off topic--serious stuff tho

kangatoo
kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have been so concerned with my woes that I have neglected to ask you guys a favour.It is a little off topic but the ladies here could help me big time!
My lovely wife Jen has had to put up with a lot as you will all understand but she also has problems that you may be able to help her with.
Jen suffers from high blood pressure and high cholesterol but her main problem is "menopause".
I told her I would ask the "ladies" for any advice.
She is taking currently a product called REMIFEMIN which is a "natural" hormone replacement drug.This helps with mood swings and her general feeling of unwell, however it does not alleviate the "hot and cold " flushes she experiences.There has been a lot of hype over here in the media re; hormone replacement therapy(HRT)--good and bad.Wondering if you can help or any advice is greatfull.
She is having blood tests at the moment--her sugar is ok so no diabetes--but she will also have heart stress tests shortly to make sure everything is ok in that area.Jen is 48 and has had 3 kids.
Sorry for going off topic but she really would love to hear your comments--it frustrates me that I cannot help her--and that adds to my worries.
lotsa luv , kanga n Jen

Comments

  • Lisa Rose
    Lisa Rose Member Posts: 598 Member
    #2
    Hi Mrs Kangabob ( No More Spongebob)

    All I Can Say " Menopause $ucks"


    I went 8 month's with every sympton in the book.
    Insomnia big time !! I would go to bed sleep about 3 hours and then wake up with hot flashes and I would sweat for 3 or 4 hours . After sweating then I would freeze so I would curl up in my bed to get warm. During the day I would be depressed because I was tired from being up all night. Loss of sexual desire and vaginal dryness didn't help either. So after 7 long months , I went on HRT and everything returned to normal. With all the symptons I had it was hard trying to deal with the cancer diagnosis when your exhausted from all the menopause . No wonder I was depressed...

    My husband and I live in a two story house I always told him not to worry about the cancer doing me in. I was going out the second story window head first!!! I always thought the menopause would do me in first(BAD STUFF).

    I know there's alot of talk regarding HRT but it is a personal choice!!!! For me at the time it was the only choice. At 40 years of age I wasn't ready for my golden years, if you know what I mean....

    My husband Andy and I went to Australia in 1988 for our honeymoon. We met some wonderful guys from Spingsure at one of our hotels. I can't remember what sport they played but they new there way around the 4x and Fosters. We had a great time together and I felt like I was in A Crocodile Dundee Movie for a day(fond memories).

    Lisa
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #3
    Hi Jen,

    I began my menopause at about 48 too (now I'm 53) and began HRT. After reading about the "bad effects" and increased cancer risk with HRT, I stopped taking them. (because I didn't want to get breast cancer) Ha! Then I am diagnosed with colon cancer. Some rotten luck. Of course the chemo increased the effects of menopause tremendously. My advise is to talk to the doctor and tell him/her your concerns about effects of HRT. There is some new "natural" stuff on the markets now that can help alleviate the "flashes". That is the worse for me. I don't think I ever had any adverse mood swings (my husband may disagree with that). Good luck - this too shall pass!!

    Kerry
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
    Hello Mrs. Kangatoo!

    Can't really help much in this department as I seem to be doing pretty darn good...heck, don't even know if I am in menopause or not (turned 50...geeze, how long can this go on). I agree with the other ladies thus far in that I've read a lot about HRT and I'd really have my doubts about it. However, some PMS over the counter meds, so I'm told, have helped many of my friends who are currently going through this awful time in our lives (why are women so blessed with everything....). Also, natural based things seem to also work for some folks. In many cases, antidepressants, in mild, mild doses can help with the mood swings. Sorry, that's about all the help I can give you but I sure plan on printing every response this post gets and hold on to it when my time comes.

    Monika
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #5
    Hi Jen,

    To everyone's relief I am sure I know nothing about menopause so I can't tell you to start juicing or making smoothies! haha :-)

    The HRT controversy is here as well. When the time comes I will go natural (duh) since I am a fanatic about not putting many unnatural substances into my bod. (I do take synthetic melatonin every night to sleep and it does wonders!!)

    There are herbs that can help you lower your cholesterol that I put Arthur on when we found out he was diabetic and his triglycerides were through the roof and his cholesterol was high. In one month he was down to normal!! Amazing. I put him on a product called GlucoCare and another one called LeanCare by Himalaya products. His doctor was amazed. Of course we changed his diet pretty well too.

    Well don't think I was much help here but will be curious what happens to me when the change begins.....

    I'm 42 with 5 kids. Not ready for menopause yet. I hope.

    peace, emily who uses yam deoderant thinking it will help the hormones. :-)
  • Lisa Rose
    Lisa Rose Member Posts: 598 Member
    #6
    kerry said:

    Hi Jen,

    I began my menopause at about 48 too (now I'm 53) and began HRT. After reading about the "bad effects" and increased cancer risk with HRT, I stopped taking them. (because I didn't want to get breast cancer) Ha! Then I am diagnosed with colon cancer. Some rotten luck. Of course the chemo increased the effects of menopause tremendously. My advise is to talk to the doctor and tell him/her your concerns about effects of HRT. There is some new "natural" stuff on the markets now that can help alleviate the "flashes". That is the worse for me. I don't think I ever had any adverse mood swings (my husband may disagree with that). Good luck - this too shall pass!!

    Kerry

    Hi Jen,

    I agree with Kerry regarding the added risks of getting breast cancer. My gynecologist feels that 5 years is the maximun time to safely take HRT. The longer duration more than 5 years may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. This is what I was told and as you know don't believe everything you hear.
    Also check with the girls on the ovarian board, I'm sure they will have some good advice for you.

    Lisa

    PS I had a posting earlier to kanga the guys we met were from spingsure. I think I may have misspelled it.
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #7
    2bhealed said:

    Hi Jen,

    To everyone's relief I am sure I know nothing about menopause so I can't tell you to start juicing or making smoothies! haha :-)

    The HRT controversy is here as well. When the time comes I will go natural (duh) since I am a fanatic about not putting many unnatural substances into my bod. (I do take synthetic melatonin every night to sleep and it does wonders!!)

    There are herbs that can help you lower your cholesterol that I put Arthur on when we found out he was diabetic and his triglycerides were through the roof and his cholesterol was high. In one month he was down to normal!! Amazing. I put him on a product called GlucoCare and another one called LeanCare by Himalaya products. His doctor was amazed. Of course we changed his diet pretty well too.

    Well don't think I was much help here but will be curious what happens to me when the change begins.....

    I'm 42 with 5 kids. Not ready for menopause yet. I hope.

    peace, emily who uses yam deoderant thinking it will help the hormones. :-)

    Thanks for your replies guys. Jen is dealing with it the best way she can and is waiting the next gp appointment toconfirm the results then maybe some discussion on HRT with her gp.She has just changed gp's as she had a male doctor --now she is seeing a lovely lady gp.I think that helps her because the lady gp is about Jen's age and could relate to the menopause.Our luv life is still pretty reasonable(when I am up to it!!---lol) but she wakes up sometimes wrapped around me in a great sweat sometimes--she tells me she froze during the night and was trying to keep warm!--according to her I am hot blooded! Maybe its all the chemicals they give me--ought to light a fire-he he.
    awwwwww--yu guys are so wonderfull--luv being in an extended family!
    our luv , kanga n Jen

Discussion Boards