I taped the Oprah Winfrey show where Suzanne Somers talks about 'Bio identical hormones' and her success with them. I was amazed to hear some of the stories on the show from women who are sleeping again, having sex, feeling happy again, and no longer on emotional roller coasters.
I have to say, it gave me hope! I am in the process myself of scheduling an appointment with my gynecologist to do my blood tests of my hormone levels. I'm excited to get started so I can start sleeping through the night again. I think I'm at the beginning of my Peri-menopause so I think I am getting an early start.
Also, I have been taking some supplements from Melaleuca and some great vitamins from them as well and although my sleep is disturbed every night for about an hour, I am feeling better overall. The night sweats have reduced, the dizziness is far and few between, my emotions have not been extreme, and I am feeling like myself again. However, I am keeping busy in my community volunteering, getting involved in some hobbies, eating better, and trying to stay cleansed. All of these things help! But my sex drive has lessened, have some vaginal dryness, and I have gained weight which are also due to hormones.
Suzanne Somers talked about how our hormones are on a teeter totter. On one side are the major hormones- thyroid, cortisol, adrenals, insulin and the minor hormones - estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are on the other. As we enter Peri-menopause the minor hormones start dropping which cause the major hormones to take over and this causes us to become more tired, have less of a sex drive, gain weight, and start having insomnia.
When I heard her say this, it made so much sense to me that it got me back on this blog to share it with all of you. I will log on again soon with more information.
A blog that discusses menopause symptoms, anecdotes, ideas, and personal testimonies.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Menopause Symptoms and Questions
Menopause starts in a typical woman's life due to age, but recently I have met women who their Peri-menopause or menopause has started due to many different reasons.
These next few women I discuss shall have fictional names due to anonymity.
Roxanne is unmarried and is 33 years old. She has never been married and has no children Recently she has started experiencing menopausal symptoms. She hasn't had a period in 6 months. She desires to have children but may not be able to due to only one ovary that is functioning at minimal capacity.
Rosie is 46 and is going through chemotherapy and radiation treatment for breast cancer. She also is experiencing Peri-menopausal symptoms according to her doctor due to the chemo. She is not having her period but it also may be due to radiation and chemo. She is using the IUD so that may also be a factor.
Toni is 48 and is having menopausal symptoms and has never had children. She is not having a period, is experiencing insomnia, and although a very busy and talented woman is at times needing time alone.
Carmen is 50, had a stroke at 36 which caused Peri-menopausal symptoms to begin and now at 50 is still having her period regularly and is not yet experiencing any menopausal symptoms that she is aware of. However, she is having emotional mood swings right before her menstrual cycle. During her stroke recuperation she experienced night sweats, fight or flight, and emtional mood swings.
Lilia is 50. She is still having her period regularly, is at times experiencing mood swings during the onset of her period, has had night sweats, is experiencing insomnia, and is also experiencing hot flashes and dizziness at times.
Some products that we have found beneficial to get us through these symptoms are Melaleuca's EstrAval a natural support for menopause, vitamins for women, and detoxifying our homes. Melaleuca products can be purchased directly via their website.
Melaleuca products are safe, good for the environment and can even bring in residual income monthly income. If you are interested in becoming a member and ordering these products please let me know in your blog.
Estraval contains soy, Dong Quai, and Black Cohosh. I have taken other soy products and they have given me gas but this product does not affect me at all. I have also taken Black Cohosh but a word of warning to you. Although my Gynecologist told me to try it, she said that if it gave me any bad side affects to beware of it because it's very strong. Well, it did! It was quite scary and I emailed her and she told me to discontinue it immediately. However, what's weird is that I have no side affects taking the combination of these three items together in EstrAval from Melaleuca.
I am not having hot flashes at night any longer, nor am I feeling as moody. However, I am still having some insomnia but am able to go back to sleep if I move to another bed where it's very quiet, cool, and dark.
I also have to attribute some of my well being to my eating healthier, and detoxifying my home. There are a list of consumer items that are very bad for us and I figured that I might as well do everything I can to get through this chapter in my life. Just remember ladies, it's only a chapter and we will get through it. Key word Meno-pause!
What I have recently received as an inspirational word from God is this: "We can take all these feelings, doubts, unfortunate fight or flight emotions, tears and we can put them in a box, a beautifully designed box, with an ornate golden bow, and know that they were real, they hurt, they exhausted us, but they aren't who we really are underneath the hormones." Quote from me-Lilia.
We can know that this too shall pass. And for me, well this makes me smile and feel confident that I am not crazy and that's a big deal right now.
God bless you.
These next few women I discuss shall have fictional names due to anonymity.
Roxanne is unmarried and is 33 years old. She has never been married and has no children Recently she has started experiencing menopausal symptoms. She hasn't had a period in 6 months. She desires to have children but may not be able to due to only one ovary that is functioning at minimal capacity.
Rosie is 46 and is going through chemotherapy and radiation treatment for breast cancer. She also is experiencing Peri-menopausal symptoms according to her doctor due to the chemo. She is not having her period but it also may be due to radiation and chemo. She is using the IUD so that may also be a factor.
Toni is 48 and is having menopausal symptoms and has never had children. She is not having a period, is experiencing insomnia, and although a very busy and talented woman is at times needing time alone.
Carmen is 50, had a stroke at 36 which caused Peri-menopausal symptoms to begin and now at 50 is still having her period regularly and is not yet experiencing any menopausal symptoms that she is aware of. However, she is having emotional mood swings right before her menstrual cycle. During her stroke recuperation she experienced night sweats, fight or flight, and emtional mood swings.
Lilia is 50. She is still having her period regularly, is at times experiencing mood swings during the onset of her period, has had night sweats, is experiencing insomnia, and is also experiencing hot flashes and dizziness at times.
Some products that we have found beneficial to get us through these symptoms are Melaleuca's EstrAval a natural support for menopause, vitamins for women, and detoxifying our homes. Melaleuca products can be purchased directly via their website.
Melaleuca products are safe, good for the environment and can even bring in residual income monthly income. If you are interested in becoming a member and ordering these products please let me know in your blog.
Estraval contains soy, Dong Quai, and Black Cohosh. I have taken other soy products and they have given me gas but this product does not affect me at all. I have also taken Black Cohosh but a word of warning to you. Although my Gynecologist told me to try it, she said that if it gave me any bad side affects to beware of it because it's very strong. Well, it did! It was quite scary and I emailed her and she told me to discontinue it immediately. However, what's weird is that I have no side affects taking the combination of these three items together in EstrAval from Melaleuca.
I am not having hot flashes at night any longer, nor am I feeling as moody. However, I am still having some insomnia but am able to go back to sleep if I move to another bed where it's very quiet, cool, and dark.
I also have to attribute some of my well being to my eating healthier, and detoxifying my home. There are a list of consumer items that are very bad for us and I figured that I might as well do everything I can to get through this chapter in my life. Just remember ladies, it's only a chapter and we will get through it. Key word Meno-pause!
What I have recently received as an inspirational word from God is this: "We can take all these feelings, doubts, unfortunate fight or flight emotions, tears and we can put them in a box, a beautifully designed box, with an ornate golden bow, and know that they were real, they hurt, they exhausted us, but they aren't who we really are underneath the hormones." Quote from me-Lilia.
We can know that this too shall pass. And for me, well this makes me smile and feel confident that I am not crazy and that's a big deal right now.
God bless you.