I think I experienced my first hot flash yesterday in the afternoon. Kinda came and whoosh. So, I am 47, is it too early for me to start having hot flashes? (hub said I got hot after him being gone 3 days)..men GO figure....I also see (supplements on tv) to help with them, are they worth spending the money on?

I've been having hot flashes for a few years now and have been taking black cohosh and it was helping, but come this last April bam they got more intense. I talked with my Gyn doctor and she suggested to me a low dose estrogen and progesterone. I started them and within 2 weeks I gained 8 lbs. and I felt it. There was no change with the hot flashes either. I stopped the hormone therapy. I found Estroven, it's a vitamin and herbal mixture and it seems to be helping and I've been using it for 5 days now. Now I just need to get this 8 lbs. back off. I have an appt. for my 5th fill in 10 days and can just imagine what the doc will think.

Yeah, the hormones can play havoc with weight. I go on and off the estrogen patch (had a hysterectomy...don't need the progesterone), and notice that when I go off, three pounds drop off within two days. I only go back to the patch when the symptoms become un-manageable, and completely disruptive. Once I slap on the patch, everything calms down within three days. And I know from the start that I'm going to feel a bit of bloat. As much as I hate it, sometimes the other issues outweigh (no pun intended) the bloat discomfort.

what kind of patch?

is it from the dr or walmart?

sorry to sound like a hick..

what kind of patch?

is it from the dr or walmart?

sorry to sound like a hick..

It's an estrogen patch, prescription only. The one I use is Vivelle Dot, but there are others. If you still have a uterus, your doctor will also prescribe progesterone to go with it. There are all different forms of this stuff; pills, gels, Patches, creams.... It's a matter of finding what works best for you.

CG - come to think of it, you can buy progesterone cream at the health food store. It's usually the wild yam type. If you're having a lot of flashing, you can try that first; it might help, without having to go to the prescription forms.

I think I experienced my first hot flash yesterday in the afternoon. Kinda came and whoosh. So, I am 47, is it too early for me to start having hot flashes? (hub said I got hot after him being gone 3 days)..men GO figure....I also see (supplements on tv) to help with them, are they worth spending the money on?

OMG girl.... you are the best... So at my last gyn visit, i talked to my dr about menopause (being 44). I had a partial hysterectomy years ago... I was not having hot flashes... but, This was my reason.... MOOD swings... OMG they have gotten sooo bad. Just ask a few people here... lol Anyway, so i told her and she said.. ok Chris we will do blood work and let you know. Three days later she call me (she has been a friend and gyn for 14years) she said...Chris all your blood work is perfect. I said...Then why do i feel like i want to punch people in the face all the time.... she said... Hell girl, maybe you need anger management.... at that point we both started laughing... So, i know that im no pre or post menopausal... Told my Hubby.... and he said.. OMG, does this mean you will get worse....lol

and i think i read somewhere that drinking soy helps...

Hey! Not too young for peri- menopause. You are in menopause after period stops! I found Flax was great for hot flashes, I added a scoop to cereal, protein shake whatever to get it in. Cold rag on back of neck helps too and at night sleep with a clip on fan aimed straight at me!!

When I was in the beginnings of peri-menopause, my blood work also came back perfectly normal. Many times some of the symptoms start, before it shows up in black & white.

what is peri menopause anyhow?

Actual "menopause" is when your period stops completely. After going one year without, you're considered "post menopausal".

Peri-menopause is all the (what can be several years) of changes leading up to actual menopause; hot flashes, irregular periods, mood changes, sleep issues, libido changes, etc. There is other fun stuff, but I'll reserve that in an open forum (the older women know what I'm talking about) - LOL!

So - CG, you've entered the world of "peri". All women experience this to different degrees, but this life change typically doesn't happen un-noticed

i guess, similar to bayou girl......my ole man would say, so whats changed

i guess, similar to bayou girl......my ole man would say, so whats changed

Oh....he'll know! Like, when he's rubbing your back, and all of a sudden feels his hands on hot clammy skin