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Post by cherry on Aug 11, 2007 6:00:50 GMT -5
I know that myself and at least one other person on here are doing this at the moment, an induced 6 month menopause, caused by Gonadatrophin Reducing Hormone (GnRH) treatment, by injection or nasal spray. I coped pretty bad the first time around and scared poor Cass with my rants about it, just wondering what others on natural, faux or surgically induced menopauses do to combat the symptoms? I cope very badly with the memory loss and being a bit vacant, it really upsets me! I take gingko biloba with ginseng but would appreicate other suggestions on what has worked for you guys! Thanks
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Post by cass on Aug 11, 2007 9:40:27 GMT -5
Hey Cherry this is a great thread thanks for starting it! I have been on the nasal spray (Synarel) for nearly 2 months. I am suffering from memory loss which is really getting to me. I cant even remember if i have taken my medication half the time. I am managing hte hot flushes through layering my clothes when im at work so it is easier to cool myself down when i have to without people noticing. what benefits does the gingki biloba ginseng have? i too am very interested in some remdies as the headaches are getting to me too. -xx-
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Post by cherry on Aug 11, 2007 9:55:53 GMT -5
It helps with memory loss and I have to say it really did make a difference! When I went for my pre op the nurse laughed and said gingko is for old fogeys like her but said she'd also heard good things about it and that I should carry it on in case I ended up back on menopause, which I am now. I'd double up at first, that's what I'm doing now that I'm back on GnRH. I take just a generic supermarket brand which works fine for me! I heard valerian (another herbal remedy) is good for headaches, it stinks to high heaven but the best way to benefit is to take it in tablet form xx
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Post by cherry on Aug 18, 2007 10:52:52 GMT -5
Cass, I have found that caffeine, including the smaller amounts in soft drinks, and a lot of sugar can set me off flushing hugely. Wine did me in, but I found drinking freshly prepared cocktails wasn't bad on me. And drinking plenty of water and watery drinks is great. I'm now onto making juices cos I've gone off water, and it's fab. There's nothing so good as cold freshly blended juice when your body just goes 'whoosh!'
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Post by JackMcFarland on Aug 19, 2007 13:51:44 GMT -5
I'm not in a medically induced menopause per-say. I'm on a drug called Norethisterone aka Northindrone. It's what was first used in oral contraceptives. Though it acts as a birth control, that is not its main purpose. In fact, as long as I am taking it every day, I will not get a period. My doctor advised I do this for a year. So, I'm not technically in 'menopause', however...I'm periodless for as long as I like with minimal side effects. I do get hot flashes, I get tired easy, headaches are a bitch, and I blew up like a bloody balloon, but in the past month my overall pain has decreased significantly.
The up side of this drug? While the GnRH puts you ladies into menopause, you suffer these horrid side effects and on top of that can have boneloss. With Northindrone, I was put on a calcium pill because it actually helps to strengthen bones!!!
It's not a wonder drug. I don't know what the difference in pain management is between it ans GnRH, though my pain is less...I still feel like a 50lb brick in going to fall from between my legs on occasion. Just not every night anymore....thank goodness!
My Dr also put me on this drug because we recently discovered my body doesn't produce ANY progesterone and instead produces ungodly amounts of estrogen. Northin = all progestrone. I didn't want to add fuel to the fire (like some BC can do cause they have estrogen in them), I chose to go a route of pure progestrone and no estrogen or estrogen reducers. I want to see if I can balance the two out to what my body needs.
I dunno. I refused anything that would put me into menopause, luprin and GnRH alike. Too many hormones already raging my organs however they like, I want some control over this if it is at all possible. Besides, they scare me. Personally, the risks far outweight the benefits. Why put yourself through all of that when you can deal with less on a simple pill? Though remembering to take it is a snot. The patch was always so convenient! Too bad it'll kill you.
I guess it depends on the case and severity of Endo....but my Dr flat out said, if I had waited another 6 months (which I almost did with a Dr in Miami) I could've kissed both my ovaries goodbye. Scary when you think of what could have happened. He's confident that in a year my endo will have slowed in its progression (obviously some will have grown back, but much slower!!...*hopefully*). The thing I'm most worried about, and I'm sure you girls will agree - my endo in 2 years grew back so rapid that my Dr also believes eventually I'll be back to the same spot I was in...possibly worse because of the rate of growth. He's not sure how I went from a stage 2 to a borderline 4 in 2 years, though he think the dr who did the first lap missed a whole bunch.
How, I guess is the point I'm trying to make out of this novel, do we know what is exactly the right thing to do? I cried in the car ride on the way home the other day because it cost me $50 for a 30 day supply of pills. I went from a size 4 to a nearly a 10 in the past 2 years because of all the hormones that ran through me on a free-for-all. We're in our 20 and feeling the affects of menopause. Hot flashes, irrability (our poor boys!), and all that comes with something that we shouldn't even have a glimpse of till we're 50!
Damn our ever ticking clocks. Shall they ever cease? Or at least slow the heck down...
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Post by cherry on Aug 23, 2007 0:46:04 GMT -5
Ah norethisterone, the evil pill. I feel your pain. My thoughts are taking a downward turn, Ihope it's cos I've been a tad emotional rather than the effects of the treatment. I cannot be dealing with hormone induced depression right now! I tried doubling my EPO to ease past the loading stage quicker but it just made me spotty. However I've noticed the difference, that when I don't take EPO, my hot flushing is worse. More frequent and prolonged. So it's small doses of EPO for me!
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Post by cass on Aug 28, 2007 21:28:58 GMT -5
Ok the night swets are BAD! I find myself waking 2-3 times during hte night absolutely burning ripping all blankets off and stripping and ims till hot! i wake up in a hot sweat and its not fun! Hope the HRT kicks in soon i need a good nights sleep!
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Post by vatechgrad on Oct 1, 2007 9:54:49 GMT -5
I feel your pain. I have horrid night sweats for no freaking reason! I mean rolling off of me, sheets soking wet, ick. I am on norithidrone too, but sweats started months before that. I am on effexor to battle the craziness the hormones cause in me. AGain night sweats way before that. I've had blood work done twice and everything is perfect. So they've given up and I"m just dealing with them.
Janet
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Post by rach on Sept 26, 2008 1:10:27 GMT -5
Hi girls, So i realise this is a very old thread but wanted to see how you are doing now with these things you've mentioned, and if you're still in a drug induced menopause or, if your treatment has changed, how it worked out for you?
Also, if you've overcome the night sweats or if its just something you're still dealing with? I should have read these before i made a new thread for the sweats, sorry.
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Post by cass on Sept 26, 2008 3:19:16 GMT -5
been in a drug induced menopause for 16 months so far and also on HRT. no real night sweats and most symptoms went when i started HRT. noticed memory loss and lack of concentration and forgetfullness but other than that generally ok.
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Post by JackMcFarland on Sept 26, 2008 8:06:43 GMT -5
im of all meds. im dying. heh.
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