Alcohol and Perimenopause

[Finding My Self]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Jane Jane....this is a great thread! Brilliant!

It's giving people the chance to discover we're not all going mad....as in, mad!!!

Yes, 'in-the-old-days' we would have been dead (sorry) and later on, not having the timing such that we have teenagers (they'd have long flown), eldery parents (they'd have 'flown' too), and not been working in the sorts of environments we have to today. We'd probably haev been working in 'women's work' - importantly, with women in a way to discuss all this openly and as a natural happening..... support and acceptance....in fact, think about how many 'tribes' would have us as Wise Women...honoured and revered in our own place!! Instead we are pretending to be the same as men and younger women to keep up in the working world and pushing all our feelings and experiences under the carpet in shame and fear....NOT GOOD!!!

Bring on the honesty and support of this The Wise Women's thread!! TWWT!! (And no, that does not look like 'twit'! Toowit Towoo maybe: wise owls!

Hugs to all huggy needing ladies!
FMS xx

[Suzanna]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

bio identicals

Hi Bootsy, wow 30 panels of tests! I read Suzanne Somers book on bio identicals, went to what I thought was a forward thinking ob gyn, woman, and she gave me just the standard test and I got some basic concoction from a compounding pharmacy that I was on for a year. No follow ups, nothing. I gave up too easily I think. I was actually gaining weight on them, and for more fun, had to have a tweezer in a holster on my belt! I feel better now that I stopped, but sex drive in the toilet, and that bothers me. That could be the drinking though.

[slightlysuze]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Thank heavens........according to the rest of you, I'm normal too!

My one big wish is to be able to sleep well.......on the rare occasion that I do get a good night's sleep I feel terrific the next day......I can move mountains LOL......but most of the time....er........I crash into every molehill going :bonkers:


Suze x

[trixietrack]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

very interesting thread. I need to look into this myself.

[middlepathpilgrim]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

There was something on the radio a while back discussing the new birthcontrol pill and how unlike the old ones, you no longer went off one week a month and had a period. The doctor was discussing how it was actually unnatural for women to have 12 periods a year! (And that the original pill was designed so that women had periods so that they'd a: know they weren't pregnant, and b: suffer "the stain" of original sin. Jeeze.) In olden times women were either pregnant, nursing and so not menstrual or menopausal (or dead at an early age). The statistic was rather disturbing, something like 2,000 periods in a lifetime for a modern woman as opposed to 200 for a woman in 1900. No wonder we're moody.

As for the hair loss, I'm not too worried about the loss on my head. It's the gain on my chin.

Gloria

[bootcampbarbie]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

suzanna this is the challange with not having a good dr. and i mean this sincerely. and i researched who were the quacks and who actually knew what they were doing. there are only 3 in all of california for example that know anything.... so, i interviewed for example what was supposed to be each time a 45 minute consultation with my people and it turned into 4 hours and 2 hours and i was so very excited i cried. dr. dan told me his story and he could have been telling me about my story. the symptoms you all speak of are all hormone and thyroid related but i don't know if that is what you experience but what i experienced. i actually get tested each 3 months on all these panels (33) and then gradually add in supplementation like what we have here at mwo where ever that is deficient. that is a big support.
my hunch and purely a hunch is that if you were gaining weight, they made a mistake of giving you estrogen. believe me we produce so much estrogen and actually never stop doing that it seems from all research out there very harmful to actually prescribe it unless the levels were dangerouly low. most women are not low in that area. few in fact are... however, thyroid is grossly misdiagnosed because of the measurements they use as a barometer for saying your levels are adequate. don't want to bore you with that equasion.

so, i can now sleep through the nite, don't have nite sweats, i had lost 35 lbs previously, so my weight is good at 114 lbs and i'm 5'4. but i need less and less sleep where i was needing soo much before as i was so very fatigued. i can tell you some of the benefits since i was low in progesterone for example, so they have me on a specific dosage.
what the studies show are benefits to progesterone replacement (bioidentical/natural)
protects breasts, uterus and probably ovaries from cancer
acts as a natural diuretic. so bye bye weight
produces calming and anti anxiety effect. i no longer need anti depressants and i am having decreased anxiety attacks.
it decreases pms and menstrual flow. this will take 2 to 3 months they tell me. but then no more suddenly ugly mood swings
enhances the body's natural defenses
improves breakdown of body's fat into energy..
cuts the craving for carbs and sweets. no doubt why it helps cut the craving for alcohol
reduces breast tenderness and pain
contributes to the formation of new bone tissue. this is key because osteperosis is a very big deal...
increases hdl. the body's good cholesterol

[beatle]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

yeh, I agree trixie. this is an interesting thread. Am I there yet? What should I do in preparation?

At least now I feel forewarned. Thanks all. I am so overwhelemed at the moment hearing your stories, and feel so sorry for all the people who go through this without help.

I should mention I have thyroid issues. It messes everything up. But I don't know if it has anything to do with perimenopause... probably does.

[bootcampbarbie]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

actually in regards to birth control pills, from the research i've read thus far and the doctors i've spoken to. they are hell on a woman's system. any type of pill. they are finding that long term use of birth control pills is affecting women's bone density. in fact it is common now to see women in their 30's if they have a bone density test they are rapidly aging the system and will very early on start having challanges with osteoperosis. having the bones turn to chalk is not a nice visual. birth control pills also wreak hell as do fertility drugs on the hormone system. since hormones are the fuel of life you basically have these main levels to monitor:
progesterone which we stop producing
testosterone which starts rapidly decreasing leaving us to actually grow more whiskers then our spouses. causes us to gain weight especially around the middle, libido goes down, reduces bone mass, risk then of fractures, fatigue, causes those lovely wrinkles, heightens all menopausal symptoms, loss of body hair, depression,
estrogen if not balanced by the rest of her friends leaves us with: hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, mood swings, memory loss, not only dryness vaginally but also muscular atrophy and also analy as well, fluid retention, trouble sleeping, loss of sex drive, sometimes even incontinence, ut infections,
thyroid. widely misdiagnosed. and 3 types really to diagnose.. slowed metabolism, excessive fatigue, uncontrolled weight gain, memory loss, moodiness, sensitive to cold, menstral problems, pms, constipation, hair loss, brittle nails,
dhea. this is what your adrenal glands naturally produce. generally speaking if you've drank to excess and stressed to excess, you have shot out your adrenals... this effects your
mental well being, libido, heart disease, blood vessel functioning, bone density, immune function, lean muscle mass, fatigue, metabolism, cortisol (a whole nother subject), aids in cortisol reduction...
melatonin secreted by the pineal gland in the center of our brains.. responsible for helping us get a good nite's sleep. i can share about this if you want to know more
pregnenolone.. it is referred to as the mother of all hormones.. synthesized by the adrenal glands and our nervous system. i can also share more about this..... and lastly
hgh. human growth hormone.
but by now youa re probably tired of my little science information page. i just have been reading and studying so much because i've been so very ill.
hope you enjoyed...
boots

[bootcampbarbie]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

this well generally only applies to women 37 and older.... that should help sort it out

[Finding My Self]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Bootsie! The fount of all knowledge! Thanks! Glad you're feeling better!

2,000 periods vs 200?????! Eeeeek! No wonder! I must say I wont be sorry to see them go.... And I don't think I'm too worried about the 'aging' thing really...I mean, it's natural and what the heck can we do about it anyway?!? It's as likely as the sunrising and setting; accept it!... As long as I have my mind to live with. Or I suppose I'm saying, you're as young as you choose to think but if I can't think then I go on stupid looks and feelings.... hence, young and vital for two weeks and old and crabby for the other two!! And even that's ok - it's the off the wall stuff that gets me.....plus memory? Can't remember what that is!!!

Certainly getting the thyroid andadrenal sorted out has helped loads and loads.

[Suzanna]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Boots, thank you because you have done all your homework and that is a fountain of knowledge. We really keep making estrogen? I always kind of assumed we stopped and then they say if you take hrt you run a risk of breast cancer?? Like by taking a hormone that may keep you functioning younger is cheating somehow. And I thought since you were in calif. the land of the newest health discoveries you had better access to doctors who would be up on this stuff, and if you had only found 3, what chance do I have? I'm not anywhere near Miami but if there is a doc there it would be worth the drive!! I never thought of thyroid but I know folks that have thyroid problems. I better get tested.

[dcline]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

I'm 44 and never had a weight problem, drinking problem or lack of enthusiasm. Now I have all 3. After 2 years sliding down hill emotionally, I went to my Gyno in tears convinced it was hormonal and begging him for help. After a few minutes with me he prescribed anti-depressants. I've been on them for a few months and even though not so sad and crying all of the time, I have an even worse drinking habit and weight problem. I love this post and my gut tells me that my changes are somewhat related to hormones. Keep the ideas coming....

[bootcampbarbie]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

well, the challange is that unless the md has done their homework they will likely prescribe anti depressants which can actually be worse.. odd i know. i will write more later on that. and believe it or not there are experts scattered all through out the world and i do believe i know how to access them... lol so,,, keep the challanges coming.... i can write more from what i've research i've done and i can list out the books as well. although i can also point out the descrepancies and flaws in these books. i have to admit i do come from academia so i tend to scrutinize theories.
and for me what is natural is to do what i feel is right for me. and i have no problem taking bio identical hormones as i do taking supplementation or seeing a doctor or taking topamax or going to lenair to stop drinking completely. it feels right to me to help my body be in the best possible physical peace and that impacts everything about me spiritually, mentally, and allows me to show up and work etc.... my biggest relief as hubby was asking me again tonight about my subtle changes is that i am not under a dark dark cloud anymore.. and i'm experiencing greater self .. all of it relates. suzanna and dcline there is much more available there... hope that is useful

[MyHeartIsDrenchedInWine]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Jane Jane,

I now wear hair extensions to deal wit the perialkie hair thinning, boy they take 10 years off a girl : )



Regarding the increase in sex drive.......ummmm, Guilty as charged. Like I've always said, I'm a happy drunk and there are no compLAINTS COMING FROM mR mYHEART, lol!

[MyHeartIsDrenchedInWine]

Alcohol and Perimenopause

Jane Jane,

I now wear hair extensions to deal with the "perialkie" hair thinning, I must say they take 10 years off a girl : )

Regarding the increase in sex drive.......ummmm, Guilty as charged. Like I've always said, I'm a happy drunk and there are no complaints coming from Mr Myheart :H This is probably why I get away with anything and everything in my house. I swear if I didn't have myriad "toys" to deal with things when my husband is out of town (or unavailable) I would seriously drink much more. I don't mean to offend the conservative women on this board but I'm telling you it helps sooo much with the anxiety that drives one to drink.


I'm glad I'm not the only one!



PS The test for perimenopause is "FSH", it's a bood test, and I'm officialy a "card carrying member"!!