hormonal issues.......

[jimmie 48]

i've been having the worst time maintaining lately. my body is acting like it's pre-TOM when i just don't have that issue any more. headaches, achiness, moodiness, lack of energy, WEIGHT GAIN.

i'm not on HRT or menopause drugs of any kind. maybe i should be.

if any of our 50+ gals have dealt with this, i could use some pointers.

[Sherri]

Re: hormonal issues.......

Hi Jimmie! I'm not 50 yet but I am experiencing Pre-menopause. I've made a decision when it is time for me to use hormone therapy, that I would do a natural therapy. Nothing synthetic! Here's a link that may help you decide what is best for you. www.johnleemd.com

[sallyseachange]

Re: hormonal issues.......

Can't really give you any reliable pointers Jimmie... except to say that as far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong anyone), HRT drugs are more likely to cause weight gain than the opposite.
How far are you into the menopause? Maybe you're still having hormone fluctuations... or have you considered any other issue, like thyroid?

Hope you get this sorted out soon... seems to have been going on a while now. *Hugs*

[jimmie 48]

Re: hormonal issues.......

thanks for the link sherri. if nothing else, i think i'm going book hunting this weekend. i've copied down the name of the book mentioned on the site Dr. John Lee's Hormone Balance Made Simple

silly (as per pm) no, i don't think so. some of the symptoms but not the actual deed.

sal, i am nearing the end i think. i don't have hot flashes anymore. i do get hot at night but so does jack. that's a different kind of heat than i had with hot flashes.

my older sister went through this, i think. she didn't talk much about it but i know she got way moody and had a bit of weight gain. i think her whole menopause era was much worse than mine has been and she tried to tough it out but as far as i know, she ended up going on HRT. and yes, this has been going on for some time now.

my mom is no help. things have changed so much since she went through the change and she thinks i need to see a shrink, a regular doctor, an ob/gyn doc, a family help counselor and a religious leader.

has anyone tried those progesterone creams?

[purplecat]

Re: hormonal issues.......

thanks for the link sherri. if nothing else, i think i'm going book hunting this weekend. i've copied down the name of the book mentioned on the site Dr. John Lee's Hormone Balance Made Simple

silly (as per pm) no, i don't think so. some of the symptoms but not the actual deed.

sal, i am nearing the end i think. i don't have hot flashes anymore. i do get hot at night but so does jack. that's a different kind of heat than i had with hot flashes.

my older sister went through this, i think. she didn't talk much about it but i know she got way moody and had a bit of weight gain. i think her whole menopause era was much worse than mine has been and she tried to tough it out but as far as i know, she ended up going on HRT. and yes, this has been going on for some time now.

my mom is no help. things have changed so much since she went through the change and she thinks i need to see a shrink, a regular doctor, an ob/gyn doc, a family help counselor and a religious leader.

has anyone tried those progesterone creams?

I'm not 50 yet but I've had hormone issues since I was a teen (Endometriosis). After I developed a fibroid in my early 30s I started to use progesterone cream. It helped immensely and also helped my Mom (she'll be 54 on the 2nd of January) with hot flashes. Make sure to read the label. Most don't have enough progesterone cream in it to actually help you. I'll find the amount it should be to be beneficial and get back to you shortly.

[purplecat]

Re: hormonal issues.......

Jimmie, here's a link to a Hormone Balance Test provided by Dr. John Lee.

http://www.johnleemd.com/store/resou...rmonetest.html

In his books, Dr. Lee based his dosage recommendations on creams that contain 450 to 500 milligrams of USP Natural Progesterone per ounce.

Vist the following link for a list of creams he recommends:

http://www.johnleemd.com/store/resou...gesterone.html

[jimmie 48]

Re: hormonal issues.......

thanks cat. i had done the test but want to investigate this further. i'll keep those dosages in mind. another test i did today, said my symptoms were "MILD". easy for them to say.
i looked at a progesterone cream today and saw the warning of it maybe causing
cancer. i don't know how high the risk factors would be but it just figures. caught between a rock and hard place.
i've emailed my sister to see what her course of action was.

[jersey]

Re: hormonal issues.......

Hi Jimmie 48

oh my...I've been toughing it out since my mid 40's (now 50) - truthfully my issues with hormones were a big factor in faltering with this WOE and why I'm a STACer....
I have very strong negative opinions about HRT (my mom died 4 years ago from aggressive ovarian cancer/long term HRT) but evidence now suggests that short term use may not be as health-threatening.

I've found this site to be a good source of balanced meno information and support:

http://www.power-surge.com/

I have PMS symptoms one week per month then TOM for 10 days then about 4 days of post fatigue symptoms.... The scale bops around but strangely I LOSE 10 pounds 2 days before TOM then it gradually adds itself back in... and the crabbiness...too much info, huh?

a satin pillowcase helps the night sweats, some herbals work for some people, and naps no longer than :15 are pretty effective to fight the fatigue. When a friend who is 70ish told me she still has hot flashes even though no TOM for 15 years, she had to help me to a chair for fear I was going to faint at the thought....lol

From what I've read and heard, your symptoms sound pretty typical but it couldn't hurt to talk to your gyne.....hang in there

Catherine

[purplecat]

Re: hormonal issues.......

thanks cat. i had done the test but want to investigate this further. i'll keep those dosages in mind. another test i did today, said my symptoms were "MILD". easy for them to say.
i looked at a progesterone cream today and saw the warning of it maybe causing
cancer. i don't know how high the risk factors would be but it just figures. caught between a rock and hard place.
i've emailed my sister to see what her course of action was.

Polysorbate 80 or Polysorbate 20? I think it is not allowed in California because of it. Wild yam is a natural alternative to progesterone cream. Check here:

http://www.womentowomen.com/programs...ld+yam+extract

[sallyseachange]

Re: hormonal issues.......

Reading all this with interest, as I'm battling with hot flashes waking me at night (just to keep the back pain and bathroom vist "awakenings" company ) right now.

Jimmie... hang in there. Your symptoms are "mild"??? Probably a test calibrated by a man... grrrrr!!!

[jimmie 48]

Re: hormonal issues.......

sal,
i feel for you. i pretty much suffered through the hot flashes as they were not real frequent.
this last sight says that my symptoms are severe. oddly enough, this site was by women. lolol
also, i remember back some years ago as i was getting into the throws of menapause, that the nurse practitioner that was seeing me gave me several suggestions. one of them was HRT and another was a very low dosage of birth control pill.

i've located a herb shop here in town so i think i'll be paying them a visit today when i go out for errands. just checking to see what's available.
i'm seeing some indication that artificial sweetners may not be doing me much good these days.

things sure have changed since i started this woe 4 years ago. i'm not a happy camper about this.
oh, and as i was reading at the last site, HORMONAL CHANGES AND STRESS DO AFFECT WEIGHT LOSS/GAIN. nice to know i can blame something besides my woe.

[sallyseachange]

Re: hormonal issues.......

sal,
i feel for you. i pretty much suffered through the hot flashes as they were not real frequent.
this last sight says that my symptoms are severe. oddly enough, this site was by women. lolol ha ha... who would've guessed!!
also, i remember back some years ago as i was getting into the throws of menapause, that the nurse practitioner that was seeing me gave me several suggestions. one of them was HRT and another was a very low dosage of birth control pill.

i've located a herb shop here in town so i think i'll be paying them a visit today when i go out for errands. just checking to see what's available.
i'm seeing some indication that artificial sweetners may not be doing me much good these days. Goodness! That's interesting...

things sure have changed since i started this woe 4 years ago. i'm not a happy camper about this.
oh, and as i was reading at the last site, HORMONAL CHANGES AND STRESS DO AFFECT WEIGHT LOSS/GAIN. nice to know i can blame something besides my woe. Too right. You're far to committed for it to be your doing.

How did you link the sweetner to your symptoms? I'd never have thought of that!

[jimmie 48]

Re: hormonal issues.......

How did you link the sweetner to your symptoms? I'd never have thought of that!

sal, it was referred to in the links i followed provided by cat. i'll see if i can find it again.
i know ages and ages ago, sarah (iyamamaschke) quit using sweetners. i think, if i remember right, it was a postivie move for her.
i've not had this issue before but lets face it, it's been years now and what i was then ain't what i am now. if we learned nothing else from reading the book we know that what was might not be what is.

when i find the reference, i'll post it.

btw, the herb shop i found is just that, an herb shop with an emphasis on gifts. if i want rosemary or garlic, i found the place. i did get invited to come in the spring time to help plant the herb gardens.

[sallyseachange]

Re: hormonal issues.......

sal, it was referred to in the links i followed provided by cat. i'll see if i can find it again.
i know ages and ages ago, sarah (iyamamaschke) quit using sweetners. i think, if i remember right, it was a postivie move for her.
i've not had this issue before but lets face it, it's been years now and what i was then ain't what i am now. if we learned nothing else from reading the book we know that what was might not be what is.

when i find the reference, i'll post it.

btw, the herb shop i found is just that, an herb shop with an emphasis on gifts. if i want rosemary or garlic, i found the place. i did get invited to come in the spring time to help plant the herb gardens.

Oh well... not quite what you were looking for, but planting herb gardens sounds like a relaxing passtime!!!

Too right about "what was" not being "what is". *sighs*

[jimmie 48]

Re: hormonal issues.......

jack and i took a trip to barnes and noble last night. i've picked up a book..
NATURAL HORMONE BALANCE FOR WOMEN by Uzzi Reiss, MD/OB/GYN.

looks to be a pretty interesting reading. i also picked the NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF VITAMINS, MINERALS, SUPPLEMENTS AND HERBS. i've already located a few things that might be of help.