Don't ya just love perimenopause!

[catabryna]

I just turned 41 and have had perimenopausal symptoms for at least four years and was tested by my gyn who said that I was in the perimenopausal phase. I also suffered from infertility.

First of all, I've moved from sea level in Texas to about 3,800 feet in the Sierra range of California. High humidity in Texas, low humidity in the mountains.

Prior to the move, I started drinking green tea (in January). I initially started it because of pre-hypertension (gyn says it appears to have been brought on by perimenopause as it was always normal). What I found, however, is that it also seemed to help regulate my wildly fluctuating cycles though it didn't seem to do anything in terms of perimenopausal symptoms. I continued to experience night sweats and hot flashes really badly and it didn't really seem correlate with a particular time during my cycle. They were random and really bad.

Since I've moved, I've continued the green tea. My cycles have become more normal than they've been in the last four years and I am no longer suffering from night sweats though I still have an occasional hot flash.

So, I guess my question would be, do you think the green tea is helping? Could it be the higher altitude? Could it be the lower humidity? The lack of pollution? Maybe all of the above? My stress level hasn't changed, my diet remains pretty much as it's always been, my activity level is unchanged, and I haven't lost any weight, so there's something going on here.

I'm not asking for advice because I'm liking this change! But, I am curious about this drastic turnaround. Anyone out here have any thoughts on what I consider a minor miracle?

Edited to add: I moved up here in the middle of March.

[Longhorn]

1. I'm interested in the responses.

I'm ten years older than you but have started to notice changes in my cycle and some hot flashes. I've decided to cut out artificial sweeteners to see if it makes a difference in my metabolism and weight loss efforts. I've been wondering what I will drink instead since I'm not a big fan of water. Maybe I should give green tea a try.

Sorry to lose a Lone Star Democrat! :hi:

[catabryna]

2. Ah, and we lived near each other too!

I was in Leander... but, I did manage to vote in the Texas primary before the move! Not that it would make any difference in all the red counties surrounding Austin. :eyes: I was in the area for years and I'm still missing my friends, but I absolutely love living up in the trees.

I also can't stand to drink plain water so I've always been an herbal tea drinker. I didn't figure temperature would make a difference, so I steep the green tea with some dried peppermint leaves for flavoring and make it into iced tea (no sugar). I've never been a consumer of pop/soda because I'm just not into really sweet things. <-- Weird, I know! I do, however, always start my day with a cup of black coffee.

Just an fyi: The best deal on green tea, or any other herbal tea for that matter, can be found in the bulk food section at Central Market.

:hi:

[Longhorn]

4. I don't blame you for wanting to live in California!

We spent a week driving from Carmel to the end of the Avenue of the Giants for our 25th anniversary in 2001. If I could afford to live there (and if I could get Mr. Longhorn to budge,) I'd be there in a second!

I'm going to try squirting some lime juice into my water. I might try making some green iced tea and adding some lime juice to it, too, and maybe just a little sugar as I wean myself off of the sweetened drinks.

Thanks for the tip about getting tea at Central Market! I hope you figure out what's going on with your body! :)

[catabryna]

6. If life always went my way, I'd still be in Texas...

but Mr. Catabryna passed away and I wanted to raise our now five year old son near my family. We had no family in Texas. His family is in PA and my family is here in CA. (I was born in San Francisco). The hubby worked at Dell and suffered from cancer for two years before passing away. Fortunately, he kept working during his treatment and managed to increase his life insurance every chance he got. As a result, we were able to buy a small piece of land outside a metro area and will be building on it. Because my son and I are eligible for Social Security benefits, we weren't required to move to an expensive housing market so I could find work.

It's much less expensive out in the sticks, especially if one has the chance, as I do, to build from the ground up. We will have an opportunity to bloom where we are planted. :)

Good idea on the lime or lemon. Not everyone likes or can ingest honey, but that's another sweetener option out there. At least it's not refined.

PS: What a great anniversary trip ~~ that's a gorgeous area you passed through!

[Pool Hall Ace]

3. This green tea you speak of . . .

Is there any particular brand you recommend?

[catabryna]

5. I think it's all a matter of taste...

I've tried all sorts of different types. And, you get the same benefits from caffeinated as you would from decaf. Some that I've tried tasted like dirt and most of those were from China. The Japanese teas I've tried are good. Stash and Celestial Seasonings have good green teas. Celestial Seasonings offers some green teas which are blended with other teas (such as blueberry) to give it a bit more flavor. Until I can get to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods to buy bulk, I'm sticking with Stash.

White Tea provides the same benefits and the taste is a bit more mellow, but many times, though not always, it is more expensive.

[astral]

7. yerbamate

this type of tea is loaded with benefits, and you can get it mixed with dried stevia leaves too (I think that one's called yerba-mate royal and is a brand name?) and the stevia is a natural (for real, NATURAL!) sweetener and a healthful herb in its own right.

Here's one link to a source:

http://www.thepowermall.com/thecenterforhealth/healthy_bodies/teas.htm

I've talked about stevia before here, I think! This tea actually tastes great but I must admit I'm not a frequent tea drinker.