** affiliate links included…I would never share a link to a product if I didn’t use it and love it **
It’s been a hot minute (and I use that phrase literally) since I last checked in on all my Menopause ladies out there.
What a unique ride menopause is. I’ll try to break down my last year in case it helps someone that is also just starting this ridiculously unavoidable Era like me.
I shared early on, last July, that I jumped on purchasing an awesome Heating and Cooling bracelet online. It was recommended by a Photography Mentor, Jen Rozenbaum. EmbrWave2. I can say I have forgotten it twice in last year on the charger when I left the house and immediately had more regret than if I had left my phone at home.
This “bracelet” has given me so much comfort and relief, I wouldn’t go without it. I totally understand the investment that it is, but worth every penny. If mine ever fails, I will immediately buy another.
It’s pretty simple technology. There is a hot flash setting that allows you pick the length of the pulsing cooling sensation as well as the intensity of the coolness. That’s really the only setting I use. For some reason it has stopped connecting to the Bluetooth on my iPhone, but I’m certain that’s a me issue. It was working fine for over a year.
I see on Amazon, it has dropped in price. When I picked it up, it was $700 after duty, shipping and US exchange. The current price on Amazon.ca is $404 Canadian (as of July 28, 2024) and the Dusty Rose is available. At first in Canada it was black only. I have the Dusty Rose and it blends well with a couple bracelets on the same wrist.
I actually don’t even try to conceal it. When I meet women who I suspect might in their Menopause Era, I immediately take it off my wrist and show them the magic. It’s remarkable!
I completely believe that this bracelet has helped me when hot flashes creep up on me, day or night.
The other random internet find I’m loving is Happy Mammoth, Hormone Harmony. Not an affiliate link, but I am on a direct ship every two months. My hot flashes went from being frustrating, constant and for lack of a better word, shit. If you remember I was taking a personal fan in my purse to work with me. Hot flashes were so disruptive in my work day. I would excuse myself so I could go somewhere to over heat and then cool down and then try to pick up where I left off. SO BAD.
I started taking Hormone Harmony last October before I had my initial appointment with my Naturopath, as a way to “try anything” while I suffered with hot flashes and mood swings, and no sleep and weight gain. You know…all the usual suspects for menopause.
Fast forward to November when I met my Naturopath, who has become a staple health care provider for me.
Not only did I have menacing and disruptive hot flashes, but my inflammation was out of control. From Sept last year, I was struggling hard with inflammation in my hands mostly. I could barely make a fist. Shit, I could barely close my fingers gently.
I would wake up in the morning and lay my slightly curled fingers on my chest and let gravity close my hands into a soft fist. Tears almost every day were overwhelming.
So, anyway…I meet my Naturopath, who came highly recommended by my Chiropractor, and we immediately tried a few options to reduce the inflammation. While I won’t share the Natural supplements I am taking based on her recommendation, she did endorse Hormone Harmony ingredients and advised if it’s working, keep it in my daily routine.
I will say, that she did recommend removing dairy from my diet for 14 days and then reintroducing after 14 days in excess to see if dairy may be the culprit to my frustratingly painful inflammation. When we reviewed my average daily diet, dairy was prevalent everyday in one form or another.
Multiple cups of tea a day, with 3 milk, cheese on everything, butter was also a main ingredient depending on the meal.
The Journey for no dairy started on Jan 1, 2024 and by Jan 8th, I had no intention of putting milk in my tea ever again. My hands felt like my own. I had no pain at all. I still wiggle them freely to this day and do a little finger happy dance.
I still have cheese on whatever requires cheese, like tacos or casseroles, but I’m not putting any cows milk in my tea, ever. I’m using Earth’s Own Natural Oat Milk and it’s been life changing. I know it sounds dramatic but my gut health was all over the map and removing cows milk (and possibly one of the supplements I take daily), changed my life for the better.
With just those three things. EmbrWave 2, Hormone Harmony and Oat Milk, my Menopause Era is completely manageable.
I will say I also had some solid hip pain that has been relieved by weekly visits to Physio and doing my exercises daily. Lack of estrogen really fucks with your joints and cushioning within your joints.
I am also a terrible water drinker. I don’t like it. LOL. My Naturopath has insisted I learn to like it, and ween off the many cups of tea I drink a day and substitute herbal tea or herbal iced tea.
She recommended a local tea place, and sadly when I went there right after my appointment, they were closed. So that night, being a good patient, I went online and found Tealish (not affiliate), a Canadian loose leaf tea company. I ordered 5 different kinds of tea to try. All herbal and all delicious. Now I need to pull the trigger on my new Yeti that is siting in my Amazon cart. I can’t decide on the size. I’m thinking 35 ounces. I know myself, if a cup has a straw I will drink from it more often. I’m too lazy to unscrew a cap, LOL. I also have a wasp allergy so I need to drink from something where either I can see where I am drinking from, or from something that a wasp can’t get into.
Last but certainly not least…my mental health has taken a shit kicking over the last year or so. I felt myself being wound up so tight and completely incapable of relaxing and getting healing rest for my joints and mind.
Enter, my Therapist. She is a new addition to the ever mounting list of health practitioners and I really don’t know why I didn’t reach out for mental health help earlier. She has changed the game for me on how to think intentionally and with my health as the top priority. I never thought I was “above” therapy. I just didn’t realize how impacted my mood, personality and mental health was. Is it my Menopause Era at fault? I don’t know. It likely contributes…how can it not?
So, the Menopause Era year 1 has been enlightening and a learning experience to say the least.
I have started following Dr. Mary Claire Haver on IG. She is amazing. Doesn’t speak in doctor language. She makes it easy to understand and validates all the signs and symptoms and how over looked menopause education has been. I haven’t purchased her book, The New Menopause yet. That might be a Christmas present to me, from me.
Do NOT ignore your body or your mind. When things aren’t working as they did, something is different. It could be gut health. It could be mental health. ALL require the same level of curiosity and attention.
I know the Menopause Era is just starting and going to be here for awhile and I feel like I am better prepared to handle all the new changes.
If you are with me in this new Era, let me know what your “favourite” change has been. If you aren’t there yet, buckle up. It’s a ride!
Whatever you do, do it with Gumption
Xo
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