| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| goneriding |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 08:02:05 AM
I'm not sure I'm in full-blown menopause but I know that my body has done this big change. My bones feel 'softer', if that makes sense. My facial skin is WAY drier and my eyelids are actually a little bit saggy. My muscles don't feel as strong. I'm to the point of buying a lighter saddle cuz my Billy Cook saddle is almost too heavy for me to lift onto my mare's back! A 50# sack of oats feels like an 80# sack. Climbing the fence at the barn or getting into the bed of our pickup is getting to be a real chore!! I can't just 'pop' in or over any more. My knees hurt. I think arthritis is around the corner, judging by some of my finger joints.
BUT, the upside is my man is looking really, really interesting these days, if you follow my drift. 
I have books on menopause and have been to several doctors and really don't have any better answers than to let nature take its course and deal with it. There are now some things I can't eat cuz they upset my tummy, so I don't eat them.
So far, the fans in the house are all on and all the windows are open to the southerly breeze. But I'm fine with that so far.
Not sure why I'm posting this, I guess just to feel like I'm a normal lady and for a little 'attagirls' from other ladies. I hope you understand. 
Winona 
To read funny stories about my cooking 'skills', please visit http://lostadventuresincooking.blogspot.com/
For uber-opinionated, pleasurable horse related reading, please visit http://horseinfoperson.blogspot.com/
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| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| pinkroses |
Posted - Jul 29 2009 : 11:41:08 AM
I had a hystercomy years ago and went through it
even though every thing is out
I am still going through it.
My family doctor put me on 1 mg. of estradol
I tried to go off it and it was awful
I figured 1mg. isn't going to hurt that much
going without isn;t an option for me anymore.
hugs sheila
www.ohkayteagirl2.blogspot.com
http;//www.sheilascreativewritings.blogspot.com |
| bevibrant |
Posted - Jul 29 2009 : 05:12:00 AM
While at 26 I'm not there yet... I do work with women who are! I thought you all might enjoy this article. http://menopausethyroid.com/menopause-thyroid-exercise-t-tapp.htm
It's amazing how much we can use our own body to help itself!
Kayla Howard
Farmgirl Sister #588
www.bevibrant.us |
| 4HMom |
Posted - Jul 28 2009 : 10:35:17 PM
What a timely topic! Last fall I was waking up in the middle of the night, soaking wet. It wasn't happening all the time, but enough to notice. Along about December, I went to work as usual, taught my first two classes, and really felt emotionally out-of-control. So I called for a sub and went home; poured myself a tumbler of red wine (yes, I said tumbler) , turned on some Christmas music, and sat in the hot tub. About 10 minutes later, it hit me...DUH! It must be menopause!  Sure enough, at my annual physical, hormone changes showed on the blood work. It's earlier than "average" (I'm only 43), but maybe that'll mean I'll finish sooner???? This is how I "know" God isn't a woman...she wouldn't make the mother of two teenage GIRLS start menopause...I'm not suicidal, I'm homocidal some days! Seriously, I have no desire to start with hormone therapy, so am just trying to embrace these changes as a new adventure. Some months are easier than others though, that's for sure! Nice to know others are going through it too, and those that are through it, came through it! 
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Jul 28 2009 : 7:48:23 PM
Menopause started when I was 45, had " 1 " hot flash, periods stopped at the same time, never took any meds, whohoo, no more periods, Thank God, I started when I was 10, had them for thirty five years, except when I was pregnant. I am so sorry all you ladies had such a tough time, no offense, glad it was you not me. My mom was the same way, and I hope for my daughter, its that way also. Its been a glorius 7 years now.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| KayB |
Posted - Jul 28 2009 : 7:31:07 PM
Been there, done that. I'm 56 and have been having "problems" since 45. By the time the women in my family were 50, they had had hysterectomies. My baby sister who is 44 has had one. I use bioidentical hormones and that's because I was having the worst mood swings known to man. I am surprised my hubby didn't just shoot me in the head. The kids thought about getting me committed, but my 2 girls told my son to just watch, because I would "cycle" and they thought it was funny. It wasn't. I also have low thyroid and take something for that. I quit smoking about the same time, so that didn't help and I put on almost 50 lbs in less than a year. The VA doctor was no help. In fact, he put me on Zoloft! Idiot! Made me feel worse, so I crushed them up and trashed them. The Premarin they put me on, the new doctor told me crush it up and feed it to my plants. The plants really enjoyed it.
I read "The Sexy Years" by Suzanne Somers (of all people!) and it made so much sense. I really had to look around to find a doctor to help me, but it was well worth it.
I have upped my fiber intake and my exercise. Luckily, I work in an old mall and walk all over the place during my lunch hour, so that helps.
If I could save anyone else from going through what I did, I surely would.
KayB
Life's a dance you learn as you go |
| laurzgot |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 7:02:01 PM
Oh well ladies, I'm 57 and I do belive I have finished wth my menopause. I started menopause when I was 45. The moodiness, dryness of the skin, etc. You know what I mean. I never took any hormone treatments do,nt beleive in them. Heck way back when our mother's grannies and before that didn't have it. I am taking meds for my low thyroid and as a precaution calicum. I had a full bloodwork earlier this year and needed this meds and it has really helped with tiredness, weight gain and dryness of the skin. I also workout several times a week and is very limber. Hubby is very interesting also. I eat alot of green leafy veggies. For the constapation lots of water and fiber pills. The hot flashes have finally ceased hooray.
Laurie
suburban countrygirl at heart |
| lisamarie508 |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 1:35:39 PM
What a great story, Melody June! I should make or find a fan or two. I currently use a notebook, a card yanked from a magazine; whatever I happen to have handy when I need one! I actually have a small electric fan at my desk at work and another one at the kitchen sink. That way, my hands are free to keep going!
Linda, I wear layers anyway, but sometimes, it's a pain...like last fall. I was elk hunting and it was very cold last year. I had on the usual...longjohns, sweatshirt, light-weight jacket, safety vest, fleece scarf, earmuffs, ball cap, fleece mittens, 2 pair heavy socks, boots, sweat pants and backpack. Three to four times every day I had to strip down to the sweatshirt and sweat pants (wanting to take off more) until the flashes passed. Then I'd feel cold again and have to put everything back on and zip/button everything back up. That was soooooo annoying and disruptive to the hunt. All because I had run out of black cohosh and hadn't had any problems (til then) so, didn't remember to get any more. I will certainly make sure I don't run out of black cohosh for this year's hunt!
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog:
http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My apron website:
http://lisamariesaprons.bravehost.com |
| Daisyheart |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 12:48:44 PM
I can certainly identify with all you gals. I had a surgical menopause when I was in my mid thirties. Took all kinds of hormones for so MANY symptoms for quite a few years but never really got "regulated" so I just stopped taking them. But I did have to dress in layers to deal with the hot flashes. Although the hot flashes came in handy during the cold months cause I radiated heat, the summers were horrid. I am 57 now and still a bit hot natured and I suppose not quite as strong as I used to be, but life is good. Getting plenty of vitamins and calcium is a must. I enjoy my husband in ways that are more reminiscent of our early days, though I did go through a dormant period like some of you ladies. The good news is...it WILL get better in time.
Melody, I love your memory about your mother's fans! I use hand fans too some days and they are so darn pretty too! Must be the southern belle in me. |
| Cabinprincess |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 10:15:49 AM
Sharlet you were so blessed to be able to take something to help you through this time. There were so many days I wished there was a pill or a patch I could take till it was over. I only did not because of family history. This is not a subject where every person is the same. We just all have to get through it to the other side and support our hormonal sister's along there way also.
I lost my mom in 2000. To say we were just close would be a HUGE understatement! I never called her my best friend, she was a mom to beat all mom's, in ever sense. We did everything together. I still have a hard time going through some of her things, but last week I decided to open on of her boxes and take a peek. Inside there was a long white box, hummmmm might we have a treasure?? I opened it and what a rush of emotions came out. There laid the two beautiful folded fans I sent her when I was stationed in Korea. We has a conversation many years ago of what she would like me to get for her and she said a pretty fan. A fan, mom no one uses fans anymore. She said quietly well if everyone had hot flashes like me they would. I asked no more and sent her two. She used them all the time and I always wondered what happened to them. She had left a note behind just saying "I bet these will come in handy someday." A smile and a tear at the same time. When I got them they were scented very lightly so when you fanned it the smell was soft like petals. I went and got my rose water and respritzed them. One is in my purse and one sit's here by my reading spot.
YES, I am using them. If aprons and hankies are CHIC now why not fans?? I can see it now, "FARMGIRL FANS"!! LOL
Smiles, Melody June
God's gift to you are your talents, your gift to Him is how you use them. |
| goneriding |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 08:06:55 AM
Oh, THANK GOODNESS you guys are HERE!! Put me down to all of the above. I even have the Otter Pops thingys in the freezer!! Maybe I should check out the B-12 thing too. I can't take hormones due to cancer in the family also, nor would I want to. I take herbs now and again but if I do it regularly, I get constipated, of all things and then I'm REALLY miserable.
It's a balancing act for me. Thanks for the support AND the stories!! Melody June, you are hilarious! But I KNOW what you mean about the womanly things........
Winona ;-)
To read funny stories about my cooking 'skills', please visit http://lostadventuresincooking.blogspot.com/
For uber-opinionated, pleasurable horse related reading, please visit http://horseinfoperson.blogspot.com/
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| Lynner |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 07:36:04 AM
Well, I might as well chime in on this subject. I am now 54. I had a hysterectomy about 16 years ago. Went directly into menopause, but oh wait, I got to do it again about 16 years later. Anyway, at the time I was told I would have to take hormones the rest of my life, and like a good patient, I took them for about 14 years. And took myself off with the doctors permission. I did alright for a while, then went into mood swings and hot flashes, again! So much fun. Well, last year I found out I have osteoporosis, what a drag. Finally got rid of the hormones, now I have to take once a month Boniva. And yeah, for the rest of my life. They say if you stop it, it will reverse the osteo. On a brighter note, thank the Good Lord, it is nothing worse. Just really wish I had been taking calcium all that time, maybe it would have made a huge difference. Anyway, for those of you wondering, yes take your calcium and make sure it has vitamin D in it. Now I have to take it twice a day. Oh to look back and see where I may have erred. At least now I can pass some info on to my daughters and my granddaughters, in hopes they might avoid the same.
My biggest difficulty now is being faithful to excercise, and do weight bearing excercises. It is a must, but being faithful to do them is difficut with all the other things I have to do. Best save myself future problems, by doing the inevitable.
For all of you post menopausers out there, take care of your body and your bones while you still can, it will truly pay off down the road. And I am very thankful to have found out what I have while I can still turn it around. Before breaking some major bones, or worse.
I do have a 20 minute work out which is great. Strength training, cardio, arobics all in one. And as long as I keep it up, I feel myself getting stronger, and feel more energetic. Getting older requires alot more maintenance!
Sheri
Many Hands Make Light Work!
...God made the seed to grow... |
| peapicker |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 06:19:02 AM
I don't lide the hormones either. I was only on the patches for 7 months and they were the lowest dosage available. In fact the pharmacy had to order them because they didn't stock that low of dosage. Tnankfully I weaned myself off of them quickly. I have a friend that stayed on the super duper ones for over ten years. When she had to change doctors, her new Dr. told her to get off immediately. He said she never have been on them for more than five yeaars. All I can say is you need a reallly good Dr. if you have problems. i have never been one much to go to a doctors office for myself, but this last year I made up for it. Talk about feeling old and worn out. |
| lisamarie508 |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 10:12:41 PM
Melody, you're too funny. I"m in the middle (I hope this is the middle or nearer the end) of the whole menopause thing. It's been going on for 6 years, now and I started early. Fine, just lets get it over with already. I have had the irritable attitude, hot flashes and super sugar cravings. Not so much the crying/laughing thing, but unable to lose weight (in spite of the fact that I'm busy all the time), dryer hair and skin, missed cycles or extra cycles, forgetfulness and insomnia. Have had NO desire for sex at all so, I can't relate to that one! I find that hilarious about Vermont Country Store! Too funny. Anyway, I won't take those hormones meds, either. The risks associated with them simply aren't worth it. I drink more milk, eat lots of spinach and fish and take black cohosh. The black cohosh really helps a lot with the irritable feelings and hot flashes and it has NO side effects. I highly recommend it.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog:
http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My apron website:
http://lisamariesaprons.bravehost.com |
| Cabinprincess |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 9:35:46 PM
Well this is one subject I won't kid around with. I've battled it for at least 8 years. There is not one thing about a woman that it does not effect. From thinning hair, dry skin, loose skin, crying one second and laughing the next, I mean really not being able to control your emotions, and forgetting things. I'm sure I'd have lost my butt if it was not attached to my back side. Oh did I mention weight gain due to metabolism shut down. Hot flashes start out mild, where you just feel warm a little, not bad. Then the oven starts cranking up each time till they become full blow. I'm sure I've reached 450 degrees quite a few times. I have found that keeping those long skinny juice pop cycles in the freezer are life savers. I grab a handful and start eating sometimes it stops after a couple sometimes it takes 8. Cancer run's in my family so I would not take hormone replacements. Oh yes and the husband looking better and better thing, kick that up a few notches, or quite a few.That's why they say women are at there peek between 40-60.
There is a catalog I thinks it Vermont Country Store or something like that. I'm 53 now and my mom got it, old time stuff and what I'd call old women stuff. Anyway I heard on the Internet that they were selling some things that had their customer's feather's all ruffled up. I could not in a million years imagine what it could be and believe me I'M NOT nieve. I went to their web site to see what the commotion was all about and they politely said that they were just trying to meet the needs of some of their mature customers who were having issues with menopause. Hold onto your seat, it was vibrators! No, not the ones we've all seen in that common shape. These were in shapes I would have no idea what you'd do with them. I almost wet myself laughing so hard. My mom would have died if she got her monthly catalog and saw those things in there. WhoooHaaaaHaaaa Now I know exactly what Kathy Bates felt like in Fried Green Tomato's. When I saw the movie the first time I really had no idea she was going through menopause. And just like her husband most of our's won't get it either. So I guess with all the years of the monthly meany we had to endure we've built up to the grand finally. For myself I'll just be glad when the curtain closes on that part of my life and hopefully I'll remember where the heck all my hot pads are. Maybe they're in the freezer with the pop cycles. LOL
Smiles and hot flashes, Melody June
God's gift to you are your talents, your gift to Him is how you use them. |
| peapicker |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 7:48:55 PM
I had a hysterectomy 10 months ago and I really needed it. My doctor told me I was past the average age too. I'm 54 now. Was 53 then. I was so anemic I had to have an iron infusion and I had all the symptoms you all describe. My doctor also told me it could go on for quite a bit longer. I gave up and had the surgery. It was the best thing I did in a long time. I went straight into menopause but now its getting better. I have even gone off my patches. The hot flashes are mostly mild now. I really felt like I was falling apart before the surgery. |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 7:37:53 PM
I feel the same. I hear things popping inside my body when I turn suddenly or do unaccustomed things. I'm 52, if it makes a difference, and my doctor says I'm past the average age... but I've never been average at anything.
I had a bone density scan last year, everything is OK, but the doctors sure seem to want to cover themselves now that I've reached a certain age.
On the plus side, I finally replied to AARP and accepted their offer, even though I have no plans to retire anytime soon. Who knows? Maybe I'll read something in their magazine that might affect my parents....
One thing I noticed last year and discussed with my doctor is a borderline B-12 deficiency -- definitely can see the difference when I supplement and when I don't on short-term memory.
Nothing substitutes for real information, get a full blood workup and then you'll know what supplements you might need.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| Roxy7 |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 10:29:12 AM
I think I am hitting it early. I havent had a break in cycles, they are just coming sooner these days. I have lots of the other symptoms though. Tummy, anxiety, hot flashes.
You should check your calcium intake since we can get the osteoporosis at this time.
I feel for you. I am feeling it too. I dont have a clue what to make of it. The Dr says if the cycles havent stopped its not official,, but darn it, I know something is going on. |
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