Question for Ladies ONLY about memopause (hysterectomy, hot flashes, pain, blood)

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Anyone going through menopause????? I am 52 and would to know what is "normal" you can p.m. if you want to. I would appreciate any info. Thanks.

[Magnolia Bloom]

I just saw Menopause, the Musical and it should be mandatory that every woman over 45 see it! I didn't have a dramatic time with menopause at all, but the smaller, more subtle effects I didn't know about. Wish I had seen that show before hand, it would have been a great reality check for me.

One of the many things that I didn't know was related was short term memory loss or forgetfulness. Nothing big, just enough for me to wonder if I was losing it!

If you have the opportunity, take a friend, your mother or both and go see this play- it will answer lots of questions, make you know that you are one in an army of women going through the same thing and your sides will ache from laughing so hard.

[33458]

I'm just hitting 40 and have been 'pre-menopausal' (perimenopause) for several years already - diagnosed in my mid-thirties. Yep, early start. :I The specialists can't say when full-blown menopause will finally kick in - could be tomorrow or 10 years from now...

I have most of the symptoms already, but the worst of it so far would be the occasional but annoying hot flash (feels like a radiating internal combustion) and crazy mood swings like PMS all month long - and I never had PMS before all this.

My mother, after a hysterectomy, could not tolerate the hormonal treatments prescribed in the 70's and used to stand outside in the dead of Hudson Valley winters to cool down...she would actually be sweating.

As it's been explained to me, anything ranging from mild discomfort to complete insanity is considered "normal".

Let's see what those in the thick of it have to say.

[33458]

Originally Posted by hereinfla

One of the many things that I didn't know was related was short term memory loss or forgetfulness. Nothing big, just enough for me to wonder if I was losing it!

Yeah - my regular physician attributed this to stress...

My OBGYN had other things to say.

For me it was significant - not just a 'here and there, where'd I put that!?' but 'I USED TO KNOW THIS!'...

but I also worked in a dirty warehouse as a painter with all manner of inescapable fumes, so I think my brain is damaged in more ways than one.

[nomoresnow]

Oh, I'm right in the middle of it, thank you very much.

Of course, everybody's different, but a positive attitude is supposed to help. I was having hot flashes so often and so intense I wasn't getting any sleep, so about a year ago, I went on HRT despite all the medical people saying you shouldn't. My dr. said I should be ok, as long as they keep an eye on me and I don't stay on it long term. LOL...you should have seen me last Feb. standing outside in 20 degree weather in a snowstorm, stripping down until I cooled off. Quite the sight, let me tell you! The thing is, you just don't know when "your friend" is going to show up. Me? I'd skip 4 months, then have it twice the next month. A joy. I'll be glad when it's over.

There are lots of good books, so I suggest you find one. Also, there are lots of sites on the internet that are informative, too.

[vpcats]

hehehehe. Been there. It doesn't hit everybody the same way. You can be peri-menopausal for years. Discomfort, irregularity, hot, cold, mood swings, highs, lows, cranky, teary, insomnia, but you are in FULL menopause when you don't menstruate for at least 6 continuous months AND it is confirmed by a simple blood test.
I don't like to deal with any pain or anything that makes me feel uncomfortable. I went on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), lowest dosages, for 5 years. I was on my 4th year when that controversial HRT study came out. I saw my gyn and the study was a little skewed due to the number of participants it was based on. She said that in order to get the full benefits of HRT, I should consider continuing hormones for 1 more year, as 5 years seems to be the magic number.
You need to know yours and your family history regarding breast cancer, heart disease, plus any other contributory medical conditions.

If you have no contra-indications, I recommend HRT. I have friends that have tried "natural" herbal remedies only because they are opposed to the HRT in principle but I don't think it's helped them much. It all depends on the level of your symptoms.

There is a lot of information about menopause on the internet, much of it is repetitive. Don't trust any of the advertisement sites. Go to your physician.

[Magnolia Bloom]

Originally Posted by 33458

Yeah - my regular physician attributed this to stress...

My OBGYN had other things to say.

For me it was significant - not just a 'here and there, where'd I put that!?' but 'I USED TO KNOW THIS!'...

but I also worked in a dirty warehouse as a painter with all manner of inescapable fumes, so I think my brain is damaged in more ways than one.

Yeah, like looking at a stapler and having to think about what to call it. Totally blanking out.... Scary

[33458]

The thing is, you just don't know when "your friend" is going to show up. Me? I'd skip 4 months, then have it twice the next month. A joy. I'll be glad when it's over.


Nowadays mine lasts one day, but (I hear ya!) I never know when...just be done with it, already. I will not miss this.

7, 21-24 day cycle...TICK TOCK...5...4...2, 31 days - that was during infertility treatment...before they realised...it was actually a Nurse Practitioner that carefully looked at my bloodwork and sat me down with the following, "Has anyone discussed this with you?"

I'm trying to eat more soy.

[FLPL75]

" Question for Ladies ONLY about memopause"

you just know there are going to be men sneaking in here to read this lol
thinking hmm "wonder if that is just the title to throw us men off and they are talking about some really good stuff"

I am 49 and so far haven't experienced much of anything maybe one or 2 light HFs . wonder if not having kids can delay it .

karla

[vpcats]

That's funny - the stapler comment. True. I forgot about those little minor details. But didn't someone already say memory loss was part of it? I forget.
Gosh, I'm glad you guys brought that up. Sometimes I'm in my kitchen (or anywhere in the house) and I find myself looking around, throwing my hands up, and cursing about why the blank, blank, blank am I here? Maybe I need to go back on those hormones?
I go to the supermarket WITH A LIST mind you, I come home without half the stuff I needed. Why? Cause I even forgot I had a list!
I even started trying to find out if Alzheimer's ran in my family. I thought for sure it was coming!