I have a new relationship!  No it’s not some hot young guy, its FOOD. 

Like most great relationships this one took me by surprise.  When I began my journey to treat menopause my doc spent a lot of time on nutrition.  Honestly, I did not want to hear about it.  I know what I SHOULD eat, for goodness sake; I have been on every diet out there – probably twice!  I won’t list them all - we all know what I’m talking about.  I wish I had put every dollar in the bank that I have spent on diets; I would be rich for sure. 

I didn’t give my weight even a single thought when I sought treatment for my hormone imbalance (that’s what I will call it from now on, no more menopause, it was a full blown IMBALANCE).  I prayed to GOD to just stop my hot flashes.  I just wanted to go to bed and sleep through the night.  The focus wasn’t to lose weight.  But when the doctor mapped out how to eat, I was pleasantly surprised and listened.  And boy am I glad I did! 

I must say the first few weeks were hard, not because I was on a DIET, but because it was all Greek to me.  I mean the eating so much was hard – it felt backwards.  I was so used to starving myself that my body was in shock when I started eating more often.  Now my body needs food every few hours or my blood sugar drops.  I was angry at first.  I was like “great, now I have a new problem,” but it’s not a problem at all, its NORMAL.  Our body NEEDS fuel. And what I have found is that when I give my body what it needs I don’t think about food all the time.  I do not deprive myself EVER. 

When I eat simple sugar it makes me sick; headache, grouchy, tired.  My sweet tooth is still there, so I eat dark organic chocolate when I want something, it satisfies me.  No carb induced coma either.  No headache.  No yucky feeling.  I think for the first time in my life I have a healthy relationship with food.  Oprah, are you out there? You said you fell off the wagon; you never should have been on the wagon in the first place.  I bet all my winnings from Vegas what she has is a hormone imbalance.  It is no coincidence that her thyroid is out of whack.  (Well that’s my opinion!)  Why is it that so many of us have a new onset thyroid problem just around the “CHANGE” hmmm!  It’s something to investigate.  And trust me I will!

Ok, I must eat my before lunch snack now, so hungry. 

Until later 

Judyb

I know I should say Happy “Holidays” but I’m Catholic, I say Merry Christmas.  I’ve never been very PC and I’m not going to start now!

All I want under my Christmas tree this year is a bottle of progesterone, my estrogen cream, (which thanks to the progesterone I only need a dab every other day, thank you very much) and my fish oil and vitamins.  Maybe a couple pair of shoes.  I love shoes.  I think we women love new shoes because no matter how big our BUTT is, our feet still look good!

I also wish for all you gals and guys out there seeking treatment for your hormone issues that you find a qualified physician in your area and get started.  I know it is an investment and it stinks that insurance doesn’t cover it, but just do it.  You have to decide how much you’re worth- I’m worth every penny!  Ask your husband or wife, kids, boyfriend or girlfriend to make it your holiday of choice gift.  It is the gift that keeps on giving. 

I never expected to feel this amazing.  My hope was just to stop those brutal hot flashes.  I get it now why Suzanne Somers is so passionate about bioidentical hormones.  I feel so blessed to be a patient.  I want to shout it from the roof top!  For the first time in my life I look forward to each day.  In just 3 short months I am a new woman. We do not realize how bad we feel until we feel better.  I look back and wonder how did I function?  I work two jobs!  When I look at myself on that video of my first visit with Doc Lee - YUCK!  What a change!

So you see I really do wish for all women who want relief from menopause symptoms to find a way to take part in this miracle.  That’s right; to me this has been a miracle and an answer to a prayer.  I need to give back; if it’s just to spread the word of hope offered by bioidentical hormone therapy, that’s what I will do.

So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Festivus (I love Seinfeld!) to all.

May you have a blessed holiday season.

Judyb

Lady-doc and I had a nice long chat about my assault on the pharmacist, and she suggested I try this “brand-new-really-effective” estrogen spray. I was confused. A spray?

I said, “What am I supposed to do, spray this in my vagina?” I didn’t get it.

Apparently, this spray works through the skin and you can spray it anywhere you like, externally speaking, so no vagina spray required.  Thank god. *Wipes sweat from brow*

So in addition to my self-administered estrogen therapy, I am now using the spray. All the time. I woke up last night at 2am and sprayed myself six times, about three times the recommended amount. Now I’m paranoid that I am going to get a blood clot, so I have added baby aspirin to my pill-taking regime. If I have to choke down one more pill, I’ll scream.

Excuse me while I go have a hot flash.

Xoxo
Judy

40-ish Woman seeks MD to treat chronic hormonal issues…freaks, sarcastic jerks, and insensitive you-know-whats need not apply. I am not crazy or depressed. If you suggest that I 1.) Move out of a hot climate to stop my hot flashes 2.) Get a new boyfriend to increase my sex drive, or 3.) That I gained weight because I’m a total pig that can’t stop eating, I will find out where you live and put dead fish in your yard. Call me! 555-5555.

By the way, all of the above numbered items are real, honest-to-god things I have been told by doctors over the years as I have struggled to find someone, ANYONE to help me deal with menopause and other hormonal issues.

Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?

I’m 40-ish but shhhhh, don’t tell. If anyone asks, I’m a very spunky 35. I’m an ER nurse living in Florida, which by the way is MURDER during hot flashes.

I had a hysterectomy in 1997. My ovaries were left because in the doctor’s words, “you’re young, you don’t need to deal with menopause symptoms right now. By leaving your ovaries in, you’ll go through menopause whenever you were naturally supposed to.” Yeah, OK Doc.

Within one year, I started having hot flashes. I lost ALL interest in sex, which was a total bummer because I had a slightly younger boyfriend whom I was VERY interested in enjoying in the bedroom department. The “leave-your-ovaries-and-you’ll-be-fine” doctor told me that this must be “all in my head” and that everything was fine. I listened, and let a few years go by.

My symptoms of menopause didn’t stop, they just got worse. So, I went to a new doctor, a woman. I guess I thought since she had a uterus, she’d be more likely to understand my plight. Not the case. She proceeded to put me on estrogen replacement, which caused me to gain a glamorous 30 pounds.

So here we are. I’m 40-ish, I have terrible migraines, brutal hot flashes, and I feel generally old, tired and gross. Kind of how I imagine Liza Minnelli must feel.

xoxo
Judy