Natural approach with premature menopause

[Asteria]

I was wondering if anyone out there has experience of using natural remedies and diet to help with premature menopause? I am getting my bloods results back on friday, but that is just a formality as it is pretty certain that I am menopausal. I am only 36 (sob) but had an ovary removed at 23, which brings menopause forwards.

My periods seem to have stopped altogether now - although at the beginning of the year I had a few months of biblical deluge which was horrendous, so I don't miss them!! The main symptoms I have problems with are night sweats, insomnia, wild emotions and hormonal flips, forgetfulness, joint pain, vagueness, total lack of libido (only got married last year so that aint great!!), mild incontinence, hair loss everywhere but on my bloody chin and I seem totally incapable of shifting the great Michelin tyres around my waist...

I would like to go down the natural route with this as I have a ridiculously sensitive body that seems to shut down whenever anything too chemical gets close - the pill nearly killed me and Mirena was just as bad. Synthetic hormones are really not for me. Any advice would be massively appreciated - I would like to be able to go in to the Dr fully armed with as much information as possible

[AuntieStella]

Have you spotted this support thread for the premature menopause? It's not always active, but worth a browse.

Also, you might like to look at Menopause Matters which has good sections on both premature menopause and also complementary approaches.

[pinkfrocks]

Sorry you are going through this.
TBH there is no real alternative to such an early menopause other than oestrogen. If you read the links that Auntie posted they ought to explain how without oestrogen for around 15 years ( compared to average age of meno at 51) you will be putting yourself at risk of very serious ill health- heart disease and osteoporosis.

The vast majority of HRT now is not synthetic- it's totally different to the Pill.
The only syntehtic forms of oestrogen are conjugated equine oestrogen that is in some HRT starting with Pre ( eg Premarin)
This is 'old' HRT and has been replaced with new bioidentical types where the formula is the same as your own body produces.

There is also a natural progesterone- Utrogestan- that many women find gives fewer side effects than synthetic progestogens. All are available on the NHS and patches or gel gives fewer side effects than pills.

[pinkfrocks]

This might help explain the different types available.

www.menopausematters.co.uk/treatafter.php

[Asteria]

Thank you - I will have a good rummage through the thread and the websites. Still trying to get my head around it all. DH and I were talking about having his vasectomy (had it before we met) reversed...

[DayLillie]

www.daisynetwork.org.uk/

Don't forget this organisation as well. There may be useful fertility advice too. It is a lot to deal with.

[Asteria]

Thank you daylillie I have had a bit of a rummage on there too! We aren't going to worry about fertility, aside from the prohibitive financial and emotional costs we already have 3 children between us. It would have been lovely to have our own - we could have called it Favourite (or Dave)!! I think the prem meno has been a benefit in that way - it has taken the "should we shouldn't we" question away. We can just get on with breeding labradors and ferrets and going on nice holidays that we could ever afford if we had more children!

[DayLillie]

Have fun!

I know someone with a lovely pair of red setters. They are trained perfectly, and they have lying under pub tables down to a 'T'.

[Asteria]

ooh - DS LOVES setters! I think that we would make marvellous crazy dog people - perhaps I should invest in a headscarf and permanently wear a whistle on a lanyard round my neck, meanwhile chewing bits of hedgerow to alleviate my meno symptoms...

[cherrycoconut]

Sorry to hear you're going through this Asteria but sounds like you've got a great attitude. I was diagnosed as having been through menopause last year at 33 which was a bit of a shock to the system so I know what you're going through. I'm on HRT patches primarily for bone health - a DEXA scan showed I have osteopenia already - and I get on OK with it. But I also do lots of other more woo things to help too:

This book has really helped me feel well again and manage my hormones and would be a great start point:

www.amazon.co.uk/Energy-Medicine-Women-Aligning-Energies/dp/1585426474/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411074774&sr=1-1&keywords=donna%20eden%20energy%20medicine%20for%20women&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

For me it's being aware of the pitfalls and doing what you can to mitigate the damage and look after yourself. Breeding Labradors sounds ideal!

[Asteria]

Thank you for that cherrycoconut - I'm all about the woo!!

[cherrycoconut]

Gotta love the woo...!

[lonelygirl01]

hi I found out I was going through premature menopause when I was 37 with the blood test and I am 39 now and am finding it hard to deal with especially the hot flushes which are driving me mad!! and low mood swings along with the low sex drive we haven't done anything for nearly a year which makes me feel for my poor partner who is supportive but I do keep yelling at him and then be totally moody towards him because I'm feeling so down with the hot flushes as they are the worse thing for me and the doctor as told me I am unable to go on HRT as I am prone to bloodclots. Please help does anyone have any advice on trying to get the hot flushes under control I am willing to try anything!!!! Help!

[pinkfrocks]

You must ask your dr for a referral to a gynaecologist who knows about early menopause.

It is pretty much essential that you use HRT or your heart and boes may be at risk in middle age.

What exactly is your history of blood clots? Is this recent? What is the cause? Have you been in hospital etc with them?

HRT in the form of patches or gel- topical HRT not pills- is not linked with increased blood clots.