Menopause

I have tried a few things suggested by gp via pharmacy which didnt help just stung. I do use castor oil on a regular basis which can help. Hydromol for bathing. Think i may try some other stuff eg coconut oil. I may do a little natural research too!

Thank you Cilla its always good to hear tips and get support from other groups i will take a look. yes im starting to realise some food and drink triggers. Im hoping to start some HRT oral when i see gyne next month along with LS checkup. Then aim to see gp inbetween to keep on top of things a little bit better

Dear Cilla,

What does the EmuAid cram do for you? I assume you use it topically on the spots? I have some but it seemed to burn, initially, and so I stopped using it. Would love to know as it cost me $50. Thanks.

biscuit, it comes with a 30 day money back guarantee. How long ago did you buy it? The max version contains tea tree oil which can most definitely burn. Not sure if it's in the regular version. It's recommended for hemorrhoids though, so maybe it's a case by case basis.

eggbiscuit, I've tried everything from coconut oil , almond oil, castor oil, jajoba , emu and so many others. They just seemed messy and did not help with irritation. One of the FB LS groups suggested emuaid. The original works well, as does the emuaidmax. The max can tingle at first so use sparingly. I find one container lasts me 5-6 weeks. Its personal preference for me and for 50 dollars every 5-6 weeks for a product that I can rely on I don't mind spending the money.

I now use all the other trial products that I listed on my arms legs feet as I have many.

Cilla,

Thank you for sharing. Maybe I will go back and get the EmuAid and weaken it with some coconut oil and retry. Yes, if it works well, $50 every few weeks is not that bad. Some women had luck with a few drops of frankincense oil in castor oil as a carrier. I think we are starting our own little drug store here, the ladies who have tried a plethora of compounds.... Tomorrow I am going to an allergist to ask him to check my immune system. We'll see. If I learn anything I will post it.

Beverly, Bought it back in June of 2019. I figured I'd use use it for something else....I have a drug store under my sink.

Yes i trundle along with stuff but agree getting into a rythm with appointments is key!

Hi Suzanne,

I totally understand where you are coming from when you say you have to accept support for this problem, hormonal or otherwise. That's a hard thing to do when you've been independent your whole life. You make an interesting point about periods being a clearing mechanism....Think that is correct and now they're gone. Were you tested for adrenal issues? What was the test? Blood test? Thanks. biscuit

Yes I was tested for adrenals via a blood test. They were below the lowest marker but fortunately we have been able to bump them up with hormonal support so it is not Addison's disease ... they are reviveable! When we talked about the first lot of blood tests and what has been going on in my life I cried and cried and cried. It was like my body was relieved it was getting some support. I live what some people call clean living with diet, lifestyle choices and healing an established consistency that has kept be vibrant for some years now but this along with the LS feel like are long term stresses that have been dormant and now are appearing for me to look at more deeply in Menopause. x

Suzanne, Believe me, I understand long term stresses. Some of mine are coming out now and like you, I think that has a bearing on the LS. Allergist may tell me tomorrow. When you lose a sense of self, due to whatever trauma and your reaction to it, the physiological effects often don't show up for awhile. Half of our problems could be the emotional, mind,body connection. I think that's the Chinese theory of LS

That's the Chinese (and holistic) view of health in general. Most of us carry stress in our bodies. Maybe women more than men because of societal structures. Some people are blessed with natures that let them see everything in perspective which enables them to somehow swim through it. They let go and are unaffected. But for the rest of us mere mortals we have to identify what is harmful to us and change our lives to avoid stress as much as possible. It is easier once you're older but by that time much of the damage has been done. Then we're taking supplements by the fistful, seeing costly practitioners, exercising, meditating, changing diets and whatnot. We may be unable to do anything about the LS, but maybe it will save us from developing other problems.

It was the LS that really got me to stop, or should I say, gets me to stop and pay attention ... it just cannot be forgotten about for long even if I do forget I have it until I get a flare up.

This perspective would make a great study. I have seen there are a lot of studies being done internationally for laser treatment and LS and only one on Quality of Life.

Hi Suzanne, Yesterday I saw a new doctor who, according to his staff, could test for auto-immune problems. However, when I met with him, he not only did not do AI stuff, he had never heard of LS, asked why I was there, and then called my GP to talk about me. I did not ask him or want him to do that. Even though I brought all my test results, journal articles showing LS may in fact be auto-immune related, this doctor refused to run any tests and shooed me out of the office. After decades of experience in this area (AI problems are listed on his website which was one reason I made the appt) he could not recommend one rheumatologist or dermatologist in the area who might help. Not ONE. Half a day of work and $50 wasted. If he gets this disease I'll bet he changes his tune. Hope you all are having better luck. I am over it.

I have concluded that it's a waste of effort and ultimately self defeating to attempt to communicate in any productive way with office staff re what their employer does. They seem to be incredibly uninformed. I have made the same mistake and believe the best way to communicate with a doctor is to write to them directly explaining your condition and your questions re the doctor's experience with it. If you don't hear back you've only lost the time it took to write the letter. If you do hear back it will be re your specific questions and whether or not the doctor would be appropriate. On the positive side you only have to write that letter once as you can send it to any doctor you think may be helpful. You can update it rather than start over.

Separate the wheat from the chaff from home, save yourself money and much aggravation. Ultimately we may be able to get better treatment and the medical establishment may eventually get the message that specific communication is necessary.

You are experiencing coming up against the establishment and I know it well from my experience with gynaecologists when I was looking for a surgeon to remove dermoid cysts on my ovaries. I was shocked at how misogynistic the ones I met were but I did find an amazing surgeon who deeply cares about women so they are out there. I do understand how disheartening it can be when you not only find that you know more about your condition than the doctor does

and then they dismiss you in such a condescending way. My hormone doctor said to basically not expect much to be discovered about LS and auto-immune being proved but with the increase in auto-immune conditions there is more research being conducted which can be drawn on to support other lesser known conditions like LS. Just because money is directed towards proving it doesn't negate from those who have experience working in this area knowing it is most likely auto-immune. The thing is not many people want to talk about this area of the body, even women. It's huge but very delicate topic and difficult when experiencing a lot of pain and suffering xx

Thank you Beverly and Suzanne for the support and accurate description of the medical landscape for those of us with LS et al. Fortunately, the office sent me one of those "We want your Opinion" links.....I hope I can repair the damage at my GP's office because there's no telling what this dr. told my GP when he called him against my wishes. The sage continues....

I love how sometimes a so called typo reveals the truth ... a sage is one that holds true wisdom and this my dear is what I feel is being revealed, you, as are all woman beholders of great wisdom that lays within your deepest heart and this is what I feel our bodies are showing us that can no longer be denied when we become menopausal. We tried to beat men at their game in the strive for equality and became more masculine than the men in some cases. Our bodies are showing us that now, all that drive to achieve in a man's world .... and so we pause, reflect and feel that it did not work to be in such a drive and our bodies exhibit the pain of the exquisite, delicate and sweetest depth of wisdom being ignored ... you are by far more sage than the seeming saga eggbiscuit xx

Well, I really meant "saga". Hah hah! That's what I get for typing too fast and not proofreading. Women have definitely been forced in sometimes uncomfortable roles. Thirty years ago I was sitting at my desk, back when I was in engineering and instantly I knew if I didn't get into something else soon I would be sitting here earning the same money, staying frustrated. So now I teach college making the same money, staying frustrated. ....And how many of us here been to male (and some female) drs who have dismissed us out of hand? How many of us have seen multiple docs only to still not know what to do? Everybody that thinks the med profession cares about us, stand on your heads...... The Sage Biscuit.

So if you could do it over again you would be....a trapeze artist? That might come with a bit of stress attached. Not sure many people, male or female, get to work at their dream jobs. For that matter I'm not sure many people can even conjure up a dream job! I did what I did to survive. There are a lot of fun and interesting things in life but they don't necessarily come with a paycheck attached. And most lives no matter how varied seem to involve a lot of stress. The human condition.

So far being retired may be my best job yet. Now if I could just figure out the best treatment for LS I'd be a lot happier. I think it's safe to say it is not any medical person's top priority. At the moment it's "steroid + hormones...move along now". Well, some have added Tacrolimus to the mix, but I for one am not doing great with that combo. Maybe it's unrealistic but I'd sure like to feel consistently comfortable again. I still haven't given up on PRP. If only I could find a reputable MD familiar with LS who administers it.