I am 49 and just entering menopause and have noticed that my muscle mass is depleting( and unfortunately slowly being replace by fat cells). I swim about 15000 ( 3000 5 days per week) meters a week and lift weights 2-3 days per week. My last meet was horrible and wonder if my poor performance is linked to this loss of muscle. I am not taking hormone replacement therapy because I don't have the other nasty symptoms of night sweats and hot flashes. My only other complaint is not sleeping well. (awake at 2 a.m. and have trouble returning to sleep).
My question to you women who have already come out the other side is really this- menopause is here to stay, no way around that. But does that mean I have to swim so poorly?? Obviously there are still 45-55 year old women who are still quite fast. Would horomone replacement therapy help me there? When lifting weights, should I do more weight and less repetition? Should I cut my yardage some so that I have more rest?
I know there was an article on this in Swim magazine, but it didn't address these specific questions. Thanks for any input.
Great thread- thanks! I appreciate the opportunity to hear what you are all going through, so I know what to expect. (By the way, I'm 48 and couldn't fall back to sleep after waking up at 5:15am, so I fired up the computer to read the forums... :D )
So, my question: I had an endometrial ablation, in 2004, due to non-stop bleeding. How will I know when I have entered menopause? My doctor told me, "You'll KNOW!" But, some experience symptoms worse than others. Is there anybody out there in the same boat who can answer this question for me? Thanks!
Your physician can tell from a blood test I believe.
As far as symptoms I can tell you a hot flash is very unique. It is very much unlike "just being hot." For me it seems to start on the inside and radiate to the outside. Sometimes I feel like my skin surface is cold but I'm burning up inside! When I'm having these flashes they seem to come in waves (like labor pains) on a regular interval. I might have this problem a week or so then it just goes away for awhile. The main problem with these is that they wake you up at night.
As far as emotional symptoms I'd say menopause makes me a little bi-polar. I am usually a happy person but I've noticed lately small, unintentional things people do really hurt my feelings and can almost ruin my day and make me somewhat depressed. I try to be cognizant of the way I am and just keep on going. I was having a day like that yesterday; it was hard to do but I just kept telling my psyche there was really no problem and my feelings are hormonal (or lack there of) induced whining or self pity. Today I'm back to my normal self! I am sure HRT would help these problems but so far I think I'm doing okay just working with myself. I'm 54.
:cane:
Great thread- thanks! I appreciate the opportunity to hear what you are all going through, so I know what to expect. (By the way, I'm 48 and couldn't fall back to sleep after waking up at 5:15am, so I fired up the computer to read the forums... :D )
So, my question: I had an endometrial ablation, in 2004, due to non-stop bleeding. How will I know when I have entered menopause? My doctor told me, "You'll KNOW!" But, some experience symptoms worse than others. Is there anybody out there in the same boat who can answer this question for me? Thanks!
Your physician can tell from a blood test I believe.
As far as symptoms I can tell you a hot flash is very unique. It is very much unlike "just being hot." For me it seems to start on the inside and radiate to the outside. Sometimes I feel like my skin surface is cold but I'm burning up inside! When I'm having these flashes they seem to come in waves (like labor pains) on a regular interval. I might have this problem a week or so then it just goes away for awhile. The main problem with these is that they wake you up at night.
As far as emotional symptoms I'd say menopause makes me a little bi-polar. I am usually a happy person but I've noticed lately small, unintentional things people do really hurt my feelings and can almost ruin my day and make me somewhat depressed. I try to be cognizant of the way I am and just keep on going. I was having a day like that yesterday; it was hard to do but I just kept telling my psyche there was really no problem and my feelings are hormonal (or lack there of) induced whining or self pity. Today I'm back to my normal self! I am sure HRT would help these problems but so far I think I'm doing okay just working with myself. I'm 54.
:cane:
