Archive through September 10, 2003
TV ClubHouse: archives: The TVCH Menopause Rant Thread:
Archive through September 10, 2003
Lostintheglades | Saturday, September 06, 2003 - 05:24 am     Wow... What a great thread. I've been to other boards but since TVCH is just a great place I was really happy to see this thread. I had a complete hysterectomy at age 44, I am now 46. Because of my family history, I was on hormone replacement for the first 6 months but have since been able to wean myself off of them completely. I honestly have no problems anymore with night sweats (which totally suck by the way) or hot flashes. My problem is my total lack of interest in sex. I have a loving husband of 23 years and I feel so badly that sex has now become a chore for me. I've tried several things that I've picked up from GNC, pills, creams, you name it. Nothing has helped. I would love to feel something again....anyone have any suggestions without me having to read through all of these posts? |
Texannie | Saturday, September 06, 2003 - 05:56 am     Lost, have you tried a prescription testosterone cream? I have found www.hystersisters.com to be a great source of info. |
Dahli | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 10:09 am     HI Lost... I don't know what you've tried so far but have you seen or hear of any of these? Damiana, Tribulus Terrestris or something new out there called Alvilmil?? |
Smokey | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 04:33 pm     Very cool thread! I'm 48 so I've read what ya'all have to say with interest. I've been fairly healthy (knock on wood) so have not had to deal with some of these gynecological issues, thank god. I've opted not to use HRT and am doing a lot of what Dahli has said. I would love to find a professional like yours, Dahli. I am doing this mostly by reading and talking to my gynecologist (when I go in). I have found vitamin E to be a huge help with night sweats and hot flashes. I've tried some of the other natural things such as black cohosh, but they didn't seem to help with the flashes. The vitamin E really does it for me. Mine were bad. I still have a period although it's not regular at all. Maybe every 6-8 weeks I will have one. I don't suffer from PMS but do notice being jittery or feeling high strung right before a period. Another thing that helps some of the symptoms is speed walking or power walking--walking quickly enough to keep the heart rate up and break a sweat. This is something I need to get back to! I was diagnosed as clincallly depressed a few times and was on zoloft for a time (very small doseage) which helped. I decided I didn't want to be on the medication if I could avoid it and have found that if I eat right, watch or eliminate caffeine and try to get some exercise, it helps immensley. I have times once in awhile, but basically the natural stuff is working for me. A friend of mine had to have a biopsy awhile back and found it to be painful. She was uninformed and trusted her (male) doctor. She said when it was over she sat up, got in front of his face and said, "you will never do that to me again. If you were a woman you would know that this is painful and you would find a way to do this pain free". Her point was that we've come from a place with more male doctors and if they had to feel the pain inflicted in some of these procedures, they would find a technique or way that was not painful. |
Twiggyish | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 05:01 pm     I think most women try the progesterone cream, which is a hormone made by a woman's body..not the same as testesterone, which is a male hormone. http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/P/Progesterone.html When I use progesterone cream it seems to calm my nerves and works almost instantly. |
Suitsmefine | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 08:35 pm     I HATE HOT FLASHES AND NIGHT SWEATS!!!!!! I feel like I haven't slept in months! I really think I got more sleep when my kids were infants breast feeding every 2 hours! Couldn't the men AT LEAST have gotten this curse...WE have the PMS, WE have the periods every month (sometimes ALL MONTH),We have the hassle of remembering to take the pill everyday, WE have the 9 LONG months of carrying the babies(because we forgot a couple of those pills! LOL), WE have the CHILDBIRTH (and the leaking while breast-feeding), WE have the fibroids,ovarian cysts, and endometriosis,WE have the hysterectomies and HRT and mood swings from h@##...WTH????? Couldn't they at least get the dang Hot Flashes???? |
Texannie | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 08:38 pm     Because our species would cease to exist if they had any of those problems!! |
Suitsmefine | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 08:52 pm     EXACTLY!!!! How are you doin Texannie? So glad to see you back with us! I went to bed at 9:30 because I was so exhausted and both kids were sound asleep...Dh has to get up really early so he was already snoring...15 minutes later I am in full swing with the hot flash/night sweat from h@##...and after laying there for 20 minutes...I just wanted to kick my sweet sleeping DH out of the bed!!! Menapause should be considered a WMD! |
Texannie | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 09:06 pm     I am doing really well. Still get tired, but amazed how quickly I am recovering!! Have you had your hormone levels tested? I would do that and then get on something! The best part of this is no more hot flashes, now I am on HRT! LOL |
Suitsmefine | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 09:06 pm     and here I sit at the puter...with the AC turned WAY down , a big fan pointed right at me, and ice chips wrapped in a wash cloth draped so stylishly around my sweaty neck and with the least amount of clothing the law will allow, AND I AM STILL SWEATING!!!!In the back of my mind I am thinking..(not seriously) should I have opted for a sex change instead of the hysterectomy? |
Suitsmefine | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 09:14 pm     Well Because of a HIGH risk of cancer on both sides of my family(among other health issues) HRT scares the bejeez out of me (and my Dr. as well)that is why we opted to keep my ovaries (for what they are worth these days), but I definitely need to check into an alternative...this is just too much! It has been worse because I have been on steroids for a back injury, so danged if ya' do and danged if ya' don't is where I am right now! |
Myjohnhenry | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 09:25 pm     Suits...check out http://www.hystersisters.com/ and look for Hormone Jungle on both the right (message board) and the left (articles) hand sides of that main page and No Hormone Desert on the right (message boards). There is some good info and ideas to be found there...All kinds of alternatives. |
Suitsmefine | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 09:31 pm     Thanks MJH, Hystersisters was one of my fav sites when I was researching info. on having my hysterectomy, I'll check it out! |
Suitsmefine | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 09:35 pm     Texannie, glad to hear that your recovery is going smoothly, I was so AFRAID to have my hysterectomy because I remembered how rough it was on my Mom back in the early 70's...My Mom was astounded at how fast I got to come home from the hospital and resume my activities! |
Myjohnhenry | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 09:45 pm     I keep trying to remember to go back there Suits, 'cause they keep adding things as new info comes out and of course with each new persons experiences. I usually only remember when someone asks a question or if something else triggers me to think about it. It is nice to know that there are more and more alternatives out there and sites that make it easer to find out the info. |
Texannie | Monday, September 08, 2003 - 10:11 pm     I love Hystersisters!!! I have it bookmarked! Suits, I was worried bout the risks but fortunately, for me, they are low. I was on such a hormonal roller coaster before the surgery that I honestly think my body is saying "thank you for giving me hormones!!" I hope you can find some relief. |
Texannie | Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 06:24 am     Suits, saw this thread at Hystersisters and thought of you. http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/showthread.php?s=&postid=732392#post732392 |
Lostintheglades | Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 06:50 am     Thank you so much for the links...actually I haven't tried any of the items you mentioned. I did use progesterone cream and it helped tremendously with my night sweats when I was getting off the hormones, but I don't think it helped my libido any. I am going to go check out the hystersisters site though...Sounds like a great place for women like us. |
Texannie | Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 07:02 am     Lost, I found if I used the cream as a lubricant right "before", it really helped! *blush* |
Lostintheglades | Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 07:26 am     oooh...ok...I still have some so I'll give it a try. (Blushing looks good on you.) |
Texannie | Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 07:53 am     Thanks! LOL |
Dahli | Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 10:14 am     Smokey - isn't it great how well our bodies will treat us if we do the same?!! LOL I found my ND by doing a search on the web and even in my rinky dink town there was one!! Since my regular doctor was not into natural and was of the opinion that either I do the HRT or suffer... you're lucky your obgyn is on board - it's almost to me they've figured out prevention = less illness = less $$ - sad but seemt to be true |
Whoami | Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 01:56 am     Well, since the PMS thread seems to have archived, I'll post this here.... I have no idea why some things pop into my head in the middle of the night. But, how many are old enough to remember the "pre-sticky" days of pads? Remember those awful belts, and the tabs on the pads you had to hook through the belts? I barely remember them. I remember the self-stick pads were more expensive to start, so we couldn't get them. When I did first use the self-stick, I remember how it felt weird to put the pad there, and not feel the belt holding it securely in place. Isn't it weird how revolutionary some simple ideas can completely change an industry? |
Essence | Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 03:56 am     I guess this is the appropriate thread for this: |
Essence | Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 03:59 am     Sorry, the first one was too big. |
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