----- Original Message -----

From: April Cray Rhodes

To: menopausal@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 7:47 AM

Subject: Re: [menopausal] Advice

Good morning Terri:

 

My name is April and I live in New Mexico. My menopause experience is my own, so any advice that I give you may or may not work.

I choose not to take drugs or meds , hormones or any of that stuff. Natural all the way.

When the hot flashes come, I just let them rush through me. I found that when I braced myself, or mentally blocked them inside, they became worse.

 

For some reason my body would generate heat, like a furnace, after I would eat, no matter what or when.  I get parts and pieces of now, but I am on the tail end of it all.

It took a couple of years of sweating, on and off. Then after 8 months of no period, blissful easy time.........boom! I got my period last month,,,,,,no period this month.....so I am lighting candles and bowing to the east in hopes that it doesn't come back. I am experiencing sweating again, but not like before.

 

I tossed and turned at night, pooled with sweat, from behind my knees, in my trachia area, breasts, ect. At work I would have to take a scarf, sweater or something, because when I sweat and shed the scarf, then the air conditioning would kick in and I would be freezing from my wet skin becoming cold, then put the scarf back on. So it up and down and all around for a while.

 

Using an analogy of transformation, like that of a teen girl transforming into a woman. We are transforming into wisdom women, and it is or should I say it seems like it is a purification process.

Enjoy this site:             http://www.ourladyofmenopause.com/

 

I saw this interesting art when I was in Santa Fe. Great saint prayer of our Lady of Menopause.

 

This address is my old address, you can contact me at:

buffalogalbunkhouse@...

 

We are all in this together, harder for some, easy for others. We can take drugs and cover it all up and suffer later for it all, or endure it and enjoy the ride later.

 

Exercise helps a lot. If you are a person that does not exercise, then maybe you can start in a small way, Pilates is amazing for you core and will strengthen your deepest of insides. Wonderful stuff. It is better to go to a class, at least for me it is, because I need someone to tell me what to do. If I use my video I may not do it as well as with a real person. But that is me. I hike, kick box drills and some jogging. Plus I have Jack Russell doggie that keeps me on my toes.

 

Hope you find bits and pieces from all the different responses.

April

 

Terri Elliott <terrielliott@...> wrote:

If anyone has any advice or suggestions as to how to deal and cope with the
Menopausal symptoms such as the hot flashes, and night sweats, and not
sleeping at night I'd appreciate them.  Thanks.

Terri

April Cray Rhodes
Tierra de Suenos
PO Box 481
Tularosa, New Mexico
88352
505-585-3587