His and Her Health

You women are filled with great ideas about alternative ways to relieve your symptoms. What works best for you? Is it taking a relaxing bath religiously 3 times a week, is it making a healthy dinner regularly? Is it using special sheets on the bed to relieve your hot flashes? What keeps you sane? Share with the rest of us who are constantly struggling.

<small>[ 05-30-2006, 04:33 PM: Message edited by: Moderator ]</small>

I take 800 USP of natural vitamin E daily to help with hot flashes. It's really the only thing that's helped. I can tell the difference when I skip a day.

Also, I've changed the way I dress. Nothing around the throat, not even a scarf. I almost always wear layers so I can take off everything down to a tank top if I get too warm. And, I keep a small fan at my desk at work just in case.

Fan those hot flashes away, Shirlr! My family has been begging me to move to a personal fan for years. I just turn the heat down or crank a/c up! They think I'm crazy.

I've heard of a few people doing the vitamin E regimen- hey, if it works for you!

I find that calcium at bedtime seems to help some with sleeplessness and nightsweats. I've only had one or two hot flashes so far, but apparently they don't run in my family. My mother only had a few and my sister had none.

I do have a question about menopause though.

I read that the symptoms go away after your through it. But I think that must be only partially true, yes? I'm assuming that things like vaginal dryness and loss of sensation or libido are not temporary. What gets better after the change is over? What issues do you still have to deal with long term?

Some symptoms of menopause can decrease or disappear entirely. Hot flashes for example will most likely disappear after your body adjusts to the lowering of estrogen levels. But it takes time for this to happen.

Unfortunately, other symptoms will not disappear. Due to the lack of estrogen, the intensity of your symptoms may even increase. Vaginal dryness, atrophy, greater bone loss, skin changes, hair changes and libido issues can potentially increase. Other urogenital issues may also increase such as vaginal infections, urinary urge and incontinence.

So, don't think that when you're through menopause "it's all over". Other issues associated with aging become more prevelant. But, you may be able to finally store your fan in the closet.

I forgot to mention some more things I do to relieve my hot flashes.. Exercise and shopping. Exercise really helps reduce the frequency of my hot flashes. In fact, 1 in 20 women who exercise regularly don't experience hot flashes. Not bad!

Shopping is just a way I get my mind off the hot flashes. The mall is a great way for me to be in an air conditioned environment for an extended amount of time!

This month's article in the Menopause Minute discusses some ways to "Beat the Heat" this summer. If you get the chance, go to: http://redhotmamas.org/newsletters/newsletter_200606.html

<small>[ 06-13-2006, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: Moderator ]</small>