I now work out at our local YMCA 5-6 days per week, which has tremendously benefited the back, hip and pelvis problems I have from a car crash in 1992. My mind is much clearer, my focus much sharper, and my anxiety level has decreased dramatically. Besides the obvious health benefits of not poisoning my body with all the medications listed above, I honestly have more energy now than I did when I was 30, and I turned 52 in June 2010. I took longer to wean off the antidepressant I was taking as those meds must be gradually tapered off to minimize side effects. Within two weeks, I was off five medications: antihistamine (cured severe seasonal allergies), acid reflux medication, sleeping medication (now I use Melatonin), blood pressure medication, and most importantly, the Ritalin/Concerta I took for Attention Deficit Disorder. The results were nothing short of astonishing! Within three days, my restless leg syndrome disappeared. I started with progesterone cream 3 times a day, and a small amount of testosterone cream every other day. I began taking bioidentical hormone therapy in September 2006. Yawn-yep, tiny little power nap after lunch and I will be good to go.
Speaking of sleep-although I rarely do this, I might get in a quick nap this afternoon, I was so wound up last night after a long day that I didn't fall asleep until after 1 am, and I was up at 7 to limber up enough to go work out.
It's a health issue and a safety issue-far too many people in this country drive when they are sleep deprived (I so often have women tell me that as they reach peri/menopause, they have to stop at Starbucks on the way home from the office just so they are alert enough to drive-that scares me more than I can tell you!) First of all, since sleep issues are such a common problem for women at this stage of their lives, doctors need to be more proactive in asking patients about their sleep, and secondly - don't be afraid to bring up any health concern with your doctor! If he/she tries to blow you off, stop them, stand in front of the treatment room door to bar them from leaving if you have to (I actually had a patient tell me a few months ago that she did this-good for her!) You know if you don't sleep well, it affects every aspect of your life - partner relationships, your ability to deal with your children, coworkers, friends. The study talked about in the article reveals that well over half of the women polled had not talked to their doctor about sleep issues in menopause, and that of the women who had talked to their doctors, over 90 percent of the time it was the patient who initiated the conversation about sleep issues with their physician. This morning's article is from -and there are a couple things I want you to take away from it. Getting on bioidentical hormones (along with melatonin and regular exercise) has improved my sleep greatly, although I still do have a little issue with it because of chronic pain in my back. I remember saying all those things to my doctors before I got my hormones balanced. Next to hot flashes, the most common complaints I hear from women in peri/menopausal transition is "I can't sleep", "I'm exhausted", "I'm so tired I can't stand it". HRT is wonderful for those who need it and want it, indeed it is essential for some, but there is also some excellent information around about diet, exercise, lifestyle measures, etc which can help those women who are unable to or choose not to take it.Hi everyone, I am back from my day at the NC State Fair (pictures later!) We had a wonderful time, I ate too much, so now it's back to daily workouts (and my blog!)
Vaginal symptoms have been far more common and I think a majority of us have needed something for that Almost all of us found symptoms resolved within 5-10 years. I realise personal experience is not data but I would say the majority of my friends had some symptoms (and we have all discussed this at length over the years) but the number who had significant symptoms was probably considerably less than 50% and the number who really suffered and had HRT less than 25%. Like you I had very few symptoms, mostly things like insomnia, anxiety and poor memory which were not then acknowledged as symptoms and this was in the days when HRT was thought to be unsafe so I never considered it and now, although there is more information and evidence on safety, I am over the majority of symptoms and outside the window where I might get the long term health benefits. I think it is worth expressing that point as there is a lot of publicity about menopause at present which, by necessity, highlights the negatives and can be quite frightening so it is reassuring to let women know that not everybody suffers.
0 kommentar(er)
