Hello - I am not excited about this topic but I really need some feedback. I am 48 yrs old and my symptoms are increasing while I am experiencing my hormonal transition.
I take Black Cohosh, but it's no longer effective at this point. I will NEVER subscribe to hormone replacement therapy.
What does Dr. D'Adamo recommend????
In gratitude, Eve

Join the club.    I can't tolerate black cohosh. It gives me a migraine. My only available recourse was BHRT but I was gaining weight using the Bi-Est. I just recently stopped it. I want to see if there's much difference. I was on a very low dose.

Some docs recommend estriodol, very low dose by prescription. Some women who were gaining on Bi-Est, lost weight when they switched to estriodol.  I haven't tried it yet. That's the estrogen that's aggressive and can cause cancer. I liked Revival Soy shakes. They really helped with the hot flashes b4 the BHRT. The shakes have some avoids in them though so I'm not using them.

I've increased my progesterone cream (by Pro-Gest) at the recommendation of my Natural path who did saliva testing on me to see my hormonal levels.

I was having horrid breast swelling and pain for 3 weeks this month.  I eliminated green tea and all caffine (except in chocolate), and increased the pro-gest and the breast pain finally went away.

Plus I got some good recommendations from others on supp's to investigate.  I can't remember the thread that was on. anybody?

How are your hot flashes?  Too much progesterone causes more hot flashes. I'm thinking of just continuing the progesterone.

I take one vitex before bed....I wonder if I should really take more to keep things in balance, but so far this works for me, however, I'm 60!

Wow - great feedback.
Can anyone make recommendations for hot flashes and headaches? I was wondering about wild yams cream....but I do not know what I need and the MD will just put me on meds.

The wild yam is progesterone. Progesterone increases hot flashes. Estrogen is what is supposed to decrease the hot flashes.  Jayneeo, why don't you use cream instead of a pill and give your liver a break?  More junk to filter out of the body..

What helped my hot flashes was black cohosh and vitex (chaste tree), taken at about a 1/2 and 1/2 ratio.  Also flax seeds were extremely effective, fresh ground daily, a couple of Tb in smoothie or water.  Plenty of liquid is needed with the flax since it absorbs water, and helps clean out the gut as well.

There is a gentle Chinese herbal formula, available at most health food stores, called Xaio Yao Wan, and it's fantastic for the hormonal transitions, along with heat symptoms and emotional storms.  It's also available through Dragonherbs.com, called Bupleurum/Peony.  Both versions are pretty inexpensive, and either is worth taking.

I currently like Dr. D's Fembalance.  The thing about Menopause is that it keeps changing, so I am willing to change what I take from time to time, and then sometimes I go back to previous attempts and they work better.

One approach is to do a saliva test once a year or so, just to keep an eye on the balance of estrogens vs. progesterone.  If your progesterone drops, you can use the progesterone creams on your skin.  If you don't need them, they can be counterproductive.

Quoted from Mayflowers

The wild yam is progesterone. Progesterone increases hot flashes. Estrogen is what is supposed to decrease the hot flashes.  Jayneeo, why don't you use cream instead of a pill and give your liver a break?  More junk to filter out of the body..

Well then I must have ALOT of Estrogen because I'm not having hot flashes at this stage!  

Yes Pro-Gest is a progesterone creme highly recommended by my Naturalpath and also Christine Northrup in her medical books AND she has a great one on Menopause... I highly highly recommend it.  She talks about the spiritual and emotional aspects of menopause and it's just fantastic.  Makes you really honor this time in  your life.

Sounds like great advice - I am mindful to keep all the balance and enjoy my body's changes.
I was also looking into Estroven, which has among other things a high dose of B vits. I already take a potent B-complex....thx again. This has helped.

Eve,

I know you don't want to go the BHRT route and I didn't either.  

My first symptom of perimenopause was night sweating when I was 44.  Really didn't bother me much.  I started ERFYT about that time too.  Then the mood swings and depression kicked in and, oh boy, did I need help.  Not to mention dry hair, losing my hair and a few other things.  My poor husband and kids.  I tried Pro-gest and that seemed to help for awhile.  I found an OB doctor who specialized in Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy along with his standard OB/GYN practice.  A saliva test indicated I was on the low side of progesterone but still within "standards".  He listened to my symptoms and let me make the decision to go on BHRT.  I've been on progesterone (oral) and estradiol (cream) for 1 1/2 years and testosterone for about 6 months.  It's been wonderful for me, for my relationship with my husband and my kids don't think I'm a wacko witch.

I do eventually want to stop taking these and I've tried to go without but I'm not ready yet.  I never wanted to go this route but I have my life back.

My sister who's 1 1/2 years younger than me doesn't have any perimenopause or menopause symptoms, lucky her!!  Everyone is different and you just have to find out what is best for you.

These medications are compounded to my doctors instruction by a compounding pharmacist.

Kathleen

Don't forget exercise & fresh air! Walking is wonderful.

Mrs T O+ you are so right about exercise.  I was diagnosed with osteopenia (bone loss not great enough to call osteoporosis) at 45.  My GP said "don't worry, you can take Fosamax when you get older"    No way is that going to happen.  Since then I've been weight lifting once or twice a week plus spinning and hope, when I have the test next year at 50, it'll show a bone loss reversal.  Because of this exercise, I feel sooo much better, feel good about myself and look better.

Kathleen

Another thing that my NP put me on which I forgot to mention is    Symplex F which is a hormone normalizer of sorts.

If you have an NP you might ask about it.

Also my diet has had a HUGE impact on how I feel.

Funkymuse,

I might like to try it, where do you buy it?

Kathleen

Hello - great dialogues going on.
I have 3 dogs and live on a mountain and follow all the advice of Ceasar Milan, so yes, I am dedicated to exercising.
I have not been very good with the diet - let's just say I've NEVER eaten only from the Highly Beneficial list. And I have been drinking wine lately.
SO - today I stopped coffee and wine.  AND although I was seeking out the Xaio Yao Wan, and I could not wait on ordering Dr. D's FemBal, I did find "Oona" - and have started on it immediately...(I think I scared the clerk at the health food store )
I agree with everything that has been expressed here, esp that everyone is individual and has to find what works. I already feel relieved and look forward to feeling better every day.
I love these forums. I always benefit.
Thank you so much.

Quoted from Kathleen

He listened to my symptoms and let me make the decision to go on BHRT.  I've been on progesterone (oral) and estradiol (cream) for 1 1/2 years and testosterone for about 6 months.  It's been wonderful for me, for my relationship with my husband and my kids don't think I'm a wacko witch.

I do eventually want to stop taking these and I've tried to go without but I'm not ready yet.  I never wanted to go this route but I have my life back.

I was going to a Menopause Clinics of America. I saw a PA and she gave me Bi-Est, Testosterone and progesterone.  I gained weight using the Bi-Est, then I read that women were gaining weight on it and switched to estriodol and were able to lose the weight. I was planning on going to my gyn and seeing if she prescribes it. Suzanne Somers wants to stay on BHRT till she dies.  She even gets her TOM at 60'ish! I don't know if I want that, but some docs think that to bring the body back to balance, you have to have it back. Then you read about women on BHRT that got breast cancer too..It's a c**p shoot.

eehaslam,
http://www.dadamo.com/napharm/BTstore/BTSstore.pl?user_action=detail&catalogno=ED068H

Lola,
Thank you for the reminder about the Menopause book.  I think it's time I read it.

Maca is really good for menopause.

Hi all!

Since I really got into menopause last august, I have gained some 7 kilos and I am tired. Sometimes I drag myself into bed.
I do take my hb foods and take Fembalance, Cortiguard, soy isoflavones, drink hb teas like green tea, rosehip tea.
I do take the Activator, Multivitamins, and more for Teacher,
I do bike 3 times a week to Utrecht and fitness once a week, which I think is enough .. I do eat the same foods as before..
No hot flashes, or sleepless nights for me. No way, I can sleep for ages... Many ladyfriends are jealous of my long nights of sleep.
But.. the kilos are bothering me.. And I do have more flexible (painful) joints since I am in menopause.. (reminding me of my pregnancies in the last weeks, when muscles were weakening)
Last friday I had my blood tested for thyroid, diabetes, cholesterol, so within 3 days I get the results.

Any suggestions are welcome!!

Take care

Cocky  

omG...nope that's not true...wild yam augments DHEA naturally and this is m ;boosting  all kinds of  hormons naturally trallala in orthomolecular treatments it is meant: first 1 to 3 weeks go for 3x2 pillies daily (300mg's )for long distance treATMENTS... go for 3x1 pillie daily and yuk it is (dito for anti-aging's trallala's...

Rhodama....I feel you exhausted by thyroide issues....and here
I want to share something with you...www.schmerzundtape.de

go and take three of those tapes...left and right of your backside and one up to the middle of your spine.. for about
3 weeks.... but be aware not to tire em too much ...Hans must fix em.....better  ....can b
and then he must fix one stripe from your axis to the second of your bws...wirbels... ...can be transversed to the frontside...yesss go for a try...
repetitions....for 6 months......
naturopathic med. calls us : the issue is to be treatened on the oposite side.....laaaaa....

sorry, this I am doing without any clear knowledge, just bellyfeelings ......but that it works my dearle
I've seen that by myselve....weew great without any pains since last thursday.... and success whithin 30 minutes...

Quoted from Amazone I.

Rhodama....I feel you exhausted by thyroide issues....sorry, this I am doing without any clear knowledge, just bellyfeelings ......

That was my first sense too, Cocky, when reading your post... weight gain + tiredness = low thyroid for many women going through midlife changes. You could also have some adrenal issues at play as I know you have been through alot!! in the last few years, as well as menopause. Good thing to have your thyroid level checked  but you can have thyroid issues going on without it showing up in your bloodwork results.

I definitely needed to see this thread...
muah, everybody

OSuzelannchen ya always welcome....