Menopause (Hot Flashes and Night Sweats) and Energy

Hi, D., Have you tried Melaleuca vitamins and supplements? New scientific research shows them to be vastly superior to ANYTHING else on the market! Estroval REALLY works on the hot flashes. I have a couple of years on you, and I feel better than I have felt in 20 years! Please let me know if you'd like me to send testimonials or more info. Good luck! N. B.

I have a friend who is in menopause and takes soy shakes to relieve her of her symptoms. I can't remember where I heard this but if you take the HRT and then try to go to soy afterwards, it doesn't work as well. The internet may be able to confirm or deny that fact. Anything with soy is supposed to help.

Hi D.,
I am a 43 year old mother of a 5 and 6 year old and have been having some menapause symptoms myself. Due to high risk of breast cancer I cannot do HRT. So I did some research and found out diet can make a big difference. Here are a couple of articles that may help you get started.

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/menopaus1/a/naturalmenop...

http://www.medicinenet.com/alternative_treatments_for_hot...

Let me know if it helps.
P.
____@____.com

If you don't want to do the HRT, you might try the herbal alternatives such as black cohosh and red clover. They take a few weeks to be effective so if you try them be patient. Valerian root is a good sedative, doesn't make you feel dopey the next morning. All of the herbals are available in most stores like Wal-Mart or pharmacies like Rite Aid on the shelf in the vitamin or health sections. Cut out or cut waaayyyy back on caffeine, that seems to set me off, and so do spicy foods. Some days it seems like just breathing sets them off!!! I did try the bioidentical hormones but it didn't work for me although I know it works wonders for other women; it's expensive because it's compounded by a pharmacist specifically for your hormonal needs and your insurance may not cover compounded drugs. It also requires bloodwork to check your levels. Talk to your gyn about other options. I finally had to get a prescription for something to help me sleep(ambien) and that has helped a lot. Recently I've gone from just having hot flashes to having hot flashes with dripping sweat and I've been post menopausal for over a year...middle age ain't for sissies. Good luck, and keep a bottle of ice cold water handy, sometimes a cold drink shortcuts the hot flash or at least makes it more bearable.

D., two great resource books, I call the Women's Bible, are:
Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom and Wisdom of Menopause, by Dr Christian Northrup.
Dr Northrup is a holistic OB~Gyn (she is on PBS sometimes, has a newsletter as well) that covers women's issues from the simplist remedy to the most extensive, from prevention to treatment, from body, through mind, emotions and Spirit.
I reduced symptoms and was free of hot flashes and night sweats through adjustments to my diet, self~care, and lifestyle. I have found the combination of fish oils (omega 3~6~9) as well as flax seed oil, added to soy shakes or yogurt beneficial.

I go to a Naturopath in Frederick. She's giving me natural hormonal treatments--a vaginal suppository and some cream for the night sweats.

D.,
As someone who is also entering the time of wisdom, as well as a holitic practitioner, I will give you some options. First, loook at your diet. The more whole foods you eat, the less symptoms you will have. Drinking plenty of water helps. Limiting the sugar including artifical stuff, and limiting processed foods.
Exercise makes a big impact as well. Everything from water aerobics to walking,and including weight training.
There are very good herbal supplements as teas or tinctures that can help. Also natural progesterone creams. Thre are also vitamins and minerals that can help.
Please feel free to email me if you want specific info.
L.

I am not sure about the energy level, aside from taking a mulitvitamin but I do know that eating soy can alleviate hot flashes. I cook edemame and then either put it on a salad or bring it to work and eat as a snack. You said you don;t want to start HRT. Any particular reason? Once your body starts losing those hormones, it becomes easier for you to get osteoporosis so the hormones are needed to help with that. Good luck and I hope you can get it under control quickly.

Please take Laura's advice and try the progesterone cream. I started having early symptoms at 32 and it made a huge difference. I refused estrogen suppositories and HRT, etc. because I still wanted to have more children. So many doctor's just prescribe this stuff without looking at the whole woman. I am uncomfortable using hormones from pregnant horses. I am not a horse. It just doesn't make sense to me.
I am 37 and rarely have symptoms and had a 3rd child at 36. I expect to go through menopause a little early since 3 of my 5 sisters went through it early and were finished by 45!!
Anyway, try reading the book "What your doctor may not tell you about menopause." I can't remember the authors' names but they have a website with so much information. I don't know where you live but Ukrop's Grocery store sells a great progesterone cream.

Take care and Good luck. Good luck with the MS, too. You have a lot on you. Too bad you can't rest whenever you feel like it and not just at night.

Hi,
Try taking Vitamin E -400 IUs 2x a day. Start w/ 200 IUs and work up to 800 per day over a few months. It works wonders for the hot flashes for some.
Also, you could try Natural Progesterone Cream for hot flashes. It is not the same as the hormones given at the MDs office. Dr. John Lee has written lots about it. Using it for a few weeks should do the job!

Both these items can be found at a natural foods store. Many drug stores carry the Vit. E. Good luck.

A.

It sounds like you have a lot on your hands!

When I was going through medically-induced menopause (looongg story!), the docs told me to drink at least 8 ounces of soy milk a day. Soy milk has a natural form of estrogen in it, and can help ease the transition your body is making. It also comes in many brands and flavors nowadays, so it's not as horrible as it sounds!

I hope it helps you as it did me!
D.

D.,
I understand how you feel about menopause as I have gone through it myself. Knowing what I do about HRT, I chose to manage it naturally with Shaklee supplements. It was the best move I ever made. The company along with experts has put together a complete and effective program. Go to: www.shaklee.net/AlternativeSolutions/prodWomensHealth for more information. Also feel free to contact me personally at ____@____.com.
M. Barnas

D., I would suggest you talk to your GYN about Effexor. It is an anti-depressent, but has also been found to relieve the hot flashes in menopausel women. I had breast cancer in 2000 and the chemo through me into menopause. That on top of the medicine that I have to take for 10 years increased the hot flashes and the night sweats to an unbearable stage. My doctor prescribed Effexor and it cut the hot flashes and night sweats in half in about two to three weeks. Several of my friends have also tried this and has said it changed their lives. There are other things to try like soy, black cohosh, etc. I can't take them because they increase your estregen (my cancer was estregen related) Good luck and God bless. D. Bliss

I've been there. I am 57. A few years ago my hot flashes were much worse than now. So I guess they gradually subside. I do think HRT helps. But I wanted natural hormones. So I get yam cream from the Vitamine Shoppe for progessterone. And my doctor sent me to a pharmacy that produces natural estrogen from plants. These have helped me. AF

Hi D.,
Have you asked your doctor about the herb, Black Cohash? It is an herbal supplement that can relieve hot flashes.
~A.

I have a client who manages her symptoms with soy and a strict diet, but that wasn't enough. She also was weary of HRT, even the natural creams for some reason. I am involved with Young Living Essential Oils (mostly for myself), and I gave her a sample of this hormone balancing oil blend called Dragon Time and she said it works immediately and even stops her hormonal migraines. You just put a drop or two on your abdomen, it absorbs into the skin and that's it. Needless to say she ordered some and it can last up to 9 months depending on how much you need. I'm not using this site to sell stuff, I just know it helps and that you would probably benefit. If you want I can send you a sample and you can try it for $2. If it helps, I'll be happy to order it for you wholesale.
###-###-####- L. :)- Holistic enthusiast

This works:

250 ML Magnesium citrate liquid, 400 Iu Vitamin E.
No white flour or sugar.
If you are having irregular bleeding take zinc.

Here's the problem with progesterone. Yeast love the stuff and thrive on it, greatly proliferating in it! If you already have MS, then you most likely already have a yeast overgrowth and vitamin defeciency in your body. I would strongly advise against hormone /progesterone.
Read the book "the yeast connection" I think it it can be found online at Amazon.

Try making soy protein shakes 2x a day. Great for weight and soy helps menopausal symptoms(I should know!). I have gotten mine at Costco and Sams, just make sure the mix you are getting is primarily soy protein. Good luck!

I'm only 44 but am having night sweats, extreme mood swings, etc... We're new to the area and I haven't found a gyn. yet. Anyone know of a good gyn. who specializes in older women?
Just curious, why do you not want to do HRT? I haven't done any research yet and am just starting to learn. Thanks!

I carry oil of olay wipes in my purse and have fans on me wherever I go. It stinks