does the menopause ever end?

Errata

It might be a good idea to get the doctor to sort out the boils if they're happening quite frequently, they're not due to the menopause but may be due to a very nasty infection which could be quickly dealt with.

mardatha

I have ME which is sometimes severe. I have tried to come off HRT several times, but life was so bloody horrible I went back on it. I have cut down myself gradually to a smaller and smaller dose, but for me, life without HRT was so bad that I would undoubtedly have gone into deep depression and never got out of bed - so the risks are well worth it .

marie_16

vivmagb wrote: »

I wonder if you ladies would like to share your experiences about the menopause. 31/2 years ago I was taken off HRT after being on it for 10 years. 3 weeks later I went straight into all the symptoms, hot flushes, mood swings, trouble sleeping, depression and as yet they have not stopped. I have tried all the recommended herbal things (black cohosh sage etc.) but none of them have had the slightest effect. How did you cope and are you still having problems?

Hey I know i'm gonna be the youngest commenting but please listen to me! haha. I had chemotherapy in 05-06 and because of the chemo i started an early menopause which i was put on HRT for. To cut a (VERY) long story short i am now off the HRT because they took me off too see if my periods would start again.. which they did.. for 2 months. Now im getting the menopausal symptoms again and having to wait to see the silly dr woman to get back to me haha. I have depression anyway, so i'm guessing its making me even worse haha.. but i've started taking Starflower capsules, and i think they work...theyre not the best thing, and theyre not a magical cure. but theyve worked the best for me. Now i know theyre herbal or whatever, but seriously if you havent tried them then do, because i've been looking everywhere for help!
It's hard for me being 16 too, because i'm going through my own body changes as well...so maybe the tabs are helping ease them a lil too. As for my boyfriend.... i snap at him ALLLL the time, thankfully he's stuck with me for this past year so far and i feel so guilty if im ever nasty to anyone because i know i've not got a nasty bone in my body!!

My mum was taken off HRT too if i remember right, and while having the symptoms i think she was given some tablets to ease them. I also had hot sweats at night etc while i was off HRT, and my dr said it was just how my body reacts to coming off the HRT (LOL). Now i know how rubbish he was! :P

Hope i've helped

Love Marisha
x

carol_a_3

Thanks Marisha, we oldies shouldn't complain after having so many relatively hormone trouble free years (PMS and pregnancies excepted). I hope you feel better soon.

As well as reading up on Leslie Kenton's book which explains HRT in detail I've also been trying a special magnet therapy but haven't really given it a fair chance yet to report on it. It's called a Ladycare from magnopulse and you wear it in your knickers! I'll try anything once!

I just found the website for it although I got it after reading an advert in woman's Weekly : http://www.magno-pulse.com/menopauseuk.html

Ted_Hutchinson

carol_a wrote: »

I've also been trying a special magnet therapy but haven't really given it a fair chance yet to report on it. It's called a Ladycare from magnopulse and you wear it in your knickers!

There is NO MEDICAL SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE that magnets in you knickers helps menopausal symptoms.

There is evidence that 40mg ground linseed daily reduces incidence/severity.

There is both evidence and logical reasons why each of the supplements suggested by Dr McCleary listed here anti-excitatory cocktail here. will help menopausal symptoms.

If you go on a low-carb eating plan you would not need to use the Ketogenic Cocktail
but for migraine Dr McCleary suggests Anti Migraine Cocktail.
400mg Magnesium (malate/taurinate)
1g taurine
100mg CoQ10
100mcg huperzine A
10mg vinpocetine.
Twice daily.
As these in total are expensive in the UK you will find them half the price in the USA. But don't spend more than $36 at time or you will pay VAT + Handling charge extra on delivery. There is a $5 off you first Iherb order code in the Referrals board.

PS Interesting to note the side effects of my eating plan are not only am I continuing to lose weight steadily, and feel mentally much sharper, I'm also sleeping better, waking refreshed and remembering my dreams.

ampersand

chesky369 wrote: »

Sorry about the depressing view - you're absolutely right Ed. Feeling a bit down since I've never managed to shift the weight I put on around the menopause and, since I gave up smoking, am adding to it. I now only look at myself full on in the mirror, don't turn sideways, since it's not so bad that way.

###########
Dear chesky, please join the Lose Weight 19 and the Money-saving Old Style Weight Loss Threads.
I didn't think I'd be in the position of joining them, but an accident made mobility and activity very limited since September, so I've just joined - and my Budget is tiny, too.
I'm just trying to forestall any reasons you may have for NOT taking a look.
You will find Suggs story/photos inspiring, astonishing.
Please try.
##############
This is LW19:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=775103

and this is Old-Style LW3:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=740615

Kay_Peel

Touch wood - no symptoms after 2 years.

The best bit of advice I got and that I've followed is - to treat myself as though I were pregnant. No alcohol, no fags, healthy food, exercise and to plan an event (like a holiday) to look forward to.

I was discussing this topic with some friends the day before yesterday. Four friends are having a dreadful time - but then they also pack away a bottle of wine each every night! Surely, that can't be a good thing?

dorry_2

ahhh! the perimenopause, my specialist subject!!

I have suffered from hot flushes for about 5 years now!! since I was 40. The symtoms of the peri-menoapuse can last for up to ten years before you go through the actual menopause.

Mine started with hot flushes, panic attacks anxiety, sleepnesses and bascially was rubbish. I went to the Gp, who did a test and said my hormones were flucuating, I knew that but what could he do?? The only thing he offered me was anti-depressants:mad: no thanks!!!

I ended up going to see a specialist gyn doctor at the local family plannning clinic who was marvellous.

she gave me Yasmin, a bc pill which basically levels out your estrogen/progestone and stops symtoms of peri!!:D

I also try and eat soya products which naturally boast your estrogen levels, (the drop in estrogen is linked with hot flushes and anxiety)

I also gained alot of advice from this forume www.power-surge.com totally brilliant site and makes you feel like you are not alone!:A

ohh, and I have 2 glasses of red wine a day to help with anxiety levels and keep cholestral down and clots at bay!

EdInvestor

Estrogen is stored in body fat, so losing weight would surely be more likely to increase hot flushes than the opposite?

mazza245

You've all got me worried now. I am almost 60, had a hysterectomy when I was 48, been on HRT since just before my operation due to hot flushes but mainly loss of vocabulary and feeling as if I couldn't function very well at all! I feel absolutely wonderful on HRT and although I have cut down to the minimum, I don't want to give it up. It has given me my vocabulary back, my skin and hair feels better, my boobs filled up again, I just generally feel better in myself.

I am also on Thyroxine as my family are all riddled with low thyroid function. My GP says not to worry about packing the HRT in yet, until I want to give up the HRT and he virtually gave me carte blanche to be on it for another ten years if I want! However, the way you are all talking, I am only storing up the misery for when eventually I do come off it! Does that mean I will still have the night sweats, hot flushes, etc. etc.? maybe at 70????