I don't beleive there are right and wrong in these questions.

I am asking to gather info on this thread for us all to learn from and for other mama's that may be going through the changes as well.
We are kind of forerunners in this part of our lives here at Amitys and I feel good about the fact that this area of Amitys is here and it is available to others. So thank you everyone that participates. I am learning from you all too:heart:


Have you noticed since you were peri/current/post menopause that you gain weight in any specific area?

do you work out or diet to keep your body in shape?

Fave supplements and why you like them.

Thyroid issues since peri/current/post menopause?

Have you noticed since you were peri/current/post menopause that you gain weight in any specific area?
I notice in my lower abdominal area it is worse than before hysterectomy. All my weight wants to hang out big time in the lower ab, hip, thigh arena. I have always had that tendency but it is much worse now I think.

do you work out or diet to keep your body in shape? I still have to watch my carbs because they are my downfall. I work out at Curves still at least 2-3 times a week when I can squeeze in that hour of time
I am struggling with weight lately however. Not losing easily-possibly the menopause thing.

Fave supplements and why you like them.
Herb teas primarily due to their easily assimilated manner.
Today it is Fertility tea I sell to keep my libido going well along with horsetail in it because this herb is astringent to the urinary-genito area. It helps heal wounds as it is high in silica.
It also helps incontinance. I don't have that problem, but I did have bladder problems after surgery and radiation so this is invaluable to me

SOME ALSO SAY IT HEALS RHEUMATISM (mary,that one is for you)

I also drink pregnancy tea with extra oats sometimes and extra alfalfa or nettles sometimes. On occasion I take a supplement of magnesium and calcium. Apparently studies show those 2 must be taken together for best absorption. We know some new study will change that-the way research always goes I am afraid.....
I also was given a multiple vitamin by some friends that own a HFS. I have been taking those once in awhile since I have not had alot of sleep lately.

Sometimes I take B complex and Vitamin C too, but try to base my supplementation on organic herbal teas:)


Thyroid issues since peri/current/post menopause?
I think I am at this place....I feel tired so easily. I have been traveleing alot the past month, have dealt with 2 deaths of people close to me and had stepkids visit so this could be why. I feel tho that I need to work on regulating my thyroid as best as I can jsut in case. I hear this is common in menopausal women

Have you noticed since you were peri/current/post menopause that you gain weight in any specific area?

Yes, in my abdominal area, specifically the lower area.


do you work out or diet to keep your body in shape?

Yes, but not as often or aggressively as I probably should. I'm still trying to rebuild my health from when I was so sick 2 years ago, so am taking it a bit slower. I do work diligently to get in a good water flush first thing in the morning. Before I let anything pass my lips, I get in about 16oz of RO water and aim for as close to a gallon of water as possible throughout the day.


Fave supplements and why you like them.

I really like the Rainbow Light vitamins. I've been using their Prenatal Complete vits for a couple of years, but am switching to their menopause formula this week. I haven't had a menses in over 2 months now and I'm kind of liking it, believe it or not. Initially, it was a real let down, because I was still aching to have one more baby. However, if this is what has been given to me as my lot in life, then I will learn to except it as gracefully as I can.

I also take:
1 - 5-HTP, 100mgs about 4 or so times.
2 - Alacer's Super Gram II, 1000mgs about 4 or so times.
1 - NOW Foods Vit e, 400IU twice.
1 - NOW Foods Beta Carotene twice.
1 - Source Naturals Magnesium, 400mgs about 4 times.
2 - Rainbow Light Prenatals, twice.
2 - NOW Foods Chlorella, twice - three times.
2 - Nordic Naturals Omega-3, twice - three times.
Calcium when I feel the need, but it is less frequently now since I've upped my magnesium intake.

I've experimented with MANY manufacturers of supplements and these are the ones that are working for me at this time. I'm always open to consider something new, based upon it's purity and quality.


Thyroid issues since peri/current/post menopause?

Nope, but I have submitted to several Thyroid Panels over the years, just because something wasn't quite right. What I've discovered though, is that it was Adrenal Fatigue, leading into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, leading into Fibromyalgia, that was responsible for my Hypo-thyroidism symptoms. Once I recognized to stop drinking distilled water and to rebuild my mineral base, I once again started feeling my age. I'm serious when I say that I was pretty much a walking dead woman 2 years ago, which is probably what contributed to my loss of Victoria. It has been a LOOOONG haul healthwise, but I can honestly say that I can see sunshine in my life now.

Oh Sue...that makes me so sad. I had no idea things were that bad. :hug:

Kristerae, I have only recently been able to talk more about it all. I could only walk across one room, before crashing and needing to recuperate for at least a half hour. It was rough, but even I didn't realize how rough, until after I was toward the end of it. Even now, I don't totally know what all was going on, never any formal diagnosis, so it is difficult to paint a picture to others, when I myself don't even know what it looked like.

I went to a Naturopath, who is also a Classical Homeopath, for a little over a year after I lost Victoria. He helped to bring me out of "it", by prescribing for me Carcinosinum. It was a slow progression of increased health, but it was sure footed and that is what counted most to me. I didn't want a quick fix by a conventional doctor, with who knows what would have been prescribed for me. I also had to learn how to really cut down on the simple carbs, due more to being in my 40's now more than anything.

It's all good now though! I can honestly say that I am now feeling my age, in a positive way. Being *only* 42, at that time, and feeling as though I was at least 60, was not acceptable to me. But, I back now!!:)

P.S. I attribute the drinking of distilled water to a significant portion of my near demise.

Susannah,

I'm sorry to hear you were so ill, and I will take your story as a lesson as I had been planning to get a system to distill water here at home.

Weight gain...not yet. I'm not actually in menopause because I kept my ovaries after the hyster, but I was probably just moving into peri before the surgery. Cycles were off, PMs was worse, etc.

DH thinks I look thinner, but I think my lower tummy looks bigger.

I will have to exercise more, but that's true regardless.

I've started supplementing for healing, and because I think I got too depleted of many micronutrients. Right now I am taking:

food carotene
vitamin e
Emer'gen-C
Levity
Dr. Fuhrman Gentle multivitamin
calcium-magnesium blend
Floridix iron

I'm ordering selenium and will take that with a B complex I have instead of the Levity. I'm also going to order the Alacer C instead of using the Emer'gen-C, because it is cheaper and I already get the B vitamins elsewhere.

I sounds as though you've got a well rounded regime for supplements! I use the Emer'gen C also, but like the economical value of the Super Gram II. Vitacost.com is the best place I've found to buy both. Even though Emer'gen C and Super Gram II are made by the same manufacture, Alacer, you need to specifically type in Super Gram II into Vitacost's search engine.

Have you noticed since you were peri/current/post menopause that you gain weight in any specific area?

Well, I had a TAH and my scar runs from my bellybutton all the way down, soooo.... I never knew if I was really gaining weight in my belly or if it's just the lack of muscles to hold it in! But I have definitely become very pear-shaped since the hyst. -- butt, thighs, abs.

do you work out or diet to keep your body in shape?

About a year post-hyst, I had a personal trainer at a local gym. And she was working and working to rebuild my abs. And my back was KILLING me. So I went to a workshop on core issues and guess what? The guy talked to me about the exercises I was doing and he said it was the WORST thing because, without ab muscles to really work at that point, my back was doing all the work and I already have a lordotic spine. A few weeks after that, I got a pinched nerve in my neck and it was all over. I'm ready, though. I want to start with yoga and then start doing some actual MOVES.
Fave supplements and why you like them.

Thyroid issues since peri/current/post menopause?

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism back in 1998, so that was nothing new. But since the hyst, my thyroid has gone WILD. It hasn't been stable since the surgery and I'm planning to see an endocrinologist in the new year.

KR -- How do you feel about Curves? I've been really shy about going.

I like it alot. Msotly because I am a lazy excerciser. i am nto the type that can spend a couple hours daily or even every other day at the gym.

Curves is 3 miles down the hill and I am there and back in an hour if I want to be.
I can also work out harder if I want.

Since cancer, I have made good acquaintances there so I visit alot while working out and that makes it fly by sometimes.

I feel my muscles are sore and all after workouts but never to the point of pain (except a couple times I did not use the machines right)

They let you try a week free. Why dont you give it a shot?

Wow, I have noticed that I gain weight differently now. I seem to put it on in my abdomen mostly. Not bad but I always just naturally had a flat abdomen and now I don't. My mom said this happened to her too. What I really notice is the distinct loss of elasticity in my skin. That has seemed to happen rather suddenly. I also notice I have to get up to pee once or twice a night. That used to bother me but now I have no trouble falling right back to sleep. I'm definitely crankier and have less tolerance for the ridiculous things moms deal with. But on the plus side, I worry less, I enjoy the moment more, I seem to really treasure the simple things I used to take for granted. I don't know if this is from menopause or maybe just getting wiser in my "old age". I still have periods but they are unpredictable - I often skip a month now. I don't know how long this will last but it can be really inconvenient!

The only things I've been taking are evening primrose oil (on advice from a friend), a Spiderman cheweable vitamin (I take it with my 4 year old), and a baby aspirin (in an attempt to ward off the heart disease that plagues my family). I'm very interested in what all of you have to say about supplements. I'm new to supplements but I do consider this phase of my life to be normal and healthy so it makes sense to use natural supplements.

Supplements and natural....you know those terms crack me up.

How can a supplement be natural when it is scientificly concentrated food/chemicals put into a pill. lol

But yeah, a good multi (spiderman wont reach that standard on the natural end-it is a chemical vitamin most likely) and vitamin b complex, selenium, omega 6, and eating healthy fats are what comes to mind immediately.

Sorry to be so silly, but I have often thought of how I encourage people to take natural supplements and then one day I rally thought about what I said and what suplements are.
I still take some, on occassion, but I also do herb teas...now those are natural:D