Best products from r/Menopause

Yes yes yes they are worth it! This has been a lifesaver for me during menopause and also for my teenage daughter. I would have loved to have HAD this kind of leak protection for the past 35 years but alas I will take it for the next, i don't know, ten-ish? I ordered a pair off Amazon a few years ago and noticed that there are more choices now and cuter ones but these are perfect.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G9SKP5Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I do not wear them in lieu of pads or tampons, but with them. Nothing gets through these panties. Nothing. They are especially helpful to me because I have super heavy night periods and bulky night pads don't even cut it. These panties save me from bleeding on the sheets every month.

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this so young. Even though I've been struggling with various mysterious symptoms for 3-4 years, including irregular periods, it didn't get really bad until last year, when I was 35 and the hot flashes started. My estrogen levels were tanked (low progesterone too), and my FSH was super high. Now, at 36, I've determined with the help of my functional medicine practitioner (ARNP, CNM) and a transvaginal ultrasound that I'm experiencing POF and early perimenopause. It totally sucks all around. For me, the worst part was the mood/energy stuff -- total lack of motivation, foggy brain, fatigue, anxiety, etc. And being chemically sensitive, I was very scared to consider HRT.

However, I have tried everything in the book on the natural side of remedies (acupuncture, supplements, diet, etc.), and while I'm sure they helped -- especially dietary changes like going gluten- and grain-free and reducing sugar (I already don't drink coffee or alcohol) -- I was still feeling like crap, and beginning to feel hopeless.

I spent the weeks between my diagnosis and my next appt. reading as much as I could. I got these three books: 1 2 3, and found the 1st to be the most helpful. I also watched a bunch of Menopause Taylor videos on YouTube as recommended by this sub. And I came to the conclusion that I owed it to my future self to give hormones a shot, so as to protect my bones, heart, and brain, even though I was totally freaked out that I'd have a bad reaction.

Luckily, my practitioner errs on the natural side of things as well, so she recommended bioidentical hormones rather than the stronger synthetic ones. I started using a bi-est cream and progesterone cream two weeks ago, and so far have had no bad side effects! I'm starting out at, like, 1/3 of the dose, lol. After a month I'll do more bloodwork to see if it's helping, and I imagine I'll up the dose. But, let me tell you -- I can feel the life coming back to me!! Within the first couple days I felt more energy, and my hot flashes have reduced dramatically. So perhaps you can do some research on bioidenticals and see if those might be a good fit for you.

I highly recommend finding a functional medicine person with experience in menopause. I've heard so many horror stories about doctors -- even GYNs -- who are dismissive towards menopause, so I count myself lucky to have found this help. Good luck, OP! Keep us posted!

I love that you're trying to help your mom! I regret so much that I wasn't very understanding or patient with my own mom when she was dealing with this.

I definitely agree with the suggestion of a small fan for a bedside table. Here are 2 that I've been using for years, and highly recommend:

https://smile.amazon.com/OPOLAR-Operated-Recahrgeable-Hurricane-Portable/dp/B0749M96XT (The rechargeable batteries are a lifesaver, and it allows me to take the fan with me around the house. And it's great to travel with -- mine has been with me all over the country.)

https://smile.amazon.com/Caframo-7-Inch-White-Chinook-Fan/dp/B0010UPOEQ (This lives on my nightstand, and it's one of my most favorite belongings.)

Yeah I’ve been dealing with hair loss cycles for the past 10 years. It’s really frustrating. Mine turned out to be from hypothyroidism and chronic iron deficiency. I had to fight with Drs to get a proper diagnosis as they usually only test your TSH. My TSH was showing up in the upper range of ‘normal’ but when they tested my free T4 and T3 they came back low. Also my ferritin (iron storage) was in the bottom of the normal range, and hair needs a ferritin of 70 for at least 6 months to grow back. I was losing a lot of blood from heavy periods. I ended up getting 2 iron infusions and they put me on thyroid meds and a lot of my hair grew back especially around the hairline. So I would recommend getting your thyroid and iron levels tested (research it beforehand as Drs are not always up to date on the thyroid and iron relation to hair loss)

As for OTC stuff I use Rogaine for women to keep the hair in a growth cycle, and I take a really good hair vitamin https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00ED2EJI0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_RTA0DbH8FM173

Alterna makes a really nice shampoo for hair density, it doesn’t weigh hair down and my scalp isn’t itchy after using it. I also tried the mousse in the same line but I don’t recommend it, it didn’t do anything for my hair. Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Clinical Densifying Shampoo https://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=pimprod2000194

Oh the joys of womanhood NOT! And the lip hairs too! We lose hair where we don’t want & we gain it where we’re not meant too.

I noticed one of those myself right on my neck awhile back it was the big WTF with me too!

I use & sorry I went through this post really quick... but It works even on my lip hair. I brought this to somebody else’s attention on a post quite a while ago on here.

It’s really helps a lot, you use it in a circular motion and I honestly have not had to replace the batteries nothing for as long as I’ve had it possibly two years now. It’s painless!

Only once in a while I’ll have to plunk one of those really coarse stubborn hairs off my chin.

You can look at the reviews but love this thing. Now if I can only get rid of some of the gray that’s coming through my eyebrows . I think too much plucking through the years! Wish somebody told me not too 🙄 And it’s worse on one side!


https://www.amazon.com/Finishing-Touch-Flawless-Painless-Remover/dp/B071KW9GTT

Like these:
https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Face-Neck-Lift-Light/dp/B004BVYT2Y/

Although I have to say I like the ones I got on aliexpress better - the ones on amazon attach with a band around the back of your neck. The ones from china are these weird stretchy tapes that you attach, pull, attach and they are also good for pulling up the bottom of your face. :)

Royal Maca

This helps me a ton! Modal fabric pajamas are fantastic too. What a sweet idea :)

Vmagic Organic Vulva Balm & Intimate Skin Care, Feminine Irritation Relief- Relieves Dryness, Itching, Burning, Redness, Chafing, Odor, Menopause Symptoms - Estrogen Free (2 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0071Q5PL0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rgvYCbJC9NZGE has been a life saver for me and very natural

Lots of helpful advice in my new book!! “Period. The End: Wit, Wisdom, and Practical Guidance for Women in Menopause—and Beyond” — there are moisture wicking pjs and sheets, essential oils, and lots if other things to try—but it’s been 13 years and I STILL get ‘em every day/nite. For some, they just don’t end. In the meantime, a girls gotta laugh. https://www.amazon.com/Period-End-Practical-Guidance-Menopause/dp/0692179364/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=period+the+end&qid=1556622342&s=gateway&sr=8-1

They did deep tissue massage, electrical stimulation, and exercises. I’d find a really good PT office. It is so individual as far as what you have going on and how to treat it. I also don’t do as much computer work which helps.

This things helps when you need to do self treatment.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSGR43H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sqh2Db0M5Q139

If you're looking for a natural alternative EstroRight by 3Care REALLY helped my wife when she was going through this. After taking for two weeks she said her depression, anxiety, hot flashed and insomnia dramatically decreased. Might be worth a try! Best of luck to you, definitely talk to your doctor. Her doctor recommended this product and we're so happy he did.

https://www.amazon.com/EstroRight-Menopause-Support-Supplement-Capsules/dp/B01EU6H1AG

There’s a growing body of evidence that suggests that’s exactly what your body is doing (conserving weight in response to eating less). This neuroscientist has done a great round up of the research. She also has a good, short TED Talk if a whole book is too much. Intermittent fasting and cutting out carbs will both trigger metabolic changes that increase weight over time for most people.

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Diets-Make-Fat-Consequences/dp/1591847699/ref=nodl_

https://www.ted.com/talks/sandra_aamodt_why_dieting_doesn_t_usually_work/up-next?language=en

I take AM/PM and have found it to be helpful with some symptoms like mood swings and hot flashes.

If you are on facebook search "premature ovarian failure" (another term for early menopause) there are 2 groups that I've found very helpful. There are women in there taking HRT and others doing more natural remedies. I'm personally doing a combo of HRT and natural. I plan to move to bio identical HRT in the future.

Yes they do ;) I wouldn't use the Major Rhubarb Combination though (they don't recommend that long term normally, I just have a special circumstance) start out with just the Chinese Rhubarb or the Rhubarb/Licorice combination might even work better, since Licorice also has phytoestrogenic properties.

Magnesium helps me. Now that I'm on HRT especially, I take a ton of magnesium. Every time I feel a HA coming on, I just pop a couple 100mg magnesium tablets and it seems to do the trick. I do this several times per day and always have some in my pocket when I'm working. This is the one I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD0RT0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Amazon tells me I've purchased it 13 times!

I decided to start taking HRT after hearing the Peter Attia podcast with the authors of the book Estrogen Matters. Read the book and was completely convinced.
https://www.amazon.com/Estrogen-Matters-Hormones-Menopause-Well-Being/dp/0316481203

I’m so sorry. I recommend checking out the Premature Menopause Book https://www.amazon.com/Premature-Menopause-Book-change-Comes/dp/0380805413/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=premature+menopause&qid=1569624846&s=gateway&sprefix=premature+me&sr=8-1

She may also want to see a menopause specialist—premature ovarian failure typically happens in a different way than normal menopause. There are also different guidelines about hormone replacement, meaning that sometimes, while a 50 year old woman will not be recommended to use HRT, they might recommend HRT to a 27 year old woman. But your average doctor won’t be aware of this because it’s too esoteric.