WhatâÂÂs that phrase ---âÂÂI donâÂÂt mind GETTING older, I just mind LOOKING olderâÂÂ.
IâÂÂm 2 years into meno, and recently I noticed the neck waddle startingâ¦not quite a full waddle, but definitely thin and saggy. I got a thinning hair line. IâÂÂve started using gloves when I do dishes, to keep my nails healthy.

We have to eat well, get those micronutrients! My afternoon slumps disappeared when I started eating more greens and fruits. I also lost 50 pounds in 18 months and it did not feel like I was on a diet! Regarding the Alzheimers in your family, do you take fish oil? I would and I do. I mix a teaspoon into 4 ounces of pomegranate juice every day. And reduce your simple sugar intake.

Sleep well. At one point I had to get a Ambien prescription, because sleep was so elusive. Doctor gave me 30 days, with one refill. That script is a year old and has expired now and I still have some of those pills left. I will ask for another, because it does help me to have a prescribed sleep once in a while. Because I am stressed about my life in some areas.

Stretch every morning, first thing, when you wake up. Say your gratitudes every morning, too.

Find ways to laugh. I seek out favorite old sitcoms. I also seek out positive inspiration about being older, like the âÂÂGrowing Bolderâ show on Retirement Living TV.

So far as your atrophy, thereâÂÂs a link to a thread about that on this site. I posted about DHEA on that thread, and FWIW, DHEA has helped me. I also take 2.5 DHEA sublingually, and maybe itâÂÂs in my head, but it boosts my libido. I donâÂÂt have a partner, but I take it anyway as it seems to keep my interest alive.

Yes, things change. Butâ¦.itâÂÂsâ¦. life.

Here is a link that might be useful: Severe Vaginal Atrophy

Have your thyroid checked. A low thyroid will account for many things: fatigue, dry hair, dry skin, high cholesterol

MizAnnThrope,
Thank you for this thought. Yes, I have had it checked. However, most family practice only look at TSH and T4. Those levels look within range. Another doctor did order a more extensive panel. Again TSH, T4 and T3 looked ok, however my reverse T3 was elevated outside of normal limits. There seems to be some real differences of opinion on this. Some say it is meaningless, others say it is important and shows a hypothyroid condition.
Anything that some of readers might be able to offer would be of help.

Hi Ladies.......I have a question. I am 52 and I have been in meno for about 2 years. In the last 9 months I have started having these feelings. I was standing in my kitchen and all of a sudden a wave came over me, (that is how I describe it) I felt kind of off, this started in my head and came over my body, like a cold wave. I know that sounds odd. I thought I was going to pass out. I keep an eye on my BP at home. So I took it. It was a bit high but than it would go low. I thought at first It was a fluke. But than it happen again and my son was here. I went to emergency room. They did heart test and all kinds of blood work. Said ok go home, you are fine. I now have gotten these about 5 or 6 more times...... not all the time, just maybe once a month or maybe two. I had another one today. I am tired and just over it. I eat very healthy, and exercise. I feel like I am crazy at times. I have had my heart checked and it is all fine. So is this due to meno???? Is it normal. I am not on anything for hormones. I had a hysto years ago. And help from anyone would be great. Sorry so long, but just want to make sure I get as much as I can in here. Can someone help????

I think we can all have strange sensations when we're at this lovely stage of life, but it's usually impossible to pinpoint the exact cause. I've had times when I've felt a cold wave and other times I've felt kind of dizzy, but doctor says I'm healthy so who knows? There's still so much about menopause that is not understood. Certainly if it starts getting more frequent or more intense, go back and ask for more information, but maybe it will just go away on its own. I hope so!

It's a strange phase in life, i never had many hot flashes and when i did they were in peri since being in post i have had scary symptoms, been feeling dizzy but only on top of head and felt like i am off balance, panic and anxiety worse than normal.

Been checked for various conditions and according to my doctor im healthy , im a few stone overweight but she wasn't worried about it as my blood pressure is perfect .

It's horrible because i just don't feel normal whatever that is , but i don't feel like i did before menopause .

Strangely though my hair is thicker and shinier and my skin is healthier as i was always anemic when i was having monthly cycles .

Thanks ladies. I am glad to have others that seem to understand how I feel. I am doing some follow up testing with my doc to make sure........ I will let you know. Thanks again.

There are so many things that can be attributed to menopause, and the symptoms come and go, sometimes in phases. I wish I had known before I had them that heart palpitations were one of them! I thought I was having a heart attack. It's best to go to the library and read a recent book about the subject. One that comes to mind is Wisdom of Menopause. The weight gain and fatigue stuck around, tho, which was very disheartening, so fight those aspects as hard as you can with diet and exercise while you still have a chance. I went thru MP very early and tho I wasn't sorry to see my monthly visitor go, the rest of it was, at times, pretty distressing -- made me feel very old and dysfunctional. I'd also suggest visiting the "conversations" side of the home decorating or kitchen table forums here on GW, which are very active and seem to have a lot of members in this MP age group.

MizAnnThrope Thanks for the reply. I felt the same way about the heart palpations. I thought I was dying and sometimes they still bother me, but I try to remember that they wont kill me. I keep up with my docs on these issues. I have been having them for 2 years and I am ready for them to be gone. I will check out the book and the conversations you suggested as well. Thanks again.

Hello, high levels of stress can cause adrenal fatigue so yes, very easily the death of a loved one is a tremendous amount of stress especially when you then add in every day stress, relationship stress, job stress, financial stress, the list is endless. I am post menopausal, I garden, I have joint pain after sitting/resting for a hour upon standing. If you have ever broken your foot and attempted to walk you will understand the amount of pain I suffer.

I too have joint pain and muscle pain all over but my doctor says it is all in my head. I cant stand this much longer so hopefully it will all go soon. Havent had a period now since July 14 and hot flushes are unbearable.

gvecchio1,

I just read your post and want you to know that your doctor needs to go back to school. (And that's as nice as I can be.) It is so rude for this doctor to tell you it's all in your head. What you described, is exactly how I started out in menopause. Mine was muscle pain. I saw no less than a dozen doctors, all of whom had no answers or simply bad answers. Oddly enough, I was given vaginal Estrace for atrophy. And low and behold.........all my muscle pain went away!

Long story short, I have seen a leading expert who is an endocrinologist.

She specializes in all hormone systems including menopause. And yes, my pain was lack of estradiol.

Please don't listen to doctors who really don't understand what's happening. There is a connection here. And while I know many women are afraid of using estrogen, it really does come down to quality of life. I could' move without pain! But, it's gone now.

So please don't give up. Just find a really good doctor who will take your symptoms of menopause seriously. If you do nothing, it will only get worse.

thank you so much for your advice. Im off to another dr tomorrow..

Agree with you, garule, about doctors who don't know what's best for you. Your body knows what's best, and no one else. What annoys me is: doctors who get perks from pharmaceutical companies and prescribe $$$$ medicines (with side-effects) when the natural approach is cheaper and better for your body. Recent News: Statins to lower cholesterol INCREASE diabetes risk by more than 50% .. my sister became diabetic on statins despite a super-healthy life-style. So glad that I ignored the doctor when she recommended statins. I brought my to lower levels via fish oil & healthier eating.

ive been to the doctors who still says all my aches and pains unlikely to be menopause. Bullshit, they still have no idea. He says to me he sees a lot of women my age with these problems - der - I said doesn't that give you a clue that it is menopausal. Anyway, my beautiful dad passed away two days ago and now my heart is broken as well.

gvecchio1, So sorry to hear about your loss. I am in that same situation with my father right now, it only a matter of time.

Ya, isn't it crazy. You'd think these doctors would at least wonder what's going on their client base in menopause who are having muscle pain! All I know for absolute certain is that vaginal Estrace, used regularly, completely wiped away all the muscle pain. GONE. And the nodules that had developed on the sides of my fingers, vanished completely.

When I went to an endocrinologist and spoke with her about this and asked for her opinion on whether or not this was all related to estrogen, she responded, "Well if it works." Seriously, that was her only comment and she wasn't remotely interested. So good luck to the next woman coming to her looking for answers with chronic pain.

Woman need to keep connecting on symptoms and how they found relief. I hold out little hope working with the majority of doctors.

Strawchicago,

I subscribe to Medscape and found it interesting that there is a new study that just came out linking statin drugs to diabetes. Unfortunately, this is too late to help your sister. But thought you'd like to hear about the study!

Thank you, garule, I'll look that up in Medscape.

Estradiol is great, so long as you don't do too much (zits. Who needs wrinkles AND zits?). Statins are bad, from what I've seen many go through while on them. I think the whole almost-mandatory prescription for statins is just a result of the pharmaceutical company machine.

Regarding the menopause I was expecting the hot flushes but not vaginal atrophy noone told me about that. Just when your free to enjoy the freedom of not conceiving another problem pops up. Besides that surprisingly I have a low iron stores but not anemia. I always had problems with my iron levels but you would expect that to end once you stopped having periods! Also I suddenly became lactose intolerant after eliminating milk etc my digestion is back to normal. I now eat very healthily and have lost a stone in weight. Triple healthy fruit and vegetables for me now as a change of lifestyle rather than a diet. All the fun of growing old :)

I feel the misery of menopause. Ugh !! I started taking a Maca supplement and it is doing wonders for me. The quality is important. I did research and found one called Femmenessence Macapause by Natural Health Institute. Their website is naturalhi.com. Lots of great info.