Surviving Menopause
Posted , 15 users are following.
Are there any women here who have gone through Menopause from Hell, and are now finished with it? If so, please give us something to look forward to.
3 likes, 66 replies
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Notes on Surviving Menopause
Sochima822 maria____a64048
Posted
Here here ladies, I'm here to tell you that I survived it. However, it's a good thing I had brain fog because it's like a distant memory of what I went through. It was an awful time.
Where to begin, I had 6 months of a bacterial uti infection of some sort that took a long time to cure, I cried at hello, I had aches & pains where I felt like I was 100 years old, my joints would clamp up, it felt like someone else was in my body, and that I had lost connection with myself. I soaked the bed with hot flashes. I had neck pain, back pain, hip pain, leg pain, rib pain, pelvic pain, blurry vision along with jagged lines in my peripheral vision called heat waves. I soaked in epsom salt to relieve the pain and I took fish oil and glucosamine & chondritin, with calcium and I will say that they took away the pain and never came back after I stopped taking it.
I prayed a lot to help me get through it. I took all sorts of stuff from HRT that didn't work to bcp's that did except that when you go off of them, all the symptoms come back 10 fold. I suffered through heart palps, anxiety and itchy skin. I tried old home remediies that worked for the hot flashes, of my head, arms and whole body.
I was given venlaflaxine that made me sick, and was given other ad's to try but I refused. I had a horrible fear of driving anywhere far. I could only drive no more than a mile.
Before this started I enjoyed going to restaurants with friends but I had to change my diet because my body was having gastrointestinal convulsions. I had acid reflux and heartburn. I started eating healthy organic foods, which helped by 100%. I ate a little at a time trying not to upset my stomach. Found peppermint to help with stomach issues as well as ginger. I also did juicing which was even better because I didn't have to deal with the any gastrointestinal issues. In fact I believe that juicing took it away.
The pills I took were St. John's wort as they really worked for me. I also tried flax seed oil for hot flashes which calmed it, I also took vitamin D3, CQ10, Ginko Biloba for brain fog, and Macca. When I was down my multivitamin got me out of that mood and for libido vitamin C. Sage put me in the hospital, apparently I'm allergic to it. It's been 8 years since it started and just last year in October all my symptoms stopped. I still get periods every 6 months but mild symptoms of pms show up before it starts. Yet, I will say that even during this time, I worked out at the gym for at least 20 minutes on the treadmill, as my doctor said I wasn't producing enough blood and oxygen and needed to do more exercises or activities to get my blood moving albeit there were times I felt I was going to pass out or was just dizzy where I would have to stop. Exercising I believe was a great help. I've started eating regular food with no stomach issues, yet, I still get hot flushes but not soaking wet. My brain fog lifted 3 years ago. So yes, ladies you see there is light at the end of tunnel where you'll hopefully come out unscathed from the whole ordeal. I wish you all a safe journey.
maria____a64048 Sochima822
Posted
becky53379 Sochima822
Posted
colleen90305 Sochima822
Posted
Sochima, how long did it take to find relief after starting all these vits? Are you considered menopausal? I wonder why you have a period still although its every 6 months. I thought of asking about bcp but that would increase my estrogen when my progesterone is low. I haven't started the progesterone tabs yet, but but from what I read, they have aweful side effects and many women complain about them. I dont know what to do!!???
Sochima822 colleen90305
Posted
Colleen, every woman is different and it also has to do with lineage. My aunt had periods into her 60's I believe they stopped when she was 67 years old. So to me having light periods every 6 months is no big deal. Even when I took bcp's my periods came at 24 days, no matter what the pills were suppose to do.
If I were you I would take the progesterone, if they don't make you feel good or you get any side effects then stop taking them and tell you doctor immediately.
colleen90305 Sochima822
Posted
I'm so afraid to start them because it seems I read more bad then good and I feel crappy to begin with. I may just try them. Maybe it will help me as everyone is different. I'm on cymbalta and my dose was increased again.
Sochima822 colleen90305
Posted
Sochima822
Posted
oops where's the edit button, lol. **it took I mean
colleen90305 Sochima822
Posted
I don't like veggies
Sochima822 colleen90305
Posted
I have noticed from years of working in the medical field that people who don't eat veggies are far more prone to illnesses and cancer than their counterparts.
Fairy28 Sochima822
Posted
Hi there - from your experience would you think I'm almost becoming post ? Im almost 3 years into surgical menopause and it's been hell. I just want some quality back in my life, trying so so hard to be positive that all this will soon end
x ps no HRT so it's tough.
Sochima822 Fairy28
Posted
Hi lou, what are you taking? Why not HRT?What do you eat? Are you active or workout? Are you overweight? Without some history of you it's hard to say. Please provide more details.
michelle_79406 Sochima822
Posted
Sochima
I am the same with the driving ,and don't like been alone ,in general. it makes me very nervous. Like something is going to happen. The anxiety is a killer . I try to distract myself and keep busy when I'm alone. But will not drive far. And even if my partner is driving I panic if we're going a few miles away from town. 😩😩😵😵 I get panicky. Why don't doctors explain any of these problems to you. Instead of us thinking we're going mad.
Sochima822 michelle_79406
Posted
Michelle,
It's because they(doctors) don't know to what degree it's going to hit you. With me, my doctor was well versed and she knew what was coming so she was giving me meds that would stop the anxiety in its track. Which worked but eventually came back after a couple of years. That's when I started taking St. John's wort. It truly worked to stop a lot of the anxiety and heart palps and to some degree I felt normal. But I only took it when I felt symptoms coming. After a few months my symptoms went away. Maybe I'm wrong but I feel St. John's wort helped balance out my hormones.
colleen90305 Fairy28
Posted
I thought menopause was supposed to be better? I'm losing hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel
Fairy28 Sochima822
Posted
No HRT as I have bad migraines and take sumatriptans regularly , im pretty active as work 6 hours a day . Im around a stone overweight but that's all gone on since my surgery ! I eat well with lots fresh fruit and veg, fish and no rubbish food if I can help it. I was taking Feraglobin, Vit b12., vit c, e , evening primrose, magnesium and glucosamine sulphate. Im on thyroxine 125mcg for underactive thyroid and when I had my last blood tests my Gp said to stop all my supplements as I didnt need them !! I don't agree ! . To be honest I don't know what I can take safely - I looked at menopace but it contains iodine so not sure 😁
looloo43 colleen90305
Posted
Hi Colleen, I totally agree with Sochima - i would try the progesterone pills as directed by your doctor- if you feel any bad side effects you can stop them & go back to your doc. what progesterone tablets have you been given - my doc prescribed the micronised capsules utrogestan, which are supposed to be a purer form of progesterone(not synthetic) & more effective in dealing with peri/meno symptoms. if you don't get on with the ones you have been given, you could always ask for the utrogestan ones as a plan b, but i hope you get on ok with the ones you have of course. i only felt sick on them once & it was because i took them too soon after food. my leaflet says to take them NOT near mealtimes & at bedtime as they can make you a little sleepy (indeed they helped my sleep). I am on estrogen gel too, but the regular headaches i had been getting BEFORE hrt disappeared after 2 - 3 wks of starting both elements of my hrt. Try not to be scared of trying them Colleen; like Sochima said if you get any side effects that are troublesome you can always stop them & go back to your doctor. the only other effects i got for the first couple of months of starting both elements of the hrt were tender fuller boobs (could cope with it fine) & put on 4-5pounds round middrift, but this fell off naturally & levelled out again after about 2.5mths of being on hrt - of course i don't know whether it was the estrogen or progesterone or both that caused those temporary effects, but the fact is it was only temporary, probably while my body was getting used to it. i feel so much better mentally for starting hrt, & i have underlying anxiety & depression anyway (before onset of peri) so proof in the pudding as they say. xx
colleen90305 looloo43
Posted
Sochima822 Fairy28
Posted
Lou, you know best what your body needs. I would say that if they make you feel good, take them. Whatever makes you feel good won't hurt you.
Also, those supplements don't harm your well being. Hopefully, you don't do coffee and alcohol.
Sochima822 colleen90305
Posted
looloo43 colleen90305
Posted
i am in england Colleen, so i get all my meds on nhs which is a flat charge of about £8.70 for each prescription, but i buy a 3mth card which gives me all my prescriptions for 3mths for £29. Its terrible you don't get any help with health costs in the states. Your doctor or pharmacist would be able to tell you the cost. x