Any help available for menopausal symptoms?

(((((Mia))))),
I know what you are going through! I feel for you!! For dry skin there is a lotion I found in WalMart's diabetic section. I am at a loss for the name Keto something anyway it works WONDERS for dry skin and doesn't smell bad either. The memory thing is another thing I hate too. I used to take Ginko but found even herbals aren't as effective after a while. My loving husband thought a PDA might help but the technology is not my thing so post-it's are everywhere. lol .

The emotional distress and hot flashed will go away after a little while once your body gets used to the absence of estrogens in the amount it used to have. I ate chocolate to make me feel happier. I think it works :o). But the one thing I will say is talk to your doctor about vaginal dryness, it goes along with menopause. I had no idea until I had to make an appointment with my gyno and she told me I was atrophied due to dryness. My hubby is understanding but I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

You might already do this but drink lots of water, it helps with the hot flashes. Big hugs for you and rambling is okay! It does get better, think of the money you can save on sanitary supplies . Take care!

Melissa

One thing I learned about hot flashes..... if something upset me even the least little bit I went into a hot flash. I used to be the kind of person that never got visibly upset, I kept everything inside, but the flashes gave me away. I got so hot I radiated heat and my husband could tell immediately that I was flashing. Part of the rage and screaming you are feeling is normal for post breast cancer (or other similiar conditions). It is a sort of depression but instead of feeling down, you feel angry, terribly angry. Talk to you doctor about the Wellbutrin. I took it for awhile two different times and it didn't help me, but now a I am taking Lexapro and it seems to be working ok. All medicines are not for all people. There is a cream that one of our dear sisters used to talk about several years back to help with the vag dryness. Maybe someone can tell you more about it. Astroglide I think was the name. Unless it was a joke, but I don't think so. Hugs MK

I can relate to what your talking about. My onc put me on 75mg of effexor and it works wonders. My flashes are all but gone. occasionally I get a sweaty face but not bad and only last a few mins but by far tons better then I was before. check into to this med and good luck, sure you will find something that works...skeeter1

Hi Mia,

Welcome back my friend!

I am going to let you in on a little secret about the vaginal dryness.  Go to the nearest pharmacy (CVS?) and go to the feminine hygiene section, there is a product there called REPLENS.  It has been a miracle product for me, as you know I went thru menapause early myself due to chemo drugs and I have suffered with this same problem for years until I found this product.  It is a long-lasting vaginal moisturizer, estrogen free, kind of expensive (around $14.00 for a package of 8) , but hey, you are worth it.  It has helped the amount of urinary tract infections I have had in the recent years due to atrophy to the area.

As for the other problems, I sure hope that your body will get used to all of the hormonal changes and give you a much needed "quality of life". 

Thinking of you!

Hugs,

Deb

PS. You might want to visit REPLENS website, I once found some coupons there for the product. Also , a couple of weeks ago CVS did have a sale on it.

I found that I could lessen the length of hot flashes by running very cold water over my wrists (I do this when I am at work) or a cold pack on the back of the neck. I have also heard of a special pillow called a Chillow or something that is supposed to be a cooling pillow for sleeping on.

(Had to laugh about the PDA post, as my DH got me on last Christmas to help with my memory but most of the time I can't remember where i put it! So much for technology...)

The Effexor seems to moderate some of the emotional swings but certainly not all of them. I tried meditation and that seemed to help for a while, but I have fallen out of that habit lately (who has time to sit still?!)

Hope you can find some things that help!

Erin

Hi All! Thanks for all the wonderful replies!

 

I had never heard of vitamin E for this but will try it. I can't take paxil or effexor since I am on wellbutrin. But maybe we should switch.

 

As for the Replens Debbie, I tried a knock-off brand last week and it burned so badly I had to wash it off.  I don't know if it was because I was excessively dry or what but I am afraid to try it again.

 

The flashes are mostly at night. They start around 10 and are intermittent throughout the night. Some nights are better than others. One night I woke up splashed cold water on my face and felt like I had been sunbathing for hours. The water didn't make a dent so I used a cold compress on my neck and fell back asleep with it.  I keep a fan on my side of the room. I can't imagine this in the summer!

 

I've had horrible luck with my health again lately.  I found 2 lumps in my left armpit Monday night and hurried to the onc. Tuesday. They put me on augmentin thinking it may be an infection. I will post another thread with all the details. But for now say a prayer that it is only an infection.

 

I don't see my gyn until Valentine's Day, haven't seen her since my surgery Oct. 6! I had to re-schedule and this was the earliest I could get.

 

will keep you all updated as things progress.

 

Love and hugs,

 

 Hot flashes, night sweats, oh my! After 13 yrs of daily hormone therapy, I've been ordered not to take any more . Along with the scare of breast cancer, awaiting, biopsy results, and everything else, I hate askin the doc for something else. I have even snuck and taken some leftover hormones, only to realize 5 minutes later that it was big NO NO. I feel like I need them. The flashes are almost continuos,day and night. Do the meds like wellbutrin, prozac, etc. actually help with the flashes? I'm only 44 and since this all happened, I feel almost suicidal at times. Help!!!!

I mentioned in my other post about being upset and causing hot flashes. I also think that hot flashes are kind of like pain thresholds, some have much worse flashes than others. A friend of mine actually wore a winter coat sweater around the office when it was so hot the rest of us could die, because she would freeze to death after having a major flash. I never would have believed any one body could swing from hot to cold like she did. I hated having flashes but they were nothing compared to what she went through. I hope you are able to find something to ease yours. My dr prescribed Lexapro for me because I was having anger/rage spells. I know when I was having hot flashes that would have triggered them big time. The Lexapro does help me now. Mary K.