<p>I’m 55. Regular periods, but not the hormonal swings i had when I was in my 20’s. I thought I was having hot flashes about ten years ago, & even bought Lonnie Barbachs book The Pause, to read about it. But I guess my body changed its mind.
I do drink & eat soy every month though, so perhaps that is acting like HRT.</p>
<p>Re exercising & not losing weight.
First remember that even if you aren’t seeing results on outside, its likely that your heart & lungs are benefitting.
Second is, muscle weighs more than fat, so you could be in much improved shape ( & look better) but weigh practically the same.
Third, is your body adjusts to amount of activity, so you have to ramp it up more when you hit a plateau.
I don’t know a lot about the surgery you had, but I had a c-section thirty years ago, & ever since it has been hard to get a flat stomach- not sure if there is a connection, but that is my story & I’m sticking to it!</p>
<p>“I do drink & eat soy every month though, so perhaps that is acting like HRT.”
-Not a soy fan at all here. Never had much of milk, so I do not need substitution. Both are overrated, IMO. But I do not care because I never was into milk or milk products too much, I even hate butter (for its’ smell). If you like it, why not? As long as it is not too much, enjoy your food and drink. Based on my experience though, soy has very little to do with how you feel during menopause. And I might be completely wrong. Maybe I missdiagnose myself. Maybe I have hot flashes, but how I can tell? I do not know how it feels. If I get hot during exercise, I just remove another layer of clothes, is not this what you do if you get hot?</p>
<p>I had to do weekly fasting blood sugars for 2 1/2 months when I was pregnant due to gestational diabetes; not to mention the fetal monitor - couldn’t leave and eat until the baby moved. Completely got over any issues about needles during that time and was very grateful for my nice veins. Nowadays they ask for 12 hours before labs (which I did this morning); no problem.</p>
<p>Miami, a bad hot flash feels like a huge rush of heat up from your torso to your head; your heart rate increases, some people feel very anxious, and then the sweat pours off your body. After a while (the amount of time here is really variable), you start to freeze because you’re covered in perspiration. It’s a very different sensation than just being hot and sweaty from exercising.</p>
<p>“very grateful for my nice veins”
-No such luck here. She tried 3 times. 3rd was on my insistance, I just did not want to come back, not fond of visiting docs / labs.<br>
…and I guess no hot flashes, I do not even sweat when I exercise, sweating is a foreign thing for my body. I am opposite, very dry, have to cover myself with lotion after shower or randomly because of sensation of dry skin. Stopped using soap altogher, only for washing hands. Well sweating is not such a bad thing for some of us…</p>
<p>I never got hot flashes. Feel as if I missed a rite of passage with the sisterhood.</p>
<p>Not so much “falling apart” but finding I don’t suffer fools so well as I get older. Have more of a tendency to speak out when perhaps I really shouldn’t.</p>
<p>I don’t " like" sweating, since when I am working it makes my glasses fall off my face, but it is how we cool ourselves off so we don’t get heat stroke.</p>
<p>Agree that one of the best things about being post-menopausal is that you can finally stop waiting for menopause. And I also noticed that my appetite eased up - an unexpected bonus.</p>
<p>It’s odd to see 2 posts about multiple myeloma - such a rare cancer. My little brother died of it 4 years ago at 46, only 22 months after his diagnosis. I am grateful to be alive to complain about getting old, but I do reserve the right to complain…</p>
<p>And emeraldkity, I think just having kids gives your stomach a pass - Heidi Klum be d@@ned!</p>
<p>“That’s really bad that you don’t sweat Miami. Are you on any meds that might cause that?”
-No meds, none. I never sweat before either under normal conditions. I would need to rollerblade in 70F to get sweaty. I do not even sweat in sauna anymore.
Yes, you are correct, I am very sensitive to temperature. I much rather be cold, cannot stand when I am too warm, the brain does not function. Sweating would not hurt anything, no glasses on my face either.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry, somemom. My mother was fortunate, in a way: she was diagnosed the year my daughter was born, but the disease didn’t become fulminant until 17 years later. Once it did, however, she was gone in 3 months.</p>