Menopause?
(33 posts) (12 voices)-
dragonmamma
MemberOTB, what does HS stand for? (All I can think of is "high school".)
I'm 50, and I assume I'm going through menopause since Aunt Flo only comes to visit every 3 or 4 months. Other than that, I really don't have any symptoms.
WARNING TO YOU MEN: This thread might contain "too much information" for you. But, hey, it is titled MENOPAUSE. If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen!
Posted 7 months ago # -
Crystal W.
MemberWell, men have their share of hormonal problems too! Some people do just fine going through menopause and others suffer terribly. My advice is to find a qualified doctor who knows how to replace the sex hormones so you can feel better. Must be bioidentical HRT. A regular doctor will not have a clue or stick you on antidepressants.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Crystal W.
MemberUsually, the pituitary hormones FSH and LH are tested along with estrogen and progesterone through a simple blood test. If the sex hormones are low and FSH/LH is high, then you're most likely in menopause. Many women do not have a rough time getting through menopause, but a lot do.
Posted 7 months ago # -
maba
MemberLuvbirds, looks at the comment section of this post. One of the commenters, a physician, says taking Vitamin D helped her with hot flashes.
http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/case-against-vitamin-d2.html
Posted 7 months ago # -
Luvbirds
MemberThanks for the reply's. I'm already on the Bio-Identicals for about 6 months now. I've been having a really hard time with hot flashes. Since starting the hormones I did have a 2 month window of time where I had none and felt great...and then they returned with a vengeance. I get them sometimes every 20 minutes. The biggest problem is I am no longer sleeping. I wake up constantly soaking wet, throw the covers off only to wake up freezing cold, put the covers back on...and repeat dozens of times all night long. I'm exhausted.
I'm going to give some extra Vitamin D a try, one of my friends mentioned that to me a few months ago. Edit to add...just popped 3000mg Vit D...HOPE I SLEEP!
Thanks...if anyone else has suggestions, please share.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Indiscreet
MemberMm I'm not there yet (I'm 42) but it may be worth investigating tribulus. It's usually used by men over 30 to boost testosterone levels, but can also help in women.
From a menopause site:
"Tribulus terrestris The herb tribulus is one of the best natural alternatives to relieve the symptoms of menopause. Studies have shown that tribulus can completely or nearly completely alleviate all symptoms of menopause, with a stunning success rate of 98%. This herb can also improve bone turnover activity, thus helping menopausal women maintain optimal bone health. Lastly, tribulus is also the only herb shown to work for both natural and surgical menopause."
Although I'm not menopausal yet, I have just ordered some to see if it helps with me lower body fat.
That aside, before you sleep I'd recommend a couple of supplements, ZMA (Zinc/Magnesium - ZMA is a registered trademark so all supplement companies selling it will be selling an identical formula) and 5-HTP, a serotonin precursor. If you're in American then you can get Melatonin but it's classed as a medicine in the UK and can only be got on prescription.
Also, don't sleep on memory foam - it's stupidly hot!
Posted 7 months ago # -
maba
Memberhttp://www.westonaprice.org/women/wise_choices.html
Scroll down to read the part on menopause.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Ecala
MemberI'm already on the Bio-Identicals for about 6 months now. I've been having a really hard time with hot flashes. Since starting the hormones I did have a 2 month window of time where I had none and felt great...and then they returned with a vengeance. I get them sometimes every 20 minutes. The biggest problem is I am no longer sleeping.
Luvbirds, your post screams low estrogen. Have you had your levels tested on the bios?
I can always tell (I'm on BHRT) when I need an increase in estrogen is when I start sleeping poorly.Hot flashes are also associated with low estrogen.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Ecala
MemberFrom the westonprice link maba posted
The truth is that every woman in the world experiences a decline in the level of female hormones and a rise in the level of male hormones at menopause. This is nature's way of equipping the female sex for her new role as forager, worker and sage. Like the male youth of eighteen, she experiences hotbloodedness, signalized by hot flashes, as she prepares for a lustier life than the cloistered one she led as a mother of small children.
LOL
I love weston price but I have to wholeheartedly disagree with the above excerpt. LOLHARDLY. That so does not happen.
For one- testosterone does not always rise in menopause. Au contraire. Every woman DOES NOT experience a rise in testosterone. I have very very low levels- I have to supplement.
And two, we need estrogen for testosterone to work. The receptors in the brain aren't turned on for testosterone unless estrogen is present. Lustier life and like the male youth of eighteen (haha haha, I wish!)... hotbloodedness (good grief)-- who in the frick writes this stuff. Must have been a man.
Man! that article really pisses me off. LOLPosted 7 months ago # -
Luvbirds
MemberThe truth is that every woman in the world experiences a decline in the level of female hormones and a rise in the level of male hormones at menopause. This is nature's way of equipping the female sex for her new role as forager, worker and sage. Like the male youth of eighteen, she experiences hotbloodedness, signalized by hot flashes, as she prepares for a lustier life than the cloistered one she led as a mother of small children.
He he he....enough testosterone in my life right now...4 sons 22, 20, 18 and 15. A hubby and an intact male Doberman....I'm surrounded by it! there is so much that it oozes out of the house! I have a frat sign hanging over my front door!
My hormones were tested when I started the BHRT. I was completely bottomed out below what I should have been, except testosterone. I'm going to call the doctor and see if he can give me just some more estrogen, my BHRT has E/P/T in it, don't want to end up growing hair all over the place by increasing that dosage too much! I have 6 months of the script filled, and my insurance didn't cover it, if I take the synthetic crap it does..how do you like that?! I may end up getting a test to see where the Estrogen is now. My compounding phamisist said that the estrogen will make me gain weight.....which I have and can't get rid of...only 10# but if I ate as clean and exercised like I do now...in my younger years, I'd weigh 20# less. This just plain sucks. The only thing I keep reminding myself is of the friends I've lost to cancer, they would love to experience hot flashes and be alive. Hot Flashes are not life threatening, just annoying. This too shall pass.
You guys are the greatest!
Posted 7 months ago # -
Ecala
MemberNah. As long as it's bioidentical and your other hormones are balanced, you won't gain weight. You only gain weight when you are estrogen deficient (and it sounds like you are) or if you have too much estrogen. You can learn to read the "cues" your body gives you. Too little and you have hot flashes and crappy sleep; too much and you get bitchy and bloated :) Progesterone, you just use a little bit on the right days.
You really should get them all separately-- when you can, that is. That way you can adjust them as needed.
I cycle mine (to mimic a menstrual cycle)-- estrogen 1-21 (although I'm going to do this all month long now as the week I'm off of it, I am very unhappy and sleep like crap), then progesterone 16-28 and testosterone every day.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Ecala
MemberMy compounding phamisist said that the estrogen will make me gain weight.....which I have and can't get rid of...only 10#
Think of it this way Luvbirds (love that profile name btw), when you are estrogen deficient, your body looks for ways to get some. And since estrogen is not just made in the ovaries, it's also made in fat cells, your body compensates by making fat so that it can derive the estrogen it needs.
Pretty clever that Mother Nature ;)
Posted 7 months ago # -
Crystal W.
MemberLuvbirds-
I agree, your symptoms suggest low estrogen. What are you taking?For many women in perimenopause, progesterone drops 8-10 yesrs before estrogen and ovaries start declining. As a result, estrogen tries to lower to balance with progesterone. Blood tests may show low estrogen and low progesterone. Taking progesterone alone will help estrogen. So, it's important to just work on progesterone unless you know that ovaries have stopped working.
I'd say more times than not, women have lower testosterone during menopause. Estrogen and progesterone need to be balanced in order to have enough testosterone. Progesterone converts to testosterone and when progesterone and estrogen are not balanced, of course testosterone will be low/high. Always fix estrogen/pro. before starting testosterone to see if it fixes it on it's own.
Estrogen will make you gain weight if it is too high or too high in comparison to progesterone. It is stored in the fat cells, so if you're low, your cells will store it in fat. Estrogen is highest in teens and in the 20's, not a lot of obesity and cancer there. All estrogen can cause cancer cells to grow, progesterone is anti-cancer.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Ecala
MemberCrystal, since we're on the subject. What do you think about testosterone serum testing? is it accurate? you know how progesterone serum testing isn't-- is it the same for testosterone?
Also with progesterone, how can you tell if the amount used is enough? I just never want to over-do it with progesterone because it can get trapped in the fat cells and takes months to clear the body. How can I tell when I'm on the right amount? Saliva testing doesn't seem to be all that accurate either.
Finally, what do you think about progesterone converting to cortisol?
Posted 7 months ago # -
Luvbirds
MemberI'm on BI-EST PROG TEST PLO GEL (80/20) 2.0MG/100MG/.5MG
Right now I'm using 1.0 MG 2X a day, I'm suppose to be using .5 MG 2X a day. That later amount worked for 2 months, but both those months I had Periods, now they stopped again for two months. I have no relief from symptoms even with me doubling the script.
I just emailed my pharmacist to ask him what I should do next.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Ecala
MemberHmmm... IMO I think it might be too much progesterone and not enough estrogen. If I'm reading this correctly, looks like you're getting 200 mg progesterone daily (2 - 100mg applications a day)? Yeah, if that's the case, it's wayyy too much. You said you've gain weight? It's most likely water you're retaining.
Really, if you can, get the hormones in separate prescriptions. You will feel a lot better when you can individually adjust each dose.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Luvbirds
MemberSorry...it was misprinted on the script...its only 1.0MG of the Progesterone. 2.0 Estrogen .5 Testosterone
I'll see if my doctor can give me another script for the estrogen separate, maybe adding more of that each day will help. I have 6 months worth of this script...paid cash for it, so I will be using it. In all other areas I'm definitely noticing that the hormones are working. I have a feeling that for most of my life I had issues with my hormones, eating healthy for a lifetime definitely helped keep them in check, but there were always signs that they weren't balanced.
BTW, I will be 50 in 4 short months. My mom never had another period after the age of 50 and she had HORRIBLE hot flashes for years. She was always thin, fit and ate healthy, mostly primal!! I'm not one to suffer in silence like she did. I want to feel good.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Luvbirds
MemberYou got me...I do have a copy of the recipe they use...I will look it up and see if I can figure it out. Emailed Pharmacist and he said to increase by one more line, I have already been increasing by 5 lines a day...and the flashes are getting worse. It sucks. I want to sleep. I can deal with the daytime, but lack of quality sleep for so long is making me feel like crap all day long now.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Ecala
MemberOhhh Luvbirds.. I don't think you should keep increasing the entire amount (if all 3 are included in one script). I worry about how much testosterone and progesterone you're getting by doing so! Too much of these two can make sleep difficult-- they might be the very culprits making you feel awful.
Too much progesterone is a bitch to clear your system.
Posted 7 months ago # -
shirin
MemberLuvbirds, this is my first post. Your story is mine as far as hot flushes (as they're called in Australia) go.
Almost nothing I have done or taken has helped. My menopause was here for real Feb 2007 but had symptoms way before that. I'd been regular as the post, but suddenly just stopped. That's it.
I've never gone on the conventional HRT. I've had all kinds of bioavailable stuff (in different ratios) and none of it does a thing. Sure I felt better, but the flushes were still there. DHEA, which is also supposed to help, gives me migraines. Black kohosh and all the rest of those herbs only made me feel horrible.
I'm absolutely dreading the summer, which is approaching. I thought I could handle them, that is... until I logged them one day. I was shocked - every 30 minutes most of the time. Horrible!!! I don't tolerate heat at all. I've been better during the winter, strangely enough.
I'm very interested to see what ends up working for you.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Luvbirds
Membershirin....I'm really sorry. I know how miserable you must be feeling. Few of my friends have started on this path yet, and those that have already gone through it...had it easy compared to the what I've been dealing with. It's pretty easy to feel overwhelmed and alone. Unless someone knows how bad you feel there is no way to describe it. Hey I've seen people have hot flashes and thought...what could the big deal be??? Yup, I knew it all until it was actually ME having them! It is a big deal to those of us who feel like dog dirt day in and out for months, years of our life. My flashes during the day seem to be a bit better with the weather cooling, so again I'm sorry, you are heading in to Summer and I'm going into Fall. I'm still not sleeping more then a couple of hours at a time, and find that the worst part of all, I feel punch drunk 99% of the time lately.
If you find something other then time that works...LET ME KNOW!! For now, continue to eat well, limit caffeine, alcohol and do get out and at least walk in the fresh air and sunshine. Let's stick together to get though this.
BTW...my best friend on this earth...lives in AU!! She is coming home for my 50th BD...Thanksgiving and Christmas, so happy for her to visit her family and friends during her favorite time of the year!
Posted 6 months ago #
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