Menopause

poohpeggy

poohpeggy

Cathlete
Well, it official. My Primary Care Doctor said that my waking up drenched in the middle of night is from menopause. The best news on the planet is she said " keep doing your Cathe, it is very important". She also said to drink lots of cold water. I had to laugh, I freeze 3 water bottles at different levels, so I have cold water all night!!

It is amazing how Cathes workouts have affected my health in such good ways, for so many years. How blessed I feel.
 
Oh absolutely! I was told in July I'm in full menopause. I laughed because I've been having symptoms for a while. I'm 52. Workouts are and always have been my respite, stress reducer, happy time...whatever you want to call it. I can't control menopause but I CAN keep working out. I'm taking Natures Bounty Complete menopause complex. It has markedly reduced hot flashes and night sweats as well as better sleep (a little). One pill in morning and one at night. I cry a lot. Out of nowhere. And a bit moody. Yup! Good times right?!
 
tlc93 said:
Oh absolutely! I was told in July I'm in full menopause. I laughed because I've been having symptoms for a while. I'm 52. Workouts are and always have been my respite, stress reducer, happy time...whatever you want to call it. I can't control menopause but I CAN keep working out. I'm taking Natures Bounty Complete menopause complex. It has markedly reduced hot flashes and night sweats as well as better sleep (a little). One pill in morning and one at night. I cry a lot. Out of nowhere. And a bit moody. Yup! Good times right?!
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Thank You for the Tip on Natures Bounty. I will look for that. I never know what my physical or mental issues are from. Either menopause or nocturnal seizures,etc. What I do know, is I can count on Cathes workouts every time for stability. I live alone with my mini doxie "Julio" so we just get moody together. He gets moody after a seizure. He's lit up like the 4th of July :). Actually, it was his actions that informed me I was having seizures at night. So all in all its pretty "good times" over here. Oh, I am moody with Cathe on a few workouts also. Ha Ha. Lets just say my yelling words are harsh!! I officially am in your moody camp. We Cathletes must stick together!!!
 
Another 52 year old functioning on what must be the lightest, most disturbed, most-interrupted, least nourishing sleep on the bloody planet! This perimenopause/menopause is no damn joke, for sure. Sometimes I can't fall asleep --last night, lay there from 12 until 2 am, sat up and read and ate Cadbury chocolate from 2 - 4am because, why the hell not?!?!?!-- and sometimes I cannot for the life of me stay asleep --Friday night, woke up about 10 times .... sooooooo unhelpful!-- and sometimes the slightest noise is enough to light up my brain into total wakefulness --visiting my daughter in Boston on Saturday night, her bloody fridge, noisiest fridge on the planet!!!

So, now I am home again, and it's 4 am and I am still not in bed because I don't want to go to bed until I can actually assure that sleep will happen.

Seriously, sleep problems seem to be my only real menopause symptom. My pcp refused to give me a prescription for a sleeping pill. I think I need to go back and insist or go see a psychiatrist and be done with that nonsense.

If I didn't have my workouts to help with this ongoing misery, I'm not sure what the point of it all might be?!?!?!?

Clare
 
Hello

Clare, you have my sympathies. I hate nights like that. Fortunately, I don't seem to be suffering too much yet. (I'm 50.) I'm getting the odd night sweat which keeps me awake but that seems to be all for symptoms. I've been doing a lot of reading around it - forewarned is forearmed I reckon (if I can manage to remember what I've read!).
 
Another vote for Nature's Bounty Complete Menopause. I cannot even begin to tell you how much this supplement has helped with all of symptoms.
 
maddiesmum said:
Another 52 year old functioning on what must be the lightest, most disturbed, most-interrupted, least nourishing sleep on the bloody planet!
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Clare, I so sympathize! What you wrote is exactly what I went through (but I could never have worded it all so well!). I tried everything I knew. The homeopathic stuff made me feel weird, unfortunately. Went to the doctor for sleeping pills but the doc said to me, "I sleep 5 hours a night too, so what's your problem"!! So I went to another doc and the second one (a female) was great and wrote me a prescription for acupuncture. This was completely new to me but at that point I was game to try anything. Acupuncture (with a terrific, well trained therapist) was super helpful for me. I got some relief right away - went from sleeping no more than a total of 5 hr./night for 3 years to sleeping 6.5 hrs. after the first treatment. Yahoo!

And yes, the workouts were essential. They helped in so many ways, including helping my mental health. The positive thing is that it inspired me to work out more intensely and get into hiit training and using heavy weights which I now can't imagine going without.

I also found (to my dismay) that my body could really no longer handle sugar, so I tried to cut back on that and increase water. When I could restrain enough to do it (not easy when sleep deprived!) I did sleep better. And my body/health is all the better for that. Menopause forced me to live healthier so I guess that is the silver lining.

Once I retired I slept and slept and slept for the first several months! It was astounding how sleep deprived I had been for so long. Knowing I could sleep in and having less stress really helped me get my sleep.

I think menopause can be brutal for some women and the challenge of it is really underestimated. For me, it was one of the most challenging experiences of my life. Without sleep, your whole world changes - sleep disruption affects every aspect of your life. It can take a lot of work to find something that will help you as an individual. For me it was: acupuncture, eliminating added sugar, increasing water, restructuring things to decrease stress, changing my schedule some days so I could sleep in, and most especially, patience - eventually the hormonal changes levelled out. Good luck and sweet dreams!
 
Awe Clare I know what you're going through. When I was in peri-menopause maybe 8 years ago I was exhausted like you and would wake up from 1-4am or so every morning. I would become anxious already in the early evening because I knew I was going to wake up in the middle of the night again. I also developed severe migraines so finally my GP put me on Nortriptyline daily. With some dose adjustments it eventually controlled both symptoms and I still take it now even though I'm post menopause at 50. I think back and seriously believe I had a breakdown without realizing it at the time. Some GP's have no clue what we go through and why should we have to suffer? I still have some night sweats but take a product called Menosense that was recommended by naturopathic therapist I see and it certainly helps. As Jane commented above I also had to ditch the sugar, became gluten intolerant and feel so much better without this in my diet. Jamie
 
Wow - so glad to be reading this! I'm 51 and working my way to "the end," which can't come soon enough!! The last several years were horrible with symptoms, many of which are finally starting to dissipate. But the sleeplessness - ugh! And I, too, get anxious at bedtime because I'm worried I won't be able to sleep. Melatonin makes me feel horrible, so no-go there. Today I'm just so tired and feel like crying. I've noticed changes in what my body will tolerate food-wise, as well. Trying hard to stay consistent with workouts, but have no stamina for the intense stuff. Want to try to incorporate more yoga to see if that will help. Just really want to hole up in my apartment until this is all over. Can't wait for the end of this!! ugh.
 
jamie vaughn said:
Awe Clare I know what you're going through. When I was in peri-menopause maybe 8 years ago I was exhausted like you and would wake up from 1-4am or so every morning. I would become anxious already in the early evening because I knew I was going to wake up in the middle of the night again. I also developed severe migraines so finally my GP put me on Nortriptyline daily. With some dose adjustments it eventually controlled both symptoms and I still take it now even though I'm post menopause at 50. I think back and seriously believe I had a breakdown without realizing it at the time. Some GP's have no clue what we go through and why should we have to suffer? I still have some night sweats but take a product called Menosense that was recommended by naturopathic therapist I see and it certainly helps. As Jane commented above I also had to ditch the sugar, became gluten intolerant and feel so much better without this in my diet. Jamie
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Yes, I've had 4 migraines in the last 4 days. The brain feels sluggish. Between those and the lack of quality sleep,, I haven't worked out in a week. I am heading out tomorrow to walk. At least that, I can do. Interesting off-label use of the Nortriptyline, and it has less side effects than older drugs. Might be something to consider, since I am also a depression and anxiety sufferer.

Thanks Jaimie and Jane: it's good to hear that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I think I need to up my healthy carbs too, see if I can cut down the sugar cravings, cravings that just get exacerbated by the lack of sleep, as we all know.

Clare
 
NY25 said:
Wow - so glad to be reading this! I'm 51 and working my way to "the end," which can't come soon enough!! The last several years were horrible with symptoms, many of which are finally starting to dissipate. But the sleeplessness - ugh! And I, too, get anxious at bedtime because I'm worried I won't be able to sleep. Melatonin makes me feel horrible, so no-go there. Today I'm just so tired and feel like crying. I've noticed changes in what my body will tolerate food-wise, as well. Trying hard to stay consistent with workouts, but have no stamina for the intense stuff. Want to try to incorporate more yoga to see if that will help. Just really want to hole up in my apartment until this is all over. Can't wait for the end of this!! ugh.
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My deepest sympathies. I know exactly how you feel. It can make a person quite desperate. How to get a good workout in when your energy levels are dragging along the ground? I didn't manage it yesterday, nor today. Then that just adds to the anxiety because I rely on my workouts to help reduce symptoms of and to manage depression. I have to say, about 1-2 weeks ago, I had some free classes at a local gym and I found the combo of a barre class, followed by yoga to be fantastic. I was so relaxed afterwards. Now I just have to be disciplined to make it happen at home too. It's not like I don;t have a ton of yoga DVDs, but there is something unique about a live yoga class. Yga could be good for both of us.

Big hugs to you, empathy in sisterly misery!!

Clare
 
Re the migraines and depression
My mum (in her 70s) has been suffering from bad migraines for over a year. She's had scans/tests etc and there's nothing seriously wrong. Anyway, her GP has put her on a low dose of an anti-depression drug (I'm not sure what) but that seems to be working. Apparently low doses of these drugs are recognised as treatment for migraines. It might be worth asking your doctor about it.
 
Yes some antidepressants are used for migraine prophylaxis and also some antiseizure meds such as topamax. Interestingly topamax causes weight loss aa a side effect as opposed to weight gain with many antidepressants ☺
 
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Before all this mess, I slept like a baby. In fact, if I wasn't in my pj's by 10:00pm, I had to sleep in my clothes. I was gone the minute my head hit the pillow. Now, the least little noise, wakes me, and I spend the rest of the night staring at the clock. Stressing that the alarm will be ringing in two hours for work. Most of the time falling asleep is difficult, and has become a nightmare. (I wish!!! Sleeping long enough to have a nightmare, would be nice!)
I am post menopausal. I have had relief from many of the symptoms, sleeping is not one of them!
 
Girls Gone Strong posted an article on training through menopause today on FB. probably many of you are already part of that group and will have had a chance to read it, but just in case:

https://www.girlsgonestrong.com/blog/menopause/working-female-clients-menopause-beyond/

This paragraph, in particular:

"I personally get exasperated when I organize my own workout programs, only to end up losing three days to utter fatigue or migraines. What’s made the difference for me now is just accepting that these changes are going to happen and then alter my workout to suit my needs. This can be something like a mobility/flexibility session or a light strength training session focusing on form, instead of my scheduled HIIT session — being adaptable is paramount!"

Clare
 
Thanks Clare. That was a great article. I see a lot of my issues there and it's always nice to know I'm not suffering alone. I've had days of zero energy and feel quite frustrated that I can't do a specific workout. I'm slowly learning to accept what I can and can not do. I just wish the instant internal infernos would stop. I can't remember the last time I woke up feeling truly rested.....and on and on it goes.
 
Great article Clare. I especially took note of the vertigo issue. I started having episodes of vertigo 2 years ago and still get them out of the blue now. It apparently started with a cold sore virus and now I have chronic symptoms but I'm sure it was just the perfect storm including the hormones at the time and bam I was sick for 6 weeks, had to return to work part time initially and just had another episode Sept 1. Since undergoing rehab with a specialist I now understand that inflammatory foods can worsen symptoms so perhaps that's true for other symptoms of menopause.
Jamie
 
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