Menopause

[Admin]

Anyone else dealing with symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes, mood swings, crankiness?

that would be me.

Menopause isn't for sissies...

*edited to add...Do you take meds for the symptoms? I was taking Estrace, but I wanted to take something more natural so I bought Estroven. It works pretty well. And much easier on the body.

[Deed]

Here I am!

You're right, this sure isn't for sissies! My bloodwork says I'm pre-menopause, but mine is drug induced to the extreme, so I know just where you are coming from Car. No I can't take anything for mine other than vit E and another drug to try and help alleviate the symptoms. They aren't working very good either!

And yes, I'm a member of the crabby club too!

[Admin]

I hear ya Deed. And you know what, people just do not understand..Guess you gotta be there, do that to get it huh.

I was put into surgical menopause at age 34. It was pretty bad until I went on Estrace. Then it got better. But now at the ripe ole age of 57, I went off Estrace and boy oh boy..double dose here.

I can't imagine what your going through.

I know my bil is taking female hormones to try to shrink a protate tumor and you should see him. It is so sad. He sweats so much that he has to go change clothing. I dont know how he puts up with it.

For me it is just the upper part of my body mostly...How bout you?

[Deed]

I have been put into menopause to but FOR surgery years ago and then 4 years ago I had a hysterectomy so already had hot flashes before having to take this med for the cancer.

I'm with your bil, I could actually change my clothes several times a day too. Mine are from the top of my head right down to my feet and every where in between! Now with the warm weather here, it is even worse, the sweat literally drips off me and in my eyes etc... YUCK!

[ellise]

Although I have not been diagnosed with pre-menopause, I think I am going through it as well, I have the night sweats, and have to change my night clothes. I now sleep with a towel under me so I don't saok the bed before morning. Don't even get me started on Mood swings! poor Don, he gets the brunt of it all.

Car I'm sorry for your BIL. I'm not that far gone YET.
Edited to add: No I don't take anything for it, I just run up the water bill

[Sparkle]

Hi Ladies!
Boy, do I relate! I just finished that about 6-8mos. ago...........and it was truly a very long haul. At one point I was working as a cook at our local Elks Lodge and just dying with the heat of the kitchen......in the summer........and the hot flashes. Often they would find me in the walk in freezer! Boy, did I miss that walk-in later on!!! An old Dr. told me at the beginning that it would be best if I just......."toughed-it-out" ! Well, I did that for 7 years and it almost killed me it seemed......then on the 8th year I took hormone replacement therapy pills. The symptoms stopped the next day. After one year exactly I heard it wasn't good for you so I stopped that............6 mo. later the flashes started up again but, very easy and far apart.........not like getting hit by a run-away train, 10 times a day, like it used to be. Then........it all stopped about 6 mo. ago. I think if I had to do it over again........I'd try some other products for relief. My hair started falling out and I lost over half of it.........good thing I had tons to begin with. My weight went up, my eyes got worse, I went into a lot of deep depression, I cried all the time............but...........I made it out. I wish you all the best and if you find something you can take that won't hurt you.........great! My two girlfriends are now just starting to really get the symptoms and they are saying..........NOW, I see what you were always talking about being so hard!!! This is horrible! I was 48 when every symptom hit me like a ton of bricks.............and then it ended when I was 57. It hit my grandmother so hard that at times she would take a chair and go and sit in the hall closet in the dark and not allow anyone to talk to her.
I found laying a cold wet towel over me at night when I lay on top of the covers........helped a lot. Mostly it was the top half of my body but, there where times when I'd get wet clear down to my shoes and my clothes stuck to me................yes, YUCK!
Good luck to all of you...............you'll make it. Be sure to keep up on your vitamins and calcium as this menopause does take a lot out of you and you definately need the back up.
phyllis

[Deed]

I can so relate Phyllis. I don't know if mine will stop once I am off this drug, I have another 4 years to go.

I say this because my mom had a hysterectomy at 36, she is now 71 and still having hot flashes! I just hope she didn't pass this one on to me too!

[Admin]

Anyone find that they are not only cranky but edgy as well. Sometimes I feel like I am going to jump out of my skin. Noise bothers me alot too. Heck everything bothers me these days.
I can' t think straight, lose my train of thought and am so forgetful.

[Sparkle]

Yes Carolyn,
Not able to remember things you normally do, lose your train of thought, can't think of the right word, or remember a name............it is ALL so frustrating to say the least. I didn't get edgy, I just CRIED...........probably a million or more tears. Everything made me cry!! I remember walking out of church crying cause it was somewhat an emotional service..........for me........it was Horrible.........and I left and got in my car and drove up to the lake and sat there alone and read my bible to myself. The emotional part of menopause was just as bad as the hot flashes............sometimes I'd be dripping with sweat ........AND.........crying! I remember those days well. I am sooooooooooo glad it is over now. Once in a while I get warm for a minute or two but, I can't really tell if it is a hot flash or not.............it is so "quiet" I guess you could say.
Hang in there girls..............you're on your way to the finish line!
phyllis

[Deed]

You're kidding Phyllis? Menopause is causing my forgetfulness and stopping in the middle of a sentence when I can't think of a common everyday word? Oh and my sis Sandy who just finished chemo is having this happen too, her doc told her it was from the chemo. So I'm getting double whammied? No wonder I'm goofy!

[Deed]

Car,

In answer to your question, YES I feel like I could crawl out of my skin and NOBODY better come near me or touch me when one is going on.

All I have to say is I'm hot, and Bub jumps off my lap now. She learned the hard way, either jump or I dump ya!

[Admin]

Well this sure is a *hot* topic..roflol. I just hold my hand up to dh and he says...talk to the hand, and boy does he scatter..LOL. Poor guy...I had one in the middle of the grocery store today and like Phyll I was looking for a freezer..Sigh. All I want to know is..Is it over yet??

[Sparkle]

Since so many of us "baby boomers" are either in Menopause or just getting out of it.....I think we need some extra consideration, don't you? I think in the grocery stores where the sign is that leads the way to the womens restroom........there should be one right below it that leads the way to the walk in freezer! I know in my town..........it would be full!!!!
phyllis

[Admin]

I definitely think your right Phyll. That would be great. Plus when we exit they could have a person there handing out chocolate samples.. :-)

[braided-rug]

My eyes are getting worse, my memory is shocking, and my hair is falling out but I don't beleive I am menopausal, maybe you were unlucky and got them all at once. I am alot younger as well. Maybe you had a good run up until that point.

I am sure it will be hard when it happens. I wonder though, since all my family seem to vent to me, what it would be like in reverse, when I give them a hard time? Hopefully one or two would have left home before then.

I am still very slightly feeding my daughter, I wonder how that affects my hormones?