*Menopause*

[jelli]

Wow, that many.

[Gráinne]

I've been in perimenopause for awhile, without major symptoms . I'm going to go as natural as possible unless I become a raging beast.

Menopausal and mad as hell here!

I soddin' hate it.

I started with major symptoms last year after having a couple of years of menstrual changes.

Unfortunately said symptoms also coincided with giving up smoking so I was twice as loopy for a while there.

I started having quite serious night sweats which necessitated me having to sleep on towels for a few months. Then the night sweats stopped and the hot flashes started and they came every 10-15mins throughout the day and night. At first I thought the sweats and flashes could be as a result of my body being unaccustomed to all the oxygen it was now getting after quitting smoking. However the flashes didn't stop and I hadn't bled for months so I went to see my doctor who confirmed that yes I was having menopausal symptoms and could only suggest hormone replacement. I had to explain that my Ma died of breast cancer as a direct result of taking HRT (many moons ago now) so I am reluctant to take the risk myself.

I did my research and and started taking soy isoflavones (plant estrogens) along with high strength fish oils 3 times a day. After a few days they started to work and the hot flashes started to decrease in frequency. As they're really quite expensive I tried decreasing the number of isoflavone pills but the hot flashes increased again. So, I've been taking these pills for a year now and they work ....on the whole.

Recently I went to see the practice gynae nurse who suggested taking a low dose of Clonidine (Dixarit). I've been taking these for a month now and they have really helped. I have barely had a hot flash for a month!! We've just increased the dose a little bit and I'm 'cooler' than I've been in a whole year.

What is really hard to cope with is I feel so much like a 'girl'. I've always been a more male identified genderqueer being so am finding it really rather alien to feel female and I hate it. Really, really hate it. Having months on end where I don't bleed is the only 'good' aspect.

Ok I'll stop whinging on....for now

[jelli]

I figured this topic wouldn't be for everyone publicly. Thank you to anyone that takes the courage and or time to post. for those that are reading... take care of yourselves.

My journey with female issues and menopause started at age 14 with endometriosis. By 16 they wanted me to have a hysterectomy, but that wasn't going to happen since I always wanted a big family. Over the next few years I dealt with fibroids everywhere and excessive bleeding and pain. During this time I would also have my children. By 25 I had my hysterectomy and like most, menopause ensued. It hasn't been a great situation. They did start the patch after surgery, but I had a major skin reaction.

I started having trouble with ICC and that brought about them finding I needed to have an oophorectomy. So at 35 they removed the last ovary, major scar tissue, and some repair of a prolapse.

My Dr. recently prescribed a "compounded for me" cream for estrogen and testosterone. I am turning 40 in less than 2 weeks and things are starting to become a bit more normal. Thankfully, I have had great support.

Something else though, I am not sure if related or not, but they also found I was Vitamin D deficient(I posted in the vitamin D thread), magnesium very low, and my body wouldn't process vitamin B normally, so I take the sublingual.

I've noticed several people I know(IRT) that are almost ashamed to talk about their journey. Some to the point they won't even go see a doctor. I feel sad about the last aspect.

[Apocalipstic]

Hi there! )

I had a hysterectomy in 2008, and though I have a lone ovary left it is riddled with endometriosis and my hormone levels are way lower than they were before.

I guess you would say I am in perimenopause. Not yet on any supplements.

I do take Vitamin D as I also have a deficiency and B12, which seems to help with moods.

Omega 3s help too.

I have really bad heat flashes and this heat wave right now ia mking it all pretty miserable.

[foxyshaman]

This is my Canadian cold as (insert word of choice) favorite story. During this past winter I put on my long coat, and all the other necessities. It was -35C with a horrible wind chill. Nature with her, sense of humor (?) sent along a big ol hot flash. By the time I got to the gym I was sweating... seriously. All I could think was how stupid it was to be freezing and sweating buckets at the same time.

I run hotter now than I ever have. I am a furnace when I sleep. I am low in Magnesium and also take a B3 and B6... prevents murder, I'm all for that. I finally have no low iron issues... yeah me.

I have been exceptionally lucky I think.

[jelli]

You Might Be Going Through Menopause IF...

If you frequently find your head in the freezer, you might be going through menopause.

If more than six times a day, you say "Now what was I doing? -looking for?-saying?, you might be going through menopause.

If your partner asks, "How are you, honey?" and you burst out crying and stay mad at him for the rest of the day, you might be going through menopause.

If you are yelling at your children to "keep it down" and they are reading, you might be going through menopause.

If you consider ramming that car that took your spot, you might be going through menopause.

If all of your clothes are suddenly a size too small, you might be going through menopause.

If the shock of the smaller size of your clothing sends you straight to the freezer and while you're there you grab some ice cream, you might be going through menopause.

If you stand at the refrigerator with the door open and someone else has to remind you of what you want, you might be going through menopause.

If your partner suddenly buys a new motorcycle for quick escapes a few times a day, you might be going through menopause.

If your children seem to be spending more time "out" with their friends, you might be going through menopause.

If your idea of torture is asking that little skinny girl in the cute blouse for the dressing room key, you might be going through menopause.

If you could swear she snickered as she let you in, you might be going through menopause.

If you are suddenly finding the need to shave places you've never shaved before (like your chin), you might be going through menopause.

If your life could be perfect if you didn't have to live with all of these irritating people or work with those jerks or go to church with those other people or share the road with those lousy drivers, you might be going through menopause.

If laughing at a joke reminds you of something else which reminds you of something sad and then you burst out crying while everyone else is still laughing, you might be going through menopause.

If you wish that you could sleep on ice, you might be going through menopause-or global warming.

If you are printing this out to show your friends.......well, you know.