Just to follow up on my own experience with hot flashes and midlife change: I started on the Vivelle dot .05 exactly one month ago today because the bioidentical compounded cream just wasn’t cutting it. I need to report that I finally feel myself again! This treatment gave me my life back.
My hot flashes calmed down enough so I could actually sleep through the night again and my brain fog and forgetfulness have subsided to the point where I actually recognize myself again! I even lost interest in stress eating! Yeah!
I know all the concerns about estrogen feeding cancer, etc. Believe me, I do some medical writing and I’m up on the latest research. But I had my annual mammogram right before I started, and then I just decided to feel good about feeling good for a change!
I also take lots of supplements: 2,000IU vitamin D, COQ10, fish oil, flax, oil, B complex, calcium, magnesium, glucosamine and I just added Rhodiola Rosea for energy in the AM. What’s that? Here’s some info. from Wikipedia:
Rhodiola rosea is effective for improving mood and helping with depression. Research shows that it improves both physical and mental performance and reduces fatigue. In one study, the Rhodiola rosea group decreased proofreading errors by 88% while the control group increased proofreading errors by 84%. Rhodiola rosea’s effects are attributed to its ability to optimise serotonin and dopamine levels. Substances like these are referred to as adaptogens.
And now I’m feeling much better, thanks!
Even my foot pain seems to be subsiding! The main factors in that improvement seem to be stretching and new orthotics. I’ve heard so many stories from others about their experiences with plantar fasciitis and also read a few medical articles. Proper stabilization of the foot, as in excellent shoes and custom fitted orthotics, and stretching seem to be key.
It’s tough when it’s this and that in terms of aches and pains, but I find that if I do the research and then find a doctor who’s also up on the latest information, I can find some sort of relief. How do I know if the doctor does their own research? I quiz them on it!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I’m glad you have shared what you are taking for your hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. I am curious if you or anyone of your readers have had problems with getting a right diagnosis for menopause??? I know I am considered young (sorta) for someone showing signs of menopause, but I am considering perimenopause on my own as a self diagnosis. I have for at least a couple of years, but very much so this past year been extremely moody, hotflashes, memory loss (severe at times-short term mostly), crying bouts, etc…
I went to a gyno a few years back and my hormone levels were supposedly “normal”, but she daignosed me as depressed…I remember walking in feeling optimistic and walking out of there feeling depressed because she said I was. So, I was depressed??? That made me angry and so I went on. Things were getting worse in my life, marriage, etc… my memory was so abscent it was affecting everything in my life, my kids started calling me “alzheimer’s mom” and eventually “psycho mom”. Those are great titles to bear..yeah!
By the beginning of this year I was depressed, severly I would say. I eventually began medication and therapy as a result. I also had made a decision to divorce, but hubby begged me to stay and work on things so I did. I eventually a month or two later went and had my hormones re-tested as well as my thyroid and again my hormones are “normal”……GRRRRRRRRR….I guess I just wish someone would say yes your hormones are out of wack and that’s why you are WACKED!!! Take some medicine and hopefully even out my emotions, get my memory back, etc…
So, is there anyone out there who had to go through alot of hurdles to get properly diagnosed for menopause or am I really crazy and it’s not even related to menopause????? I’m tired of being like this…it’s almost like you are psycho, bipolar, cry one moment, snap the next.
Thanks :0)