Menopause anyone?

I am calling out to all women who have or who are going through menopause.  I have been going through this for the last six months with start and stop periods, hot flashes and my latest is not being able to go to sleep.  I have had 3 hours of sleep each night for the past 3 days and I am exhausted at work.  What has been your experience on this pony ride and what did you do about sleeplessness?  I don't suppose there is a magic pill out there that I don't know about, is it?  Let's discuss this please........

The joys of growing older and wiser come at a cost. I had a complete hysterectomy in 2005. I came out of surgery wearing a hormone patch. It's been a roller coaster ride. I've been on an estrogen only pill since then.

Now the Doc wants to start weaning me off of it. I was able to step down from a pill and a half to 1 a day effortlessly. The transition from every day to every other day wasn't as bad as expected. Trying to go to every 3 days isn't happening....NO NO NO NO NO NO....I like my estrogen. It keeps me semi-sane and likeable. When my levels have flucuated over the years (like I forget to take it or decide that I don't need it) I become the poster child for "***** on Wheels". I'm evil. I'm not depressed, just mean as hell. I become very forgetful. I have trouble sleeping. I'm just not nice. I don't like me and there's no way anyone else should stand to be around me.

I've told her what I'm like so she's upped my Lexapro and given me a prescription of Xanax to help curb the rage.

Hot flashes require that I dress in layers. Always a tank top on because when one hits....I begin to strip. David had only heard about them until a few weeks ago...in the drive thru at McDonald's. I went from wearing a sweatshirt and vest in 20 degree weather to stripping to the tank and I swear to you I was sweating fire. I sleep with a fan on. I've put a 2nd comforter on the bed so porr David can roll up like a burrito to stay warm.

As far as the trouble falling asleep, I've been taking tylenol p.m. in part because of my aching knees but also to help with the edginess that I feel around bedtime. An established routine helps but there are just some nights that nothing seems to do the trick.  A couple of friends swear by melatonin but I've not tried it.

I hope some others chime in on this topic. I'm not really looking forward to coming completely off the estrogen but I'm at the point now where the risks and benefits aren't as well defined as they have been.

Iris, so far my hot flashes have been at night when I have gone to bed.  I woke up around 2 AM one morning and thought that someone had throw a bucket of water on me.  My gown, body and bedsheets were soaked.  It just leaves you feeling nasty....Tylenol PM is child's play for me.  Does not even faze me.  I have tried the melatonin and it did not work for me either.  I laughed about the burrito because my husband does the same thing.  He is wrapped up and I have my rear end hanging out of the covers.  I know this doesn't last forever, (I hope) but I bet it is going to be a long 2014 if it continues on this way.

Maybe we're responsible for global warming?!

I am hot enough!!!

yes there is magic pill... 

If this is a beginning of menopause simple thing like bio-identical progesterone can help. You can ask for a pill or use OTC natural - bio-identical progesterone cream in a health food store... 

When my change started - I used that and it helped reset my body.   That helped me for 1-2 years.  After that - I just needed bio-identical estrogen (patches) progesterone and testosterone. All my hormones were off.   

I suggested the cream to my friend and she got good results for 6-8 months... now - like me - she is on hormone patches. 

http://www.natural-progesterone-advisory-network.com/what-is -the-different-between-natural-progesterone-usp-and-normal-w ild-yam-cream/

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-760 -PROGESTERONE.aspx?activeIngredientId=760&activeIngredientNa me=PROGESTERONE

 

If you decide to use that - make sure it say progesterone on the label (not wild yam) and that it is as natural as you can get. 

I really liked that book: 

http://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Doctor-About-Menopause/dp/04 46614955

 

 

 

Thank you so much!  I am going to Memphis tomorrow and I will look for it in the Health Food Store.  I am willing to try voodoo at this point for some sleep.

Hot flashes - night sweats - a couple of things you cna do: 

1. progesterone cream at night - rub onto the wrist and on the inside thighs. 

2. Tylenol at night - tylenol brings the body temperature down. 

3. make sure you have some food before bed (nut butter works for me) and not carbs at least 2 hrs before bed ( carbs may make you BS to fluctuate and that may cause more hot flashes, and waking up. Even with small blood sugar fluctuation - the lower blood sugar may cause activation of cortisol and that would wake you up and keep you up. 

4. talking about sugar fluctuation and hormonal issue  - no alcohol - red wine is the worse to bring a hot flash a few hours later.. BS gets more sensitive with menopause - insulin response..

5. You may also add some DHEA hormones from natural health food store.. try some - maybe 10-20 mg. I would take that first am. 

6.  try to add 1Tbs of flax meal a day to your diet. If you do - make sure if it is not more than 2 Tbs a day.   

7. if you need some herbs recommendation - I can tell you what worked for me.  I would never suggest one herb formula. Always combination. 

Also be aware that like with so many other things - there is a lot of "fake" herbs - and some cheap herbs may not really have all the stuff they say it has. 

Gaia herbs - is one company that I know to be making great products. Their stuff is expensive (relatively) but it does work.  And it is USA company that as far as I know have the production in USA, and grow a lot of their plants on a farm in NC.  Their products is available in most health food stores. 

http://www.gaiaherbs.com/products/by_condition/29/

 

I wonder if I am getting close to menopause? I sweat like heck at work, even though the hospital is freezing. I have trouble sleeping, well I have always had trouble sleeping. I am 41 is that too early?

You may be in perimenopause. Read about that. Some progesterone cream at the last 14 days of your cycle can help  a lot.