Jeanne, Withania (W. somnifera)is a herb specific for fatigue states due to bleeding...it is high in iron, and has a tonic effect generally. Try 3-6g of dried root divided into several daily teas. May be useful until you are feeling stronger. The fruit of the Chaste Tree (Vitex) is used. This is a very effective menopausal herb if taken for a prolonged (more than a month)_period. DO NOT take this herb with any HRT therapies your doctor may prescribe such as progestrin.Also DO NOT take Dong Quai if you are bleeding heavily, as this is sometimes found in health food store menopausal "blends", as is contraindicated for such. For hot flushes Sage is very good, especially if night sweats acompany them, if you are unable to attend an herbalist, just a handful of fresh leaves in a teacup, add hotwater and steep 10 mins, then drink as required. 3-4 cups/day should help. Depending on your case presentation, other herbs to be entertained may include; St John's Wort, Helonias Root, Wild yam, Black Cohosh, Ladies mantle, Shatavari, Oats, Motherwort, Licorice, Rehmannia. Of theses herbs, only 4-6 would be given at any one time depending on your case evaluation, history and hormone test results. John.

So far, I have seen 4 different cardiologists, 3 of which are electrophysiologists who specialize in arrhythmias. I have had every test under the sun. I even wore a portable heart monitor for a month. I do not have A-fib, I have "ventricular tachycardia" and PVC's -- they have seen it on the monitor so they know exactly what the abnormal rhythm is. When I ask why it is happening, they say that some people are born with abnormal pathways in the heart that can get irritated and misfire, especially when exposed to things like caffeine, adrenaline (from exercise or stress) and hormonal changes. I have had bouts of palpitations on and off since I was in my 20s, but each time, cutting back on the caffeine fixed them. This was the first time I've had the VT as well as the palps, and while cutting back on caffeine helped a lot, it hasn't made them totally go away -- and like I said, they seem to be related to my menstrual cycle. So I'm guessing that if I was prone to palpitations my whole life because of some inborn tendency of my heart, menopause may be rough going for me....which is why I would consider the HRT, even though I am normally very anti-hormone meds in general (like I said, I've never even taken the pill). I did see the endocrinologist for a thyroid workup after one of my thyroid numbers came back abnormal. But apparently, it wasn't an important number because they tell me my thyroid is fine -- all the important numbers like TSH and T3 and T4 are right in normal range. I do have an appointment with a second endocrinologist in a couple weeks -- I made it a few months ago (she was out on maternity leave) before I saw the first endocrinologist and I figure it can't hurt to get another opinion on both the thyroid and the menopause stuff. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, and for the links. I will spend some time checking out those sites today and see if there's something I can try supplement-wise that might help before I go the HRT route. Please keep the feedback coming if you have any experience with any of this -- supplements, HRT, or menopause in general. I am so not ready for this, LOL!

Thanks..I like this one and the one you suggested. At the very least its something to do while I spend every nite wide awake enjoying all my joyous menopausal symptoms. It does help a bit to know I am NOT ALONE in this HELL :)

I noticed a lot of the forum posts were talking about menopause symptoms ranging from night sweats, hot flushes, irritability, moods, body aches, bloating and weight management issues. So I wanted to post up some information that you all might find helpful regarding some basic steps to help overcome those symptoms especially weight gain/ weight loss issues. In my studies with women going through all forms of Menopause (pre, peri, full, post) I have found that there is an over hyphened focus on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or other forms of medication to treat the symptoms women are going through. However what I have discovered through working with women from all ages and menopause stages is that a lot of these practices can be avoided or delayed if you apply the below health steps into place. I am not saying that women going through menopause don't need HRT or medication, but what I am saying is the majority almost 93% of the women I see can avoid it through first making the following health adjustments. Adjustment to their basic nutrition Adjustment to their lifestyle Adjustment to their stress management Adjustment to their activity levels These adjustments don't have to be major, however even the slightest adjustment in all of these areas will have an immediate effect of dropping your symptoms by 60%. Through implementing planned adjustments in these areas you can eliminate 100% of the felt symptoms of menopause including weight related issues. I have seen and helped a lot of women who have felt hopeless to lose weight due to age and being in menopause, drop 5kg in 6 weeks through "holistically" focusing on the 4 areas. A study was done relating to how body weight/ being overweight can be directly related to hot flushes and that in losing weight even slightly the symptoms decreased. This has to do with 1) losing weight makes your body healthier 2) the process of losing weight means you are actioning healthier habits. So my biggest tip for most women going through menopause (not all) who want to lose weight and eliminate felt symptoms is to implement some changes in the above 4 areas of your life and if you feel your weight might be an issue make some small changes at lowering it and you will notice your symptoms will also slowly become controllable. I know weight loss and weight management is a struggle a lot of women going though menopause face, so here is a great facebook group focused on helping women going through menopause lose weight. It provides great advice, tips and answers tough weight related questions. It's called Menopause and Weight Loss Australia https://www.facebook.com/groups/638415073016681/