A few weeks ago I had one of those routine physicals where about a gallon of blood (Rh negative, mind you) is put into many vials. I really, really like this doc and found her four years ago when I was super sick with bronchitis and had not yet searched for a doctor for myself or Hubs after moving. I called several only to be told they could see me in a week or so, but her office asked if I could be in within 30 minutes.
At my visit I told her I think I am definitely in the menopause process and had been having some big time hot flashes and I had already searched around the internet for vitamin ideas and bought myself Vitamins E, C, B-6 and B-12 and Black Cohosh. She thought all of those were a good idea and she stated that magnesium has helped some people with headaches.
She said that one test will be for vitamin D deficiency because many of us are deficient and studies are showing that can contribute to heart issues and cancer. She said she would prescribe an Rx for Vit.D which is taken once a week for 3 months and then she would retest and that she has seen it make a difference, as compared to just the over-the-counter Vit D. I was suspicious that she was talking about an Rx for me before she received my labwork. It is completely my nature to question this, despite all of the things I like about her.
Sure enough, when she called me a week later with the results she said that I am low in Vit.D. I was so unmotivated to get the Rx that the pharmacy called me two times and then finally put it back on the shelf to restock…. So even though we have a good relationship and even though this doc has proven many times to be the kind of doc that I want, my Rx/doctor radar kicks in and before I pay for it I do some research….even for a super-duper once-a-week vitamin. I did end up picking up the Rx and now I have a Friday date with D for a few months. I am trying to make the other vitamins/herbs I mentioned as a habit but some nights I just forget. It's like chicken soup--it can't hurt, right?
And although the doctor did not tell me the specific numerical level, I am indeed beginning menopause according to the labwork (but I knew that). What I do like is that she did not offer an Rx for this. Perhaps she was waiting to see if I asked but I didn’t. I am happy to report that the hot flashes have gone away, or at least been reduced by 90%, and it may be cyclical anyway, or maybe the vitamins have helped.
I relayed to Hubs that Yep, the doc says I’m starting menopause—which BTW I have announced to him every so often for the past 2 years, bet I believe most men need some scientific support data on the side. I’m really not sure yet what I intend or where I am going with a conversation when I make these announcements. I’ll think of something. Now that I have scientific evidence.
13 comments:
Vitamin D is absolutely essential to bone health as we go through menopause; current recommendations are to take 1000 mu/50kg body weight, and then get a test to see if you are in range (since there's a lot of variability).
The rest of the stuff falls solidly in placebo/pseudoscience--especially the cohosh, which might actually raise your estrogen levels, which has been shown to increase your risk of stroke in the future. We don't give hormones for a reason; giving an alt med alternative to hormones makes no real sense.
Yep, the VitD thing is huge. Glad you got the prescription filled!
And this is so true--that men listen to what we say about our bodies and then they really only listen when a doctor says the same thing.
I steal Oscar's gummy vitamins, but that's about a good as I do. Now that I'm thinking about it, I haven't been to a lady doctor since I saw the midwives at my six week check up after having Miles. Who will be two in December. I should make that appointment tomorrow.
Oh honey. I remember when I saw a doctor when I was just beginning to see changes leading to the change. He did the tests and said, "Well, let's just let things happen as they will," or something like that and I respected that a great deal.
I still do.
But after over ten years of hot flashes, I lie in bed at night and wonder how bad HRT can really be.
Happy that you have a doctor that you trust even if you still do need the scientific evidence :). I have not gone through menopause before, but to me it seems like the perfect time to make a change in another part of your life. Picking up a hobby that maybe you neglected, taking on a new activity, traveling someplace fabulous. I know, I know easier said than done.
But food for thought.
Oh and Thanks for sharing. I will be storing all this information for a later date.
I'm printing out this post and heading over to the Vitamin Shoppe instanter! Hot flashes are driving me nuts. Thanks for your helpful hints. Glad to hear the supplements are working for you.
I take OTC Vitamin D. Slipped secrets from the bone density technician. Seems to help with the hot flashes. I've heard the Black Cohosh can mess with you. Keeping it simple and realizing this is just what we have to go through for a few years has helped me. Makes me forget about hot flashes and anger flashes. Deal with me, family. I've been dealing with all of you for years.
Doesn't sound to good, does it? But, keeps them on their toes. And me running the show that keeps them going.
I'm in the process of finding a new doctor, it really is a crap shoot sometimes. I've been playing the menopause game for 7 years now, and have yet to make my peace with it. I just read an advanced copy of What Nurses Know... Menopause, and it was very informative and balanced. I struggle with vitamins lately as they make me feel like puking. So I eat the kids chewy ones once in a while. I'll be eating extra Vit D gummies, thanks for the reminder. I'm wrestling with HRT, trying to balance quality of life with the risk factors. I've tried every Rx and herbal out there except hormones and nothing has clicked with me, some made me worse. I've had to remind my family way more than I should have to that my body is very busy driving me crazy and I may look normal on the outside but on the inside I'm a mess. Lack of sleep is the number one culprit, lack of patience and memory the primary symptoms.
Anyway, I recommend exercise and diet and yoga to help you get through to the other side, which I can almost see from here now.
Mel, and Everyone, thanks for your comments. I really did want to share the news about Vit. D—I had been putting off my check-up with this family doc for a couple years, which was crazy because I like her. And no need for me to go to a separate gyno because she does it all (and so no nonsense…..I was wearing a flowy summer cotton skirt and before she left the room she said I could keep the skirt on for that upcoming part of the exam. Totally makes sense to me….why the heck did I need to spend the time to remove it and then put some dumb giant paper towel over my bottom half????)
At night I have been taking the E and the big pills that have the B’s, the C and other minerals. Because that seems like enough I many times skip the Black Cohosh.
A good friend of friend who has done major research, and everything else you read, validates exercise. I am on the verge of realizing I just gotta do it, even if it means the family eats fast food instead of my preparing dinner in the morning. Ditto on my 6.5 hours of sleep.
I have told my boys that just like their early teen/pre-teen bodies are working out the kinks of their new hormones, their body like a race care engine sputtering up and down finding the right speed, mine is doing the same with my changing hormones (BTW that race car analogy is part of Hubs’ talk about changing bodies and sex. It is so good that he should film himself and sell it).
At my last visit, my doctor put me on D3. I am anxious to bet retested to see how I'm doing.
Did you say, 'I told you so!'?
I'm glad you got some of the answers you needed, and that overall, all is well. Minus the hormone crap, of course.
I'm working up my nerve to find a grown up doctor myself. The Care Now clinic that fixes me when I have bronchitis just isn't going to cut it much longer. And shamefully, since my tubes are tied, I'm horrible about getting to the GYN. Shame.
Go ahead and film hubs for me will you? I think my man is going to need all the help he can get, and you know how popular car analogies would be in this house!
The only scientific evidence my husband required was my sweat-soaked sheets.
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