Sunday, November 16, 2008 Brenda asks

Q: postsurgical menopause,pouring sweats that NEVER stop,nasty moods, poor ol boyfriend!!

Ok this is hard to explain for me... I am 44 and surgically menopausal since 2005. All well and good if the incredible hot(flashes)pouring almost 24/7 would STOP, if the nasty mood swings would stay on nice for once and the poor ol boyfriend would not get the brunt of all of this.

this is what its like on a normal day for me...

from the moment I wake, till the time I go to bed I experience sweats only from the SHOULDERS UP, chills and then more sweats.

I crave any chocolate, ice cream, potatoe chips(I do not like salty ones)and I enjoy Diet Pepsi as well as Mt. Dew in copious amounts , will drink water when prompted but not my first choice.

My family doc as well as my endocrinology specialist is befuddled

I take HGH by spray sublingual 2 x daily progesterone 200 mg nightly estradiol 2mg nightly xanax .05 mg nightly tramadol 200 mg daily for chronic pain 800 mg ibuprofen 2x daily and on top of all of this my poor ol boyfriend feels like he has to tippy toe so I don't cry for hours. I have a public service job and the nasty moods prevail there too.

ANY SUGESTIONS ANY COMMENTS AND NO YOU CAN'T SHOOT ME IT'S ILLEGAL..LOL

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Answers (2)

Sandy Greenquist, Health Pro

11/17/08 12:37pm

Hi Brenda,

Sounds like you've entered hormone hell! If you haven't read my posting on bioidentical hormones, please do so because they are going to rescue you from the symptoms you're experiencing. Estradiol can stop the hot flashes; progesterone is a mood stabilizer and has a calming effect to combat the nasties; and --if sex drive is an issue-- testosterone can boost that. Women's bodies were not intended to function well without hormones. We are not supposed to live so long after menopause. However, with all the progress of modern medicince, we do, so we need to help our bodies by returning what's missing (hormones) in the form most like what the body made (bioidentical). The most current research on hormone therapy found that if women start hormones either before the last period or within 5 years or so of the last period, they gain significant benefit: lower cardiovascular risk, better overall morbidity and mortality, and not a significant increase in the risk of breast cancer. So, you need to find a provider who is current on menopause and willing to work with you. You will feel better and gain other health benefits as well. Good luck, Sandy

Sandy Greenquist, Health Pro

11/17/08 12:52pm

Brenda, I have to apologize. Only the first paragraph of your question came through the first time and that's what I responded to. When I re-read it, the rest of the info was there. So....

I have to wonder what impact the HGH is having and whether that might be complicating the picture, interfering with the effects of the estradiol and progesterone. You may want to talk with your providers about eliminating that as a test to see what the effect is. Have you had recent lab work so your providers know that what you are on is bringing you into therapeutic hormone levels? If you are in therapeutic range, the estradiol and progesterone should go a long way to improving your hot flashes, moods and cravings. The other big key to cravings is the balance in your diet. You may need to consult a nutritionist to help you sort out how to best improve in this area. For the basics, see my most recent posting "What Happened to my Waist".

I am assuming that you have been thoroughly worked up for the other conditions that can cause these same symptoms. We can't just jump to menopause as the cause as so many conditions can have overlapping symptoms. If you are not getting anywhere with your current providers and they don't have other ideas for you, I would encourage you to seek other providers in your area who specialize in menopause. Many doctors, even endocrinologists, have scant expertise when it comes to women's hormones.

Best of luck to you, Brenda,

Sandy

Q: postsurgical menopause,pouring sweats that NEVER stop,nasty moods, poor ol boyfriend!!

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