Advice Needed for Menopause and Workouts

[CDPotier]

Is AM PM balance something you need a prescription for? I hate to fact it, but I am around the age when menopause begins, and my periods have become somewhat irregular. I don't have night sweats, but I think I may be getting hot flashes during the day. I have also had a horrible time sleeping in the last couple of weeks, and I only slept 3 hours last night.

I have an appointment with a gyno on October 18th, and I am hoping she can test me and tell me what stage I am at. I still get a period every month, though. I am also continuing to work out 60 to 120 minutes six days a week, but sometimes, my workout doesn't go that well because I am so tired.

 

[ivorygorgon]

I just wanted to post a little about the Effexor. Now I am clearly not a physician, but want to let you all know that one of the side effects of Effexor is increased sweating! It boggles my mind that an M.D. would prescribe this to someone who has this symptom! Just some information for you.

Also, drugs like Effexor (the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors -SSRIs) should never be stopped "cold turkey." You must gradually wean yourself off the meds by slowly decreasing the dosage over a several week period. That is why the one poster had such terrible withdrawal symptoms.

 

[KathyH]

Hi Caitlin! Your physician will most likely need to have you go for a blood test. The blood test will determine what stage your at. And usually w/hot flashes there's also anxiety. You would get an anxiety attack right before the hot flash. At least that's been my experience. Of course its different w/every woman. Usually the first signs of perimenopause is light/heavy periods or very irregular periods not getting it every month.

The AM/PM Balance is OTC. HTH, Kathy

 

[CDPotier]

Dear Kathy,

Thank you so much for the reply. I kind of knew that she would do a blood test, and something must be going on, as I am exhausted now from just a few hours of sleep. I don't get an anxiety attack before the hot flashes, and I am not totally sure that they aren't the result of the horribly hot summer we just had. Right now, it is warm and humid for October. My periods are what I would moderately irregular, and, for the last two months, I was a week and a half late, when before I was like clock work. They still last four days long, and they are normally heavy. I am sure the doctor will be able to help me, and I have to see if I can sleep a little before I have to work again tonight.

Thanks again.

 

[fox2star]

I have been through Menopause ( I am 52), and think it is in the last stages ( I can only hope!), no periods for 3 years, minimal hot flashes etc. What helped me the most and still does in taking a calcium supplement 600 mg that has 25 mg of soy isoflavens, and I also take 800 mcg of vitamin E. I know these do something because if I forget or go on away and forget to bring them, the hot flashes come back.

 

[cocob1]

After the birth of my son at age 43 I went throught the next year in hell. Sweats, insommnia, double exhaustion. My periods stopped cold turkey at age 44.

I had been on methotrexate for psoriatic arthritis from age 39 to 42 and then my arthritis went into remission. I could try to have a baby off that drug. Pregnancy fine.I have also been on SSRI's since I was 36. I believe either the Methotraxte or the Prozac put me into early menopause.

Nothing prepared me for the instant menopause!

Dr's kept saying it was normal and wanted to put me on Premarin which I refused to do after reading Dr. Northrup's book. I looked for an OBGYN who would give my only natural HRT.

(My mother still had her period into her 60's so I didn't think what happened to me was right. I'm the oldest of 4 sisters and I'm 52 now and they are still having regular periods at ages 51, 47 and 44.

I had also tried testostorne cream because of O libido.Well my libido came back but I got huge cistic acne on my face, chest and back. I felt sexy but ugly.(age 15 flash back)

I recently went to a highly recommended Acupuncturist and along with the mysterious needle therapy,she prescribed some Chinese herbs for unbalanced hormones. She also recommended foods like duck, eggs, liver and black strap molasses etc. to get my body in balance.

I am now on natural estrodial and prometrium and my DH just will have to live with me being asexual. I'm sick of Dr.s

Like you I have always been very athletic. I took dance for years and then did the Firm when it first started.

I find Cathe/WHFN/and the TLP's work great as long as my hormones are working.

I hope you have much better luck than I did. Unless you have been through the really horrible menopauseal symptoms your self you have not idea how bad they can be.

Colleen

 

[muffins135]

I'm just curious as to why when women are going through menopause that they sweat more at night, hence Nightsweats, than during the day? I find this baffling.

Michele