Archive through October 15, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: archives: The TVCH Menopause Rant Thread: Archive through October 15, 2003

Ophiliasgrandma

Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 09:38 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Please, ladies, remember that itching is a low-grade pain. Why not take whatever over the counter meds you take for a headache, etc. Hey, it just might do the trick. Let me know if it works for you.

Gidget

Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 09:57 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Mamie 316 "I definitly have the mood swings but I do have to say that the bitchiness has given me an empowerment. I find that I am not afraid to say things I might have been to say before!"

Oh yeah!!! No more Mrs. Nicegal here. I cut those Pollyanna braids. Somedays these cockeyed hormones make me feel like Superwoman!

I hit perimenopause ground running. All started after surgery last December for an unrelated matter. It's like someone flipped the psycho switch. Fortunately, except for a 2 long month period, my symptoms have been negligible.

So far menopause for me has been empowering. I just feel stronger emotionally all the time.

Mamie316

Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 11:34 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Right On Gidget! I saw on Oprah that menopause is our body telling us it is time to take care of ourselves after all these years of taking care of everyone else. And I am sure that doesn't just mean physically. It means mentally too! I am the kind of person that keeps everything inside as not to cause conflict but now I find myself saying "to hell with that"!

Kittyface

Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 04:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm 42 and I've gone through the bug crawling/itching at night thing for a few years. It always seems like it happens on Sunday nights--I always thought it might be psychological--having to go back to work on Monday. I guess I'll pay a little more attention and see where it happens in my cycle. I do know one thing--Benadryl always seems to work (at least it knocks me out to where I can sleep) HAHAHA!

Kristylovesbb

Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 07:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ophillia, I tried aspirin, tylenol, goodies, and BCs they had no affect on the itching for me. They may help some people but I got no relief using them.

Not1worry

Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 08:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Does your skin actually have any marks on it? Before you scratch it up I mean. I don't mean to suggest it's psychosomatic, I know that you really are itching. I'm just thinking of a liquid treatment my PA gave me when my legs were itching and breaking out in a rash for no reason. Mostly during the winter and more so after I shaved my legs, but it was also on leg areas that I didn't shave. I tried all kinds of creams and Benadryl. If the itching is internal, so to speak, like from haywire nerves this stuff wouldn't help you. But I'll go look up the name of it if anyone thinks it would work for them.

Kristylovesbb

Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 09:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Not1worry, I have no rashes, marks, or dry patches. It sometimes feels like you have been pricked with a needle, other times it feels like bugs are crawling on you and still other times just an itch. It mostly occurs when I lay down for the night. When it starts you have to get up because you can't stand it. You feel as though you have to keep moving because it seems worse in bed.
I have talked to several women who have this problem and like me their doctors tend to believe it is dry skin due to aging.
I have done a lot of research on this and have found something called RLS, restless leg syndrome, that has some of these symptoms and I am wondering if that is my problem. If anyone here would like to read the article I found I will be glad to post it.

Texannie

Monday, October 13, 2003 - 05:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Here's something I found in my research.

http://pa.essortment.com/menopausehormon_rfze.htm

Another of common symptom experienced by many women is a feeling of itchy crawling skin. This may be experienced as a tingling or a feeling of something crawling in or under the skin. The skin becoming hypersensitive because of the thinning of both the surface and the underlying muscles that support the skin causes this.

Twinkie

Monday, October 13, 2003 - 07:03 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I would suspect that the itching is due to sensitivity of the nerves and since the nerves and muscles are closely related I would say try potassium supplements. I do know that lack of potassium is responsible for cramping of muscles. I can't say for sure that it would help with the itching but it can't hurt.

Mamie316

Monday, October 13, 2003 - 08:00 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My other big complaint is my lack of sleep. I have not had one really good night's sleep for so long. I wake up so many times a night! Sometimes, it is just feeling hot but other times, I just keep waking up. Will the list of symptoms never end?! lol

Ginger1218

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 04:43 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Ok, I spoke to my Gynecologist on the phone yesterday. I was supposed to have an appt for Thursday to go over the results of the biopsy, but her office called and cancelled and told me to reschedule. When I spoke to her office, I told them that if the Doctor was just going to say, okay, the results are negative, and nothing else, that there is no need for me to come in. Well, the Doctor called me back, and said the biopsy came back fine (no abnormal cells) Thank God. (which I knew anyway), but she wants me to come in to discuss what further treatment we need to do. She said, I may or may not be ovulating, I think she wants to see what the exact cause of the staining is. She also mentioned something about the possibility of progesterone. I don't know. So, I have to see her next week on the 23rd.
That is my story and I'm sticking to it LOL.
I will keep you updated.

Texannie

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 06:31 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Great news Ginger!

Gidget

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 06:34 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Good news Ginger. And keep at it. The hard part is over. You may as well try to get everything as straightened out as you can.

Mak1

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 06:40 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Great news for Ginger and Gidget! Thank you for sharing your experiences with all of us. If I ever need to go through a similar thing, I'll remember your positive examples.

Twinkie

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 02:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
^5, Ginger! Great news!

Lucy

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 03:14 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Great news Ginger!!!

Babyruth

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 03:55 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yay, Ginger!! :)

Whoami

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 04:32 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hmmmm....this is odd.

Early Sept, I had my normal cycle. Sort of. I'd posted earlier in this thread how I had a very heavy flow the first couple of days of each cycle. Then in August, it wasn't very heavy, but I also went to San Diego during the cycle, and figured it may have been change in altitude, plane cabin pressurization, etc. Sept cycle also not very heavy.

Then, about a week and a half after the Sept cycle was over, I had a couple of spots. Just one day, just once. I wore a pad for a day or two, but nothing else happened.

It's now almost three weeks into Oct, and no cycle! It is close to a month now from that "spots" incident. So maybe I'll have one yet. I'm figuring, with my luck, I'll have one smack dab into the SouthCal Gathering in Long Beach. However, I have no PMS symptoms, (my main one is sore boobs a full week before).

Could this be a perimenopausal thing? Or were the years of heavy bleeding in my 30's perimenopausal? (I'm 45 now, 46 in Feb).

Its just so weird that the one month I was almost looking forward to having it (so it would be over with by the time the trip came along), and it still hasn't happened!

I know, I know....some of you are going to say "see a doctor." But, I don't have a doctor, don't have health insurance, and don't have a job. So, unless I'm dying, that's not an option.

I know "other diseases" could trigger this kind of irregularity. But, I have no pain, no weakness or anything. Except for the normal things that go with being fat and unkempt , I feel just fine.

Family history wise.....Mom "just plain stopped" one day. She just stopped having periods. I hope I follow in her footsteps in that regard!

Gidget

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 05:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
You are the right age Whoami. Menopause typically is between 47 and 53. Perimenopause is usually irregular periods as you don't ovulate regularly. And some of the menopause sypmtoms usually start... see other posts for a preview of what you amy expect. There are a number of good links on this board as well.

Good news about the sore boobs. As you move into perimenopause you will lose some breast density and thus when they do swell from your period, there's a little more room in there and viola, no more painful breasts.

There is a tendency to follow your mother. Unless one of you smokes and the other doesn't. Smokers are believed to start menopause earlier.

I only hope you can find the means to see a doctor for a pap smear. That is really important. As is a mammogram, though you can help yourself with self examination. The fact that your period is slowing down is generally nothing to be concerned about at your age. If it was suddenly to become heavy or you are spotting a lot, you may have to see a doctor. Try to get to one as soon as you can if you haven't had an exam in a while. You will probably want to check your thyroid as well. When the thyroid goes haywire it can mess with your period too. You mention being fat. Two serious points. Being overweight could be a symptom of thyroid malfunction. Fat cells produce estrogen. If you are overweight you are probably being exposed to excess estrogen which could be effecting your periods. Work on getting your weight under control. It is not good to get too much estrogen when you're moving into monopause.

Be well. It's nice to have a place to talk about these things. A lot of women I know don't talk openly about menopause. I guess there is some old stigma about getting old or something. But there are a lot of open, opinionated women at TVCH.

Mak1

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 06:40 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Who, my primary perimenopausal symptom is irregular periods for the past 2 years. I just turned 50. I once went 6 weeks between cycles and was hoping that maybe I had just stopped forever...but no such luck. (A friend of mine went 6 MONTHS with no period, then started again! arrgghhh!) This summer I had 4 cycles in a 9-week time span. This could definitely still be perimenopause for you.

I'm not telling you to go to a doctor. I would just like to remind you that just because you feel fine doesn't always mean that you don't have any undetected medical problems that don't have early warning symptoms. I know you're intelligent enough to know that, but sometimes we all need a gentle reminder.

Have a great time at the SoCal gathering! It sounds like a wonderful group of people will be there.

Not1worry

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 07:32 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I just want all of you to know how much I appreciate this thread. I don't have much to add, I'm 32 so I've got a few more years. But I am learning so much from all of you and I feel so informed. I've watched my mom, who had a complete hysterectomy at 39, deal with so many menopause issues and I have been dreading it already. Thanks to everyone who has shared!

Mamie316

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 09:06 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Whoami, I am always very regular but lately I've started skipping a month here and there. And this last cycle, I spotted for maybe a day and a half then had my actual period for one day. Now I am thinking that I always have to be prepared because who knows when it will show up or how long it will last! I also am 45 and will be 46 next month. My Mom was done with menopause by 50 and I too am hoping that it is hereditary but my doctor says it isn't. Perimenopause is just one lesson after another! What will happen tomorrow! lol

Texannie

Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 06:20 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Here are some pretty good sites for info...

http://www.womentowomen.com/new_quiz/section.php?section=1

http://www.johnleemd.com/

http://www.menopause-online.com/pmsormenopause.html

Secretsmile

Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 08:00 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I have something to share in this thread, since for the past year and a half I was convinced I was suffering from peri-menopausal symptoms.

I would sympathize with the complaints other women shared in here and tried to self treat with over the counter soy supplements.

I recently went for my annual exams and found out that I have hypothyroidism. The symptoms are so similar to menopause. I am 44 and thought I didn't need to bother my doctor with such minor irritations since I was sure I knew what my problem was. I felt it was a normal process in aging and didn't need medical attention.

The reason I am putting this in the menopause thread is too encourage others who may make the same mistake I did to have a medical confirmation.

Ginger1218

Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 09:26 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Secretsmile, is it called Hashimoto's Disease? Is that what the doctor called it?