Menopause Support Group
Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age. It normally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, when the body begins to slow and stop the production of eggs, estrogen and progesterone production decreases, and menstruation diminishes, eventually stopping altogether.
I am comforted by the fact that there are other women in their late 40's who are experiencing what I am experiencing: mood swings, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, horrible night sweats, feeling like a heart attack is happening, horrible weight gain, loss of libido - need I go on??? I can list the positive things that I have found that have worked for me:
1. Estroven - Weight Loss Management and Sleep Cool. The Sleep Cool is new and actually does help with sleeping and less frequent night sweats. I would love a recommendation for something that will keep me sleeping thru the night ENTIRELY as I do still wake up and have trouble going back to sleep...
2. 5 HTP Natrrol mood and relaxation pills - while not Lexapro (which is magical but caused me to gain 20 pounds), it does help with the mood swings somewhat.....
3. Daily exercise. I try to walk 2 miles a day and want to get up to 4 miles per day. We shall see. As my mood is sometimes not so positive, exercise becomes difficult.
If anyone has any other suggestions, please post. THanks.
Reduce sugar - cut it out in any tea or coffee including sweeteners. I also switched and have only 1 cup of regular tea and now take chamomile and fruit teas if I have anything.
I am trying the homeopathic route also with coffea for bedtime to help me sleep.
Early waking is the worst for me - they say its a drop in hormones when you sleep makes you wake early. I lie there having panic attacks until I can get up as I fear I panic more getting up. The doctor gave me an anti psychotic type drug and I take on weekends only. This is to help me sleep and I do have to say that I feel better and can at least function after taking it.
I just try to remind myself this will be passed at some point and I am not alone. I went from being very confident and travelled by myself to hardly leaving the house and feeling scared of everything. Surely we will get through it girls.
I feel for you all. One of the worse feelings for me (beside struggling to fit into jeans that fit great a year ago), is the adrenaline rushes that occur when I finally start to drift off to sleep - soon followed by a hot flash. Ugg.
Finally, I notice that not much attention is given to women going through menopause. It's all hush hush. This just adds to the feelings of worthlessness. I hope we can change this.