It's official

**Chellynn** · 10-12-2011 11:35 PM

I have not had a period since March of this year. But today, when the doctor told me my hormone level results, made it official, at 45, I am in menopause. I wanted to cry. I am very upset and hate my body. I feel ashamed, but it does explain alot of behaviors in the past couple years. The doctor told me to try black cohosh. I think the biggest thing I have noticed is a lack of sex drive and I feel like I have gained weight in my stomach. Gained 20 lbs in the last 2 years. I need ideas. Should I try progesterone or estrogen or go to a hormone dr and pay myself to have my hormones tested further. I want to feel good and look good, I do not want to go down without a fight!

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 10-13-2011 03:05 AM

Good for you Chellynn.

It's horrible that we women go through this, let alone at that age, or 48 for that matter.

It is really a time when alot of changes have to be made, cigarettes, alcohol, food, water, walking and deep breathing.

I don't know about black cohosh, I believe that is a herb? But I would definately try it, as anything natural is good for us, in my opinion.

Try drinking alot of water, walking 10 - 20 minutes a day, change your diet to fresh and lots of greens and red fruits and vegetables and minimal meat, as in 200grams max...Fish and grilled chicken....

Try it for a month before taking pills...I am not against them and what ever works through this time, I would do too... I have been peri-menopausal and then normal so I have experienced the mood swings and I breathe, drink water and change what I eat it has worked somewhat when I go through that..

Stay with us and just post..

Don't swear

But use this thread as your frustration post....

CW

**Beautiful Disaster** · 10-13-2011 07:15 AM

*hugs* So many women here can relate. It's a tough time in a womans life (seems like we have a lot of them huh?) but just like all the other ones, it gets better and we learn to manage on the new journey. There ARE ways to ease what you're going through right now. Part of that will come with time, and part of it will come with lifestyle changes.

Something I would recommend for the mental side of this is SamE. You can buy it at walmart. Google it for some more info.

As for things like Black Cohosh and another, Evening Primose, Milk Thistle, Agnus Castus (chaste berry) there is little if any scientific evidence that these relieve menopausal symptoms. But some women swear by them.

Bioidentical hormones (progesterone cream) is something common to use for certain physical symptoms of menopause, especially headaches.

This is also a great time to revamp your diet and fitness levels. Get yourself into a very regular, moderately intense fitness routine. Revamp your diet if you need to, be sure you're maintaining a very healthy balanced nutrition. If you have a smart phone, I recommend an app called "CalorieCount" or "MyFitnessPal" to really get your nutrition in check.

There is MUCH hope my friend. Keep that head up and start finding ways to make this transition a bit better for yourself.

**meowzq** · 10-14-2011 08:46 AM

Oh Chellyn. I'm only 37 but afraid might be experiencing menopausal symptoms. I always feel hot in my nape, my lower back , my chest, my abdomen. And now I dont know, it's getting down to my feet. I've been experiencing this for 2 weeks now. It is really bothersome. Anyone, what could this be?

**nayla** · 10-15-2011 02:47 PM

My doctor said I am menopausal. However I keep having periods after that. Plus I have no other symptoms other than irregular periods( 28 days, 60 days etc) . Even my periods amount and days are normal (ie 5-6 days and in normal flow) .What is your FSH level? and do you feel hot flushes?

**ItsASecret** · 10-15-2011 03:13 PM

My doctor said I am menopausal. However I keep having periods after that. Plus I have no other symptoms other than irregular periods( 28 days, 60 days etc) . Even my periods amount and days are normal (ie 5-6 days and in normal flow) .What is your FSH level? and do you feel hot flushes?

The thing with menopause is that can mean several symptoms but not all women will experience all symptoms. When a patient comes to a doctor saying "I have a lot of headaches", "my back is sore", "my periods are irregular but they still happen", "my feet swell sometimes but not always", "my stomach hurts", "my arms are sore", "my hair is falling out", "I am grumpy", "I am hot"....all these random things that seem like trivial symptoms likely lead to menopause diagnosis simply because there are so many symptoms possible rather than that one rare condition that someone may think they have because menopause seems too simple. One woman may be medically experiencing hot flashes but they are so mild that they do not bother her and therefore are not paid attention to and as a result she does not believe she is entering menopause even though her doctor can say yes you are. Another may experience headaches but are good with dealing with pain so again they do not bother a woman. Overtime each individual symptom may be appearing but a woman may not pay much attention to them but they still want a diagnosis...even though the doctor says "you have been menopausal for awhile". It often happens over such a long period of time with sometimes several stages. Many symptoms can appear over a very long period of time, but once the relative menopausal age hits there is a real good chance that those seemingly trivial symptoms are simply menopause symptoms and thats that. A big fancy diagnosis of some rare condition is not so likely when that age means that menopause is starting to peak through. It is pretty much when the doctor says you are in menopause or pre-menopause the woman should be expecting some random symptoms that are not exact in their appearance every single time.

**cocooned57** · 10-16-2011 10:06 PM

It is true that every woman experiences menopausal symptoms differently. Her perceptions can influence how much or how little she feels the physical sensations of changing hormonal levels. Believe it or not, some women never know, they just stop periods one day and that is that. Others notice the whole range of possibilities. Severe symptoms that are effecting your daily functioning need to be investigated.

Looking back on the past 5-6 years (I am now postmeno by over a year), I see that many physical and emotional sensations that were probably due to the hormonal stuff, but they were so similar to PMS or stress that I just did not make the connection. Now that the hormonal fluctuating has decreased and my estrogen is much lower, the symptoms are gone or are very minor and I think, "Wow, that was probably due to hormones", bc that symptom has disappeared from my life. I cannot fathom why I had odd fits of anxiety and even anger and obsessions, but my head is cleared of all that now. And I would say to any woman who is uncomfortable and who wonders if something is due to menopause, please talk to your Dr and see if you can get some treatment that will give you a softer landing into menopause. It is actually not a bad time, to be without the hormones that make periods, but it can take a few years to reach it.

Cocooned

**Oenone001** · 11-08-2011 09:46 PM

I think black cohosh is a great alternative medicine for menopause. My mom used it too plus it has lesser side effects. Some people may experience dizziness taking this so start at a minimal amount.

**changing** · 11-13-2011 06:23 PM

Chellyn: I too have gotten in full swing with this menopause stuff. Two weeks ago I became ill (at least that's what I thought). I met with my dr. because I was feeling like I was trying to balance myself in water, passed out. I was having hot/cold flashes throughout the day and my blood pressure was all over the scale.

Dr. believed I had an infection somewhere because of the shivers and the water pouring from my brow. Started taking antibiotics with no relief. This weekend was taken to the local hospital with the sympthoms overwhelming for myself and my husband. After CAT scans of my head and stomach, EKGs, blood work, urine tests - the ER Dr. felt it was menopause. I am now awaiting the official blood test, but I think I am just mad

! I have had hot flashes for nearly 4 years off and on, always was able to manage with cold packs from the freezer. But now I can't seem to regulate them at all. They occur all through the day, my husband thinks I am having mood swings, and sex is a thing of the past for me (absolutely no interest).

Last evening, I cried and cried. No one in my family has ever had these sympthoms and I am quite concerned that I can not handle all of this

. It is effecting me at work, at home, driving, walking, etc. I've even asked everyone in my home not to talk to me because they are just stressing me out.

How can all these sympthoms come at once? Don't they gradually build up, so you can become accustom to them?

Thanks for letting me vent.

**ItsASecret** · 11-13-2011 07:56 PM

Don't they gradually build up, so you can become accustom to them?

They did gradually build if you have had hot flashes for several years for example, you just though nothing of it because you were used to those early symptoms. Those early stages are merely pre-menopause, once actual menopause hits it will vary between each and every single woman. Eventually menopause will end and you will again see a decline in symptoms just like with pre-menopause. How long it will take to come out of menopause is entirely individual.