7 years!!! That’s too long! I’m sorry you are suffering with it.
I plan to keep taking bioidential hormones and I’m sure that will be helpful, but I wanted to pass through this easily. I can’t imagine going through that for 7 years.
I had a very easy menopause for some reason. A few night sweats and no real mood swings. Shocking since I was a real beetch with PMS.
busdriver11, what issues are you having with menopause?
I had a pretty easy one, but did have some hot flashes and some difficulty sleeping. These two were often related. I can’t take hormones due to family breast cancer risk, so I relied on exercise to help. Nothing special, I just tried to do something vigorous every day. Swimming was especially helpful with sleeping I found. I could tell the difference when I couldn’t swim.
Jumping in for the “support” part… if anyone has any advice.
I’m coming up on the first anniversary of when I got diagnosed and I still seem to be playing a giant game of whackamole. I’m still adding new specialists to my team and new diagnoses. Up this week: new hematologist/oncologist, second opinion cardiologist, and dermatologist.
I’ve been pretty upbeat about everything for the last year but lately, I’ve been in a bad funk. I have basically been told that I’m out of options for things like treating my central pain syndrome so the pain is pretty much always going to be there. The treatments for the RA/lupus have been hit or miss but other things are amiss in my body so we’re not changing treatment yet.
Now I’m anemic (non-iron deficient), hence the hema/onco tomorrow. My heart rate is still over 100 despite being on 2 heart rate lowering meds (and they can’t raise the dose since when they do that, my blood pressure drops and I start blacking out).
How do people stay positive and hopeful despite what seems like a never-ending loop of poor health? I am meeting with my PCP in a few weeks after all of my appointments are done to talk about other next steps which may include a therapist, more PT, and some other things.
Ringing the victory bells for the 5 pound party!!! See, you CAN do it!
Was a beautiful weekend here. For once, we won out on weather. Rain for back to work tomorrow but we enjoyed low 60’s yesterday and high 50’s today - thank you weather gods!
@FallGirl, do I have your cake to play (or your bakers) for that lousy Packers game today?! 
@romanigypsyeyes you have been through a lot - to say the least. I think a therapist is a great idea. Health is a major part of life and this has truly been a life roadblock for you - therapy sounds appropriate.
I also was fortunate to go through menopause without any real symptoms or needs. I just pretty much just stopped having periods! I was on the early side - mid 40’s and I was done. Kind of amazing to me to transition that fast especially when I had my last child at 37. Count my blessings there.
Pretty minor, just some moodiness and hot flashes, unexplained weight gain. If that’s all there is, no big deal, however I’m afraid this is just a preview. I’m used to being very level and kind of happy personality wise, being moody and some sleep issues will definitely bother me. I shouldn’t be gaining weight now since I’m exercising a lot and watching my diet, that is aggravating. Glad to know that exercise helped you, perhaps I can be a little more vigorous.
Lucky abasket and MOWC!
That just sucks, romani. I would also like to know how people stay positive in the face of such challenges. I recently talked to a guy whose wife has stage 4 colon cancer. He has three small kids, and said he was panicking, trying to think of how he was going to raise those kids if she didn’t make it. He said the only way he finally was able to cope was to, “Give it to God”, and not worry because there was nothing he could do about it. I do envy people who are truly religious and could do that, I couldn’t.
Same, bd. I have really, truly tried to believe in god/religion many times in my life. I just can’t. I’ve accepted my atheism. I am so jealous of people who have that faith though and can just put it in “god’s hands.” It seems so comforting.
Romani- it’s a lot to handle. Therapy would be good- especially if you can find a therapist with whom you click.
@SalveMater, congrats on the 5lb, your hard work is paying off!
@busdriver11, your comments about the rock climber were interesting. I’ve been a firm advocate of body weight training for a long time; rock climbing is in many respects an extreme version of it. You can develop quite a physique doing body weight training if you understand how to apply principles of progressive overload. And you develop very functional strength. Your observation about her not having bulky musculature bears further comment. Lots of women are concerned that if they lift weights or do other resistance based exercise that they will develop bulky muscles. Usually not the case at all. Most women do not have hormonal balances that permit building bulky muscles like men. Most of the female body builders who look very bulked up have decided to “live better through chemistry” to get that way. Weight training is critically important for women, especially as they aporoach the age where menopause and osteo are of concern. Cardio slope is not enough to promote hormonal, joint and bone health.
Bd I am in your camp, haven’t slept solidly in seven years. You get kind of used to the deprivation. Hotflashes last ten mins and occur hourly, brutal but I keep fans around. I even have one on my cell phone lol.
My dh was kind enough to share this fun fact, evolutionarily speaking says he, menopause is meant to keep the older women away from the men who can then persue women that are still in their childbearing years. I said, enjoy the couch!
I had a horrible menopause–years and years of hot flashes that weren’t much helped by hormones. Once my students organized a complaint because the classroom was 62 degrees. I was in a tank top and literally dripping sweat. I slept with extra tshirts under the pillow so I could change easily after night sweats. After my chondrosarcoma surgery almost ten years ago, I quit the hormones completely–a year after my last period–and haven’t had any problems since. Or if I did, they were overshadowed by everything else.
@romanigypsyeyes sorry to hear of your ongoing med issues. Years ago, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and neuropathy in feet and hands, herniated discs, priformis pain, pre-diabetic and IBS. After I was hospitalized last year, I decided it was time to change my life and work balance. I took a lesser paying job, stepped down from management and got physical. I have lost weight and gained my sanity. I haven’t been sick since then either. In my case, the stress level of my job, coupled with my unhealthy lifestyle significantly contributed to my symptoms. My GP told me that 30 mins of running would reset my immune system. I despise running so I substitute with cardio and it’s been like night and day.
I know it is incredibly demoralizing to be in chronic pain and misery but don’t give up! Keep researching options and working with your providers, I will also pray for you 
Congrats to all the racers!
Kudos to SalveMater – 5 lb party!!!
Bunsen, glad you can do your pushups again!
I fully intend to keep taking the bioidenticals, maybe they will pump them up if I’m having issues. There are so many reasons to take them, but certainly avoiding suffering from menopause is a serious positive. Salvemater, you’ve had hot flashes for seven years, is that so? I can’t survive with poor sleep, it’s tough enough as it is. I work a lot of nights, my sleep schedule can be completely messed up, even for a week after I get home from a trip, I definitely don’t need any extra sleep deprivation! 
I understand what you mean about bulk, MichaelNKat, but I have noticed that many strong women do not necessarily have the defined muscle that I saw with this rock climber. Whether it’s steroids, or body fat, I have not seen women with just beautifully defined muscle, without all the rest. It’s part of the reason that I started rock climbing. My older son was home for the summer and was rock climbing 4-5 days a week. He was super skinny (like 120 pounds and 5’10"), and after about a month and a half, he had this sinewy looking muscle on his skinny frame. I thought, “Holy crap, if he can do this in such a short time, maybe I should try this”. Of course I’m afraid I’ll just build up the muscle underneath my layer of body fat. Perhaps the only way to look like this is if you are really thin already, and then start building the muscles.
@busdriver11 Unfortunately, yup. It’s the worse and not showing any let up. My GP won’t allow hormone therapyb so I just rough it out and I said, fans 24/7. My hubby says it’s like sleeping in a wind turbine
@SalveMater luckily I don’t have a stressful job. Recent national events have risen my stress levels and I can definitely feel it taking a toll.
I’m trying to incorporate more physical activity but it’s so hard when all I do is hurt and sleep. I used to be such an active person and I really miss it.
Here’s hoping my new doctors have some good (or at least relieving) news this week…
Wait a minute, what? You’ve been suffering for this for that long? What is your GP’s justification for not allowing hormone therapy? Do you agree? Maybe it’s time for a new GP, or a specialist. Some people just don’t believe in it or understand it. I would want a really good reason…in particular, bioidenticals are the same stuff that is already in your body. I’d better get a dang good reason why I must continue suffering (and it better not be because this is "normal). I started hormones about 4 years ago or so, well before menopause, and I hope to never have to stop them. It’s for a lifetime.
Salve, it sounds like it is time for a change of docs! Seriously, you need a second opinion. Why is HT off limits - what s the reasoning?
Romani, hugs. A psychologist/therapist who has been treating people with painful chronic conditions might be able to provide you with some coping tips and insights that able bodied folks may not even think of. Hugs again.