@busdriver11, the sinewy, defined musculature you describe in some women is part genetics and part body fat content (and of course a lot of training). I’m not surprised by your description of your son’s physical changes from rock climbing. It’s a great form of exercise that builds strong, lean muscle.
Here are some articles on exercise and menopause:
Later today, I will post some specific exercise guidelines. For now, note the articles’ emphasis on cardio exercise that is intense enough to cause you to break a sweat where you are at the point where it becomes a bit difficult to speak and lasts 30 minutes, done at least 3x per week; and weight lifting at least 2x per week consisting of 8 exercises hitting the entire body, at a heavy enough weight where you can only do 8-12 reps per set.
Congrats to all of our racers on their successful efforts. Congrats on those pushups, Bunsen!
As part of my efforts to do more cross-training, yesterday was a combination TRX/Pilates flow class. Very challenging -30 minutes of TRX followed by 30 minutes of Pilates mat. I need to keep doing it. This morning is very rainy so headed to the gym for some time with the elliptical.
Hope MOWC made it home safely last night. Scary weather.
Thanks. I did. Landed about 11:30. I’m tired, but glad to be home.
Hello to all from the incredibly windy west coast of FL! There was a tornado watch up for a short time last night, but other parts of FL were more intense. Right now the sun is out and it’s warm, but OMG – the waves!!! May try to brave it all a little later – the lure of some great beachcombing may win out.
Re: menopause – mine was not that bad. I was prepared for horrible, but it didn’t happen. My periods just stopped when I was 53. Periodic short hot flashes, but not to the point of drenching sweat. I still get some once in a while. I had no interest in taking hormones after reading about the possible increased risk of cancer. The last couple of years I’ve had periodic sleeping issues – waking up at 3:00 AM and not being able to go back to sleep. More recently it got really bad and was happening every night. For the last several weeks I’ve been taking a non-habit forming OTC sleep aid that really helps; if I do wake up, I’m able to go back to sleep. Overall, though, things have been pretty easy – which I figure evened things up with how badly I suffered from cramps every month until I had kids.
Kudos to the racers. Sending the healing light to @romanigypsyeyes – you’re overdue for some positive news!
Short 2 mile run, it was brutal! I’m not in running shape
Back from DC late last night–long drive fo MA. (Maybe I stood next to Fallgirl and Fireandrain?) March was a great experience–despite the crowds, everyone was polite and helpful. Getting out of the Metro took us more than an hour. There was an elderly woman who had a walker and she was going up an escalator exit to leave the station. It had to be at least two stories–people cheered when she got to the top. My Fitbit wasn’t fully charged, but I had 27K steps when it stopped. D and I did 20 minutes of yoga each morning so I completed the 21 day challenge.
Feeling energized. Now I have to get to work on the stair-climb challenge in March–348 steps (it is timed). Yikes. Going to the gym to work on the stair ladder at noon.
Congrats to the racers and 5lb party folks and BB on her push-ups.
2.5 tired miles on the treadmill this morning. It’s something.
CBB- YES- the wind yesterday was terrible, but it was still mostly a sunny day. Ft. Myers seems pretty protected from the worst weather. We didn’t go to the beach, though.
Well good news (relatively?) from the hematologist. While my iron levels are normal for a healthy person, they’re way below where they should be for someone with lupus (and some other rheumatologic diseases). Apparently anemia is very common with lupus patients but rarely caught because our levels look “normal.”
So she’s running some other tests and assuming they confirm her suspicions, I’ll be on iron supplements. She wants to try oral but she’s not sure if I’ll be able to tolerate it well so we’ll likely switch over to IV infusions. We’d both rather try oral first though since I already have to get regular infusions for other things.
I’ll take it 
Yay for good news, romani! I didn’t realize anemia was common with lupus. From what I know of that disease (and it’s not much) you don’t treat it as much as manage the symptoms and complications. “Regular infusions” for other things sounds painful (needle in your arm?). Hang in there.
Salve, Congrats and happy 5 lb party! I would look for other opinions if you’ve been suffering for seven years. AGH!
Romani, I highly encourage therapy. Did it when I went through infertility treatment, and then went back when I was diagnosed with CML with the idea of finding out how to support my kids if things didn’t go well. Still there! It gives me emotional support when I don’t get it elsewhere and it’s a relief to be able to b---- and complain and have someone else GET IT. She has also given me tools to be more assertive and to be proactive.
@Classof2015 yeah there’s no real way to treat the disease itself other than immune suppression (which I’m doing for lupus & RA) and then treating the symptoms. Since lupus manifests differently in each person, it’s a hodgepodge of different treatments. The one we all take is Plaquenil which is an immunosuppresant (and anti-malarial drug… lol).
The regular infusions go into my arm but they’re not bad. Needles don’t bug me at all. It’s more that I have to be in the clinic for several hours at a time which is just an inconvenience. Luckily I don’t work a “normal” job and can work from the clinic chair
@CountingDown thanks :). I honestly have no idea how people do this with kids. I’m very selfish and rarely think about how this affects my husband (who has been my rock in every sense of the word throughout all of this) but I would be worried sick about how I’m affecting my children.
I had bad experiences with therapy as a young teen but like I said, I think I just didn’t click with anyone. I think I am in a place now where I’d be more accepting and open so I think it’s definitely a path I’m going to take. fingers crossed that I find someone good for me
Thanks for the info, MichaelNKat, I appreciate you posting those links.
Romani, sent you a pm.
Therapy is an idea. Are you in any lupus or RA groups? Would it help to compare notes/bitch with people who understand your struggle? Find someone who has lived with it longer to follow? Help someone just diagnosed?
Lizardly, got it. I’ll respond when I get back to a regular computer. Replying to PMs on phones is so hard for me 
I did join two different lupus groups around here. One was through a church and I found it very uncomfortable. The other I went to a few times but then just got busy (it’s a bit of a drive to get there). Maybe I should start going back.
I tried joining a few different online groups but they were SO depressing. I started seeing death announcements and stopped going on.
Surprisingly, U of M doesn’t have a chronic disease support group. They have groups for everything but not that.
Romani, the gist of the advice I got about the kids (who were 10 and 11 at the time) was to be upfront, factual, and to not treat my illness as a dark cloud over the universe. I save the worry for my counselor and CC, for the most part.) I encouraged them to ask me questions about any and everything so that they knew they could trust when I said I felt good or if I needed to rest, etc.
Almost 15 years later: they are both somewhat protective me, S2 moreseo, since he was the one who did the CPR when I had the cardiac arrest. I think he has had some PTSD from all of this, though he denies it to the skies. One of my kids was seeing a counselor when I was diagnosed, so that was helpful because he didn’t articulate a lot to me (but did to the counselor). The other one saw a counselor in college and has continued. I’m glad they are willing to consider therapy and that they have a safe place to vent without feeling like they are burdening me — though I am always there if they want to talk.
I wrestle with the knowledge that the guys don’t remember much of their lives when I was healthy. At a certain level, I’m responsible for the loss of part of their childhood. Your DH is a rock and clearly loves kids. That’s a huge advantage. Can’t begin to advise you on what you should do in your situation, but I will say that a supportive spouse is absolutely essential.
romani – I’m so glad you have a husband who is a rock. That makes such a huge difference. I know I was by my ex’s side when he went through cancer diagnosis and treatment. I would want (and need) the same.
Needles freak me out – you are very strong. I second the rec’s for therapy and/or a support group. It must be hard to find people who truly understand what you’re going through. Hugs!
Yes, I am sure I saw Bromfield and Fallgirl and other CC people – (not so, I lie – I didn’t even run into one of the 50 or so friends I know who were in DC – there were a lot of people!). I didn’t get in that many steps on Saturday – on my feet from 8 am to 4:30, but not that much walking.
Ran over 6 miles this morning on the treadmill.
romani, I think therapy is a good idea. People react to pain, and chronic pain, differently – some people have higher pain thresholds than others, resilience has a lot to do with it. Another possibility is to look into alternative medicine – yoga, meditation, etc.
I went into menopause early --47. Lots of hot flashes, but never unbearable. I still get hot flashes 10+ years later! Vaginal dryness is probably my worst symptom. I take some hormones (low dose, there’s no breast cancer in my family so my risk level is really low even to begin with) which help, although I also take them for osteoporosis. Many people swear by black cohosh. I have one friend who thinks, after much research, that frozen shoulder can be one result of menopause, and I definitely got that!
We were going to join the 100,000 plus folks marching downtown, but got a call from our realtor - found a newlylisted cool house that was getting a lot of interest. It almost caused a large family drama because Mr. was not about to miss out on something that looked very promising. I felt so bad - like I was betraying my fellow marchers, but kiddo who was volunteering at the march approved of our decision to go look at the house. The funny part is that the realtor’s spouse and kids were also at the march while we were walking the wooded lot and checking out some rotted decks… Walked a lot of stairs and steps! Going back with rubber boots and rose gloves to take another look. So much for downsizing to a condo, lol.
BB, we were at the Lansing march. Smaller than 100k but sizable enough. Being out in the sun triggered a flare but I’d do it 100 times again. I really, really wanted to be able to walk to the capital from where we parked but about halfway my body said no and I had to roll the rest of the way.