MrsKramden
05-02-2003, 09:16 PM
Hi, everyone. I am new here. I am 43 and have just been diagnosed with menopause. Anyone else have it that early ? I hope to discuss the subject and add my experience here.
Sponsor
Geneva1
05-12-2003, 09:19 AM
MrsKramden,
I just turned 44, and have started perimenopause!
Seemed early too me, until I started reading!!
It sure is tough for us women, uh?
Good Luck,
Geneva
I just turned 44, and have started perimenopause!
Seemed early too me, until I started reading!!
It sure is tough for us women, uh?
Good Luck,
Geneva
Halcyon
05-13-2003, 01:30 AM
Hi there,
Yep.....me too! I am turning 45 this year and have been experiencing pre-menopause symptoms for about the last 5 years!
Both my mother and her mother began theirs early too...
What type of symptoms (if any) are you finding?
For me it's hot flashes, occasional nausea, debilitating fatigue, no libido, much more intense PMT/depression, hair loss, hip/leg pains (like growing pains), bloating, two weeks of brown spotting before I begin my period properly....then I flood!
(So basically I feel like I spend half my life in "nappies" !!!)
Interestingly enough, I recently had my pap smear, ultrasound and day surgery where they performed a D&C and a hysteroscopy - basically to clean things up in there and make sure there was nothing untoward causing my menstrual flooding.
Apparently, all is AOK *phew* but....the gyno says that I am NOT menopausal (because I'm still bleeding?) and she expects that I will continue to menstruate for another 5 to 6 years - great!
She gave me a short list of options to try and ease the flooding, but said that medically there was nothing else available to assist me with the overall process....
I have just spent a year taking a prescribed herbal hormone balancing formula which unfortunately didn't make a difference.
I do drink herbal teas which seem to help (ie. the red raspberry leaf tea always fixes my nausea - just as it did during my pregnancy (all those years ago!).
The doctor wants me to take The Pill to try and help with the flooding. (and my hubby just had a Vasectomy - typical!)
I think I'm going to try Chinese Herbs and acupuncture next....
I would love to be able to help manage these symptoms for myself rather than give up.
Medically there doesn't seem to be a whole lot on offer - perhaps there is once actual "Menopause" is official?
Good luck on your journey....let us know how you go and what you are experiencing along the way.
I find this forum to be a tremendous help and comfort to know that I am not alone during this very demanding and challenging phase of life.
Blessings,
Rain )O(
Yep.....me too! I am turning 45 this year and have been experiencing pre-menopause symptoms for about the last 5 years!
Both my mother and her mother began theirs early too...
What type of symptoms (if any) are you finding?
For me it's hot flashes, occasional nausea, debilitating fatigue, no libido, much more intense PMT/depression, hair loss, hip/leg pains (like growing pains), bloating, two weeks of brown spotting before I begin my period properly....then I flood!
(So basically I feel like I spend half my life in "nappies" !!!)
Interestingly enough, I recently had my pap smear, ultrasound and day surgery where they performed a D&C and a hysteroscopy - basically to clean things up in there and make sure there was nothing untoward causing my menstrual flooding.
Apparently, all is AOK *phew* but....the gyno says that I am NOT menopausal (because I'm still bleeding?) and she expects that I will continue to menstruate for another 5 to 6 years - great!
She gave me a short list of options to try and ease the flooding, but said that medically there was nothing else available to assist me with the overall process....
I have just spent a year taking a prescribed herbal hormone balancing formula which unfortunately didn't make a difference.
I do drink herbal teas which seem to help (ie. the red raspberry leaf tea always fixes my nausea - just as it did during my pregnancy (all those years ago!).
The doctor wants me to take The Pill to try and help with the flooding. (and my hubby just had a Vasectomy - typical!)
I think I'm going to try Chinese Herbs and acupuncture next....
I would love to be able to help manage these symptoms for myself rather than give up.
Medically there doesn't seem to be a whole lot on offer - perhaps there is once actual "Menopause" is official?
Good luck on your journey....let us know how you go and what you are experiencing along the way.
I find this forum to be a tremendous help and comfort to know that I am not alone during this very demanding and challenging phase of life.
Blessings,
Rain )O(
MrsKramden
05-13-2003, 10:41 PM
Originally posted by Geneva1:
MrsKramden,
I just turned 44, and have started perimenopause!
Seemed early too me, until I started reading!!
It sure is tough for us women, uh?
Good Luck,
Geneva
:) Hi Geneva1 -
Yes. I did a bit of reading before I even thought I may have been changing over and the thing that really made me feel like I was was the hot flashes. That just never happened before.I think I've mentioned, I had very minor infrequent ones, like blushing for a minute.So that wasn't bad.I feel it's a blessing for it to have happened early. I didn't want to have to wait till 50 something !
MrsKramden,
I just turned 44, and have started perimenopause!
Seemed early too me, until I started reading!!
It sure is tough for us women, uh?
Good Luck,
Geneva
:) Hi Geneva1 -
Yes. I did a bit of reading before I even thought I may have been changing over and the thing that really made me feel like I was was the hot flashes. That just never happened before.I think I've mentioned, I had very minor infrequent ones, like blushing for a minute.So that wasn't bad.I feel it's a blessing for it to have happened early. I didn't want to have to wait till 50 something !
MrsKramden
05-13-2003, 11:01 PM
Hello, Halcyon! :)
You're the only one on the board who has thusfar mentioned the nausea. That was my scariest symptom ! Began five years ago. It would sometimes be there and most times not. We are all different, and I just want to share my experience, but what happened to me was so unusual,yet someone else did tell me it happened to her also.
About ten months before I menopaused, for like two months, I was feeling nausea every day.It was more of an uneasy feeling kind of nausea and went away by about 10:00 A.M. But this was every day for like a month or two. I thought the toothpaste was making me feel this way, I thought everything except to correlate it with hormones.Changing hormones at that.
One yucky day, it hit me very strong at the end of this 1-2 months of this feeling.I was so scared.I am usually never nauseas ! I knew it wasn't a virus AND I was spottng - I was supposed to be ovulating, but I wasn't.
Was tested -found to be in peri-menopause. The nausea as it was bad , came back one more time and I hadn't had it since. My greatest advice is this medicine called Emetrol. It's easy to take, over the counter and was prescribed by my gynecologist. The pharmacist couldn't read my gyne's handwriting so my boyfriend brought home an over the counter version and it worked like a charm. I am glad most women don't get this symptom but you must know that you're not imagining things if it happens. So many people were saying, oh, you have a virus, oh what did you eat.It was the hormones a changing over, that's what it was. My gynecologist called it a "phase".The word phase had it's hopes -implying that this would not last.
Thanks for mentioning the nausea. There is like ONE article on the internet about this-that's how uncommon it is.I read that it is when the progesterone decreases that it causes nausea.I did not experience any other bothersome symptoms , none of the stereotyped symptoms, just little odd ones - trouble falling asleep, a bit of ear ringing, carpal tunnel symdrom which is very minor but I better watch it, a phase where more hair than normal fell out when I washed my hair, minor blushing.
Thanks for bearing with this very long post ! :)
You're the only one on the board who has thusfar mentioned the nausea. That was my scariest symptom ! Began five years ago. It would sometimes be there and most times not. We are all different, and I just want to share my experience, but what happened to me was so unusual,yet someone else did tell me it happened to her also.
About ten months before I menopaused, for like two months, I was feeling nausea every day.It was more of an uneasy feeling kind of nausea and went away by about 10:00 A.M. But this was every day for like a month or two. I thought the toothpaste was making me feel this way, I thought everything except to correlate it with hormones.Changing hormones at that.
One yucky day, it hit me very strong at the end of this 1-2 months of this feeling.I was so scared.I am usually never nauseas ! I knew it wasn't a virus AND I was spottng - I was supposed to be ovulating, but I wasn't.
Was tested -found to be in peri-menopause. The nausea as it was bad , came back one more time and I hadn't had it since. My greatest advice is this medicine called Emetrol. It's easy to take, over the counter and was prescribed by my gynecologist. The pharmacist couldn't read my gyne's handwriting so my boyfriend brought home an over the counter version and it worked like a charm. I am glad most women don't get this symptom but you must know that you're not imagining things if it happens. So many people were saying, oh, you have a virus, oh what did you eat.It was the hormones a changing over, that's what it was. My gynecologist called it a "phase".The word phase had it's hopes -implying that this would not last.
Thanks for mentioning the nausea. There is like ONE article on the internet about this-that's how uncommon it is.I read that it is when the progesterone decreases that it causes nausea.I did not experience any other bothersome symptoms , none of the stereotyped symptoms, just little odd ones - trouble falling asleep, a bit of ear ringing, carpal tunnel symdrom which is very minor but I better watch it, a phase where more hair than normal fell out when I washed my hair, minor blushing.
Thanks for bearing with this very long post ! :)
Speedgal
05-14-2003, 06:20 AM
I did the Chinese herbs and acupuncture for a while. It worked very well. I think you need to find a good practitioner though, especially one that won't keep you coming back and back.....
Nice lady
05-23-2003, 08:40 PM
Hi, I'm still in shock over my news, I'm 36 and feel that my life was starting, getting into my sexual peak etc. My symptoms were now bleeding since July '02 and night sweats. Only went to the GP because my sister harrassed me into going. GP comfirmed I'm menopausal. After I got rid of the stunned look on my face, they put me on HRT (Estracombi), didn't seem to suit me, made me bleed heavier and for long, before I had much lighter bleeds. My mood swings seemed worse and I became more incontinent. Now on Fosomax (calcium) but I've reads some bad reports on it that now I feel uneasy. My head is spinning for reading too much. I'm not sure if I should give up taking them and just of 'o natural' What do you think???
Karianne
05-23-2003, 10:56 PM
Hello everyone, I am new to the board too. I have been recently diagnosed as going through menopause. I am going to be 38 this year,and started experiencing my syptoms at age 33. I have Fibromyalgia and it kinda masked my symptoms, so it took me a while to snap to it. I am soooo glad to finally have a doctor diagnose me, because I have found no one to take me seriously.
I hope to try some natural remedies like vitex. I am a midwife and we use natural management appraches to things and I have always found them to work so well. Maybe I will finally get some relief, the nightsweats, itches, and fatigue are what drive me the most nuts. Waking in the night to change 3 times, yuk! How romantic right? But, I bet ya'll know what that's all about :)
I am looking forward to having someone else to talk to about it. It's been hard not having anyone to relate to, especially me being so young for menopause.
At least I was done having children on my own, with 7 I should think so :D
Best regards to ya'll,
Kari Anne
I hope to try some natural remedies like vitex. I am a midwife and we use natural management appraches to things and I have always found them to work so well. Maybe I will finally get some relief, the nightsweats, itches, and fatigue are what drive me the most nuts. Waking in the night to change 3 times, yuk! How romantic right? But, I bet ya'll know what that's all about :)
I am looking forward to having someone else to talk to about it. It's been hard not having anyone to relate to, especially me being so young for menopause.
At least I was done having children on my own, with 7 I should think so :D
Best regards to ya'll,
Kari Anne
MrsKramden
05-24-2003, 09:40 AM
Hi, Kari Anne ~ :)
You said, "But, I bet ya'll know what that's all about."
Well, not everyone gets what you've described.With me, I was skipping periods and nauseaus.That's why it's great being on this board-there are so many different experiences, but I am seeing that the night sweats and heavy hot flashing is very common . I felt weird not getting the usual symptoms, but glad I didn't, also.
You said, "But, I bet ya'll know what that's all about."
Well, not everyone gets what you've described.With me, I was skipping periods and nauseaus.That's why it's great being on this board-there are so many different experiences, but I am seeing that the night sweats and heavy hot flashing is very common . I felt weird not getting the usual symptoms, but glad I didn't, also.
MrsKramden
05-24-2003, 09:56 AM
Originally posted by Nice lady:
Hi, I'm still in shock over my news, I'm 36 and feel that my life was starting, getting into my sexual peak etc. My symptoms were now bleeding since July '02 and night sweats. Only went to the GP because my sister harrassed me into going. GP comfirmed I'm menopausal. After I got rid of the stunned look on my face, they put me on HRT (Estracombi), didn't seem to suit me, made me bleed heavier and for long, before I had much lighter bleeds. My mood swings seemed worse and I became more incontinent. Now on Fosomax (calcium) but I've reads some bad reports on it that now I feel uneasy. My head is spinning for reading too much. I'm not sure if I should give up taking them and just of 'o natural' What do you think???
My opinion is that if ANY medication, for any reason, makes you feel bad-stop it.Find an alternative or really delve into the necessity of taking it.
I was under the understanding (I can be wrong) that Fasomax is ususally given to older women - like in their 60s and 70s. You are still young.Did any sort of test of your calcium show that you need supplements ?Ask if you can take a more organic calcium supplement.Thay have ones you can drink or eat (like little candy).What Fasomax does is PREVENT bone loss chemically.My mom is on Fasomax-she's in her mid 70s.
There's a difference when they automatically, at random just prescribe something because it's standard, or if you've been tested and they say we have to treat it , you must take medication.
When my cholesterol sky rocketed during the last two yrs of perimenopause, my primary physician said - no - we will not put you on anything to lower it-your HDL and LDL are perfect. Another doctor would just have said - here, Lipitor for you. I brought the cholesterol down myself -diet and exercise.By the same token, a man friend of mine, younger than I, was given Lipitor straight away as if that was the only way to deal with it.He took it for a week and said, no way, stopped it.This is just an example.
I had some really starnge results of perimenopause -functional cyst on ovary and a pelvic inflammation. My gyne tried Zitromax on me for the pelvic inflammation to rule out an infection. No results. But that was the only chemical I was told to take throughout the whole thing. I was surprised, but very happy and I feel that I didn't need anything. I go today to see about my calcium situation, though.Blood tests have shown calcium to be normal, so I am hoping I can wait some yrs to take calcium. Who knows , though.
I went through peri "Au Natural" or, i.e.= with nothing and I hope I can do most of my post menopause that way, too.
Hi, I'm still in shock over my news, I'm 36 and feel that my life was starting, getting into my sexual peak etc. My symptoms were now bleeding since July '02 and night sweats. Only went to the GP because my sister harrassed me into going. GP comfirmed I'm menopausal. After I got rid of the stunned look on my face, they put me on HRT (Estracombi), didn't seem to suit me, made me bleed heavier and for long, before I had much lighter bleeds. My mood swings seemed worse and I became more incontinent. Now on Fosomax (calcium) but I've reads some bad reports on it that now I feel uneasy. My head is spinning for reading too much. I'm not sure if I should give up taking them and just of 'o natural' What do you think???
My opinion is that if ANY medication, for any reason, makes you feel bad-stop it.Find an alternative or really delve into the necessity of taking it.
I was under the understanding (I can be wrong) that Fasomax is ususally given to older women - like in their 60s and 70s. You are still young.Did any sort of test of your calcium show that you need supplements ?Ask if you can take a more organic calcium supplement.Thay have ones you can drink or eat (like little candy).What Fasomax does is PREVENT bone loss chemically.My mom is on Fasomax-she's in her mid 70s.
There's a difference when they automatically, at random just prescribe something because it's standard, or if you've been tested and they say we have to treat it , you must take medication.
When my cholesterol sky rocketed during the last two yrs of perimenopause, my primary physician said - no - we will not put you on anything to lower it-your HDL and LDL are perfect. Another doctor would just have said - here, Lipitor for you. I brought the cholesterol down myself -diet and exercise.By the same token, a man friend of mine, younger than I, was given Lipitor straight away as if that was the only way to deal with it.He took it for a week and said, no way, stopped it.This is just an example.
I had some really starnge results of perimenopause -functional cyst on ovary and a pelvic inflammation. My gyne tried Zitromax on me for the pelvic inflammation to rule out an infection. No results. But that was the only chemical I was told to take throughout the whole thing. I was surprised, but very happy and I feel that I didn't need anything. I go today to see about my calcium situation, though.Blood tests have shown calcium to be normal, so I am hoping I can wait some yrs to take calcium. Who knows , though.
I went through peri "Au Natural" or, i.e.= with nothing and I hope I can do most of my post menopause that way, too.
Karianne
05-24-2003, 11:06 AM
Ms Kramden,
I totally agree with you about the medication. It is our responsiblity to research anything, medications or natural remedies such as herbs, before taking. Dr. unfortunately don't alwasy perscribe what is best for us, or what will not counteract with something we are already taking. I have had so many medications perscribed for me over the years that had I just gone ahead a taken them I could have had some serious consequences.
I have not skipped a period yet, but have had them as close together as 2 weeks, and as short as 2 days. The nausea, that is horrible, I have been feeling like I have morning sickness, not just in the am, for 5 years now. And itchy crawly skin. My hair is always falling out, and there are other things, but those and the nightsweats are the worst for me. I wonder what Vitex will be like! I let ya'll know.
I did want to encourage you to go ahead and start a calcium supplement. As a midwife I recommend calcium/magnisium (you must take magnisium in order for the body to be able to process the calcium) and not all calcium products are good. I found through my practice and my own experience with taking it for my Fibromyagia symptoms, that it helps in the hugest way. You are never too young to take it. This supplement actually will help body functions in many ways, not just to make the bone stronger.
The brand name I suggest to my moms is, KAL brand. I did a few experiments with different brands, and found this one to be the quickest disolving with the best ratio of Calcium to Magnisium. This brand also offers Zinc & D in this supplement too, both also important. It doesn't help with some of symptoms, but does help with my over feeling of weel being, and also helps me to have more stamina.
Good talking to you! God Bless!
[This message has been edited by Karianne (edited 05-24-2003).]
I totally agree with you about the medication. It is our responsiblity to research anything, medications or natural remedies such as herbs, before taking. Dr. unfortunately don't alwasy perscribe what is best for us, or what will not counteract with something we are already taking. I have had so many medications perscribed for me over the years that had I just gone ahead a taken them I could have had some serious consequences.
I have not skipped a period yet, but have had them as close together as 2 weeks, and as short as 2 days. The nausea, that is horrible, I have been feeling like I have morning sickness, not just in the am, for 5 years now. And itchy crawly skin. My hair is always falling out, and there are other things, but those and the nightsweats are the worst for me. I wonder what Vitex will be like! I let ya'll know.
I did want to encourage you to go ahead and start a calcium supplement. As a midwife I recommend calcium/magnisium (you must take magnisium in order for the body to be able to process the calcium) and not all calcium products are good. I found through my practice and my own experience with taking it for my Fibromyagia symptoms, that it helps in the hugest way. You are never too young to take it. This supplement actually will help body functions in many ways, not just to make the bone stronger.
The brand name I suggest to my moms is, KAL brand. I did a few experiments with different brands, and found this one to be the quickest disolving with the best ratio of Calcium to Magnisium. This brand also offers Zinc & D in this supplement too, both also important. It doesn't help with some of symptoms, but does help with my over feeling of weel being, and also helps me to have more stamina.
Good talking to you! God Bless!
[This message has been edited by Karianne (edited 05-24-2003).]
MrsKramden
05-24-2003, 11:24 AM
Thanks, Karianne (love your name )
You wrote :"The nausea, that is horrible, I have been feeling like I have morning sickness, not just in the am, for 5 years now. And itchy crawly skin. My hair is always falling out, and there are ..."
Exactly what I experienced , mildly, off and on since 1998. Than, nine months before my Menopause, the nausea intensified after the mild feeling of nausea for two months.It's what sent me running to the gynecologist to begin with. A tip: if it gets intese, I took Emetrol liquid and that was great.Drinking giner ale just wasn't enough.
I used to take calcium with magnesium during my twenties to alleviate mild menstrual discomfort.
You wrote :"The nausea, that is horrible, I have been feeling like I have morning sickness, not just in the am, for 5 years now. And itchy crawly skin. My hair is always falling out, and there are ..."
Exactly what I experienced , mildly, off and on since 1998. Than, nine months before my Menopause, the nausea intensified after the mild feeling of nausea for two months.It's what sent me running to the gynecologist to begin with. A tip: if it gets intese, I took Emetrol liquid and that was great.Drinking giner ale just wasn't enough.
I used to take calcium with magnesium during my twenties to alleviate mild menstrual discomfort.
Karianne
05-24-2003, 11:38 AM
Thank you for your reply, and for the compliment on my name. It is my first and second name, I have been going by them together since my teens. I was recently told that Anne means Mother in Turkish. I thought that was so cool since I have so many children, and am a midwife which is like being a mother to women. I felt so neat when I realized I was my name.
I sure hope you try the calcium again, it would boost your health. If you do, get the softgels, they are just like the squooshy gelcaps that a vitimen E will come in, and they dislove in about 10-15 minutes.
I always tell my moms to take Red Rasberry leaf tea, for the reproductive system, it builds and tones it, so I think I will try it for myself. I saw someone mention here they take it for nausea, and we recommend it for that as well with our moms, so maybe it really would be worth trying?
I hope you have a great weekend!
Kari Anne
I sure hope you try the calcium again, it would boost your health. If you do, get the softgels, they are just like the squooshy gelcaps that a vitimen E will come in, and they dislove in about 10-15 minutes.
I always tell my moms to take Red Rasberry leaf tea, for the reproductive system, it builds and tones it, so I think I will try it for myself. I saw someone mention here they take it for nausea, and we recommend it for that as well with our moms, so maybe it really would be worth trying?
I hope you have a great weekend!
Kari Anne
Nice lady
06-03-2003, 08:29 PM
Mrs Kramden,
Thanks for your reply, I did go back to my gp and sorted myself out. I'm off the Fosomax, I decided from the reports I read is wasn't for me at the moment. I had a appt due to get my bone density checked & at least I can gauge thinks better then. I also decided to go back on the HRT (Estracombi) for 6 months and give it a trial run. Then by at least giving it that lenght of time I will finally figure out if it is really suiting me or not. Its crazy the way gp's etc just perscribe stuff as the norm, we're not all the norm and I reckon we all should make them listen and HEAR us. Whinge over.
------------------
Louise
Thanks for your reply, I did go back to my gp and sorted myself out. I'm off the Fosomax, I decided from the reports I read is wasn't for me at the moment. I had a appt due to get my bone density checked & at least I can gauge thinks better then. I also decided to go back on the HRT (Estracombi) for 6 months and give it a trial run. Then by at least giving it that lenght of time I will finally figure out if it is really suiting me or not. Its crazy the way gp's etc just perscribe stuff as the norm, we're not all the norm and I reckon we all should make them listen and HEAR us. Whinge over.
------------------
Louise
smalltowngirlinOH
06-03-2003, 08:57 PM
Hi everyone. I'm 23 and in full blown menopause!! I have nausea, migranes, the works! It's tough for all woman at any age!
anita4pets
01-23-2004, 02:55 PM
MrsKramden- a question about the nauseau. (I posted a quick "thank you" on another thread when I found your post regarding nausea there). I have only started experiencing this the past couple of weeks and it definitely freaked me out..I rarely get nausea..even when I was pregnant it wasn't an issue) so this is a new one. Did you feel a little bloated at those times as well? I am also noticing that I have this crashing fatigue with it. I can get myself to the gym and get a good workout but am almost useless the rest of the day. It is a supreme effort to get any work done. I am going to ask my doctor about the Emotrol and I also read someone else's post about Red Raspberry tea which I will try right away. I have been terribly irregular all my life and so am not good about paying attention to when these things happen and, because I am still having periods about every 3-4 months I am a bit confused about when to use my progesterone cream. Someone else had mentioned that the nausea could be caused by low progesterone...sigh, so much to try and figure out,
Any comments, suggestions or "war stories" would be greatly appreciated.
Anita
Any comments, suggestions or "war stories" would be greatly appreciated.
Anita
anita4pets
01-23-2004, 03:23 PM
I do drink herbal teas which seem to help (ie. the red raspberry leaf tea always fixes my nausea - just as it did during my pregnancy (all those years ago!).
Halcyon, your advice came at just the right time. Having just added the nausea into my menopausal symptom mix I was getting desperate and frustrated, I am sipping my red raspberry tea and my stomach is gurgling a big "thank you"! I would recommend that any of you with nausea problems give this one a try (and it's tasty too).
Anita
Halcyon, your advice came at just the right time. Having just added the nausea into my menopausal symptom mix I was getting desperate and frustrated, I am sipping my red raspberry tea and my stomach is gurgling a big "thank you"! I would recommend that any of you with nausea problems give this one a try (and it's tasty too).
Anita
pslam 91
01-24-2004, 12:19 AM
A yes and amen to the calsium/magnisium supplements! I read about it on the digestion board and it has helped my stomach so much. My peri has brought on more acid indigestion and heartburn. The supplements help alot. I will look for the KAL brand. I am looking for a brand that will digest easialy. My health store has a liquid. I might try that next. By the way, I am 42 and have many peri symptoms. I had absolutly no clue to what was happening to me. I thought I was losing my mind and my health. It was some what a relief to find out it was a natural process. A friend told me about peri. I had no idea that my body would start winding down before the final halt.