Menopause Matters

choille

Hi Hippee - Sorry to hear of your DD - very hard I think if you have things not going smoothly round about.
I take ginko biloba for memory. I think it is supposed to help but my memory is pretty bad. My Mother has Alzheimer's & that scares me but it i just one of the syptoms of perimenopause & will pass - hopefully!

Today I have the muddle headedness back & that's a pain but that goes too.
Well I seem to be hogging the joint today so will sign off & check my chick chicks.

Armchair23

Hello Ladies

I think most of the supplements mentioned have way more to do with how they make you feel than what actual effect they may have (if that makes sense).

That's not to sound negative but more to suggest that if something makes you feel better and is affordable go for it !

I think it's more a case of finding ANYTHING that makes you feel mentally and physically better. So for some of us it's HRT for others it's yoga, the gym, counselling, a new lightweight duvet, anything at all that works .

I'm thrilled to be through the meno, my last period was age 43 and until I was 45 I was as happy as larry. I then spent 2 years looking as if someone appeared out of nowhere to chuck a bucket of water over me at random intervals. HRT gave me a lifeline until things settled down. Not for everyone, but a solution for me.

The worst thing is this all happens at a time when your kids are growing up and leaving home,you and your partner are having to think how it's going to be over the next decade or two, and most likely one of your parents is in need of care and attention. Big ask.

Be kind to yourself, ASK for help where you need it, and remember you're not alone.

choille

Went to docs about joint pain & also mentioned moods Offered HRT but said I'd think about it but didn't have hot flushes & wasn't sure about if I needed it - offered anti-depressants - again don't think I want to go down that route.
Nothing suggested about the joint pain - just told symptoms of menopause can go on for years.
Came away feeling I'd wasted my time in a way as it's quite a disatance travelling there.
Goodness felt like I'd been at a drug dealers in a way!

Rowan9

Choille - sorry you had such a poor meeting with dr. Don't know age but at my last dr surgery there was a fab female GP of say 50-ish who saw women for things like meno. She was always really positive and would print off stuff and give you (re alternative / complementary med). Haven't had much call to ask my current GP for any meno stuff although I did mention the sleeplessness last year and she said that and joint pain were the most common things people mentioned. Just looked up Susan Weed book and she writes about the homeopathic remedy hypericum. BUT I am in no way suggesting this as a treatment, just passing on info in this constant search for MSE ways to tackle meno.The sun will help joint aches but maybe you are not getting much sun Choille - we had a blast of it yesterday, enough to remind me I don't like it and was in a foul mood (meeee?) by bedtime. The weather has changed back to cooler.
In fact I'm going to send you a PM!
Hope all other meno friends are trucking along. I'm still in the land of the returned periods. Now on 23 day cycle which I always used to be but which is a bit tiring! Bought chicken liver pate today because I had a craving for it. Have been vegetarian for the past month (or nearly) but don't think I can keep on that path. I have tried it before, longest was one and a half years.
W

joyfull

Hi Choille, wmf and all Menoettes,

You've often mentioned your joint pain choille. That must be wearing and making your life difficult. I have no suggestions other than to say keep warm and keep moving, both of which I'm sure you do your best with. I'm succumbing to taking pain medication more these days. It's such a relief, if just for a few hours. Simple paracetamol can help me (not advice, just a sharing).

wmf - I was a veggie most of my life, but now eat a little chicken and fish. I've found it really beneficial for keeping an ageing body from feeling weak and decrepit. I'm not always mad about the taste, but I treat it like medicine!

My third of a dose of hrt is keeping the flushes at bay - and what a difference to my life. The insomnia is terrible atm. I'll fall asleep & get a couple of hours, then wake and toss & turn forever. My body and brain feel all jangly (I even gave up caffeine again. Boo Hoo!). I'm also succumbing to sleep medications. Just small amounts if possible. I always swore I'd never go this route, but.... I'm just ragged & feel awful with not enough sleep. I think it's harder to sleep with short summer nights, and then there's the nesting starlings under the rafters chirruping.....argghhhhh.

Do hope you're all finding time to sit in the sun and soak up the healing & sweet vibes of summer. I heard you had a warm day yesterday in Scotland Choille. May you get many more.

Armchair23

Hello all, insomnia aargh what to say. Mostly my suggestion is to stop thinking you get into bed a X o clock and wake up a Y o clock, Because I bet you never did that in the first place.
If you spend hours awake stop fighting it. All the received wisdom says don't read books listen to the radio etc., I say rollocks.
I go to bed with an earphone in my ear and listen to 5 live 4 extra whatever it may be. I don't stay awake feeling an insomniac I listen to all sorts of radio and fall asleep listening to anyhting. i'm by no means saying it's an answer. But I feel way better stuck in those endless hours of wakefullness listening to a play,comedy or whatever it is than laying in a a quiet room waiting for dawn. Give it a whirl Love X

Rowan9

Hi joyfull - sorry you are not getting full sleep. Be kind to yourself re any type of sleep aid and see it as a real nurturing thing to do for yourself - I'm sure you would suggest something like that to a close friend if they were going through the same thing. Why are we so hard on ourselves? Not sure. the brain fog and general sleepiness needs any help you can find.
Yes - weather eh? pah! Yesterday was the scorchewr of the day in edinburgh. Today is cool. I've been out tonight with a shirt, a zip up hoodie type thing without a hood (!) and a fleece lined summer-ish coat! AND I was cold. I've had on my thickest cardi all day and then had to read on old style about peeps with sunburn! I'd like it a wee bit warmer than today but not as hot as yesterday (25 I think). Ah well. want want want.
Have stinky summer cold but have been out tonight and plied it with 3 glasses of wine which seems to have helped hehehe.
Off to bed now. Wishing you all a cool and restful night.
W

cross posted armchair - yes, I agree. Hard to lie there wishing for sleep. I have some pod casts and sometimes listen to something about books but really low volume. Soothing more than informative!

joyfull

Hi armchair - Oh yes, listening to the radio at night, ALL night, can be strangely soothing. I tune into world service or five. Can produce some strange bitty dreams but at least it takes the mind of anxious insomnia ramblings. The 'received wisdom' I'm sure never sufffered chronic insomnia.

It's cloudy here in Kent, what a cheek! wmf - hope that alcohol pickled those germs. Big day here. Off to Morrissons to do weekly shop.

XXX

shykins

oh insomnia is just awful so sorryu for those of u suffering it, its the pits when u cant sleep properly and makes all the next day so hard too

re the joint pains do any of u swim or take gentle exercise? i have a severe back condition which causes a lot of pain but its worse when i am stiff so i swim as much as i can. also go to a chiropractor who gives acupuncture which is just brilliant - bit expensive but it stops me having to have so much pain killers which make me feel YUK!!

my sleep seems to have settled a little along with the flushes (no doubt this is a temporary respite but its such a relief)

take care of yourselves everyone

Rowan9

Hope everyone is fine in meno land.
Rain rain and more rain here. Ah well - everything is looking very green and lush though!
Have been drinking nettle tea again. Can't remember what it's good for but think it must be something meno-like as I know I read about it in the meno book - good for your bones maybe? And nerves? Good stuff. Will keep taking it (although sweet 'ordinary' tea is soooo much nicer). Also eating more yoghurt. Oh, and adding turmeric to just about everything I cook. Add it to all soups and have v yellow stick blender now. After being veggie for a good few months, I craved and craved meat so gave in and had some pate (fine, was ok) then I had TWO steaks within a few days - oh and some black pudding. Was NOT fine and had such a night with upset tum. Was so bad that i took an imodium near morning and good grief that bunged me up for about 5 days!! Sorry if TMI. Back to normal now. Not nice though, two extremes as well! Felt I was maybe low on iron so will watch out and also eat more leafy veg and other things and maybe have a LITTLE meat if I feel like it. Would rather not but these cravings were severe. have been on iron tabs from dr in the past for being anaemic so was kind of watchful not to get like that again.
Got a lovely stress busting spray from my friend so am off to spray arms with it - have to walk dogs first but they will be whizzed round park and then it's time for the spray and my jimjams. It's blimmin' cold here (still!). Hope you are getting some sunshine Choille.

W