Welcome to the Menopause.

Fortunately for me I am at the tail end of this experience and what a ride! I found that not much in the way of information discussion or help was out there and there were so many things that I simply was not aware of. Menopause is something that is not talked about and very little attention paid to it. I wanted to put out some ideas and suggestions to help over these difficult times. 

SYMPTOMS.

Hot flushes, rapid heart rate [palpitations], anxiety, depression, panic attacks, mood swings, night sweats, irregular periods, periods can also be heavier, cessation of periods, poor concentration, itchy crawly skin, irritability, faulty memory, tinnitus[ringing in the ears], weight gain, vertigo[dizziness], body odour, burning tongue or roof of mouth, bad breath, bleeding gums, osteoporosis, aching body or limbs, tense muscles, weak brittle fingernails, thinning hair, sore breasts, unable to sleep, headaches, allergies may get worse, more facial hair, tingling extremities, low sex drive, dry vagina, dry eyes, incontinence, digestive issues and bloating, fatigue, electric shocks, difficulty concentrating. 

I have had several of these without being aware they were due to menopause. It amazes me that we are still standing and coping without any help. 

Here are a few suggestions to try to alleviate some of these symptoms. 

DIET.

Foods:

General - Oestrogen rich foods, flax seeds, soy yogurt, soy milk, multi grain breads [I like soy and linseed bread], garlic, dried apricots, prunes, dates,  hummus, sesame seeds, kale, green cabbage, blueberries, cherries, cucumbers, carrots, zucchinis, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, sunflower seeds and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Hormone Balancing Foods - coconut oil, avocados, hemp seeds, tulsi tea, bone broth, wild salmon, raw yogurt.

Foods For Sleep - bananas, honey, berries, almonds.

*I found that having a warm milk with honey, vanilla essence and cinnamon on top at night before bed helps to relax me and put me to sleep.

DRINKS.

Green tea helps with bad breath. 

Sage tea daily also helps.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine.

EXERCISE.

Yoga:
Lowers stress.Eases pain and discomfort. Decreases hot flushes. Reduces blood pressure. Good for joints. Classes are fun and available close by or you can stay at home and use You Tube or a CD.

Walking:
Walking is good at any stage of life. It picks you up mentally and of course physically. Going somewhere pleasant like the park is also beneficial. Lately I have been doing walking programs on You Tube which are fun and great for winter and rainy days.You don't even have to leave the house.

Meditation:
This is helpful for a calming effect and to keep those stress levels down.

*Don't forget your pelvic floor exercises. I do mine at the red traffic lights.

MEDICATION.

Visiting the doctor regularly and getting a women's health check  is essential. Regular breast screening and PAP smears are a must.

H.R.T. or Hormone Replacement Therapy. Your doctor can advise you about this. I was unable to take it as I have a high incidence of breast cancer in the family. 

Progesterone hormone therapy is another treatment to talk over with your doctor.

*This is the time to talk to your doctor about medication.

HERBAL [NATURAL]  REMEDIES.

Evening Primrose. Cools the skin. Helps with sleep. Regulates oestrogen.

Flax seed oil. Stabilise oestrogen levels.

Black Cohosh. Helps with hot flushes 

Promensil

Red Clover.

ESSENTIAL OILS. 

Nice smells lift the spirit so these are some that may be of help...

Peppermint: Cooling effect on the body.Good for sore muscles and headaches.

Clary sage: Good for hormone balance,pain associated with menopause and stress relieving.

Lavender: Calming, pain relieving and anti anxiety. Improves sleep.Good for hormone imbalance.

Geranium: Calming properties. Helps alleviate symptoms of menopause and menstruation. 

SKIN CARE. 

Skin can be dry, itchy or red, wrinkles, age spots, hot flushes and oily. Problems for the skin includes sun, alcohol, smoking and pollution.

As we age fine lines appear and may deepen. Skin sags and droops. Age spots appear and uneven skin tone can develop. The skin becomes thin as we get older.

Cleansing the skin is important.

Moisturising your skin is essential. Try moisturising your skin when it is still damp after the shower.  You may need a heavier cream for more effect.

Don't forget your hands and use hand cream. Wear gloves when working inside and out. 

Hydration helps so drink plenty of water. 

Maca. This is a product made from the maca root a native to Peru.It comes in powder form and can be added to smoothies. It is a natural nourishment for skin from within. It keeps hormones in check and contains iron, iodine, zinc and magnesium. I have not tried this so am unable to say how effective it is.

Eat antioxidant rich foods eg. bright fruit and vegetables. 

Soy products help as they are rich in isoflavones.

Other things that help are not to wear synthetic clothes but cotton and natural fibres.

Use sunscreen to protect your skin.

Get enough sleep 7-9 hours sleep a night.

SUPPORT FOR WOMEN DURING MENOPAUSE.

There are some support groups for women. Community centres may be able to help with groups.

This may be a great help to talk things over with other women going through the same issues.

Of course support each other and talk to friends who are dealing with it as well. 

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF MENOPAUSE.

Definition of Menopause. Puberty's evil older sister.

I used to have a handle on life but it broke off when I started menopause.

" Menopause insomnia used to be a burden, now I see it as Pinterest time."

It's so hot I'm ovulating hard boiled eggs.

"When I asked for a smoking hot body menopause was not what I had in mind."

7 Stages of Menopause:  Itchy, bitchy, sweaty, sleepy, bloated, forgetful, psycho.

I am either going out for ice cream or to commit a felony. I'll decide in the car.    

 Today's Mood:  Cranky with a touch of psycho. 

  It's called menopause for a reason. Men should pause before they speak.

My doctor asked me if I was sexually active. I had to say yes since life screws me daily.

My greatest fear is that menopause does not exist and this is the real me.                         

I hope you find this article of some help. Menopause is a challenging time and we need to give it some awareness as well as support each other.