I am looking for information on menopause as I have no one to talk to .

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   freecampingaussieposted 12 years ago

   I am looking for information on menopause as I have no one to talk to .
   
   I have been trying to read more about it but most of the hubs talk about it briefly then most of it is trying to sell you something/recipes or other subjects .
   I am 47 & would like to know peoples experiences with menopause & what to expect .

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   annartposted 12 years ago

   I have had hot flushes for about 10 years though they are now a lot lighter and less frequent therefore much easier to deal with!  I did not want to go down the HRT route as I was told that symptoms return when the HRT stops and I'm not keen on taking medications long-term. 
   I found that if I kept off wine, coffee and extremes of temperature in drinks or food, then the flushes were lessened.  I think the triggers are different for individuals so it's a matter of monitoring your own reactions.  I think it's a good idea to read as much as possible but in the end it's a personal thing and you gauge your own reactions and treatment.  Some natural remedies work for some people.  I think it's important to keep up the calcium, iron etc. in your daily diet. 
   Hope this helps a little.

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   cloverleaffarmposted 12 years ago

   Menopause is different for each women. Each person goes through it a little different than the other. There are hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability, depression, and sometimes loss of sex drive. All due to the raging hormones going on inside. Kind of like when we were teenagers, only backwards.
   Although I have had issues with hot flashes, many of my friends have not. I went through it 2 years ago, and am now post menopausal, and I still have hot flashes. I find for some reason, they are worse in the winter, which I guess living in the North helps with the heating bill.
   Emotions can run wild, and you think you are going crazy, but you're not. It's just the hormones. They do "settle", and it's all natural.
   Exercise can help with all "symptoms" of menopause. Of course, eating healthy is also very important. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, grains, and lean meats. Some vote for soy as a phytoestrogen, but soy is not for everyone.
   HRT can help, but it increases too many risks for other complications. It's not worth it in the long run. It only tricks your body's hormones, and you have to stop at some point. When you stop, you'll go through menopause then. There are many natural remedies such as pills, creams and others.
   I told a friend once that "I hope I come back as a man in my next life". She asked "Why, do you think you would get more respect?". I said, "NO, I won't have to go through menopause!".
   Be well!

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   yoginijoyposted 12 years ago

   I am not there yet but my mom has read a lot of books by Suzanne Somers. I believe she has a website too. My mom did take the hormones but she got breast cancer. Be very, very careful about the hormone replacement therapy--it can give you breast cancer.

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      teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I heard Somer's website was good also.  I haven't been there, don't need it, but my source used it and found some really good help. There are some natural yam creams found in natural food stores that help with menopause.

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   artist101posted 12 years ago

   I had a hard time of it. Insomnia, night sweats, crying jags, heart palputations, ect.
   Tried premarin, natural prescription meds, until I found Doctor Beckers Website. His progesterone cream is a miracle. Not trying to sell anything, i'm telling the truth. Some women have it easy, and others donot. Seems that if you had a rough time during your teen years, then meno will be easy, and vice versa. My puberty was a breeze, and I was a late bloomer. They say those of us who start late will have a harder time. The omegas help to balance our hormones, which I didn't know until now. Our heritage, and history, the foods we eat, and how we take care of ourselves, has a cause and effect relationship. If your ancestory is Irish, Welsh, Scandinavian, or Native American, then you are not able to convert the omegas and need the fish oils, or flaxseed oils, to balance and feed your body. My ancestry is Celtic, so I have that deficeincy inate in my heratige. I took 1000mg of a quality Flax seed Oil 3 times a day, Soy, and Wild Yam, and progesterone cream. Our hormones drop out at night, which is what causes the night sweats, then slowly rises during the day. So I used the progesterone cream in the am, up to 3 times a day. Even the texture of my hair, and skin changed, as well as my body chemistry, I had to change my shampoo, deodarant, and perfume, as what smelled good on me before, then smelled terrible. A box fan helps, as well as the other recommendations in my article. Try to keep a since of humor about it. As it is not a curse, it is a right of passage, for every woman, and you are not alone.

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      cloverleaffarmposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Dressing in layers is a must too! I learned that the hard way...lol.

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      artist101posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes cloverleaffarm it does!

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   ChitrangadaSharanposted 12 years ago

   It is different for everyone. The best thing is to let it happen the natural way. There are many medicines and treatments available, but some of them can have serious side effects. The best person to advise you is your doctor, who knows your entire medical history.
   Some of the symptoms like hot flushes, irritation, mood swings can be easily managed by the emotional support of the family. It takes 2 to 3 years, when the symptoms settle down and by clinical tests the menopause is established. After this proper and good care of your health is a must. This will avoid diseases related to bones, blood pressure etc. It is advisable to have annual health check up.
   All the best.

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   Bonitaannaposted 12 years ago

   I will be 69 my next birthday.  As I approached menopause, I found out that I was growing a large Fibroid tumor.  I started reading how many women do so because they have too much female hormone in them.  I did not find that out until after I had surgery and had my uterus removed.  I believe that if I had known how to reverse that situation, I would be much better off.  Our uterus also gives us the hormones that we need.  The Fibroid was a 6 pound one and it was really giving me major problems. Progesterone shrinks fibroid tumors, but I did not know it at that time and the doctors I saw had me on estrogen, which was making it grow!  Most doctors have women on estrogen as they approach menopause!  Thats what I found out and I believe that is what causes Fibroidt tumors to growGet some books from natural doctors, who treat women the natural way, and learn more about all the  does and don'ts. I don't believe every doctors out there knows just how to treat this situation. Too many of them don't know how and then give you a drug that can harm you.  Thats why you need to read a lot to learn what you should be doing and what you should not allow smeone to tell you to do.  After all it is your body. Women need their female organs. God did not give us them to had them cut out. It changes your body believe me.  When I had a hysterectomy it caused me to have high blood prssure.  Now I am dealing with that. Also it makes your insides drop to the floor of the body cavity and can creat problems with that, like a colapsed bladder!

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   vocalcoachposted 12 years ago

   I turned into a raving maniac until my Doctor started me on hormones.  It wasn't long before I returned to my normal sweet self
   
   I will be happy to talk to you anytime about this "change."  Women are affected differently.  Here is a list of symptoms you may or my not expect.
   
   1. Hot flashes (these drove me nuts)
   
   2. Mood changes that seem like there is no reason at all for the mood.
   
   3. Irritability (I had a short fuse.)
   
   4. More emotional than usual.
   
   5. Skin changes (dryer than normal and age spots)
   
   6. Less desire for sex.
   
   7. Weight gain.
   
   8. Insomnia
   
   9. And of course your monthly period slows down to a complete stop.
   I hate to paint such an awful and negative picture.  These were my symptoms.  They may not be yours. 
   '
   I would advise you to see your Doctor just as soon as any of the above symptoms occur.  And remember - menopause doesn't last forever - it just seems like it does.

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