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Kep421
Member
08-11-2001
| Monday, October 17, 2005 - 3:43 pm
Okay... I need a little advice...and everyone here usually has oodles and oodles... I've recently begun to develop feelings of depression and its getting worse. I'm starting menopause, and it always seems to hit (and last) during the second half of the month. I can feel it build for a few days...it lasts a few days...then takes a few days to lift. During this time, I don't want to do anything... I find myself not really caring about much of anything... I'm always feeling exhausted... and I'm experiencing nightmares and loss of sleep. I've talked to my doctor...but he says I'm healthy and all my symptoms are part of this time in my life and to try and make the best of it. *sighs*...yeah...easy for him to say. I can't do any antidepressants because I am allergic to them. We (as in my doctor and I) know this because he prescribed them for me when my Mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year, and my reaction was so strong I had a small stroke. So meds are totally out because Dr...and I... do not want to risk anything else. Since my mom died of cancer, my doctor is not recommending HRT at this time, but says we can readdress the issue if things get a lot worse. I'm taking Estroven (herbal remedy) and lots of soy milk everyday. This helps with the flashes, but doesn't seem to do much for lifting my mood... This depression is not debilitating or anything more than a pain in the butt. I'm normally a very cheery, very happy person, so people are noticing a difference in me... a difference I don't like. Anyway... I would like to know any homeopathic or self help techniques any of you might know to kinda help alleviate this irritating condition. I came home from work, and took the dog out to play with neighbors...and I hung out... but now I'm home, I need to cook dinner, but am feeling so low I just want to crawl into bed and cover my head... I know...woe is me...*sighs*
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Shadoe
Member
11-04-2004
| Monday, October 17, 2005 - 4:24 pm
There are plenty of sites you can read through, just to get some ideas of things to try. I do believe that your diet and exercise will play a major role in how well you weather the changes. I am not a big medication person, so I found the natural way good for me. Look into vitamins supplements and herbs which may be to your benefit. Many times, just gathering the knowledge on a topic gives you the strength to do what is necessary for you. http://www.womenshealth.com/menopause.html http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/menopause.shtml http://www.emaxhealth.com/70/1827.html http://www.mayoclinic.com/search/searchresults.cfm I just searched on menopause at the mayoclinic site. Just reading about what you can do to relieve the symptoms will help you feel better. You will be suprised at some of the simplest things that actually work.
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Taterheadtwo
Member
09-29-2005
| Monday, October 17, 2005 - 4:25 pm
ok some will laugh, but the brain works off of chemical to electrical ballances,just my veiw point, but when your body changes, it throws out of whack the chemicaql ballances too. just a though, but foods , beverages you once tolerated had no big effect , might now have big effects, i live with constant pain due to accidents , disabilities and my health body get worse, i have had to change certain foods i once loved... i hate to keep a daily diary ( it depresses me big time,lol) but maybe you might want to try keeping a food diary for a month, see if things have a conection to certain foods, times, etc... one example for me is soft drinks, i go cold turkey for several weeks , months then i will start drinking them for a while and go cold turkey again, if i dont quit them i ( well dont laugh , but my skull expands in one spot, guessing brain swelling, i go off softdrinks and it goes back down, docs call me crazy but when i have pointed it out they freak out and have no answer( i mean if you get a bump on the head you didnt have you tend to notice these things, also i cut weay back on breads when my joints gets to where i have say 5 or more joints that lock up are poping acheing, cut back on bread, some poping stops not all and its a little easier, yeah so im weird,lol but your chemicals play have a big factor on your health, so try the diary , if you spot something makes it easier to document and , maybe swap food around skip your favorites for a week see if your body changes any way, even weight, etc?? also it seems easier for woman, but i also sugest googleing for pilates ( beginer level) try that, alor of people say when you tone up do some strenght exercises it help tone down mood swings, and are bouts of blues, depression
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Kep421
Member
08-11-2001
| Monday, October 17, 2005 - 4:27 pm
thank you Shadoe...these links are very helpful Taterhead...you might be on to something... I thought coffee was giving me the blues...gave it up, but still didn't improve... Maybe more chocolate???
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Taterheadtwo
Member
09-29-2005
| Monday, October 17, 2005 - 4:30 pm
also ( alot dont know it) theres ways to advance goggle are yahoo to narow your search down to specifics, so you dont get tons of sites, hits, but get to what you are really searching form hope that helps you too
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Kep421
Member
08-11-2001
| Monday, October 17, 2005 - 4:37 pm
wow...one of those sites says that ginsing might boost a feeling of well being... That might help...
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Mameblanche
Member
04-13-2005
| Monday, October 17, 2005 - 7:26 pm
Hi Kep, let me know about the ginseng... And good luck! I'm borderline manic depressive, so I'm interested too. Also, for me, cuz I have memory probs, due to Fibromyalgia, ginkobiloba is supposed to be good, but while I'll pretty much take things that are prescribed by a doc, I can't seem to work up the nerve to try these gentler medications. (shrug)
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Monday, October 17, 2005 - 10:23 pm
Kep - A girlfreind of mine is currently going through this major "naturopath" phase, where she is totally learning about all things natural. It started about a year ago, when he back started giving her some major problems. She went to an acupuncturist, and after treatment, the acupuncturist said "Let me see your tongue." The person told her she had CANDIDA, which is like some kind of yeast infection in your digestive tract, and that many of us have it; eating sugars and starches just feeds this yeast, and there are many symptoms. To make a long story short, she went on a total cleanse, giving up SO MANY foods, in order to starve her body of sugars, so the candida would go away. Through this process, she found out we have many food allergies that we don't know about. She started this whole food testing thing, and was reintroducing foods in small amounts, to see what ones gave her body some distress. Through all of this, she has learned that some of these things can affect our moods, especially with energy and depression. Now she is taking a full on program, to certify herself as a naturopath. Moral of the story, go check out your local naturopath (many health plans are beginning to cover them too), see if they have any foods or vitamin supplements that can affect mood, etc. Depression is a hard thing to deal with. I wish you success in your search.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 8:35 am
Eeyores, in the U.S., we do not have naturopaths like you do in Canada. Most Americans would not know where to begin to go look for one. Certainly our health insurance, if we had any, but that's a different story, would not pay for it. But it might be worth trying to pursue finding one, Kep. Maybe a health food store might have a reference.
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Kep421
Member
08-11-2001
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 10:21 am
Thanks Juju!! I was a bit embarrased to admit I'd not a clue what a naturopath was LOL. Anyway, I'm going to try exercise and ginseng...and hopefully keep myself around positive people... <47>
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 10:47 am
I've found that since I've been able to exercise and have exercised regulary and lost weight, I was able to go OFF antidepressants and have stayed off for over a year. Exercise is known to produce endorphines and give a natural lift. You might want to google Alternative medicine, Alternative medicine, Holisitic medicine or health or allopathy / allopathic
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 10:48 am
I did see reports on naturopaths in Washington State (but that was under quackwatch.. a charge of misdiagnosis and treatment) and in another state..
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 12:21 pm
that is to bad that the USA doesn't have a naturopath doctors. That would of been my suggestion to you kep. I was put on Paxil in the spring, but decided that due to the cost etc,. that I let my script run out and then I went to the health store and try some natural way to deal with it. The first one I tried, I ended up feeling alot of rage etc. and the second one didn't seem to do much of anything for me. I decided to go back to the doctor and get my paxil refilled and go from there. (which I just came from and start the meds today again) If I were to not be able to take these meds, I would of gone to a naturopath and get a proper diagnosis to find out what to do. I wonder if you go to google.ca and search some Canadian sites for information if that will help you better. {{{kep}}} hope things improve for you
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Taterheadtwo
Member
09-29-2005
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 1:19 pm
dont take this the wrong way, but my feelings , si paxil is not good, maybe shrt term, but it doesnt treat the cuase only attempts to cover up, false hope, i hope you will seek other solutions too, not just get in the rut of accepting paxil as curing you...i am bothered by any doctor who treats way too many patient s a day, ( the so called wait a hour but doc only sees you for 3 minutes, a rush visit and docs solution, all too often is to give the mas answers for mast promblems, to subscribe whats popelar to treat most promblems. just hope you look for other options. for me i have been on paxil, and dozens of other meds for the last 12 yrs off and on, i know have holes in my stomack lining, and espophacus, migranes, and when i started searching for possible side effects for most meds, i am scared, for me having been injured and gotten more worse, dissabled, now in pain 24/7.. if i could of gottent real medical help i would be more healthy and functioning, then the way i turned out...for me i spend alot of time web searching for cause and effects of medical conditons and possible solutions. ( BUT BE WARNED 3 /4 OF WHAT YOU FIND ON T HE INTERNET FOR MEDICAL CUASES, EFFECTS AND SOLUTIONS ARE BUNK, WORSE THAT SNAKE OILS,LOL, ) I BELEIVE FOR THE MOST PART MOST WHO ARE ON MEDS NOW, might be getting some help, but i beleive they arent really treating the promblem(s) only convering it up. but i will be the first to say, when you hurt, you will try what the doc gives, ive been there down that, but now looking back the last 10 yrs, the reality was i got no real help, so i take one day at a time, try to advoid what i know from much experience what to advoid dailey to keep from triggering a mast flareup, and minor flares ups i try my best to get through, never found any big helps to get through them, mostly to musclle through them, knowing, hours are days away i will see some releive, then to get ready to go through it again, but to not give up
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 1:46 pm
I tried the daily thing...just isn't working for me.. I wish I could do the daily thing and learn to cope. But, for now the Paxil will help as I have used it in the past and then tried not using it. People do have chemical imbalances that need to be fixed with medications to keep them balanced...and for me that is the solution. My doctor didn't push this down my throat, it was my decision..(today at the doctor, I waited about 10 minutes for my appointment and she probably spent a min. 20 minutes with me. Not every person is the same, and not every condition is the same and therefore each person is treated differently and each person reacts to meds differently. If I didn't have to take the Paxil right now, I wouldn't, but for me, I need to take it for the time being. It is may safe and sound solution.
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Finqwik
Member
09-23-2000
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 1:46 pm
Hi Kep here's my 2 cents worth. St Johns Wort is a well proven and valid herbal antidepressant you should check with your GP first before taking it if you have allergies. Also as was said above exercise, even walking 20 mins a day and watch what you eat. If your budget will stretch to it book in for some talk therapy with a good therapist. Good luck.
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Kearie
Member
07-21-2005
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 2:21 pm
For Menopause and hot flashes, here is a list of herbs that will help. Black Cohosh and Ginseng provide natural estrogen, while Don Quai, Passion Flower and Sarsaparilla are good for hot flashes. For lack of energy there are various herbs that can help combat this... Alfalfa. Cayenne, Dandelion, Ginger, Ginseng, Gotu Kola...which I used. Also some good vitamins are B, B12, E, D, (I take Vit. D's everyday for my depression) F, riboflavin, Biotin, PABA and Thiamine. Make sure you get plenty of Iodine, Iron, potassium and zinc in your diet. This information comes from a book I got several years ago called Herbally Yours by Penny C. Royal. Oh and just for giggles and grins... Saw Palmento can help small boobies grow!
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 3:37 pm
"Saw Palmento can help small boobies grow" ROTFLMBO - now that's the laugh I needed today Kearie..thanks

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Taterheadtwo
Member
09-29-2005
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 4:52 pm
what do you do if you have man boobies now,lol
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 5:16 pm
Tater....you get the "Seinfeld manssiere" special 
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Taterheadtwo
Member
09-29-2005
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 7:25 pm
ok dont hate me, but it reminds me, back in high school, one of my sisters freinds sent money in fore a garenteed make boobies grow, i think she spent $9.95 back in the early 70's, and when she got her package, it was a managuins hand, lol, was so funny. just a hand like off a manakin, ( ok so i cant spell,lol )also not funny but this girlfreind also had a home ec class stove explode on her, and it singed her eybrows and burnt alor of her hair, she had to get a boy hair cut, but also she went home, they went to her locker to get her things, and yep inside her locker she had that hand, i bet she was so embarrased,lol, the whole school then knew she had bought that hand, poor girl
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Dahli
Member
11-27-2000
| Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 2:19 pm
Here's a link that will let you do a search on zip codes to find an ND near you! Definitely worth it. http://www.pandamedicine.com/index.html
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