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Thread: What no one tells you about menopause

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    Featured Member Tourdefranzia's Avatar
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    Default What no one tells you about menopause

    I know most of the members here are a long ways away from menopause, but I thought I would share since I'm at the end of peri-menopause now. In fact, I'm watching the calendar pretty closely and the months tick by without any periods. A woman is not considered fully menopausal until she has gone 12 months without a period.

    I kind of just assumed that menopause was when you didn't have to have periods anymore, and you sweat a little more sometimes. If I had only known what a nightmare it can be at times!

    1. In 2016 doctors can't test you for perimenopause. You may think that is probably what is happening, but blood tests are so variable. The best way to judge if you are perimenopausal or not is to ask your mom when she stopped getting her periods.

    2. Perimenopause can last a decade or longer. For instance, if your mom stopped having periods when she was 50, she entered perimenopause sometime around age 40.

    3. Hot flashes are just the tip of the iceberg as far as symptoms of perimenopause. Some women have very few symptoms, others have severe symptoms. One of the most unsettling symptoms I've experienced was the blind rage I would feel over nothing. I had to stop driving for a while because of this symptom. The road rage was making me insane. Most women experience some moodiness from perimenopause. There are a ton of symptoms ranging to dry ichy skin to brain fogginess and everything inbetween. There are a lot of medical websites that list all the symptoms that women experience as a result of perimenopause.

    4. It's possible that you become more fertile just before menopause. More than a few women are surprised with a pregnancy in middle age. Due to hormone fluctuations, your body may be flooding you with a hormone cocktail that makes you extra fertile, releasing more than one egg at times.

    5. It's ok to have HRT before you are fully menopausal. In fact, there is recent evidence that HRT is MOST effective in perimenopausal women in relieving symptoms. That is also the safest time as the risk of heart attack or breast cancer is all by eliminated by starting HRT before menopause.

    6. Bioidentical hormones are freaking expensive and not universally covered by prescription plans. If this is of concern to you, be sure to read your health plan carefully to discover if bioidentical hormones are covered. I've found there is just no comparison. Formulary hormones are just less effective (IME) at relieving symptoms. I've also never experienced any side effects from bioidentical hormones, whereas, I've had some side effects from formulary hormones. Formulary hormones cost me $15 a month, whereas bioidentical hormones cost me $180 a month with my insurance picking up 40% of the bill. So, if I had to buy them off insurance, I'm assuming it'd be more like $300 a month. I mean, we're not talking cancer-drugs expensive, but still, $300 a month for HRT is a huge expense for most women.

    7. If you think you are perimenopausal, your doctor is going to be an obstacle to getting relief from symptoms. I'm not sure why women are expected to "tough it out" through menopause. I was lucky that the 1st doctor I saw diagnosed me and got me on bioidentical HRT right away. I've changed insurance plans and am now going to my 4th doctor in 4 months in an attempt to get my Rx refilled. My original doctor doesn't accept my new plan, and my old plan was discontinued completely. I didn't really think about whether my doctor I've been seeing was a preferred provider, I made an assumption and I was wrong. I will see doctor #4 later this week. The first 3 doctors I saw did not like my treatment I had been having success with at my former doctor, despite the fact that the treatment was completely effective. The problem is that it is a lot of work for the doctors on my new plan to get me on bioidentical HRT. I don't know how common it is for insurance companies to push doctors away from a particular treatment plan in favor of a different plan that may or may not be as effective? I had no problem when I was on ObamaCare. Now I'm on private insurance, so maybe there is something about private plans can eliminate certain therapies? If anyone knows if this is the case, I'd love to hear what the workaround is.

    There's all the stuff mom didn't tell me about menopause! I'd love to hear about your experiences with relatives or personally going through menopause.

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    Veteran Member red.velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    I'm in my 20s so I have a long way to go with this, but I just wanted to recommend Suzanne Somer's books on this. I haven't read any yet, but I planned to. She states that she has reversed or slowed the aging process with hormone therapy, and I think she covered menopause in one of them.

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    Moderator charlie61's Avatar
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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Quote Originally Posted by SidneyPrescott View Post
    Seriously? Why are you putting this topic on this board? Are you a troll?
    Dollface. She's a well-known, active member who regularly gives incredible, altruistic advice. You have 12 posts. She has nearly 1500.

    She posted this in Body Business, so literally *everything* body-related belongs here and is WELCOMED.

    Anyway. Let's get back to the thread, and TdF's incredible advice regarding all things female.


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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Quote Originally Posted by red.velvet View Post
    I'm in my 20s so I have a long way to go with this, but I just wanted to recommend Suzanne Somer's books on this. I haven't read any yet, but I planned to. She states that she has reversed or slowed the aging process with hormone therapy, and I think she covered menopause in one of them.
    I'm super cynical about Suzanne Somers...I saw pics of her after she had major plastic surgery & she looked awful. I think she got her face overhauled to push whatever product/program about hormone therapy she was getting a chance to sell. I do think some women can benefit from hormone therapy but it does have side effects and drawbacks.

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    Member SidneyPrescott's Avatar
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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Quote Originally Posted by charlie61 View Post
    Dollface. She's a well-known, active member who regularly gives incredible, altruistic advice. You have 12 posts. She has nearly 1500.

    She posted this in Body Business, so literally *everything* body-related belongs here and is WELCOMED.

    Anyway. Let's get back to the thread, and TdF's incredible advice regarding all things female.

    Sweet Cheeks...pardon me all over the place.

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    God/dess Mare's Avatar
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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Thank you for the heads up. I'm damn near 50 and so far I'm lucky not to have the sweats. But my libido took a hit about 6 years ago. The advice from the wonderful( sarcastic) lady gynecologist that I went to was to just have sex with my husband or I'd end up alone. Wow. Thanks lady for that reassuring advice. Maybe I can convince him somehow to take my BBC strapon up his ass every night because well, he doesn't want to , but I do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    But really, she tells me this like I don't know that a good chunk of older men dump their wives for someone younger and better looking and more into sex.
    I read the S.Sommers book and it was good. BUT, whotf can afford the bioidentical hormone therapy?!!! It makes total sense, but it's sooooo unaffordable. And like op said her Dr.s were trying to steer her away from it b/c it's alot more work for them all around. Paperwork wise and testing to make sure they're getting your meds right.
    What I'm not looking forward to is the lack of sleep they say you get. I am a total buffoon with not enough sleep. I usually get very pissed off about it and I don't function too well. Yet you're supposed to still be a productive member of society and just keep doing your job.

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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Some studies have linked estrogen therapy with higher cancer risk. Not a good idea if one has a lot of cancer happening in their family tree.

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    Featured Member MissJu's Avatar
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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Quote Originally Posted by red.velvet View Post
    I'm in my 20s so I have a long way to go with this, but I just wanted to recommend Suzanne Somer's books on this. I haven't read any yet, but I planned to. She states that she has reversed or slowed the aging process with hormone therapy, and I think she covered menopause in one of them.
    she got cancer everywhere it was possible and not possible.

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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Quote Originally Posted by MissJu View Post
    she got cancer everywhere it was possible and not possible.
    Somers is claiming she stopped her cancer with hormones? lol...Okay.

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    Veteran Member red.velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Quote Originally Posted by MissJu View Post
    she got cancer everywhere it was possible and not possible.
    See this makes me want to read her books then just to figure out how she might have developed it and what stopped the symptoms lol.

    I find myself reading material just to educate myself on theories, or even learning what NOT to do or what doesn't work lol. I can be weird

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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Quote Originally Posted by red.velvet View Post
    See this makes me want to read her books then just to figure out how she might have developed it and what stopped the symptoms lol.

    I find myself reading material just to educate myself on theories, or even learning what NOT to do or what doesn't work lol. I can be weird
    1)hormonal imbalance
    2)vitamin def
    3)toxicity
    4)believes
    one can trigger another on.

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    Featured Member Tourdefranzia's Avatar
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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Quote Originally Posted by Mare View Post
    Thank you for the heads up. I'm damn near 50 and so far I'm lucky not to have the sweats. But my libido took a hit about 6 years ago. The advice from the wonderful( sarcastic) lady gynecologist that I went to was to just have sex with my husband or I'd end up alone. Wow. Thanks lady for that reassuring advice. Maybe I can convince him somehow to take my BBC strapon up his ass every night because well, he doesn't want to , but I do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    But really, she tells me this like I don't know that a good chunk of older men dump their wives for someone younger and better looking and more into sex.
    I read the S.Sommers book and it was good. BUT, whotf can afford the bioidentical hormone therapy?!!! It makes total sense, but it's sooooo unaffordable. And like op said her Dr.s were trying to steer her away from it b/c it's alot more work for them all around. Paperwork wise and testing to make sure they're getting your meds right.
    What I'm not looking forward to is the lack of sleep they say you get. I am a total buffoon with not enough sleep. I usually get very pissed off about it and I don't function too well. Yet you're supposed to still be a productive member of society and just keep doing your job.
    Agreed about the expense of bioidenticals. There are some things you can do with supplements to increase libido.

    There is a supplement called DHEA that you can get in any vitamin store. It has shown to increase libido in middle aged women. I take 25-75mg a day 3 weeks a month and then take a week off. For instance, Week 1: 25mg per day for severn days. Wk 2: 50mg per day for 7 days. Wk 3: 75mg per day for 7 days. Wk 4: No DHEA. You'll read online about other functions of DHEA, like improved skin tone or strength when working out, but I haven't found those to be true. Younger women should avoid using DHEA due to increased risk for heart disease.

    Make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D3 and B12. Both are linked to libido. Vitamin D3 should be taken in the morning as your body's natural rhythm uses more D3 in the early part of the day, and could cause insomnia if taken in the evenings. Both are energizing vitamins.

    You could consider taking a magnesium supplement in the evenings. Most North Americans are deficient in this mineral. Not enough magnesium is linked to poor mood or mild depression and insomnia. Some doctors recommend taking 1000mg of magnesium just before bed, but if you eat a lot of green veggies, this may be too much. You'll know you're taking too much because it causes diarrhea. I usually just take 200mg before bed.

    You can buy bioidentcal progesterone creams from compounding pharmacies without a prescription. Look in your area for a naturopathic pharmacy/ apothecary. I've found the creams to be $30 for 1 month's supply, so not outrageously expensive. The stores where you find progesterone cream will probably be in the most hippy-dippy part of town. Avoid the progesterone creams from big chain places like WalGreens or GNC, that stuff is just really expensive hand lotion.The big chains are notorious of selling products that don't contain the ingredients that are on the label.


    Quote Originally Posted by SnuffleUffleGrass View Post
    Some studies have linked estrogen therapy with higher cancer risk. Not a good idea if one has a lot of cancer happening in their family tree.
    I agree with this. Since very few of my family members have experienced cancer, my risk is low as well.

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    Featured Member MissJu's Avatar
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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    "I agree with this. Since very few of my family members have experienced cancer, my risk is low as well. "
    cancer can be triggered by environment: gmo food, fast food, toxicity exposure, stress and etc.
    Our ancestors lived another life.
    check this link https://chriskresser.com/what-mainst...ara-gottfried/
    Sara Gottfried has many podcasts on youtube, she has a channel too, books. you should check her out. she writes about hormones and how they affect us women.
    First post right for you T. http://www.saragottfriedmd.com/top-3...ical-hormones/
    http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.c...-the-pancreas/
    Last edited by MissJu; 03-03-2016 at 09:22 PM.

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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    Quote Originally Posted by red.velvet View Post
    See this makes me want to read her books then just to figure out how she might have developed it and what stopped the symptoms lol.

    I find myself reading material just to educate myself on theories, or even learning what NOT to do or what doesn't work lol. I can be weird
    you better check this lady http://www.saragottfriedmd.com/

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    God/dess whirlerz's Avatar
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    Default Re: What no one tells you about menopause

    I'd like to bump this, finding it useful. Thanks


    MANY MEN WANTED TO LAY ME DOWN, BUT FEW WANTED TO LIFT ME UP

    -Eartha Kitt

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