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Post by sprite on Nov 25, 2022 12:06:48 GMT -5
Good news! I learned by accident that in Scotland, women can receive 'reasonable' accomodations in the workplace. So I'm telling everyone I can think of, whenever I can shoehorn it into a conversation. Me and my stellar social skills.
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Post by scrubb on Nov 28, 2022 0:32:25 GMT -5
Something I wasn't ready for was vaginal dryness. If you're having regular sex, keep it up, but be prepared to ask about vaginal estrogen, if it's not contraindicated for you. If you aren't having regular sex, then get a dildo and do everything you can to keep the vaginal walls flexible/stretchy so that when you do have sex again, it's not painful and difficult.
(My periods stopped suddenly while I was going through chemotherapy (probably not because of the chemo). Because I was very vulnerable to infections, including UTIs, plus I felt crappy a lot, my sex life was not very active at the time. A few months later when my immunity was better again and I felt good again, suddenly sex hurt. Lube, even lots and lots of it, was not enough.)
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Post by scrubb on Nov 28, 2022 0:44:23 GMT -5
the more I'm reading, the more I think I'll go for long term HRT, as it seems to be so protective--bones, heart, joints, mental function... The only person I know in recent years who's taken HRT had aggressive breast cancer about 8 months after starting it. She shared a recent article (maybe 2 years ago) where studies have shown that HRT raises the breast cancer risk more than was previously thought. I'm not saying that no one should take it, but make sure you talk to your doctor about the risks. It's about deciding what your individual risk tolerance is and balancing that against symptoms. CBC articleLancet article
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Post by lillielangtry on Nov 28, 2022 1:09:47 GMT -5
Something I wasn't ready for was vaginal dryness. If you're having regular sex, keep it up, but be prepared to ask about vaginal estrogen, if it's not contraindicated for you. If you aren't having regular sex, then get a dildo and do everything you can to keep the vaginal walls flexible/stretchy so that when you do have sex again, it's not painful and difficult. (My periods stopped suddenly while I was going through chemotherapy (probably not because of the chemo). Because I was very vulnerable to infections, including UTIs, plus I felt crappy a lot, my sex life was not very active at the time. A few months later when my immunity was better again and I felt good again, suddenly sex hurt. Lube, even lots and lots of it, was not enough.) Thanks for this scrubb. I had some related issues during and after my chemo. Some drs will prescribe vaginal oestrogen for people who've had breast cancer, it's a matter of weighing the risks. It's a conversation I'm prepared to have if necessary in the future.
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Post by sprite on Nov 28, 2022 8:11:47 GMT -5
Scrubb, I'll have to look through those later, because what I've been reading is that long term use of body-identical HRT is heart-protective and helps improve bone density, and that the cancer risks came out of bad data. Not an area where I want to end up on the wrong side of chemo.
Lillie, I think the vaginal cream version has very low doses, and it doesn't travel through the body. But it is definitely somethign to keep an eye on.
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Post by scrubb on Nov 28, 2022 14:00:04 GMT -5
The gynecologist I saw knows that my mom had breast cancer and that I have some other risk factors, and she still recommended the vaginal estrogen. She said it was less of a risk than having a few glasses of wine in a week.
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Post by scrubb on Nov 28, 2022 15:05:53 GMT -5
Scrubb, I'll have to look through those later, because what I've been reading is that long term use of body-identical HRT is heart-protective and helps improve bone density, and that the cancer risks came out of bad data. Not an area where I want to end up on the wrong side of chemo. This came up on the Political Stew site - someone said they'd read that the information on cancer risks from HRT was from bad data. Then he re-read what he'd seen and looked a little harder, and found the info I linked above. And came away thinking the opposite of the impression he'd had before. (i.e., that the link to cancer is real and greater than previously believed.)
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Post by lisamnz on Nov 28, 2022 17:08:41 GMT -5
Scrubb, I'll have to look through those later, because what I've been reading is that long term use of body-identical HRT is heart-protective and helps improve bone density, and that the cancer risks came out of bad data. Not an area where I want to end up on the wrong side of chemo. This came up on the Political Stew site - someone said they'd read that the information on cancer risks from HRT was from bad data. Then he re-read what he'd seen and looked a little harder, and found the info I linked above. And came away thinking the opposite of the impression he'd had before. (i.e., that the link to cancer is real and greater than previously believed.) Well. that sucks.
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Post by snowwhite on Nov 28, 2022 18:31:12 GMT -5
I have vague memories about a discussion around the HRT / cancer link and it being important to distinguish between different types of HRT. But this was a few years back and I forget the details if I even managed to get them in my head at the time. Bit like the differences between the normal pill and the mini pill I think.
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Post by lisamnz on Nov 28, 2022 18:33:42 GMT -5
I read the lancet article - MRT that only uses oestrogen has less of a correlation than progestagen/oestrogen therapy.
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Post by scrubb on Nov 28, 2022 21:33:37 GMT -5
I have vague memories about a discussion around the HRT / cancer link and it being important to distinguish between different types of HRT. But this was a few years back and I forget the details if I even managed to get them in my head at the time. Bit like the differences between the normal pill and the mini pill I think. I read the lancet article - MRT that only uses oestrogen has less of a correlation than progestagen/oestrogen therapy. Yes there are nuances and of course your starting risk is also a key factor. Again, I just wanted to draw attention to this fairly recent article, and make sure that people have the right questions to discuss with their doctor before making a decision.
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Post by sophie on Nov 28, 2022 22:56:56 GMT -5
There are some really nice products to use as needed without any hormones. I was surprised to see the variety as well as the quality. The nicest ones I found in a specialty women’s sex shop but some of the ones in a regular sex shop were very good also.
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Post by veronicainsocks on Nov 29, 2022 1:29:41 GMT -5
I’ll let my husband know that I need more sex.
For health purposes, obv.
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Post by veronicainsocks on Nov 29, 2022 1:31:30 GMT -5
Scrubb, I'll have to look through those later, because what I've been reading is that long term use of body-identical HRT is heart-protective and helps improve bone density, and that the cancer risks came out of bad data. Not an area where I want to end up on the wrong side of chemo. Lillie, I think the vaginal cream version has very low doses, and it doesn't travel through the body. But it is definitely somethign to keep an eye on. What’s the brand name of those “identical “ hormones. Because when I said such a thing years ago (as I learned on the internet), my gyno said that they only have synthetic ones.
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Post by veronicainsocks on Nov 29, 2022 1:33:42 GMT -5
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Post by romily on Nov 29, 2022 5:38:58 GMT -5
I've been on the pill since I was 16 - tried to sop twice, once in my late twenties and once in my late 30s, and each time spiraled down into a really bad case of depression - crying all the time, not wanting to get out of bed, suicidal thoughts - horrible. Last time GP wanted to put me on antidepressants and I asked if we can try the pill first - two days (2!!!) and I was back to my stable balanced self again.
So I kept being on the pill for sanity reasons only, not contraception. I now hit 50, and normally they don't prescribe the pill after 50 here in the UK but I had a talk to my GP, and as I am already in a dark place due to other reasons she agreed to continue me on the pill - it's at GP's discretion until you hit 55.
So I will worry about his in a few years time. I can't imagine (or don't want to) what will happen to my mental health without artificial hormones. My Mum was on hormone replacement therapy for similar reasons...
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Post by sprite on Nov 29, 2022 17:03:07 GMT -5
Yup, the more I learn about this the more I want to ask every woman my age who complains of feeling like despression is creeping in, "Have you heard about what estrogen can do for your brain?!?"
I refrain. Which is hard for me.
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Post by cakemonkey on Nov 29, 2022 17:04:33 GMT -5
Wooo! What a thread. Thanks, everyone, for sharing. I can relate to so many symptoms that you’ve shared.
The periods are the absolute worse for me. I think I’ve been peri menopausal for years because I went from using regular tampons for most of my period life, to super plus, flooding, leaks, more pain etc. I’ve spent most of my (adult) life having periods that barely impacted my day to day life to being the person who has to pack all manner of things for holiday (just in case I run out) and, most months, spending day one not being able to move from bed due to extreme tiredness. Like exhaustion.
Fast forward to this year and it’s virtually nothing (I still pack all the supplies) and longer duration between each one and then, oh, here it is again. Back again. I haven’t had a proper period since June and then got one this week.
Otherwise it’s the weight (meh!), feeling hotter at night (definitely aggravated by white wine) but otherwise it’s manageable.
My sister, who is a year and a bit older than me, is having a terrible time. She has the heavy flooding too, but barely knows what day of the week it is. Her manager has just taken work off her and allocated it elsewhere in the team.
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Post by scrubb on Nov 29, 2022 20:47:12 GMT -5
Hot flashes were my main symptom and they were really awful. Before getting them myself I didn't understand how feeling hot could be much of a problem - but they're awful. I felt like I was burning up on the inside, about to bust into flames. I'd get red and sweaty, but the misery was on the inside.
When they suddenly started they were especially bad at night where I'd soak the bed with sweat, then it would get cold as I stopped flashing and then i'd be shivering and freezing. Repeat 20 minutes later, all night long. Luckily after about 3 weeks of that, they reduced to about 3 each night and maybe double that in the day. As long as I wore short sleeves and very few covers in bed, they weren't too frequent and I got some sleep.
And after a couple years they started coming and going - I'd get them for a few months, then none for a few months. This has gone on for ~5 years now. But they're also much less awful when they do come - nothing on the inside, I just get really warm for a few minutes.
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Post by wombatrois on Nov 29, 2022 21:00:03 GMT -5
It was when I stopped using flannelette sheets :-D
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Post by andybox on Nov 30, 2022 2:38:58 GMT -5
At first I read the thread as Knowledge Swap Shop, and was going to share my recent experiences with venomous snakes I’ve encountered recently. But I see there’s more to the thread title.
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Post by sprite on Nov 30, 2022 10:22:11 GMT -5
At first I read the thread as Knowledge Swap Shop, and was going to share my recent experiences with venomous snakes I’ve encountered recently. But I see there’s more to the thread title. I mean, who am I to critique a sudden change in topic? I wonder if snakes get menopause. Orca whales do, apparently, although how the hell they worked that out...
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Post by sprite on Nov 30, 2022 10:36:14 GMT -5
Hot flashes were my main symptom and they were really awful. Before getting them myself I didn't understand how feeling hot could be much of a problem - but they're awful. I felt like I was burning up on the inside, about to bust into flames. I'd get red and sweaty, but the misery was on the inside. This is a really helpful description. My mom did say she lost of lot of body hair, and her "theory" was that the hot flashes burned off all the hair roots. I live in hope. I have night sweats and thought hot flashes would simply be those, but more uncomfortable, so it's useful to hear that no, might be completely different. I'll buy a mattress cover for my sofa bed.
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Post by cakemonkey on Nov 30, 2022 14:09:06 GMT -5
Hot flashes were my main symptom and they were really awful. Before getting them myself I didn't understand how feeling hot could be much of a problem - but they're awful. I felt like I was burning up on the inside, about to bust into flames. I'd get red and sweaty, but the misery was on the inside. One of my school friends describes them like this. Like her body is on fire inside.
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Post by lisamnz on Nov 30, 2022 15:54:18 GMT -5
At first I read the thread as Knowledge Swap Shop, and was going to share my recent experiences with venomous snakes I’ve encountered recently. But I see there’s more to the thread title. HI Andy!
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Post by andybox on Nov 30, 2022 19:02:53 GMT -5
Hi Lisa!
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Post by Liiisa on Nov 30, 2022 21:03:59 GMT -5
At first I read the thread as Knowledge Swap Shop, and was going to share my recent experiences with venomous snakes I’ve encountered recently. But I see there’s more to the thread title. I mean, who am I to critique a sudden change in topic? I wonder if snakes get menopause. Orca whales do, apparently, although how the hell they worked that out... I doubt they would, since they're reptiles? Though I don't know if there's a point when egg production shuts down, or if reptiles just continue producing eggs until they die the way a lot of insects do. Whoa I just found an article about a 62-year-old ball python who laid eggs and hadn't even had a male around for 15 years, so there's that. OK back to mammals, sorry
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Post by Webs on Dec 1, 2022 9:45:05 GMT -5
Oh look, Andy's joined us. Has the stew imploded for the holidays already? You're always welcome.
Lately, it's been like this - I have a fan blowing on me, and I'm sweating. Why am I sweating? What is going on? Why am so thirsty, I'm always thirsty, I just drank a 32oz container of water, oh no I have to pee, QUICK, RUN, oh shit, well that's why I wear adult incontinence pads. Ok, let's plan this, no water for 2 hours. Pee before you walk out the door. Get on subway. 35 min ride home. Run. RUN DOWN THAT FUCKING HILL! Get in elevator holding yourself and doing the dance. QuicK! openthedooropenthedoordropeverything ruuuuuuuun! shit.
Why am I sweating again?
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Post by sprite on Dec 1, 2022 12:32:36 GMT -5
I just mentally saw all that in a sort of animation, Bob's Burgers stylee.
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Post by kneazle on Dec 1, 2022 15:59:18 GMT -5
I mean, who am I to critique a sudden change in topic? I wonder if snakes get menopause. Orca whales do, apparently, although how the hell they worked that out... I doubt they would, since they're reptiles? Though I don't know if there's a point when egg production shuts down, or if reptiles just continue producing eggs until they die the way a lot of insects do. Whoa I just found an article about a 62-year-old ball python who laid eggs and hadn't even had a male around for 15 years, so there's that. OK back to mammals, sorry I've often wondered what the evolutionary purpose of periods are. Most mammals don't menstruate like humans do, surely monthly bleeding would not have been ideal in the African savannahs. This is all interesting, my periods went mental and I got a mirana fitted. My mum had a hysterectomy so she went into immediate menopause and was put on HRT straight away so didn't have a natural menopause so to speak.
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