menopause, not one for the lads!!!

[toecrusher]

think ive been having menopausal symptoms for about 12 months now, but recently getting worse, very frequent hot sweats, sleeping on top of the bed every night, have now been on a period for 3 weeks. taking black cohosh tabs which do seem to help. dont want to start on hrt, would rather stick to something herbal, some one in the paper suggested soya tabs? any help gratefully accepted. What helped you? Thanks in advance

[shaneystar]

I used to take Menopace which has soy isoflavones in it.
You can get them in Holland and Barrett or Boots,Super Drug.
Found them very effective although they took a while to kick in.
Oil of Evening Primrose is good too.I had such a bad time with it though I did go on HRT for a while out of desperation!! I would talk to your GP though ....especially about the lengthy periods.There are other alternatives to HRT now.I know just how you feel so good luck.It will come to an end at some stage.

[Oneeyedvic]

my wife takes Menopace - worked initially very well, but more recently (after about a year of taking them) she seems to be having flushed again.

She has it in conjenction with some sort of HRT (not sure which one htough)

[woofgang]

progestogen cream worked for about 2 years for me. Google on it to find the supplier. A pot lasts for 2 months but its 30 quid a pot. I am at the grin and bear (bare) it stage now, have tried 2 kinds of HRT, menopace, black cohosh, chasteberry, red clover, sage, isoflavone tablets....you name it. I now use ginkgo and st john's wort for the forgetfulness and emotional symptoms and codliver oil and glucosamine for the joint aches. The long bleed can be stopped with a depo provera injection, talk to your GP.....makes me sure that God is a man with a shakey sense of humour boy am I going to have something to say to Him!!!! (((hugs)))) except we are both too hot!!

[lady_p_gold]

Well just to add, I know you don't want to take HRT but I decided I would and within two weeks everything was back to normal and I have never had a hot flush or any symptoms of anything since.  I would rather not be taking it but it really has worked wonders for me!

[netibiza]

Welcome to the menopause.  I'm still having night sweats and hot flushes after 8 yrs. I just get on with it.

[silly moo]

A big problem with HRT is that when you stop - which you have to a some point - all the symptoms come back in an almighty rush.
I have a fan in my bedroom , a little noisy but it helps.
Plus a cocktail of herbal supplements. I think you have to change every so often , and most of them take a few weeks to really work well.
Good luck

[thorkel9]

Toecrusher, I don't know your reasons for not wanting to take HRT but I've been on it since 1988 (went through very early menopause due to an operation) and haven't looked back.  I initially did go through all the horrendous symptoms - hot flushes every 20 minutes day and night, feeling I was going mental and losing my marbles.  As soon as I started on the HRT, I was back to normal.  I use the skin patches which give you a much lower dose as the hormones are absorbed through your skin.  The doc told me that the tablet form of HRT is much stronger since the liver removes a lot of the hormones in them, so they have to compensate with a higher dose.  I am now 48 and plan to keep on with the HRT as long as I can.  I am perfectly healthy and (thank God!) most people seem to think I'm only in my 30's, so either they're lying (mmmm) or it's working well.  Hope things work out for you!

[toecrusher]

thanks to you all for your advice and comments, its given me a lot to think about. Youve also made me rethink about hrt at some stage. am going to try some of the herbal remedies first. thanks for the info about the injection, didnt know it existed.