peri- and post-menopausal DUers... help!

[w8liftinglady]

I think the time has finally come. The mood swings are killing me. What can I do to ease some of the symptoms? What worked for you?

[GoCubsGo]

1. Not sure I can help you with the mood swings part, but...

I highly recommend Remifemin. It isn't aimed at the mood swings, but it works great for hot flashes. It takes a few weeks for it to kick in, however. If your hot flashes are disturbing your sleep, this will help, and might ease some of the mood issues. Odds are, much of that is sleep (or lack of it) related. Here is a link to their web site, which has all sorts of advice that might help relieve your symptoms: http://www.remifemin.com/

I just started taking I-Cool out of curiosity (instead of the Remifemin). It is fairly new on the market, and it claims to help with the mood swings, weight gain, hot flashes... I've only been on it about a week. I haven't noticed much of a difference yet, and nothing short of a big dose of Valium is going to cure that. Ask me in a couple more weeks, and I can give you a better recommendation on it.

[w8liftinglady]

2. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

[GoCubsGo]

3. You're welcome.

My need for the Valium comes from a really shitty week, something I was going to mention, but had a brain fart.

[w8liftinglady]

5. lol...I am way stressed ,too...changing jobs and waiting grad school approval... oy!

[WinkyDink]

4. I'm a Drama Queen; couldn't tell the difference!

[w8liftinglady]

6. hehe...now I don't feel so bad!

Seriously,I laid in bed staring at the ceiling...it is really bothering me.

[seabeyond]

7. not a drama queen and forgot i was suppose to have mood swing. no difference, bitch

teasin, lol

now the hot flashes, whole nothing story. i am more in amazement with those suckers

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. I haven't gotten it yet, but I was recommended this book

http://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Menopause-Revised-Creating-Emotional/dp/0553386727/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304714689&sr=1-2

[hyphenate]

9. I've been told that one of the soy based tablets

might help. I'm not sure if they're considered a vitamin or something, but they allegedly help the urge to take a machine gun and kill everyone within earshot.

I've been menopausal now for a year and a half, but I had a very easy time of it, with nothing very exciting.

Perhaps something along the line of a Pamprin might help with the mood swings?

[nolabear]

10. I know it's hard. Remifemin is said to be really good. So is Black Cohosh

which is one of the elements in Remifemin. Excercise helps. Avoid alcohol as much as you can. Meditation and breathing and yoga all help.

Menopause is a good opportunity to slow down and look at the fact that your focus in life is changing. Listen to what you need. Oh, and check your Vitamin D levels. Did wonders for my mood once I knew I was low.

For me, mood swings were crazy at first and got better. Night sweats were murder for a long time; they're better.

There's a good website, www.power-surge.com that is a treasure trove of info and support.

Hang in there, Sister. Women of a Certain Age Rock.

[w8liftinglady]

11. Thank you- you all helped a lot!