Had my every 3 months appointment this morning (fasting for blood work) and my doctor is thrilled that I've been able to stay quit smoking for 8 months already (yesterday thank you very much). I've gained a total of 3 lbs since I quit and he will talk to me about a specific exercise regime in September when I've been quit for 12 months. He said that with having smoked 36 years and there was so much damage done to my lungs and heart and carotid arteries that he didn't want me to overdo exercise. He told me that my ideal weight would be reached with loosing a mere 5 lbs - well geez louise, I can do that just by cutting out the good stuff from my diet - lol!!! I'm still taking Plavix for my carotid arteries (probably for the rest of my life) and I'm taking medication for my high cholesterol (which is now controlled) that is genetic mostly, and I'm also taking Fosomax for my bones (now that I'm post menopausal). Yes ladies you heard that right, I'm through menopause and I did it without hormone replacement. To give you some background.....I have technically gone through 2 menopauses, one was surgical when I was 27 and had a complete hysterectomy, and the second one started when I was about 44 and is now complete (I hope he knows what he's talking about).
I stand my my slogan - Life doesn't get better than this!!!!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
I'm POST Menopausal
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12 COMMENTS:
you can do it. 5 lbs. that's all i seem to be able to lose myself.
i'm pre-menopausal
Many congrats on 8 months!! I'm almost to my pre-quit weight, and I actually enjoy eating better now knowing that I'm not killing myself by smoking. I think for so long I didn't care as much because I knew smoking was so bad, and then I gained some likely from the metabolism change when quitting, but it's all so worth it now that I'm so close to where I started but smoke free. I feel excellently great! Congrats, again. I bet your doctor is just thrilled, too!
Dear MamaFlo,
Amen to post-menopause. There's nothing redeeming about periods. Congrats on the no-smoking. Keep up the good work.
Yes, congrats on the quit time - one my ex-bf's said quitting cigarettes was WORSE than quitting heroin (and he should have known, having done both).
Like you, I'm post-menopausal AND I did it without HRT. I'm fine now, but it was tough during the peri part with the hot flashes and memory snags. I think the foggy memory was the worst part, even worse than hot flashes. But you know, it really wasn't so awful that I wanted to take a pill. My docs were "do the natural stuff first and then, if you're really suffering, we'll talk HRT" and I did some natural plant estrogen stuff with black cohosh - and it worked fine.
As to my weight - I was already fat, so I don't think I noticed any appreciable difference one way or the other. Working on that one right now. Ugh.
~Laura
http://zentalfloss.blogspot.com/
Well done you ... I had to give up wheat and that seems to be in everything and I know that it's not the same but I feel that it's a lovely feeling to think that you are strong enough to not let anything control you - if that makes sense. Like you I never even contemplated taking HRT ... I have heard that some stay on it for 15 to 20 years and then have to go through all kinds of hot flushes, and symptoms, etc. What would be the point of that? I'm now a porridge person - which is very filling and so don't tend to snack between meals - although I really love eating bananas at least two a day. I'm hoping that I won't gain too much weight on them! :)
Congratulations on quitting smoking! Good for you! How wonderful that you could get over the menopause OK. I did, too. I was relieved not to have to get all the night sweats my friends told me they suffered.
Oh don't get me wrong, I had the hot flashes and sometimes I still think the memory issues aren't gone - OMG could this be old age instead?!! Seriously, the first time I went through it wasn't so bad, I was too busy raising two babies to care but the second one came along with empty nest and, well, it was more rough BUT I got through the other side without all the drugs and hopefully I can continue to get healthy with not smoking anymore.
This blog and the people I've met while reading and blogging have helped me oh so much to overcome a lot about getting older. Awesome Women (and a few men)!!!
Congratulations on keeping up the not smoking. I've never been a smoker but I am a serious chocoholic and I have a hint of how hard it would be to give up smoking since I can't even give up sweets. I'm glad I never started. Best of luck to you.
Wow! Way to go on the not smoking!
Congratulations on 8 months of no-smoking, especially after 36 years of it! Congratulations only needing to lose 5 pounds to be at your ideal weight, too! Don't I just wish!!
As for that whole menopause stuff - I think I am peri-menopausal or maybe just cranky! Either way, I'm going to be 50 this year so I've got to be danged close though I wish I was through it and on the other side saying "Whew!"
good for you--3 lbs over?! That is fabulous. i won't get on a scale, but i'm thinking i have gained 10 lbs in the last 3 months.
but rome wasn't built in a day. that is what I always say
I also have been quit now for over a year with the help of Chantix, but only took it for a month. Gained 10 lbs and have managed to get that off. I also had a complete hysterectomy when I was 39 and am now 57. Only took hormones for that first year and none since. I was confused when you said you went through menopause twice. I also had many problems with empty nest, but did not connect it with menopause. Now I am wondering if that was connected??!?
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