Menoapuse

[Juls]

Mamabear,

Well, we're in the house, but as far as the move being finished, considering there are about 30 boxes that have yet to be unpacked, LOL well who knows.

The funny thing is, whatever's in them, I don't miss it, nor seem to need it.

Right now I'm having fun doing the decorative stuff, hanging pictures etc.

Juls

[Juls]

BTW,

In all the drama of your son, I didn't realize you had a daughter. How old is she? Watching her play Soccer must be fun.

Mine's not too interested in sports, more in boys, and not even seven yet. However she is advanced scholatiscally and is working well above 2nd grade level.

I volunteered to be an Art Docent for her room, which means that approximately every other week, I with two other moms give an art class. Today was on Matisse, and the kids worked in oil pastels, making a Matisse like picture. It was pretty cool to see what they come up with.

I really enjoy being able to participate in my daughter's school things. When my son was young, I was young also, and I was so painfully shy that I never participated in any of the shcool stuff. I feel badly now though.

Juls

[Mamabear]

She's 17. Remember she had the horse accident? She's a great kid....real easy going...so self directed. She's our genetic fluke!
She plays field hockey which is a blast. I played when I was a kid so it's fun to remember. She's a peach. I'm really gonna miss her when she graduates. I'll have plenty of time to deal with that next year.
The art classes sound wonderful!!!I wonder how kids her age would respond to Picasso?
Sometimes I feel guilty too because our son has taken so much of our attention and energy. I feel like she has to take a back seat to the crisis de'jour. It's hard to be balanced. Since the guilt never helps I try hard not to hang on to it.
I'm off to get a massage. Mmmmm takin' care of me!!
Mamabear

[Juls]

Mamabear,

Yes I remember now. It sounds like she's handling things well, and it is good she has an outlet in her sports.

Picasso is on the list for one of the art classes. He is one of my fav's.

Enjoy your massage, you deserve it.

Juls

[Mamabear]

Okay everyone,
I did it.
Today was my mammogram day and I got myself in there and made it through!!!
Ouch! The place it hurts is my chest wall. There has to be an easier way!
No for the hardest part....the waiting for the results.
Mamabear

[clancy]

.......But so uncomfy with ob/gyn exams. They feel like bad dreams to me, ya know, the one where you got no clothes on!

Its like, I just cant beilive it some strang is staring straight at my naked nether regions. My mind wont comprehend it. I get panic attacks.last time they had to give me oxygen. I think i can can cope, my mind thinks i can cope,its the same with the dentist...as soon as they do anything to me i go into neurogenic shock. wish i knew why!

love clance xx

[Mamabear]

Clancy,

Welcome aboard.
I know what you mean. I try not to think too much. I keep telling myself in 30 minutes, it'll be over. Or this time tomorrow, it will all seem far away.
I freak at the dentist's too. I've had many a dentist horror story experiences. That is actually harder for me than the ob/gyn.
There's something invasive that gets me\
And I know I have very little control.....that's scarey too.
Somehow we make it through though.
Mamabear

[historyteach]

Hi! Just a note. My doc says that the test for hormones is so bad; there are so many false negatives; that he would not bother taking it. Just a waste of money he said!
However, I want you all to be aware of the Women's Health Initiative Study about HRT that was aborted. They stopped it before the intended time because of the results that were seen. These results included a HIGHER risk of heart attack and no increased protection against broken bones due to ostioperosis. Both were thought to be helped by HRT; the results were just the opposit.
The important issue is that the study was stopped! That is highly unusual, and indicative of real problems with HRT.
My doc and I decided for me to get off HRT as a result, with the understanding that I would go back on for a short term if my symptoms were still as bad as they were when I went on it. Thankfully, although I have some hot flashes now, they are not as bad as they were. Night sweats have completely ended! HURRAH!!! That was the worst. Consequently, I did not go back on HRT.
Most docs today do not want to prescribe it, except in very sever cases. Even then, the goal is to stay on it for as short a time as possible. Frequent periods of cessation of HRT is the norm to see if it is still needed.
I have been going through this peri menopause for @ 5 years now! I will go 5 months without a period, only to have it come back with a roar! This has happened twice! ARGHHH! LOL! However, it is a normal process provided for by nature and nothing to be embarrassed about.
Good luck!

[Lilya]

Juls and all,

I found this thread on menopause, a thread I´ve been avoiding to look at, but with my age of 45, I know my menopause draws near, and I would like to know if I´m going into pré-menopause or peri-menopause as you call it. I went to the doctor because of the flu the other day, and asked for a blood test to find out if the menopause is getting closer. Last year I had my female doctor have my hormone levels checked, and she said that I was far from the menopause, my estrogen levels were so high.

The male doc basically told me that the pré-menopause is a myth and doesn´t exist. He said also that no blood tests were needed as there is no way to predict anything. He told me to call him when I had hot flushes or my periods would stop or become irregular, and then he added: "Besides, you look so young. You are not nearing the ménopause" (!!) I told him I thought it was a little ga ga and would get second opinion. He then added that hormone replacement treatment is causing cancer and it´s not really optional as for now, based on researches in America.

My mother started her ménopause at 52. My sister at 48, but her uterus was removed and she went on ménopause right after. My grandmothers around 50 and my great-grandmother had kids at 42, 45, 46, 48 and 49 as she married late. I´ve had hot flushes since I was 35, so I´m used to them. Nightsweat flushes with chills since I was 28, sometimes I soak the bedsheets, but it´s normal for me. I just take a shower and change the sheets. My cycle is long and my ménstruation very heavy. I feel frightened somehow, as I want to get hormone replacement therapie, and I´m sure there is a pré-ménopause. This is just male bullsh**. A friend of mine at 50 started hormones at 45 because she didn´t want to go through the symptoms of menopause and she still has periods on the hormones.

What do you think? My menses are regular, I do have hot flushes LOL, but that´s normal for me. Do you know if there is a possibility to see the coming of ménopause by testing the blood? I really want to be prepared for this change in my life and I don´t intend to suffer too much from it.

Use adversity

[Cecilia]

I had early menopause in my late 20's. I had cancer and lots of surguries. Then everything fell out the bottom and I had to have a complete hysterectomy. I lost 10 pounds and went right into menopause. LOL.

This was before the hormone scare. Boy did I have some serious hot flashes/power surges before they got the dose right.

I stopped taking my pills a couple years ago. Truthfully with everything going on I kept forgetting. Then I realized I wasnt having hot flashes so I said the heck with it and quit taking them. I cant understand why Im not cause I dont have any ovaries or nothing else.

Since Im 54 I thought about going back on for my bones but I keep reading all this HRT stuff. Has anyone else noticed that their body thermostat is set higher now. I dont get hot flashes but Im just plain hot all the time now. LOL.

[DarkGravity]

Hey There-

I'm only 21 (heehee) so I've got quite a ways until menopause, but just wanted to butt in and tell you about my mom's horror story with HRT.
She decided to get a hysterectomy when she was begining peri-menopause and was put on hormones after the surgery.
Not even a year and she was diagnosed with breast cancer from the HRT. She had to have a double-mastectomy and go through chemo/radiation for a year and a half.
I don't know if hot flashes would be enough to make me get on hormones after seeing my mother go through what she did! It's just incredible that a doctor tells you that you's be better off doing something, and it completely backfires and puts you health in jeopardy!

I've got some woman prob's of my own- just found out a month ago I have a cyst in my right ovary. It's been causing a lot of pelvic pain and bleeding the week before my period! I need to go get it checked out again, because they were telling me the cyst should cause no problem and go away on it's own in a couple months.
These female parts come with a lot of maintenance don't they!!

Take Care!