 I am an East Coast expatriate hiding out in the Midwest... I am an urban gal living in the suburbs and occasionally hiding in the country I am a yoga practitioner, fitness enthusiast, believer in the mind-body-spirit connection... I am a mid-life "revert" to the Roman Catholic faith in which I was raised and which has become an enormous source of support, encouragement, inspiration, and joy in my life... I am a mom, sister, daughter, and wife... I am an explorer; adventurous and curious about the world and people around me... I am educated in the formal sense but I gain insight through everyday living... I created this blog at a time of great fear and apprehension in my life. I chose to sustain it because of the discoveries about myself and the world around me that it has revealed. What you can expect to find here: the documentation of a love-hate relationship with the greater Philadelphia area
reminiscing about the good-ole-days (the 80's!)
complaints about my various ailments and injuries, both real and imagined
pictures and stories of gardening, decorating, shopping, sewing
my love of irony
links to kooky news stories
way too much scatological musing for sane people
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Tuesday, October 12, 2004
I may have blogged about this before but...
...it seems that I am going through menopause - at the ripe old age of 35!
And apparently my sister is going through the first stages that I had last year (21-days-a-month of bleeding, etc. etc.)
But it seems like the symptoms are getting more intense and more bothersome. Yesterday I had hot flash after hot flash - it became nauseating. Actually I was nauseated and felt terribly bloated and uncomfortable. I asked my husband when he got home if I looked green in the gills. He noted, "No, but you look kind of puffy". Aha! so I WAS bloated. Grrrrr....
My last period was 4 days late and pretty scanty. And today I was spotting. My tummy is still quite bloated and my appetite is bizarre and is presenting quite a challenge to calorie-and-carb-conscious-me. (No, I'm not pregnant, in case you are wondering. )I have ZERO sex-drive, and my skin looks like a domino's pizza. Grrr....this is really a pain in the arse! What a friggin' JOY it is to be a woman! Ha!
Hubby gets paid on Friday and after I drop them off at the airport, I am heading right to to Vitamin Shoppe to see what supplements might work to ease my symptoms. I was having really good results with their store brand of HGH but its just so expensive. It seemed to ease my skin beakouts and sleep disruptions; maybe I'll try to coax hubby into letting me buy some more for this month. My sleep patterns have been just awful.
Reason I am taking them to the airport is he's taking the little one to visit his brother in Kansas. Its fun for her because he lives on a quasi-farm - meaning he leases his land to a neighbor who farms hay on it and has horses, etc. So she gets to feed the ponies and run around with his dogs in a HUGE "yard".
I wonder if any fellow bloggers have any suggestions for supplements, workout regimens (I already do yoga a few days a week, pilates occasionally and cardio/weight training 3-4 days a week as well) or other information to share?
Posted at 04:49 pm by brandy101
 | | | brandy101
October 19, 2004 11:21 AM PDT
nope, not endometriosis; had gyne tests to check that.
We buy 8th continent all the time - but its way too high in calories for me (hubby and kiddo guzzle it daily.) I drink "Soy Slender" instead, plus this GREAT new snack food called "Soyteins" by Synders of Hanover (the pretzle makers.) The tomato/romano cheese flavor is YUMMY! :)
Thanks for the input! | |
| | | Dreama
October 18, 2004 10:40 PM PDT
8th Continent Soy Milk (original) is good. A little sweet at first, but you get used to it. I had stage I uterine cancer along with endometriosis and had a hysterectomy. My Dr. said I will not go thru menapause. My friend praises HGH & said it has made a major difference. 35 seems awfully young to be going thru "the change." Have you considered the possiblity of endometriosis which causes tremendous bleeding and spotting? You might try charcoal tablets to remove any toxins in your system. I so do not miss my " monthly visitor." My best. | |
| | | SOSwryter
October 13, 2004 04:20 PM PDT
I can offer nothing but a hug.
{{{{brandy}}}}
warm bath and a good magazine? | |
| | | brandy101
October 13, 2004 11:52 AM PDT
thanks, gigglesbee. I can't do HRT because I am at increased risk for breast cancer.
I did yoga last night and felt good...maybe I'll do more exercise and see if it helps...I had been slacking a bit after having that sinus infection...time to get "back in the ring" so to speak! | |
| | | Gigglesbee
October 13, 2004 10:59 AM PDT
I wish I had some insight for you! I know my mother went through menopause early too, but I don't think she did anything about it.
I've heard a lot of people talk about hormone replacement therapy as the way to go, though.
Good luck with that. We'll all get there eventually. :( | |
| | | Lyly
October 12, 2004 11:48 PM PDT
Remifemin has black cohosh in it, last time I checked the label (1 year ago when I bought some). I think it has soy in it too. | |
| | | brandy101
October 12, 2004 10:13 PM PDT
I am allergic only to certain shellfish, pork, and latex and some antibiotics. I also have skin sensitivity to certain products with perfumes, etc. Some scented things are ok, others are not. I usually only get one or two zits right before my period; but now its not just broken out its also uncharicteristically dry. I use facial products from my dermatologist but it is for oily skin. Perhaps I need to switch; I will follow-up w. a dr. appt.
As far as dairy goes, I try hard to incorporate daiy INTO my diet as I worr about getting enough calcium. I eat yogurt, cetain cheeses (goat, mozzerella, provolone) and a small amount of milk a week (maybe one or two bowls of cereal a week.
I tried black cohosh when I was pregnant and late to deliver and it did nothing. I am possibly willing to try it again but I have to look into side-effects (I do take medication for my IBS so I don't want interaction.)
Has anyone out there ever tried that "remifemin" or other products marketed for menopause?
I am also trying to have at least one serving of soy daily - soymilk or soy chips.
And...I just did a yoga routine this evening and now feel nicely relaxed. Ahhhhh! ;) | |
| | | princessdeirdre
October 12, 2004 07:09 PM PDT
Unfortunately, I can offer no advice for you. :(
I know, I'm no help. Shouldn't have even left a comment.
*duh*
Feel better soon Mrs. B. | |
| | | Lyly
October 12, 2004 06:17 PM PDT
oh yes: enjoy your time alone... | |
| | | Lyly
October 12, 2004 06:16 PM PDT
Black cohosh is supposed to ease the night sweats and hot flashes. One woman I know rubs progesterone cream on her belly (buys it at Whole Foods Market), low dose, but I'd be skeptical of that because it is a hormone.
Pizza-face: I had that until Jan 2003 when I cut WAY back on dairy products (found out kidlet was allergic, so stopped eating/buying cheese and drinking milk). The pimples dissipated within weeks. Have spent all this time with fade creams to get rid of all the dark marks, finally almost all gone!
I say all this to say, do you know if you're allergic/intolerant of any foods? Have I asked you this before? | |
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