If being diagnosed with Lupus wasn’t bad enough I am now in full Menopause! My body is no longer my own! Along with my current meds I’m trying OTC Estroven for the many symptoms of Menopause, and trust me I have ALL of them!; but I don’t seem to be getting a lot of relief, has or is anyone going through this and if so what works for you? I would also like to thank you all who post on this discussion board. It has been very helpful and given me a lot of valuable information for this new scary disease that has chosen me.
Best thing about menopause is now I save a lot on my heating bills!! Always hot so I keep the house ice cold and a fan by my bedside year round.
Underlying problems with menopause are thyroid diseases…get it checked out…you may find relief
I experienced menopause 6 yrs ago. I considered the hot flashes my own personal summers! LOL
As far as taking any meds for it, I didn't. I looked on line for what I could do about it. A lot of foods will contribute to all of the hormonal changes that you are going through. Watch what you eat & figure out what causes more of a problem for you & avoid those foods & drinks. Best of luck!!!
I am on the same journey ,as the other posters had said check your thyroid.I found out i have hashimotos as well.
Not sure exactly what to do as of yet.Im greatful for this website and am learning alot from the other members.
Try B12…I had a hysterectomy in May, but they didn’t take my right ovary because I can’t take hormone replacement as I’ve had a blood clot. My dr suggested B12, it sort of works. I’m sometimes not sure if it’s the steroids as those make me hot too.
I am going through menopause as well. I see my Gyn. on Friday. I have been on HRT for 7 yrs. to control the hot flashes. I have been deep breathing when ever I remember to. Spicy foods make them worse. I thought this was lupus or the prednisone. I am not sure what is what as I was diagnosed with Lupus July of this year. I am going to try Vitamin E 400 units a day as well. I would like to reduce the HRT and have read it gets worse before it gets better. This is quit a ride!!
I hope you get relief and understanding !
Bird, you have already gotten some good advice. Although I have read lupus disease activity will slow after menopause, it hasn't been the case for me. But then, I'm a bit different in my reactions to everything. The nice thing for me was my lifelong migraines went away. Unable to do hormone replacement therapy, but don't think I personally would have chosen it.
One of the biggest helps is accepting that you are entering a new phase in life. Some women have a hard time letting go of the child bearing years. And it can be a real emotional roller coaster even if that isn't part of the situation for you. So please be very kind to yourself, and make sure you set aside some wonderful time just for you to do what makes you happy.
Check with your doctor, and see if any of the supplements you can get at the health food store would be an issue for you to use. Most are soy based, some have evening primrose or wild yam in them as well. Since I'm on the other side of this, and survived, as did my family, please know it does get better. We live in a hot climate and more than once I threatened to empty the big freezer and climb on in.
Staying well hydrated, if on a multivitamin choosing one with niacinamide instead of niacin, plenty of cool wash cloths handy (kept a gallon ziplock of wet ones in the fridge), and dressing in layers I could peel out of or put back on really helped. Some herbalists recommend drinking oat straw tea, or stinging nettle tea, to help your body to regulate better. It's the micronutrients you get from them that are useful. Again, check with your health care team before trying anything.
healing hugs,
Louise
Hi!, well of course woman will go through this! That’s natural , and yes chose me , you ,and many other women along it path, but hang in there ? Keep your Faith strong , my prayers go out to you…Beverly L.
Girl, join the club. I am trying to hold out; my gyn wants me to stay away from hormones and OTC stuff because of the lupus. So I have not had a good night's sleep, flashes with sweat pouring down my body year round, and lots of other symptoms for the past 11 months. Be careful of OTC stuff and herbal remedies others may tell you about. Let your dr know you are taking the OTC stuff and good luck! I will be watching this post closely for a solution!
Can I ask how old any of you are? Not to be nosey…I’m 40 and I think I may be starting menopause. I get hot flashes a lot. I wake up sweating at night profusely sometimes. My period is changing also. Sometimes heavy sometimes light. Sometimes long sometimes short. Just wondering. Thanks.
I am on HRT and still suffer from voracious sweating. No discipline will take responsibility for it. The gyn says it is Addison’s disease. The rheumy says talk to your Gynocologist. My PCP says it is Addison’s and lupus. Who knows. I just know.i am 52 and wonder how long it lasts
I just turned 50 in May. I like you started getting symptoms around 40. My periods were all over the place! My dr. called it peri menopause! Not like menopause is enough we have to have an introduction to it! Haha! Wish you well.
Jend719 said:
Can I ask how old any of you are? Not to be nosey…I’m 40 and I think I may be starting menopause. I get hot flashes a lot. I wake up sweating at night profusely sometimes. My period is changing also. Sometimes heavy sometimes light. Sometimes long sometimes short. Just wondering. Thanks.
Thank you!
Heide said:
Girl, join the club. I am trying to hold out; my gyn wants me to stay away from hormones and OTC stuff because of the lupus. So I have not had a good night’s sleep, flashes with sweat pouring down my body year round, and lots of other symptoms for the past 11 months. Be careful of OTC stuff and herbal remedies others may tell you about. Let your dr know you are taking the OTC stuff and good luck! I will be watching this post closely for a solution!
I would like to thank all of you for your wonderful replies and advice. As far as my thyroid mine was totally removed in the fall of 2001. I know that this is just one of the many things we as women must go through, but it would be nice to go through it gracefully instead of the “sweat monster” I feel has possessed my body! Haha! Saw my rhuemy yesterday my left knee is really swollen again-he drained it twice in August along with a cortisone shots. He didn’t want to do anything until we get an MRI on Friday to determine if its the Lupus or a possible tear in the knee. The battle continues! I wish all my new friends here a wonderful day!
My gyno gave me gabapentin for my hot flashes menopause and it has worked we’ll not getting rid of everything but they are a lot less
Hi! Oh! Boy you sound like me! Am 46 on the 16th, and happy that I had the uterus removed in April. For years I was loosening bleed ,since my teen years, sweating like mad , I just could not take it anymore! Doctors tried everything, no results. I told them that I was tired just remove whatever had to be removed, plain and simple. Eventhough the older woman started menopause at their mid 40’s50’s, I think that i started menopause round 25-27? So dealing with BAD cycles and sweating, sick, bleeding, in bed for 2days, all I wanted at this point was for them to take this other Nightmare away from me-no matter what!! I did not want nothing else to go forther!!hope that things work out for you!!..Beverly L.
Bird said:
I just turned 50 in May. I like you started getting symptoms around 40. My periods were all over the place! My dr. called it peri menopause! Not like menopause is enough we have to have an introduction to it! Haha! Wish you well.
Jend719 said:Can I ask how old any of you are? Not to be nosey…I’m 40 and I think I may be starting menopause. I get hot flashes a lot. I wake up sweating at night profusely sometimes. My period is changing also. Sometimes heavy sometimes light. Sometimes long sometimes short. Just wondering. Thanks.
Everyday Life hurts sometimes!!LOL…BeverlyL.
Bird,
I've been in menopause for ten years, and the only thing that get rid of my symptoms are well balanced bio-identical hormones. Other things that helped were ground flax seed, herbal teas, good hydration and removing stress as much as possible, anti-inflammatory diet, organic foods(big help). I find that cotton clothing feels better and cooler for me. Accepting that this time of life can really be enlightening and you may develop more spiritual awareness and peace.
Things that make it worse for me are caffeine of any kind, yea, that means chocolate too, high carbs, sugar, non-organic foods, gmo foods, stress, spicy foods, anything that gets me stressed out, angry or frightened.
As others said, check out your thyroid. Mine went low when I entered into menopause. I now have to take thyroid replacement.
If you find that you can't control symptoms with natural means, and are considering hrt, be sure to find a practitioner who is very experienced in treating with the hrt.
Ally
PS: I've had days when I was desperately overheated and miserable and just stuck my head in the freezer. Ahhh, what a relief. :')
My Dr just shocked her head the other day when I was at my visit explaining to her that my periods are now not coming very often. She was like something else to add to you problems. She hasn’t recommended anything but did state to me that if I need help with the moods swings to let her know. I take a B 12 shot weekly and my hot flashes don’t seem to come as often and living in Florida my ad is on all year around. I have been known to grab every ice pack out of the frig to lay all over my body but sometimes you have to wonder if its the menopause or a flare. Good Luck we are all there with you in this fight.