Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[CLKD]

To a certain extent the body heals itself hence the need for rest and sleep.  But we are totally unaware of what healing has taken place.  However, when symptoms occur it may be necessary to take medication which will ease them or in many cases, as life savers.

Activity can cause osteoporosis arthritis which is natural aging. It can be as little as managing symptoms as they occur .  I don't think 'mind your body' will ease symptoms of vaginal atrophy for example which is usually due to loss of oestrogen.  As long as possible keeping off medication can help to avoid any side effects; DH and I have been lucky thus far as a friend, by the age of 60, had undergone 2 hips and a knee replacement: she and I walked for miles with the  every weeks  .  She is 11 years older. 

Keeping a diary may well help to chart symptoms and how they affect daily activities. 

[SundayGirl]

Hi debbyx
Have you had your vitamin levels (D, B12, folate), ferritin and thyroid function tested?
Just thought I'd mention it as the things you mention could be down to something else apart from menopause. Even the acid reflux.

[AliBaliBee]

Omeprazol works wonders for acid reflux. I think it’s a good idea to start with that to try and get you some relief from the symptoms. I agree that physical health issues have a massive impact on our mental health. But please remember that there is no shame in taking antidepressants. Sertraline is a very common SSRI and it may help ease your anxiety. But it’s not for everyone, you know what’s best for you.

[Wania]

CLKD "mind your body" helped with my VA greatly. The premise and principle is that while all these natural changes occur in our bodies they don't (and shouldn't) account for this amount of pain. I was fortunate enough to have come across this work shortly after my VA excruciating pain started, it is now gone. With sometimes mild discomfort.

I am not saying stop medication and just do this, but it is worth a try with an open mind, there is nothing to lose.

[Ayesha]

I would find it very difficult to believe that a mind control system would have any affect on VA (GSM) only replacing the lost oestrogen will help that nasty condition.
Perhaps mind over body might help in some instances but it would never for the likes of me who would have no faith in it.

[CLKD]

How R U this morning debbyx ?


Certainly I wouldn't consider using mind therapy to ease symptoms of VA .......... a lot of health conditions are caused by not breathing correctly: my music teacher told me that the best overall exercise for the body is singing ........ which I miss doing a lot.  Because many people don't use lung capacity to its fullest.

I need to take pain relief 4 a headache or it escalates to nausea = panic attacks.

I had CBT but it didn't work as my phobia is ingrained from within a few hours of being born. 

Yoga etc. is used with success by many.  It really does depend on what works for each of us.

[Wania]

@Ayesha - never have i said people should withdraw hormones. But pain is not necessarily a must with this.

@CLKD - I am not talking about CBT, CBT is a attempt to train your nervous system out of instinctive reaction, which is hard.
As to VA - it's not really a therapy, it's concept that is rather hard to explain in few sentences. But why would you recommend singing and yoga or CBT for other issues but not for this?

So, if you have a headache at the end of a stressful day, or stomach issues when you're really nervous, or neck pain from all the tension, or fainting from extreme fear, why would you dismiss the idea that perhaps more issues in the body can be caused by "mind" (not all caused per se, but the pain can be caused by mind)? Being someone who also suffered with panic attacks (much less now) i know what it does to the body, to my body, which ended in hospital twice during panic attack as i was convinced i will die. And there was absolutely nothing wrong with me, physically.

[CLKD]

My panic attacks have always been physical first.  One cannot ease VA symptoms with 'mind over matter'.

[Wania]

It's not really mind over matter. It's the acknowledgment that the condition doesn't account for amount of pain.
This concept is nothing new. It was first developed and studied for many years by doctor John Sarno, who's it become life's work. There are a other practitioners who further develop this method, and although i know how it sounds.. There is a level of despair (for lack of better word) that helps to jump into this.

I for one was fed up with feeling like faecal matter all the time and compromising my family at so many turns.

I'm not saying anyone has to do it, but it is worth exploring if any other medical advice is made of:
- it may help, but it may get worse
- for some people it works but for others it doesn't
- lets try cutting this but if this doesn't work we can try cutting something else

[CLKD]

How R U Debbyx

[dawncowp44]

If you are really struggling to be taken seriously by your GP is it worth making an appointment with a specialist.  I know not everyone want to go this route but a friend of mine that just wasn't being taken seriously for years finally gave in & made a private appointment & was started on HRT within the week.  After 6 months she is now just transitioning back to the NHS but she is so greatful she took this step and feels like she has her life back.

Worse case scenario you have your mind put at rest that it isn't menopause related, best case, you get to have your life back.

Whatever you choose, hope everything works out for you