Originally Posted By goodgirl For someone who is usually on top of everything, the topic of menopause is overwhelming. I'd like to purchase a couple books on the topic to really get a good idea of what I'm going through and what kinds of relief I can look for. I want to be armed with knowledge when I talk to my doctor. With that said, there are lots of books out there on menopause. Does anyone have any good recommendations? Books that helped your or others you know?
Originally Posted By goodgirl LOL! You sound like you speak from some sort of experience RoadTrip. And for what its worth. I am a former Paxil user. Loved it. Got me through major depression 10 years ago. But I'm not sure it's what I need right now.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Though I haven't read it, I heard about a book by Dr.Christiane Northrup called "The Wisdom of Menopause" which sounded like a very helpful, interesting book to me. I thought I saw her on Oprah years ago so I found this for you: <a href="http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_past_20010307.jhtml" target="_blank">http://www.oprah.com/tows/past shows/tows_past_20010307.jhtml</a> And here's the link to the Dr's site: <a href="http://www.drnorthrup.com/health_store-cn-lit.php#wisdombook" target="_blank">http://www.drnorthrup.com/heal th_store-cn-lit.php#wisdombook</a> and a passage from that cite about that book: Dr. Northrup draws on her own life-changing experiences – as well as on many intimate case histories – to explore the transformative power of these years. Readers will learn: how menopause literally rewires the brain, triggering a shift of priorities from nesting and caretaking to personal growth and equality how to listen for the wake-up calls inherent in women’s cyclic nature, from PMS to SAD to menopausal symptoms how the body adjusts naturally to changing hormones, and how to make personalized decisions about HRT and alternative supplements how to rebalance metabolism shifts and prevent middle-age spread how to deal with the myths and realities of sexual changes and appearance issues how to prevent long-term health problems such as heart disease, hormone-related cancers and memory loss “Northrup writes from experience and, more important, from her professional expertise as a physician who has treated many women and researched menopause. The specific medical advice on sleep, diet, breast health and the empowerment motif will bring insight, comfort, and confidence to women embarked on ‘the change.’†–Publishers Weekly
Originally Posted By avromark <<Was that for your wife, or for you? >> Are you sure it's just *one* of those.
Originally Posted By DlandJB I don't know any menapause books, but I should probably start reading them soon. I think they should design one with a personal electric fan that can hold back the hot flashes while you are reading it!
Originally Posted By mele I've heard that one of those little battery operated fan/spay bottles helps. A little.
Originally Posted By goodgirl Someone on another discussion board I post on recommended the same book chickendumpling recommended. I ordered it from Amazon.com today. If anyone has other recommendations, please post them. Thanks.
Originally Posted By LuLu I can share my experience. A few years ago I started getting those annoying symptoms and read a book "The Hormone Solution" which is about using natural, not synthetic, hormones. I dicussed it with my GP who was familiar with this and knew where I could get them locally... I still have the prescription he wrote me, almost 3 years ago today! So, I can't comment on their efficacy because I never had to use them (at least yet!). In the meantime, I'd sorta rededicated to cleaning up my diet and it's made a big overall difference. My main source of health info is mercola.com. I would recommend to any woman 40-50ish to go there and type "menopause" in the search box. Good info about the dangers of synthetic hormones and how they (wrongly) started being used in the first place. I read, use, and recommend his book "Total Health." I think he and Dr Northrup agree on at least one thing, the importance of Omega3's - I saw her testimonial on the website where I order the most delicious canned salmon!
Originally Posted By wonderingalice I just found this topic, but will be ordering both books soon! At 48, pushing 49, I've been hit with the hot flash thing hard over the past six months or so. It got to the point where I wasn't sleeping more than half-an-hour at a time between kicking off the sheet and pulling it back on during the night. I was miserable - crabby and disinterested at work and home. No hormones, but I've found that taking an Estroven Extra Strength AND an Estroven PM at bedtime - along with my blood pressure pill and some high-grade calcium really helps. I'm finally getting the sleep I need. In the morning I take one Estrosoy and a Centrum Silver (vitamins for the 50+ set, and I figure I'm close enough to go for the good stuff in 'em. ;-) Went on a nice, long 5 month 'cycle' until this month and thought I MIGHT just make it a year... I SO want THAT to go away! Needless to say, I was bummed to be starting the countdown all over again. *LOL* I'd like that salmon web site, too please, Lulu! We eat sushi pretty much every Saturday night, so I'm doing well with the fish, but some nice salmon on a salad in between sounds great! BTW... The fan on my desk is on as we speak - more because our building doesn't know if it's supposed to be warming or cooling, so it's just sitting here blah - with no air moving. I haven't had a 'serious' hot flash in over a month (since I started the Estroven at night instead of just Estrosoy in the morning). Woo hoo!
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I'm 43 and my doc says I'm pre-menopausal. Holy cow, I've been having the hot flashes for about a year now. Started last July at the Big Meet - great timing. ;> Like wonderingalice I've had those type of cycles too. I'm ordering the books too. I've had to recently up the iron pills, add calcium and I've rededicated myself to healthier eating. Fun times. I've been doing a lot of reading on hormones, etc. My mom has done it the natural way due to her high blood pressure. I don't have high blood pressure but I'm still looking to be as informed as possible when I do come to the point of having to make some decisions.
Originally Posted By mele I joined a neat website called HysterSisters (thanks LilliBelle!) and I got this email today: <a href="http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/view.php?s=&pg=menopause" target="_blank">http://www.hystersisters.com/v b2/view.php?s=&pg=menopause</a> It has a little bit of info on menopause. I swear, I've had a lot of the things on the list but I don't think I'm menopausal...yet.
Originally Posted By LuLu wonderingalice- The salmon website is vitalchoice.com. I've only ordered their canned salmon, as the frozen fish is so costly. And, the canned makes it so easy to plop 1/2 a can on a salad! The canned probably costs more than supermarket canned salmon, but the taste alone is worth it, plus it's guaranteed free from mercury and high Omega 3 content. Plus it has lots of calcium! I recommend the sea salted version. Get the large cans, as they cost barely more than the small ones.
Originally Posted By gaydsnywitch Hey goodgirl, on a bit of a lighter note, have you seen Menopause the Musical? (It's currently playing at the Winningstad.) <a href="http://menopausethemusical.com/" target="_blank">http://menopausethemusical.com /</a>
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Thanks for the recommendations, Lulu! I'll check it out! And if goodgirl wants to visit FABulous Las Vegas, we can catch "Menopause The Musical" together at the Hilton! (Hint, hint, nudge, nudge... ;-)
Originally Posted By goodgirl I bought the book chickendumpling mentioned in post #3. Only a few pages into it. I think it will be helpful. Interesting fact I never considered: Up until the last 100 years when life expectancies increased, the majority of women never reached menopause.
Originally Posted By goodgirl Alice! We have it coming to Portland too. It's been about 10 years since I've been to Las Vegas. Just might have to plan a girlfriends get-away in 2007.
