I hadn't thought an HRT/menopause discussion was appropriate fare for this
list, but since so many people responded and some asked to keep the
discussion on the list, I will pass on a few more comments.

I have had a lifetime of severe problems with hypoglycemia, sugar bingeing,
etc. which just got worse during the 20 years or so I tried to eat "healthy,
low fat, vegetarian foods." I also managed to balloon up to being about 60 or
70 pounds overweight while always "on a diet". Four years ago I switched to a
low carb, Atkins sort of lifestyle, and gravitated more towards Paleo in the
last 2 years. I have lost 30 pounds, which is good, but seem to be pretty
much stuck here. Nevertheless, I feel so much better eating this way, and
enjoy the disappearance of so many health problems, I would never consider
abandoning this lifestyle (except for those
once-a-month-or-so-only-human-cheats.)

Anyway, I just assumed that since eating Paleo cleared up so many other
health issues that I wouldn't have any trouble when menopause hit. Boy, was I
wrong! Eating Paleo keeps my blood sugar very stable and comfortable, but it
can never replace hormones that are being lost. My doctor (alternative style
MD) tells me that in most women, the adrenals take over secreting estrogen to
some degree after the ovaries shut down. But in those with a history of
chronic fatigue syndrome, the exhausted adrenals fail to put out enough
estrogen and/or cortisol. The result, for me, has been the very sudden
onslaught of severe, disabling symptoms. Sure, hot flashes are annoying,
night sweats disrupt my sleep, but they are nothing compared to the
bone-crushing fatigue, severe heart palpitations, and cognitive problems
overwhelming me right now. I am using progesterone cream, taking prescription
natural testosterone, Black Cohosh, etc. and about to begin taking triple
estrogen, a prescription form of natural estrogens that are bio-identical to
a woman's natural hormones.

I refuse to take HRT (horse estrogens). Dozens of substances are reputed stop
menopausal symptoms, and perhaps in some women they do work. So far, I
haven't found anything that has helped me. One could speculate that I could
be worse without these various remedies, but I can't imagine how! The theory
is that Black Cohosh, soy isoflavones, etc. are supposed to key into estrogen
receptors and "fool" the body into thinking it has more estrogen than it
does. Studies have been done showing these things to be beneficial in
eliminating symptoms. Others studies have been done showing no benefit. They
have not helped me. My advice to others suffering from this (and to myself!)
is to not abandon Paleo eating. Nobody would expect this lifestyle to fix a
broken leg, and it is not going to replace lost hormones. That doesn't mean
it doesn't have legions of other benefits.

A wise woman I met once said to me, "The body seeks homeostasis". I believe
this to be very true. One needs to give one's body a chance to get through
this transition and level off. Generally I don't believe in taking drugs, but
I wouldn't think of having a tooth drilled without Novocain, and I'll do what
I need to do to get through this stage in my life without a total breakdown.

When this discussion rolled around several months ago there were some who had
the blatant arrogance to state, "I will never take drugs! I will never do
this or that! Paleo, homeopathy, or whatever will get me through!" Menopause
will be a different experience for each woman, and, like childbirth, you
won't know until you get there.

My final thought- Every woman on Earth has only two choices: go through
menopause or die before you get there!

Maddy Mason
Hudson Valley, NY