Menopause: I just want to be me again
WOMAN'S WAY ~  February 2006
by Angle Fielden, CPhT
 

Menopause unofficially begins when the last period ends. However, our bodies undertake many chemical changes prior to this controversial landmark in a woman's life. It is controversial because most women can't wait to see that dreaded relative of ours go. This relative visits every month, sometimes even showing up by surprise. They often decide to stay later than planned. Yes, ladies ... we jokingly refer to this relative as Aunt Flow. In families with several girls, this is the big family joke since Aunt Flow would be there all month. We can joke about it now, but you remember how it was, unless you're a guy reading this article.... Another reason to refer to this time as a controversial landmark is because once you have stopped cycling, you know that means no more children. It is a sad day for a mother or especially sad for a woman wanting to be a mother and has not had the opportunity to have a child. Furthermore, everyone has taught us that once you have stopped your cycle, you have gone through "the change." They make it sound like we are giving up who we are. Is this when we need to take up rocking chair and give up the roller blades? No! This is usually when the kids are grown and we have the best part of our life to look forward to retirement.

All of this free time on our hands will mean nothing if we don't feel good. We want to have the same personality and emotional well-being we had in our early 30s. Joint pain, weight gain, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, low or no libido and fatigue...all of these symptoms are common during peri-menopause and menopause. Is there anything we can do to fix these things? The answer is yes.
Once your hormone levels are drawn and evaluated by someone who deals with hormone replacement and a HRT assessment is completed, you're on your way to becoming you again. How do you find someone who will work with you to maintain proper hormone levels? There are several physicians and hormone consultants locally who put a great deal of emphasis on bio-identical HRT. A compounding pharmacy usually knows someone who can help you get started.

Angle Fielden, bio-identical hormone replacement specialist at Solutions Pharmacy, has five years' experience in counseling and educating patients. Solutions, 4632 Highway 58 North, was named "the nation's experts in formulating bio-identical hormones" by the American Medical Review. Call (423) 894-0423 for appointment for a free in-house hormone assessment.