<p>Is anyone else on an emotional rollercoster? I feel like I’m going through puberty again or am pregnant (which I’m NOT!). I wonder how much of the sadness about an empty nest is just perimenopause rearing its ugly head?</p>
<p>i called to make an appointment with my doctor yesterday. i have been on natural hormone therapy since having a complete hysterectomy two years ago. i have juggled the doses for almost two years, and haven’t been completely satisfied. now, throw in the empty nest problems, and i am a mess. i think the two things together are really hard to deal with and i am hoping that we can work out something. i have always been a strong, positive, optimistic person, and now with this “empty nest” looming, i am a bundle of nerves and tears. i am just not myself and am not happy. and the hot flashes have returned in bunches–along with not being able to sleep. i think the lack of a good night’s sleep is the worst. i fall asleep easily, but awaken and stay awake–but can’t concentrate long enough to read or knit or do anything i used to enjoy!</p>
<p>sjmom and wbow, I feel your pain. I also think that pre-menopause is the cause for a lot of the way I’ve been feeling over the past year (and for my weight gain). Another friend of mine, who is going through the early stages of “The Pause” was convinced that her thyroid was affected and was adding to her issues. She had her regular GYN do the “normal” thyroid labs on her and they came back normal. Still mot convinced, she went to another doctor who ordered more than the plain, old typical thyroid test, by measuring the individual levels. Lo and behold, he found at least one of her levels to be really out of whack and she is currently being treated and feels much better. My GYN, on the other hand, won’t do the more specialized tests unless she feels they’re really needed (I love my GYN but really would like to go to a doctor who will order the test for me – and have my insurance cover it). Anyway, people like to blame the way you’re feeling on any number of things, especially when you’re about to have an empty nest, that’s one of their faves. Just know that what you’re feeling isn’t “in your head” and that the things you are experiencing are valid. I’m glad the OP started this thread.</p>
<p>Ladies, I, a male, have had hot flashes for years. My doc for 20 years (she)said it was male menop. Eventually determined problem is type 2 diabetes-which is also hormonal related. Watch your starch and sugar intake, and mood swings and hot flashes go away.</p>
<p>Since I’ve been dealing with pretty nasty hot flashes for the last eleven years (my menopause has been slow, very slow, but started at age 40). I first realized I was having them when I looked at a classroom of shivering students and asked “aren’t you guys hot?” “No, it’s freezing in here.” So I checked the thermometer and it was 62 (I had the windows open.) I had my jacket off, down to my sleeveless top, and was literally dripping sweat. One of the students told me after class that her mom was having hot flashes too and not to be embarassed. It was sweet of her, but it made me feel really old.</p>
<p>Anyway, for some of us, “natural” remedies simply don’t work. I had night sweats so bad I kept dry t-shirts (3 or 4 a night) under my pillow to change into, the aforementioned hot flashes during the day—and much worse, the return of my teenage migraines. Sudden flow so bad that… (let’s not go there). And I won’t talk about the effects on my sex life.</p>
<p>For me, a low-dosage birth control pill worked wonders. Now that my periods have stopped entirely, I’ve been tapering the dosage and am down to 1/4 tablet a day, but going to zero lets my migraines return. </p>
<p>The evidence on the use of hormones in early menopause–before age 60 or so–is mixed; some studies indicate they might not be all bad at that point. The various “natural remedies” have not been tested for effectiveness and are unregulated by the government–you may even be getting the wrong plant. (<a href=“http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/HPI/UnconventionalTherapies/HerbalRemedies.htm[/url]”>Error)</p>
<p>patsmom-
Saw the play before the flashes began. It was probably funnier then, because it was happening to <em>other</em> people, not me.
Catchy tunes… (to the tune of Tropical Heat Wave) “I’m having a hot flash… a personal hot flash…”</p>
<p>I wonder how on here are up late reading CC because they can’t sleep! I am anyway.</p>
<p>Luckily for me I sailed through menopause with few blue periods. However, I do remember embarrassing my daughter with a fit of shopping rage. It was Christmas season and I walked up to a Sur la Table at closing time and they wouldn’t let me in. Usually mild-mannered, I began yelling and threatening never to shop there again. D was horrified!</p>
<p>
Actually, my insomnia might explain some of my less-than-eloquent posts. I sometimes take Benadryl at night, which helps, but does make me a little tired the next day. But the weepiness is just ridiculous these days.</p>
<p>For people who have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and are on medication for such, the doctors recommend an antidepressant called Effexor. I don’t know if it helps with hot flashes, cause I don’t get them but I used to be very very irritable and nasty. Effexor has helped me. You guys could ask your gynaecologist about this. I use a low-dosage form of this.</p>
<p>cont. from above post: Effexor is supposed to be effective for “menopausal symptoms” whatever that might be. Hormone therapy as prescribed by dmd works for other “normal” people (i.e no history of hypertension etc.).</p>
<p>Lots of good info here for me as I have been “feeling odd” the last week and turned 50 recently…thanks for the many good links. The thread on saving money tips recently cracked me up because several postings were frankly in the “oooh noooo tooo much information, thank you but never mind” catagory for me. However, I am all set to talk about my aging midlife body and its quirks, no holds barred! Twenty years ago I would discuss the most intimate details of fertility issues and interventions with mere acquaintances my age who were also all about pregnancies and making lovely babies. Now the inhibitions drop again in a new stage and I am burning to know “where do you put the progesterone cream?” “does it help firm a jawline or eliminate drooping eyelids that require toothpicks to stay lifted?”</p>
<p>I am reading this and wondering how old everyone is (hope that’s not too rude to ask). I just turned 54 and still have no symptoms (unless bad memory and irritability–which I think started when the twins were born 16 years ago!) are symptoms. I am highly active, a runner etc. I am HOPING that helps once things begin but nothing really has, at least in terms of physical signs…</p>
<p>I hope physical activity helps too. I am not very active but try as much as I can. I don’t take a cab, I walk most of the time, so that amounts to about a mile and a half each day. </p>
<p>Re: age, I will turn 49 end of this June.</p>
<p>achat-
When’s your b’day? I turn 53 at the end of this month. (symptoms just started, and are still relatively mild…)</p>
<p>I just turned 46 - and haven’t had a period in almost 5 months. From my mom’s experiences, I thought that I would be much older when this happened - so I’m a little freaked out that it has happened so quickly and so (relatively) easy.</p>
<p>48 at the end of June–no definite symptoms yet, but I feel any day now…</p>
<p>Faline2 - I rub the cream alternately on breasts (ooh la la), fat stomach, upper arms. </p>
<p>RE: sagging jaw line: get a nerf soccer ball and place under your chin press down 10X, then open your mouth 10X, the nerf ball provides resistance, I have seen my sagging jowls firm up with this exercise…of course do not let anyone see you do this!!! :eek:
I have no remedies for eyelids…Anyone?</p>
<p>I need that nerf soccer ball exercise because I am starting to recognize my grandmother’s jowls when I look in the mirror. :eek:</p>
<p>Eyelids? I’ll take any suggestions there, too! And how about that stubborn cellulite? Thank goodness we can still dye our hair!</p>
<p>garland and achat-
we all have b’days at the end of june-- what dates??
26th for me</p>
<p>Hi, jym, yup, 27th for me…:)</p>