather good if not waterlogged from time to time in the brain. All my iron is excellent which brings your body into balance to a point and the other thing I noticed is that if you keep your vit D up to its proper recommended level you seem to travel a lot better mood wise and in your immune system as well which means your body is calmer. Good Diet , Rest and Exercise are priorities at any stage of life but especially now. Scrapping and creativity releases a natural joy and celebration within as does meeting with other ladies to fellowship whilst doing it and I believe it has a powerful effect on my hormones as well...we girls all need each other so much! I am not sure if Chocolate helps me at all but now and then I hit it hard and rather enjoy it I sleep with windows wide open and cotton cellular blankets work a treat, u can pull each layer on or off as the body dictates through out the night and they do not overheat you.

[kerriannb]

NanaJac,
I finally have time to do a few things, as I am on holidays from uni, and am catching up on some of these posts. Firstly, I am so glad that you found us here.
The HRT seems to be working a treat, and I am feeling great - terribly laxy, but great. I need to start walking, but I just can't get into the habit unfortunately. A good friend of mine who lives a few blocks away goes most mornings, but we can't seem to find a time that suits us both. I think I just have to get my joggers out and fall over them one of these mornings, and just GO .
This week I am going to get into the garden as there are so many weeds that have popped up since the rain - maybe that will get me motivated....