need some advice about a few things - Menopause Message Board

Aditi · 03-18-2004, 09:04 AM

I am 50 year old and in general good health, not overweight or a smoker nor am on any medications. I have not had my period or any pms symptoms since December so I guess I am going more into menopause. However, I am experiencing crying jags with some depression and sleeplessness. The sleeplessness may be due to back pain because I have a slight curvature in my mid back. I am taking lots of calcium/magnesium and glucosomine with other vitamins (and Valerian at night which doesn't help really) but nothing is helping. I am so very tired during the day and just go home after work and sleep around 6 pm or 7 but then this disrupts my bedtime later, so I am in a bad cycle. I might want to take progesterone but am afraid it will bring back my periods which I do not want at all. I do not want to take any estrogen either. The chiropractor helps a little but not much. Regular back doctors just want me on painkillers. Does anyone have any suggestions on safe supplements? I used to exercise but now am too tired and it seems to aggravate my back now.

bobana10 · 03-20-2004, 11:32 PM

I am going to read a book suggested by some other woman on this message board and it is Before the Change it has a chapter on menopause. By Ann Louise Gittleman, she has wrote several books on woman's issues, Check out the Dr. Phil web site he had a show on this perimenopause. It may hold some answers for you I know it did for me. Dana

csoar2004 · 03-21-2004, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aditi

I am 50 year old and in general good health, not overweight or a smoker nor am on any medications. I have not had my period or any pms symptoms since December so I guess I am going more into menopause. However, I am experiencing crying jags with some depression and sleeplessness. The sleeplessness may be due to back pain because I have a slight curvature in my mid back. I am taking lots of calcium/magnesium and glucosomine with other vitamins (and Valerian at night which doesn't help really) but nothing is helping. I am so very tired during the day and just go home after work and sleep around 6 pm or 7 but then this disrupts my bedtime later, so I am in a bad cycle. I might want to take progesterone but am afraid it will bring back my periods which I do not want at all. I do not want to take any estrogen either. The chiropractor helps a little but not much. Regular back doctors just want me on painkillers. Does anyone have any suggestions on safe supplements? I used to exercise but now am too tired and it seems to aggravate my back now.

Many of the suggestions in Before the Change (by Ann Louise Gittleman) help with my menopausal sypmtoms (including leveling out moods). She also has a wonderful book called Supernutrition for Menopause (it's revised edition is due out late this year) which I recommend. Gittleman is a nationally reknowned nutritionist and so far - in my case, at least - she's been 100% on target.

best wishes,
charli
highest wt: 233
203/146/146
age: 50, menopausal and perky to the max

cloverberry · 03-21-2004, 02:20 PM

Sounds like perimenopause. I would wake up in the middle of the night for no reason and I was awake for 3 or 4 hours. Someone told me magnesium would help with the but it didn't. I started taking an antidepressant, Trazodone, for another problem and I was told it was prescribed alot for problems from menopause. It helps me sleep. I never had a problem getting it prescribed from a doctor. It must be pretty mild.

Chickodee48 · 03-21-2004, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloverberry

Sounds like perimenopause. I would wake up in the middle of the night for no reason and I was awake for 3 or 4 hours. Someone told me magnesium would help with the but it didn't. I started taking an antidepressant, Trazodone, for another problem and I was told it was prescribed alot for problems from menopause. It helps me sleep. I never had a problem getting it prescribed from a doctor. It must be pretty mild.

I know EXACTLY what you are going thru! Night sweats and insomnia were about to make me crazy untill I bought a bottle of Black Cohosh.and some over-the-counter mild sleeping pills. I am finally able to get my sleep in!!!