Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Alternative Therapies => Topic started by: een on August 24, 2015, 08:07:19 AM
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Hi all, I have not been on the forum for a long time.
I take a 1mg/0.5mg Kliovance tab daily. I tried Herbal and Homeopathic alternatives before taking the HRT.. I have been on HRT I must say now for many years. I will be 59 in November .
I bought this Ladycare magnet at £29.99 i have worn it 24/7 . Had high hopes it would work so that i could stop the HRT. Sadly as of this morning i have resorted back to my HRT. The hot flushes and the night swats are absolutely unreal . I feel quite depressed about this as i feel i have gone back about 10 years .
Can someone please tell me roughly how long does the menopause last . I no every woman is different, but geez i will be of my head if this goes into my sixties.
Thank you for listening
een
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Hi een - nice to have you back but sorry you are still suffering. Not sure whether we have had any success stories of the magnet therapy to be honest.
Some women don't get a return of symptoms when they stop HRT but others do go back to how they were before starting it unfortunately. I'm like you and each time I stop it (not my choice though!) the symptoms take around three months to get to where they were when I first started HRT at the age of 53. I'm 61 now. How long is it since you stopped HRT? It can take three months for the symptoms to peak, apparently, and then a further three to six months for them to tail off. I didn't find this to be the case with me though and, like you, after a while the hot sweats day and night made life really difficult. Both the meno clinic and my doc insisted I come off HRT at 60 and it's taken a lot of persuading, plus the intervention of a pelvic floor specialist, to get my gp to prescribe full HRT again so I'm continuing with it as long as I can!
Just want to add that at your age it is advisable to use either patch or gel HRT rather than pills.
Taz x :hug:
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Hi and welcome to MM ten
I am 59 and have been on and off HRT for the last 20 years - I started my meno in my mid 30s. I'm afraid the magnet doesn't seem to have any positive effects for most women. Nobody can tell you how long the flushes etc will last when you do decide to come off HRT. Some women resort to Anti depressants or SRRIs to help with symptoms but that can be trial a error as well.
I hope to be able to stay on HRT for a few more years while I still need to work.
Do look at all the info on this site and dip into the various threads - you are not alone in feeling this way.
If you are in good health and can stick with HRT for a bit longer, then do so. You might need to switch to a transdermal form of HRT e.g. combined patches, as this is deemed safer as we get older. You could also gradually reduce the dose over a few years as this sometimes works. I manage on quite a low dose now.
Keep posting DG x
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Thank you ladies for your reply.s. I have only been off this time 3 weeks . Symptoms seem to appear very quickly with me when i stop . I think i will make an appt, to go back and discuss with my doctor the pro's and cons of one thing or another. I am in very good health . Especially as i changed jobs from a very stressful one to a very part time one which i love. So i have no stress to worry about apart from the usual s that we all have.
I emailed Ladycare . They say stick with the magnet, which i am not going to .
Thank you een x
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I feel I must mention that at 44 your do need oestrogen HRT to protect your heart and bones. The Magnet won't'give these benefits. Do ask about Oestrogel. DG x
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Hello ladies,
Thought I would give you an account of my experience with the lady are magnet!
Firstly I must tell you I have worn a wrist magnet for a few years which really helps with neck/head issues following an RTA years ago.
I am on Evorel 75 patches and would love to come off them so I tried the magnet.
Within 24 hours I had much less hot flushes and within a few days sleeping much better, after about a month by mood had also improved. Another thing I noticed was I appeared to be a lot less bloated and over time I felt generally better although it was a bit of an inconvenience wearing it in my knickers 24/7 especially as the magnet wound attach itself to cupboard handles in the kitchen and even lifted a fork off the table as I sat down for a meal in a restaurant once!
That said it seemed to work well for me but then I noticed my neck pain returned with a vengeance so I emailed the company and was advised to buy a magnetic bracelet from them as the one I was wearing could be working opposite to the lady care magnet!
My current bracelet works really well so don't really want to change it so I stopped using the lady are magnet and within days neck much better!
The lady care magnet has excellent reviews apart from attaching itself to shopping trolley's, lol!
Does anyone know anything about opposing magnets or if you can wear more than one at a time?!
Yamas x
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Hi Een, the Ladycare magnet was one of the very many alternatives I tried throughout my very long journey of menopause. It didn't work and I just kept getting stuck to the ironing board! I'm on a very low dose oestrogen patch with a course of progesterone every three months. This helps me a lot although doesn't completely take all the symptoms away. I take Amitryptlline for anxiety and that suits me very well. I'm sorry to say I'm 65 and still suffering and my sister is 70 and still gets hot flushes. Keeping weight down, saying no to alcohol and having a low blood pressure all helps to ensure you are at low risk if continuing with HRT over 60. And, as other ladies have said, patch is a better option for older ladies.
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I think the whole thing is .....we are all very different.
I have never tried the magnet for menopause but have started to wear a magnetic bracelet for my arthritis and I do beleive it is helping.
Some will say it's the placebo effect but if it is I really don't care.
I have often told the story of the wonderful effect that I had using magnets on one of my dogs.
Not a great comparison really but I do know dogs cannot experience any kind of placebo.
If it works.....then it works.
Honeybun
X
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Aaaaagh! Not that again! Grangravy >:( The dog thing has been discredited - someone else posted a study..... anyway that's irrelevant to menopause. I don't mind a bit of placebo in the short term - the mind is powerful - but not that women should be duped (by manufacturers) into buying remedies for which there is no scientific evidence nor explanation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hurdity x
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I wonder if the positive results are from a reduction in stress caused by believing (or hoping) that it will work? Stress can be a contributory factor to hot flushes and period pains, so this would explain why there have been some positive testimonies using ladycare for both problems.
I tried one years ago for severe period pain and it did absolutely nothing, but as my problem was partly due to a physical abnormality and partly to hormone imbalance, relieving stress would have no effect at all on the symptoms.
My view is if you are happy to spend that much money on the off chance, then great, and if it works, that is great too whether it is a placebo effect or not. Though I do have concerns over desperate women spending money they can't afford in a bid to get help. The only reason I bought the magnet was because I was getting brushed off by my then-GP and had run out of other options. If I had received the treatment I should have done from my GP, then I wouldn't have ended up hunting madly for any and every alternative treatment that might help.
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I don't mind a bit of placebo in the short term - the mind is powerful - but not that women should be duped (by manufacturers) into buying remedies for which there is no scientific evidence nor explanation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hurdity x
If we accept that placebos work by altering our brain chemistry, perhaps it's reasonable to assume that magnets can act as a placebo, generating a brain chemistry altering effect.
The Wall Street Journal takes a high level view of some of the science underlying the placebo effect in the link below.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/brain-chemicals-explain-the-power-of-placebos-1438788493
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Hurdity.....this is the alternatives section and all opinions are worthy......you might not agree but if not then let the rest of us discuss them please.
Who discredited the dog study exactly .....and it's not irrelevant if you take it in the context I mentioned.
As I said....this is the alternatives section.......which was requested by members who wanted to discuss alternatives ....don't you think :-\
Maybe let people who want to explore these things have their say please.
Honeybun
X
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Wonder what happens when you use a patch and a magnet.
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Well you could explode...implode....melt..... ;D
Honeybun
X
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In the interests of science somebody should try it ;D
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Well I have my magnetic bracelet on and I'm still here.
And it's helping......anyone going to disagree ;D ;D
Honeybun
X
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Belinda Carlisle swears by the magnets. Dr Currie has commented on it in this article (not sure if it's been posted already) http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/618345/Singer-Belinda-Carlisle-menopause
I do think that magnetic therapy can help with arthritis pain - just not sure how it could help hot flushes but the mind is very powerful I suppose.
Taz x
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I'd not seen that article - Thanks for posting it Taz.
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I read it in the week and meant to post it on this section.
Taz x
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I tried the magnet when on zoladex all it ever did for me was stick me to a sainsburys trolley!
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:rofl: @ Lancashirelass
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Are you sure the dragging sensation wasn't due to the weight of all the metal objects attached to your magnet? ;D
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I have worn a magnetic bracelet for about 10 years now to help with joint pains and I am sure it helps. I have not had the lengthy periods of intense pain that I used to get years ago. Mind you, that could be something else that has changed with the passing years like my migraines! So, magnetic therapy gets a thumbs up from me.
Bramble
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I'm cross that doctors stop some wearing HRT, because I think it is cruel.
The million woman initiative has been proved to be faulty, and Annie Evans gave a great set of videos debunking the million women initiative.
And shouldn't a woman be allowed to make her own decisions on her own body?
If doctors are afraid of lawsuits, couldn't a patient sign a disclaimer.
I mean, what do doctors say when a flushed, haggard and stressed out looking woman comes in thier office, after having been forced off hrt?
Isn't the medical problems created by forcing women off hrt, costing the nhs more?
Have we still not moved on from doctors making top down decisions over ourr bodies?
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And shouldn't a woman be allowed to make her own decisions on her own body?
If doctors are afraid of lawsuits, couldn't a patient sign a disclaimer.
I mean, what do doctors say when a flushed, haggard and stressed out looking woman comes in thier office, after having been forced off hrt?
Isn't the medical problems created by forcing women off hrt, costing the nhs more?
Have we still not moved on from doctors making top down decisions over ourr bodies?
Hopefully the NICE guidelines should get more GPs in the UK thinking more sensibly about HRT.
Of course women should be allowed to make decisions about their own body and many GPs are supportive of this. However, the fact remains that GPs are responsible for putting their name/signature on the prescription and feel that they have the underlying responsibilty for the patient if things go wrong.
The idea of a disclaimer is interesting, it sounds an awful lot that the consent that has to be given before an operation, perhaps it's use could be extended to the day to day GP type arena.
Ooops Not sure if we've gone off topic here ::)
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Has anyone found a good source/website of alternative treatments for menopause .......or maybe I'll just buy some menopace :)
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I've been 'wearing' one for about a fortnight now. In desperation really, since I was waking every 20 mins hot, chucking duvet off then falling asleep again, waking 10 minutes later cold, pulling covers on again, ad infinitum over the course of the night. I've always needed lots of sleep and am quite evil if I don't get it, and hadn't felt so tired since I did a milk round in the 90's! After almost crying when the milk went lumpy in my morning earl grey, then throwing a bucket at the stable cat (don't worry, my aim is pants!) I decided I needed help!
well, first night I slept straight through! the following three or four nights I slept better than I had been, but still waking 4 or 5 times. gradually I have been sleeping the whole night again, except when bothered by slightly 'period pain' type pains.
Now I'm happy to accept that these episodes of flushes peak and wane, and that I might just be having a 'wane'! but I'm not taking the magnet off to test it! :)
It will likely be the effect of the improved sleep, but have regained my positive attitude which is so important to me. I hated losing that! so, I'm erring on the positive side with the proviso that it might just be a coincidence. and apart from feeling a bit premenstrual and heavy (oh and sticking to the kitchen cabinet handles!) there are no down sides and maybe a big plus! Will keep you posted!
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Hi and welcome to MM Jiggy3
The symptoms you are describing are very typical for the peri meno stage when the hormones fluctuate so one tends to get phases of feeling good (when oestrogen levels are good) and then phases of having flushes and nights sweats etc. (when the oestrogen levels drop) The peri stage can last some years and many find it the most challenging time of the menopause journey.
Do read up all the info on this site to get really clued up. You don't say how old you are or whether you still have regular periods but it's good to look at your options as quality of life is very important and it's no good suffering unnecessarily. Keep posting DG x
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thanks for reply......I'm almost 53. haven't been on here as feeling fine haaa! been menopausal for a year or more (not had a period since early 2015 and that was one out of the blue after several months without. been hot flushing for about 2 years. so I do take your point - as I said in the post, that it MAY just be a coincidence, but hell.....I'm sticking (get it, get it? haaaa) with it.
I am also very aware of the placebo effect, and to be honest, I'd be happy if it was. I LOVE the placebo effect....what's not to? All the benefits of a drug, without the drug....hey, sounds good to me! whose to say HRT isn't a placebo...ok, that's stretching a point but if everyone tells you it will work and it does.... ?????
I will be the first to come on here and say, sh*t looks like I was duped! but so far, so good xxxx
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What a refreshing post Jiggy3. There is nothing like being open minded.
What works for you, works. End of.
Best of luck.
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Hi Jiggy3
:welcomemm:
First of all I am very pleased to hear you have been feeling better! As has been said and as you recognise - this could either be conicidence (you might have improved anyway) or the effect of placebo - which - yes - is a powerful effect!
This leads me to take up your other point about HRT. The main way licensed treatments are approved by NHS for their efficacy is through placebo controlled trials. This is especially important for conditions which rely on the patient themselves to rate how they feel - which is the case for some menopausal symptoms such as anxiety, flushes, sweats, etc. Not only that the mind can actually control the body - the true placebo effect.
With HRT it has been independently established through placebo controlled trials - that the treatments do work for significant numbers of women over and above any effect which could be attributed to the placebo. In addition there are a variety of independent physiological measures that can be taken - for example - bone density, acidity of vagina (for Vagifem), etc etc - that don't rely on a woman's opinion.
No amount of personal testimonies can tell you or detremine if a product works! We could have pages of reports on here about the magnet and how it works - but if it is not shown in trials to work then if you are looking for a product to try - then this would not be the one.
When you say better than drugs - I presume you mean anti-depressants or similar? HRT is not in the same category - if you use hormones which are biologically identical to those found in our own body which many of us do - it is simply replacing what has become deficient in a similar way that those with thyroid conditions replace thyroid hormone.
If it worked as in had a regular and repeatable effect shown through properly designed trials - then it would be available on NHS as a very cheap alternative to HRT.
blossom60 - it's nothing to do with being open-minded - medicine is based on the outcome of trials. Anything else falls into the realms of belief.
Anyone who wants to read a straight talking site about magnet therapy in general might like to look at this:
http://www.sillybeliefs.com/magnets.html
Jiggy3 - you made an important point - and I hope your symptoms stay away :)
Hurdity x
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Given the recent bad press about drug companies inadequate/rigged trails, I feel safer with belief thanks.
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well its a good job we are all different, isn't it! just think how boring life would be if we all thought the same! :)
I have horrid reactions to all sorts of 'normal' well tested so called safe drugs (and yes, I may be wrong, but I do see HRT as a drug) I also really understand that scientific folk may see things such as the magnet as intrinsically flawed as they don't have science to back up the claims.
My partner is a research scientist.....don't think I haven't been told! :D
However....he has to agree I'm much better.....and sometimes lets me do some tapping (EFT) for him....Not that it works right?, but hell...why not?
There are likely hundreds of folk on here doing HRT and loving it...and all power to their collective elbow. when you can't or don't want to join that happy band.......its still grand to know there are some of us loonies finding alternative means to cope, even if the science is flawed or unknown. I'm still committed to getting back on line in a while and admitting I was wrong, but so far so good. had 2 mild night sweats in all the time I've been wearing it.....compared to about 30 a night.
Thanks for the input though.....will bear it all in mind!
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Well done. Glad you're feeling better today :)
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When you say better than drugs - I presume you mean anti-depressants or similar? HRT is not in the same category
Jiggy3 - It's really good that the magnet is working for you - if it works, it works! :)
Hurdity - Given that HRT is introduced into the body it looks like it IS a drug............
"A medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body:"
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/drug
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Well well Jiggy3 - you're hoping to lead us a merry dance I'm sure - but you can't fool me! Hmmm ::) 6 posts since January and all about magnets :o. Something tells me you either work for the company or know what topic is likely to cause controversy and is pushing buttons....
Girls don't get drawn in - we'll only quarrel! So Limpy - I am deliberately not answering your remark directed at me for this reason!!!
Hurdity x :peace:
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Hurdity - HRT is a drug, what is the problem with that?
It may be the same chemical structure but it's added to the body.
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You're very suspicious Hurdity. ???
Who's to say what connections any of us have.
To drug companies, for instance ::)
I'm sure most of us would not try something, based on one person's recommendations, anyway.
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blossom60 - I think I have reason to be..... ;)
... and....I'm not playing :na:
Hurdity x
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Okay :P
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Hurdity - HRT is prescribed, it's not something which can just be picked up on the high street.
That is where I am coming from when I say it's a drug.
It it has undergone clinical evaluation, it is a drug.
To suggest otherwise is misleading.
What is the problem with that?
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Well said. :)
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You've done nothing wrong. No need to apologise.
Some members post almost exclusively on HRT.
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Well if you are genuine peri jiggy happy with magnet then it's me who will need to apologise, but there have been and still are members on here who are not who they seem and some have history of deliberately posting about magnets just to cause trouble – hence my understandable suspicion! Whoever you are - stay well :)
Hurdity x
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more apologies for causing a rumpus!
I'm still just a horse owning chubby person looking for an unbiased opinion....... and (not sure I qualify for being 'peri') certainly being who I am (existential quandaries excepted) then your apology accepted!
magnet still working! yeah!
xx
this evenings thought and wise words are from Eileen Caddy.....
Seek always for the answers within.
Be not influenced by those around you -
by their thoughts or their words
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Hello Jiggy3.
Liking you're thinking! May I add a quote?
'To thine own self be true' . Hamlet.
Wishing you well.
K.