Menopause?

Does anyone have any natural ways of treating menopause symtoms? I can only take a low dose of hormones and it just doesn't quite do the trick. I know there are herbs that help.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

MG

[Ann]

Hi MG

Before I went on hormones, I found "Evening Primrose", "Dong Quoi" and "Black Cohash" all really good, especially the "Black Cohash". (It may be spelled cohosh)
That is a root that the native women used to treat PMS, cramps, and hot flashes.

I checked these out on the internet (sorry I don't remember the exact sites).

Luckily the hormones work for me. My doctor recommended them because she felt they might help my depression, anxiety and sleeplessness too, and they did.

Hope this helps a little.

Hugs.

Thanks Ann,

I'll look it up and then ask the doctor if I can take them along with the hormones.

MG

[SylvryMoon]

Hi Morning Glory,
Hoo boy, can I ever relate to the menopause thing. One website that has helped me tremendously is <a href="http://www.power-surge.com" target="_blank">www.power-surge.com</a>
It has lots of references, a message board, even a live nightly chat.
Check it out, and good luck!

SylvryMoon,

Thank you! What a great site! I'm going to take a B vitamin right now. They have been sitting on my kitchen counter and I haven't been taking them.

I'm going to be on that site a lot.

Hugs,

MG

[JT]

Personally MG I went straight to the Premarin/Provera combo...but I had done some research prior. But it helps with bone loss and I have family history of osteo and rheumatoid arthritis so that is my biggest fear. No history of breast cancer.

Also alot of doctors go for low dose birth contol pills, that help alot of woman...alot depends on your medical history and your symptoms. Mine were nite sweats and irregular periods and all around grumpyness... <img border="0" alt="[Mad!]" title="" src="graemlins/../graemlins/mad3.gif" />

Love Ya,
JT

[Ann]

Mood swings <img border="0" alt="[Big Cry]" title="" src="graemlins/../graemlins/wzbigcry.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Smile02]" title="" src="graemlins/../graemlins/smile02.gif" />

And Hot Flashes <img border="0" alt="[Mad!]" title="" src="graemlins/../graemlins/mad3.gif" />

And a little jumpy <img border="0" alt="[Yellow]" title="" src="graemlins/../graemlins/yellow.gif" />

Yup, that was me!!!

I'm on the hormones, but they will only give me a very low dose because I smoke. The combination can cause blood clots and strokes.

What dose are you guys on?

MG

[JT]

Just between you and me I am on Premarin .625mg and then for 10 days I take 10mg progesterone. There are also ones called Prempro and Premphase that are Premarin/progesterone combinations. One is like Premarin .625 for half the month and then a combo(with progesterone 5mg) for the rest of the month. Like in a birth control pill pack so you can't mess up.

I smoke too, and I was told that the HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) is not the same as taking THE PILL and smoking.

I work in a medical office and I had a serious discussion with our Nurse Midwife about that very thing...the smoking. And she assures me that HRT is not the same as taking the pill...so maybe when you are saying "low dose" yu are talking about BCP because they will use those too.

Premarin .625mg w/ progesterone 5mg is by far the most common dosage. (I also worked pharmacy for a time)

And if you have had a hysterectomy none of the above applies...it is a whole differant protocol.

Okeeee Dokeee?

I am on Premarin 0.3mg and Medroxyprogesteron 2.5mg daily. They will not give me the 0.6mg because I smoke. Two doctors told me that. I think I'll do a little of my own research on the internet. One doctor told me if I felt really bad he would up the dose and take the risk. I didn't really want to take the risk so I told him I felt fine.

Does this conversation make you feel as old as it makes me feel?

[Ann]

I took a look and I am on premarin .625 mg. and progesterone 100 mg. I will call and check our the progesterone amount today - it seems high by comparison and I wonder if this is the correct amount I should be taking. I wonder if there was a misread of the prescription? Ot maybe it is a typo. I think I should check.

Thanks for sharing what you take, I wouldn't have noticed.

[JT]

Anns,

Must be a typo...100mg..

I think if you were taking 100mg progesterone you would have a beard or hair on your chest or some other obviously visable sign.... <img border="0" alt="[Uzi]" title="" src="graemlins/../graemlins/uzi.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Devil]" title="" src="graemlins/../graemlins/devil.gif" />

Maybe in Canada they use mcg instead of mg (microgram vs milligram)...that would explain the number 100. And if you are taking 625 and not 0.625 that is the explanation. I don't believe there IS a 100mg progesterone.

I do wonder why premarin is ok and birth control pills aren't.

MG...do what your doctor says...but it cannot hurt to do your own research. Also, in my line of work I have found that a pharmacist..not the doctor would be the place to go for drug info.

And read the insert in your pills...if you are getting prepackaged you should have an insert in each packet...or if the pharmacy is counting them they should give you a print out or you can ask for the bottle insert.

[Ann]

I JUST KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT....

<img src="http://www.acecmt.com/collectable4/collectables/image/BeardedLady.jpg" alt=" - " />

I called my doctor's office today, and was told that it is 100 mg Prometrium, which contains progesterone. I am going to check it out on the internet tonight. So far I have felt just fine and no beard or hairy moles.

Also, my doctor knows I smoke, and she is super strict about smoking hazzards, and she said the same as JT's, that it wasn't the same as birth control pills and that although I should quit smoking for 1003 reasons, this was not one of them.

I'll let you know what I find on the net.

Well then, I will be having a conversation with my doctor the next time I go in. I want more hormones! Stomp, Stomp,Stomp

[Ann]

I checked it out and this is a normal dosage. They seem to prescribe 100 mg/day or 200 mg for 12 days/mo. As I said before, the prescription is for 100 mg Prometrium wich contains progrsterone, and is different than 100 mg. progesterone.

Phewww!!!

I have to go shave now.

P.S. The biggest side effect or warning is for people with peanut allergies (not me). It's a no go for them and for women who have had hysterectomies.

[SylvryMoon]

Morning Glory -
Glad you liked the power-surge website! It has helped me, and supported me in more ways than you can imagine! (even through my alcoholic relapses!)

Everyone else --
BEWARE of premarine. In case you don't know. . . premarine is made from PREgnant MARe's urINE (read the caps.) It's cruel to female horses, and even crueler to us. Women since the 1940's have been relying on Premarine -- isn't it time that we started reverting back to natural hormone treatment?! Read the Power-Surge boards!!

Prometrium is a natural progesterone replacement -- derived from peanuts. So beware if you're allergic to peanuts! Otherwise, Prometrium seems to work well for many women.

I could have really done without knowing that I'm swallowing horse pee every morning. <img border="0" alt="[Shocked]" title="" src="graemlins/../graemlins/SHOCKED.gif" />

I'll hold my nose when I swallow tomorrow morning.

This is one of those "what you don't know, won't hurt you" moments.

<img border="0" alt="[Thumb]" title="" src="graemlins/../graemlins/thumb.gif" /> MG

[SylvryMoon]

Morning Glory -
There are SOOOOOOOO many alternatives to Premarin (PREgnant MARe's urINe). Besides horrid treatment of the poor horses who are enclosed (penned in) and force-fed to produce urine for these pills, the results are often disastrous for women who take it. I didn't mean to scare you, but there are natural alternatives.

Estradiol, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are the hormones we lack when we age and our systems go *phlooey*. There are NATURAL replacements - all derived from plants - which produce bio-identical reactions in the female body, without any maltreatment of animals. There are creams (I was on a cream, prescribed by my doctor, but it raised my estrogen too high and I kept bleeding). There are lotions, patches, even pills. SOOOOOO many alternatives.

Research them, and go to your doctor and DEMAND that he/she prescribe an alternative to the premarin. You will feel better, and trust me, so will the horses!
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

[opened.eyes]

SylvryMoon

Thank you, Thank you and Thank you!!! for making me aware of <a href="http://www.power-surge.com." target="_blank">www.power-surge.com.</a> That website provides a tremendous reality check when I start to feel guilty about putting my grown daughter out of my home because of her substance addiction and the menopausal up and downs that demands that I focus on me and my health first.

<img border="0" alt="[Thumb]" title="" src="graemlins/../graemlins/thumb.gif" />
Opened.eyes