Friday, January 22, 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen! Menopause presents ........

A Whole Lot of Itchy Goin On!!!

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Hands up anyone who didn't know that you could get a rash from menopause.
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Aha, aha! Just as I thought! Most of you!
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Well, you can!! And unfortunately, I'm living proof of that! I awoke in the wee hours Sunday morning itching and burning and sore whenever I scratched. In the days leading up to my doctor's appointment, this mysterious rash would "travel": I'd have an outbreak on my legs and feet; then my hands, then my torso -- and other places!! I mentioned this to my Mom when I was speaking to her; and she said, "Oh, that's all part of the "Change"!" So, I researched.
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Here's what I found online:
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Menopause and Rashes
Skin rashes can signal an excess of progestin in the body, particularly if the woman is undergoing hormone replacement therapy. An excess of progestin can stimulate the hypothalamus to dry out the skin. These rashes can present in several forms: small bumps on the skin, itchy skin, eczema or red spots.
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Remedies for Skin Irritation
Most women can find relief with herbal remedies. Some find relief with an increase in lipsomes, flaxseed oil,
vitamin E and vitamin C intake. Others find that cocoa butter and vitamin E oil, applied to the rashes, effectively relieve the irritation. Some find relief with an estrogen-rich cream. Seek medical advice before starting any treatment.
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(I am not on hormone replacement therapy!)
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I saw the doctor on Wednesday, and I have 3 different rashes happening at once! (Yeah! So, it looks like I'm so vain that one rash wouldn't do! I'm such a bloody snob that I always have to one-up the Joneses!!) As well as the cream he prescribed for me, these guys have become my new best friends:











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And after a deliciously decadent month or so of total indulgence in chocolate and lovely Xmas cookies and pies and cakes, I'm now on the wagon. These are the things that I now indulge in:










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Goodbye sweet sugar! I don't know when I'll see you again. Farewell chocolate! You will be missed!
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I have to put away my darling friends for a few weeks. Oh please! Don't say it will be a month:( sob, sob, sob
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But when I DO see you, I'll be lighter and brighter! I will glow, I will sparkle (I will walk without chafing!). I'll be new and improved!!
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Until then, you can just call me ...............................





















15 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

You poor thing. It would be bad enough with only one variety. Rashes are one thing I did not experience with menopause. Never heard of it happening for others either. Take care and hopefully soon you'll be back to your chocolate.

Vonlipi said...

I feel for you! And winter dries the skin too! :(

Sometimes too much indulging will do that too.

Good luck with the slimming down. You will be in my thoughts.

Suburban Princess said...

I wonder if it is similar to the itching I suffered when I was pregnant - I ended up on an rx simply because I thought I was going to lose my mind! I feel your pain!

"Blossom" said...

Been there, still there and done that.
blossom

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Sounds like you've been pretty miserable.
So sorry.
Menopause.....sheesh, what a party.

Unknown said...

I used to have what I called a traveling stress rash. It may have been menopause. It's so far behind me now, I can't remember! Sad.
PS I never took hormone replacement therapy either.

Anita said...

Ugh! You poor thing! Hope you are rash-free soon!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Yep, poor Spotty, itchin' like a dog visited by a flea circus and rashes are part of the gift of menopause. That stopped for me when I started taking Menopause Solutions. It took care of a long list of my symptom including those dreaded night-sweats and menomares. I do take a pro-biotic daily too.

Take care...I keep thinkin' this will be over soon, heck I'm 57.

Saranne said...

All that itching and NO CHOCOLATE? You're a trooper! Thinking of you....OX

A human kind of human said...

I love the new look of your blog.

So far I've missed rashes, thank goodness and I hope yours will clear up real soon and you can get back to another 8lbs of chocolate! (wink)

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I never heard about the rash-menopause connection; it could explain a problem I had Back When. Also, the first time I heard the word "probiotic" I laughed, but it turns out they can really help a lot of people!

Emma said...

I'm so sorry about the rashes,,, they hurt and are so annoying!!!

I've suffered from hives from stress and I know what a pain it can be... good luck with the change and all!

Tarek said...

I agree. You can be in menopause while you don't I found this onlie thing wonderful for menopausal symptoms
http://menopause.usase.net

CB said...

Oh man you gotta be freakin kidding me!!
I am already pre-meno and not enjoying some of the results - hee hee.

I already have very dry winter skin.

Good luck with the rash and I am so sorry it does NOT sound fun at all.

Jacqueline said...

Regular reader here, just wanted to comment that my problem has been incredibly dry skin in patches on my jaw -- and a neck with a more wrinkled appearance. Ugh! Like your treatment tips for rashy skin. Here's a good article about skin -- in general -- during menopause. At least I know why all this is happening! Holistic skin care — healthy skin from the inside out Good luck!

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