Some days I simply feel older than Methuselah and this is one of them. I will be so glad when I get over Menopause, it seems like I have been trying to get over or just get through things most of my life. I can hardly wait to see what I’ll be trying to get through after this because I’m quite sure I wouldn’t know how to act if there wasn’t something, but I’d be willing to give it a go.
Many women have to take estrogen because of the drastic imbalance and with one simple pill daily they feel like a new woman. I decided not to take it because I have heard of side effects that I choose not to experience although many have no side effects at all. It’s just like when you see those commercials on television about these wonderful drugs that will make you well and then they list all the side effects that could make you worse.
Thanks, but no thanks, I’ll stick with the symptoms I already have and I have had many of the ones I have listed below. I haven’t had them all at the same time though and some I haven’t experienced yet and hopefully I wont. No wonder some days we feel the way we do, I had a nurse once tell me I should get estrogen replacement that I was suffering needlessly, maybe shes right, but I should be almost through it now although some women suffer menopausal symptoms the rest of their life.
Many of those symptoms include loss of desire (libido), night sweats, vaginal dryness, changes in odor, hot flashes, fatigue, sleep disorders, difficulty trying to concentrate, memory lapses, dizziness, weight gain, incontinence, bloating, hair loss, mood swings, depression, anxiety, irritability, panic disorders, aching joints, digestive problems, itchy skin, muscle tension, gum problems, migraines, develop allergies and there are many other symptoms to look forward to not to mention osteoporosis.
Many women have no problem with menopause, a few discomforts here and there, but others aren’t so lucky and you should always check with your doctor. I blame everything on menopause and I know Bill must get so tired of hearing me say that, but everything seems tied together. I am his first menopausal female and I’m sure I have been very mild and tame compared to many that I have heard about. I doubt we would have made it these past 5 years if I had been worse.
Any relationship can be hard, but starting a new one when your menopausal and going through so many changes can be a real challenge. If your starting to experience some of the symptoms above and you just can’t cope, then take it easy on yourself and see your doctor he can help. You definitely don’t want the dry, thinning hair and itchy skin, thank goodness I don’t have the crawly skin anymore because that drove me nuttier than I already am.
That nurse was right, why in the world would anyone in their right mind choose to go through those things when they can take a simple pill although in some cases you might not have experienced some of the symptoms above and if you take a synthetic hormone the side effects could make them develop like the bloating and weight gain ( damned if you do, damned if you don’t.)
Here are some of the more serious side effects from estrogen therapy: vision changes, redness or rashes-skin irritations, abdominal tenderness or swelling, lumps in the breast, vaginal bleeding, speech difficulty, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, pain in your chest or calves, skin or eyes yellowing or numbness in an arm or leg, these can occur as side effects and need immediate attention. The point is discuss with your doctor about what is best for you and go from there.
