Comments on: What Happens After Menopause? Are you just old? Happy 54th Birthday!

By: robin

robin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:38:43 +0000

Thanks for sharing your comment, Ann. Clearly, you have a lot more to deal with than those of us struggling through menopause. RA is enormously challenging – so congratulations for finding ways to deal with it positively. If you find a doctor who will help you and in whom you can trust then you’re ahead of the game. If not, its worth it to keep looking. The right doctor can tie all of your issues, RA, hormones, etc. together and make everything work at an optimum level. It’s finding that doctor that’s the challenge – but I know they’re out there! Good luck to you, Ann!

By: another Ann

another Ann — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:26:40 +0000

Its great to read all of these comments. It really helps to hear from real women instead of my silly doctor who just wants to give me drugs and doesn’t even warn me about the side effects. I had to look it up before I decided not to take HRT. Several close female relatives died quite young of heart disease and stroke, so blood clots are a real concern.

I started April 2008 all at once. My periods were normal and regular and then, that month, they just stopped. Hot flashes and insomnia immediately ensued. My cholesteral and blood pressure, which have always been low, rose dramatically. I developed RA within the year and have gained 30 pounds. I’ve found that exercise helps both the RA and the insomnia a bit. Heavy weights, though! And a LOT of aerobic. Like at least an hour of elypticals. A trainer told me it increases blood flow and that helps everything in your body get healthy.

I still have really bad nights, though. I’ll wake every twenty minutes. I get the adrenalin rush and heart palpitations along with the hot flashes, so I wake up wide awake and like I could run around the block! And then I can’t go right back to sleep. By morning I feel absolutely awful but I have to somehow get through the day. Happily, I haven’t had the memory or emotional issues yet. So its been almost four years. I PRAY that it won’t last the rest of my life.

I should say that the gym has helped somewhat with the weight as well. Including that awful tummy fat that just appeared like an unwanted pillow one day. It takes a month to lose a pound but I don’t mind as long as I’m losing and not gaining.

I recommend weight training for the aches and pains. Just be careful that you don’t strain your joints.

By: robin

robin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:33:12 +0000

Mary,

It’s great to hear that hormone cream has done so much to help, and that your doctor was open minded enough to explore that option. There’s no reason why we have to age prematurely and be miserable over symptoms that can easily be controlled by providing our body with what it naturally requires. Just be advised – my Mom went off estrogen in her mid-70′s – and the hot flashes came back!

By: mary lembi

mary lembi — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:15:34 +0000

I am 65, at 37 years old had to have a surgical Hysterectomy, Ovaries out
too, at age 60 years started a horrible menopause, to where I needed a new
OBGYN, doctor, who gave me my life back, with Permarin Estrogen Cream
and ever so small amounts, and I have been on it for 5 years now, at 70
years I pray I will be done with the Menopause, so I am waiting for 5 more
years to come so I can be done with it, mine new OBGYN check me out every year, and says to me you are normal, on all your test, she says keep
useing it, only against your vagnial dryness.
Which I get really bad. And with the cream I am totally normal. Sincerely
marylembi@ymail.com

By: robin

robin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:23:27 +0000

No period for 18 months means you are officially in menopause. If you have a medical professional that you trust – I would recommend having a blood test before going off bio-identicals cold turkey. That way if there is some kind of aberration it can be addressed with the least amount of trauma. See if your physician recommends easing off rather than dropping them completely. Before discussing this with your physician make sure that you know your own goals: are you trying to deal with specific symptoms, or are you looking to get off of hormones in general. If someone is pushing you to get off get a second opinion. Don’t walk away from something that works without double checking your source – especially if your instinct is making you skeptical.

By: Darla Hymes

Darla Hymes — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:53:14 +0000

I have been on bio identicals for almost two years, no period for 18 months. If I go off and get symptoms again, will joint pain get worse and…

By: robin

robin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:06:00 +0000

Ann – you can do it! Its hard work but once you’re geared up you will block all of the bad foods and focus on eating healthy. And seeing just a few results are enough reward to keep you going. Make sure you know what clothes fit you now – and which ones are just a bit too small. Use those as markers of your success. Nothing feels better than fitting into something you couldn’t a week or two ago! Best of luck, Ann! And it sounds as though your husband is a keeper!

By: ann

ann — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:28:28 +0000

I’m 51 and have been going through menopause for at least three years maybe longer? I had a hysterectomy when I was 35 years old. I still have my ovaries. And even back then, when I was approaching 40, I was experiencing night sweats. I only hope it will end soon. Hot flashes are not fun but I’m used to them. I really don’t care to take anything for my symptoms. I just would rather tough it out!! My main problem is the weight gain. I have gained 25 pounds in the past 3 years!!!! I’ve always been good about exercising and diet. But nothing seems to work. After reading Robin Donovan’s post above, that has given me hope. I want my body back along with my size 4 levi blue jeans. Thank God I have a great husband who still loves me the way I am. I will continue with a good sense of humor about menopause, keep exercising and dieting and know that soon this will all end and I’ll be back into my size 4′s!!!!! Thank you for this web page.

By: robin

robin — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:10:23 +0000

Linda, the AMA frowns on bio-identical hormones because they don’t bother to truly understand them. I would talk to someone who does and make your decision based on information from more than one person. You might still decide not to take them – but had I listened to the majority of my AMA practitioners I wouldn’t be taking them – and I’m glad I am. There are also some natural substances that can help – and they might be enough for you. Black cohash is supposed to be wonderful – I don’t know that firsthand though. It’s worth having a conversation with someone on the holistic/eastern med side of the medical profession. It’s a big pain always having to balance both sides – but some of my AMA guys seem to be coming around – a bit. They’re just not comfortable with what they don’t know – and many are a bit too lazy to do their homework on these emerging substances that are often thousands of years old. If an AMA doc recommends nothing or heavy estrogen pills or anti-depressants – run do not walk to your nearest natural alternative!

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 01:01:56 +0000

53 burn up here and there, bad day one time per month where everything bothers me, joint aches and pains, some due to past fitness classes I taught, can’t make decision/concentrate at times, not as happy as use to be, normal is what I guess I am reading others stories but how to fix this without meds would be nice as exercise isn’t doing it anymore….mainly it is that one bad day per month, the burning up, moodiness, want to be happier….thank you for having this webpage

My endrochronologist frowned upon bioidenticals, why? Possible interference with Osteoporosis pending in the future?

Not sure what vitamins to take anymore or anything else….thank you, have a blessed day