I'm not on hormones, but I did have an ablation two years ago. Best thing I ever did. I took some drugs for cramping for a day and a half, then slept off the drugs for another day. That was it.

Rory, I'm very sorry that you are dealing with this. Sleeplessness sucks. I've finally tried melatonin at night for chronic sleep issues, seems to help keep me in a deeper level of sleep and even if I wake up, I my mind doesn't start racing.

I started melatonin (bought at Whole Foods, pepermint flavor disolves under tongue) but first, I weaned myself off of all caffiene. It has made a difference. Now coffee and diet soda and chocolate is an occassional treat. I really miss caffeine, but hoping that a more consistant sleep schedule will lessen the needs for it.

I have also recognized that it is imperative that I work out hard each day. Rory, I'm older than you and I have a 15 year old and a 17 year old so I know exactly what you mean.

Yesterday I ordered Jillian Michael's Beginner Shred on Amazon. Then I found out that I can stream the video through my public library for free (for at least three times). I have got to go to extremes to deal with the sleep problems. I owe my future self that much.

I would avoid adding meds, that is not always the best answer. HRT is only recommended for a couple of few anyway in most cases.

I was on bioidentical hormones a few years back and they worked wonders for me. The hot flashes ceased, and I felt pretty darn good. I did not, however, enjoy visits to the compounding pharmacy as my choices were very limited in that regard and the staff was just this side of completely incompetent. I also knew that the bioidentical stuff was not without risk and it wasn't something I wanted to be on forever. I'm not taking anything now (I'm nearly 54), and still have a few hot flashes daily and always have one at the same time every night - but it's become something that I can tolerate.

It's imperative for me too that I work out daily. I've been "hiking" at least 3 miles daily (I put that in quotes, because I live in a suburban area but I do have a lovely trail system available to me - some of which is in a woodsy area and has the feel of real backcountry hiking), and my sleep has improved dramatically since I've been doing this. I may briefly wake up once or twice in the night, but I fall back asleep almost instantly, and wake up each morning feeling refreshed and well-rested. This is huge for me, as I used to have many sleepless nights and they caused many lousy days.

Knowing quite a few people who are on so many meds - and whenever a new symptom arises, their doctor just puts them on yet more pills - I'm wary of being on a lot of medication. I'm an absolute believer in looking to more holistic, natural methods first. Are you exercising at all? If not, get started. I think that's one of the very best things we can do to combat and alleviate these age-related issues.

I'm really sorry you've been suffering. I do know what it's like, and can absolutely commiserate.

Not to minimize your issues at all....but I don't have much to contribute.

I've read that soy is supposed to help, but that was a few years ago. I use soy milk and quit drinking coffee several years ago. I had this 'image' of me drinking tea and how fun that would be, but kept making coffee every morning. Finally, I just started making tea and I haven't looked back.

I do drink a little pop, but NO diet. I can't stand the taste and I would rather have water. Also, we live on a farm so exercise is part of the package : )

Ive gotten relief from CVS brand "menopause support ". Hot flashes started last spring, and I started that Otc product. They pretty much stopped. And so to did i after a month or so with the meds.. But the hot flashes are back, and I've started up with the cvs product again. I also work out usually three times a week. By work out, I mean I do a few machines and an hour on the arc trainer or treadmill.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Hope this helps.

Jo

I have been using HRT long term, over 20 years with superb results. I do not have cancer in my family. I use a vaginal ring, femring. which is unfortunately expensive, $200 or 300 for a 3 month supply. Interestingly, I stopped in October 2015 and the next time I had blood labs done, 8 months later, my lipids, cholesterol, sugar, were, for the first time out of normal range. That was the only change in my routine. Diet and exercise were the same. So I recently resumed hrt. I believe hrt gives me protection against heart disease which is prevalent in my family. Obviously, each case is different and doctors advice is necessary and most important. My doctor is excellent as is his large practice. Ymmv.

Oh, once off HRT, I suffered greatly with flashes and sweating. Even years after the onset of menopause.

Rory, a friend of mine was in your exact situation. After much research she made the decision to have a hysterectomy which was one of the options her dr. mentioned. She now is on HRT and doing better than ever. My story is that I had to have a hysterectomy at age 30 which is more than 40 years ago when they had no way to determine the dosage. I took estrogen until age 58 when the second of my sisters got breast cancer. I credit hormonal therapy for keeping me healthy and strong and youthful. Wish I could still take it. As for sleep, I see a holistic dr. and she recommended Kavinace which is amazing. Sleep like a baby again. Best of luck in solving your issues, I know how stressful it is for you.

Thanks to all. I will see how it goes for the next few weeks but if the hot flashes continue something will need to be changed as they are not manageable long-term.

My mom was on HRT long-term and just weaned off slowly at the age of 73. She is the most healthy 73 years old that I know. She, however did not have bleeding. I also have no family history of breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer but I know that does not mean the risk is zero.

My dr. said that at this point hysterectomy is not an option. So, I just need to power through the next 2.5 months until the next ultrasound. I will look into the Kavinace!

I didn't have much trouble with menopause so didn't have a need for HRT. I did however have what I was told was a fibroid but what I eventually found out was actually a malignant uterine sarcoma. Granted these are relatively rare but it happens more often than people realize. Unfortunately there is no way to know if you have a benign fibroid or a malignant sarcoma without removing the tumor (usually hysterectomy) and doing complete pathology on it. Uterine sarcomas are sometimes estrogen receptor positive like some breast cancers so HRT can fuel the growth of this type of tumor. Knowing what I know now I would not have blind faith that what you have are fibroids if I was in your situation. Post menopausal bleeding can be a symptom of gyn cancers. Don't mean to scare you but felt it was important to provide this public service announcement.

I have hot flashes but I guess they don't bother me that much. I am usually able to fall back asleep after I wake up with one. They last only a few minutes. I have a fan in the room and if I get a hot flash, I just throw off the covers, cool off and then roll over and fall back asleep. If it happens at work, I just go into the shade if I am outside, or into an air conditioned place if I can. I know I am lucky. Here's what minimizes them--exercise, no alcohol, good diet with not much refined sugar, very minimal caffeine. I take a general vitamin supplement, with an iron tab once a week or so, and calcium/magnesium/vit. C at night. Iron on an empty stomach for absorption. All this helps with sleep. Melatonin on a weekend to see me through a rough patch, but not when I have to get up for work, it makes me groggy. As for the rest, hopefully you and hubs can work on some ways to be intimate and close even when you're not feeling your best. My poor SO is a saint! I've had more problems with my "lady parts" than anyone would care to know around here! We treat each other with massages though, and at our age with all our aches and pains that's pretty spiffy! We snuggle whenever we can and we have found each other so late in life that we are just happy for the sane, steady good company! I try to figure out ways to shower him with affection that he likes but I can handle when I'm not feeling super good. I get migraines too, so I sometimes have to say, "Not tonight dear, I have a HUGE headache" but he is pretty patient about that, does not give me a hard time about it. Migraines are tough because you look fine on the outside and no one can figure out why you are in such a crabby, sickly mood! But we're not squeamish about life's little blips. I think me being a biologist helps.

[RE hot flashes]

"something will need to be changed as they are not manageable long-term"

But, the reality is that menopause is a health stage of a woman's life--you may indeed need to manage hot flashes 'long term' without hormones, because eventually they will subside and trying to medicate them away with HRT is only treating symptoms, not causation.

I realize it can seem overwhelming, because I vividly recall those nights waking up soaked with sweat and sitting in my office or meeting feeling that suddenly someone had turned a blowtorch on me. But it happened, time passed and now it's better. I tend to look at much of life as a regression to the mean. If something isn't good hang in there, it will get better.

Mom was on HRT for over 25 years and I believe it contributed to her lung cancer. Her oncologist said it was not smoking related...she never smoked but lived with 2nd hand smoke most of her life. There is a lung cancer that has estrogen receptors on it similar to breast cancer. She thought she was safe as she took the lowest dose possible and she'd had a complete hysterectomy. But it wasn't the case.

From what I've read, if vaginal estrogen cream will help, it is not supposed to be absorbed into the body and thus represents much lower risk than other types of hrt.

I haven't watched this series by retired gynecologist Barbara Taylor because I'm not experiencing any issues (I'm on bioidenticals and feel fabulous. Not endorsing, just sayin'.) but perhaps it may be of interest to others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLkhB7WbxRs&index=1&list=PLOUBdLFwUtyYimWltwfsEQneVYjIaMQH-

My doc put me on Effexor for hot flashes and I wish I'd never done it. I made the mistake of not researching Effexor/vinlafaxine beforehand. I'm weaning myself off it now. It's not easy! Google stopping it and how hard it is and you may not want to try it. And, from what I have read, most docs are not aware of the issues people have trying to get off of it.

id rather deal with the hot flashes!

best of luck trying to find a solution :)

Carolina Girl, my heart goes out to you. I had a terrible time getting off Effexor and believe you're correct that most/many doctors haven't a clue how excruciatingly difficult it can be. I wanted to say that there is light at the end of the tunnel, though. I endured withdrawal symptoms for a long time, even after the initial withdrawal which was so bad that I couldn't get out of bed for two solid weeks -- but the symptoms did eventually fade away to nothing. The day I realized I had not experienced any physical sensations related to withdrawal was a happy one for me. Weaning/stopping the drug is not easy at all, but it won't last forever. I wish you all the best.

IdaClaire, thanks for your support! I have the pills, not the capsules with the beads and I'm down to tiny slivers. But I still get little zaps in my left arm down to my fingers if I go past the time I should take a dose.

did you wean yourself over a long period of time? I'm wondering how long this is going to take me...ugh! I realize everyone is different, but others experiences help.

best!