We can help with diet, lifestyle and your unique menopause ❤

Hi Joanne- I’m post menopausal and it seems like bloating and trying to lose weight is my issue. I have esophagitis, gastritis and no gall bladder - what’s the best approach to wt loss with those factors?

Hi Susan, I presume that you're on some form of PPI (eg omeprazole) for the gastritis/oesophagitis? Coupled with the gall bladder removal, I would take a look at digestion from the roots up. It sounds like you need support to optimise digestion and an investigation into what is causing the bloating- I can't say definitively without knowing more, but I would imagine that your digestion is compromised. I would be happy to have a chat with you. There's potentially lots that can be done, but a chat would give more clarity 😊

Thank you, I’ll try to figure out when we could chat.

Hi Joanne, I'm a 39 years old, with menopause symptoms. I have hot flashes, insomnia, headaches, tiredness, lack of appetite ( specially in the morning). 😓 I'm on the way to do a blood and saliva test, however I'm sure to have some imbalance happening.

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I'm doing a adrenal cortex saliva test, and some blood tests for TSH, estrogens, testosterone, SHBG ( and some others I can understand because doctors have a special way to write LoL).

Hey Sabrina 😊 do you know what in particular they're testing for? ❤

I have a hormone imbalance since I first had my period, and when I was about 17 yo I started on synthetic estrogens ( didn't go well with me and after 2 years I stopped). 😬

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Sounds like you're in good hands for the time being. Do please reach out if you need any further support 😊

Hi Joanne, so I am peri menopausal. I'm ok apart from my low moods, I used to be so happy now, queen of the grumps. Any herbal recommendations to help me back to a merry state? X

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@Jacqueline hi. On the understanding that you're NOT taking any other medications or supplements you could try the following: our old friend magnesium is a great place to start. Otherwise lemon balm, l-theanine, l-tryptophan, rhodiola, St John's Wort or ginseng. If you are taking meds, please reach out for more support. Meds & supps can interact & that's no fun for anyone. Please don't take herbs if you're taking anything on prescription without checking first. I can't stress it strongly enough.

Hello @Joanne 🙂 Our new member Lisa would like your help please... Hi, I'd like to know if there's any natural foods or herbs that I can take to help with my menopause symptoms EG hot flushes. I did try hormone replacement therapy. It worked brilliantly - the hot flushes went away almost instantly and I felt great.But after a few weeks I developed blood clots. So of course no HRT for me. ☹️ Something natural that would help with the hot flashes would be fantastic. I've had them for more than 5 years and I'm really getting sick of breaking out in the shower of swea t multiple times of the day and night. Thanks... Lisa ❤

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Hi. The range of phytoestrogens may be effective at reducing flushing & do not appear to raise the risk of clotting. You're looking at soy, flax, other legumes, nuts, seeds, red clover, sage & the like. Start by adding 2 tbsps ground flaxseed to your diet every day. You could try the various menopause supplements, but do check that they won't interfere with any medications. Stress is crucial for controlling flushing. Also working out your triggers. Eg I know that wine makes mine a ton worse. Caffeine, spicy food, high sugar diets also contribute. But stress is the biggie.

I’m overweight always battled with weight am in Menopause and concerned about weight need to lose weight at tips? Age 57 and just retired from post as Teaching Principal in Primary school .. 36 years now doing Reflexology and zI love it and wan to specialise in Fertility s as nd Menopause

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Hey Cepta 🙂 there are some golden rules that @Joanne will be ae to tell you more about, and easy adjustments to your diet and lifestyle that will help get you on the right track... Faddy diets and rapid weight loss plans aren't sustainable in the medium-long term, so Jo's expertise is invaluable to our members... she picks up her tags regularly, so she'll be with you soon 🙂❤

Hey Cepta, Congrats on the retirement and kudos for your reflexology specialism plans. For weight control, stress management at this time is key. If your body thinks it's under attack, it will create & hold onto fat reserves. A lot of us are chronically stressed for a gazillion different reasons & some we can't get away from. It makes exercising, breathwork, meditation, yoga, reading, drawing, singing, dancing, whatever, very, very important. Find something that works for you. Cut down or remove all the white stuff: bread, pasta, white rice, cakes, biscuits, pastries etc. All this stuff carries little nutritional value & can cause havoc with your blood sugar - more hormonal disruption. It's also not satiating so drives more consumption. Replace with LOTS of non-starchy veggies (everything grown above ground). There are waaay too many benefits of these to go into here, but you really can't eat too many of these. Aim for lots of different colours, but start with your greens. These have magical powers!

This has been so helpful.

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Brill 🙂❤

What natural supplements can i take that wont interfere with levothroxyine please? Feeling extremely tired, low mood, low sex drive, achy body thanks

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@Miranda hi & sorry, the app has been playing up and I've only just been able to find you! Let me double check vs my interactions software and I'll come back to you. Is that the only meds you're on?

@Joanne , could you advise Miranda please? 🙂❤

@Tee-Cee , here it is 🙂❤

Aww amazing x due for my 6 monthly blood test on monday so will ask x

Thank you xx

Hi Joanne, I'm 43. Had hysterectomy (ovaries in tact) aged 35. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia but also experiencing Perimenopauseal symptoms which are getting worse but GP keeps telling me it's not Perimenopause. I'm currently on Amitriptaline, lansoprezole, senna double strength (plus over counter meds for dry eyes, IBS). Also follow FODMAP plan as I find this helps with IBS but doesn't eliminate it. I'm always tired (even when I've had 11hrs sleep, this also recently changed as previously I couldn't sleep & now I can't stop sleeping), recently very low moods, cognitive issues, hot & cold sweats, generally achy all over. Any suggestions on natural supplements or foods that can help. I'm considering maybe Ashwagandha & Red Clover. Thanx in advance 💜

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Hi T, in the first instance I would genuinely try to see another GP. On average a woman will start the menopause transition 5 years after a partial hysterectomy, so it is highly possible that you are indeed in perimenopause. I am assuming that you are on amitriptyline for your fibro symptoms? Are the gut symptoms recent or longstanding? Have you had your thyroid checked recently? Issues there could be driving your fatigue, low mood & cognitive issues. There is a potential interaction between amitriptyline & ashwagandha so I would avoid that combination. In the first instance I would go back to your GP. Whatever the cause, you shouldn't have to live with these symptoms.

Thanx Joanne. I'm on amitriptaline to help with my fibromyalgia. My IBS (gut problems) are in relation to fibromyalgia, but I have had on-going issues since before my hysterectomy. I had my thyroid checked via blood test & apparently that's fine. GP said they had completed full blood checks & they couldn't locate the issue. Thanx are there any other supplements I could be taking in the meantime (while I try & discuss further with GP)

Hi T. I am very sorry for the delay in replying. My interaction checker software is playing up & it still isn't resolved. I'll keep checking & come back to you as soon as I can. In the meantime you could speak with a local pharmacist. They'd be able to check that any off the shelf preparation would be OK to take alongside your meds.

No problem. Thanks for the response

I’ve been really bloated and I am extremely tired of people asking me if I’m pregnant, it’s really starting to get me down

@Rosie are you on any HRT right now? ❤️

No I’ve never even spoke to my doctors about the menopause

@Joanne, hello. Are you still giving nutritional advice? Have only just stumbled across this original post and realise it's a year old.

@Paulette - hello 👋 yes she is. Would you like to post separately in the group and I can let her know you have a query for her 😊💕

@Sharon, yes please! I have joined the Fast 800 online program, I am in my 5th week and weight isn't shifting. Before I started the programme the weight loss was impressive but seems to have stopped. Currently doing keto on 800-1000 calories per day and cannot get my head around how its physiologically possible for the weight to be hardly shifting! I've have done this WOE on and off for years with fantastic results, I've put on so much weight since lockdown it's embarrassing and now I feel cursed because I can't lose it. I can't continue to blame lockdown because it's coming up to 2 years since we were set free 😂

@Paulette , please post this comment as a seperate post 😊 I can tell you before I let Jo know, that we don't recommend fast 800 for any of our members, so I think her advice will be to change that for starters 😊 It's unhealthy, and deprives people of joy!

@Sharon, I have reposted as a separate post. I was actually toying with the idea of upping my intake as my body is clearly hanging on to something for dear life 🙃

@Paulette - I can't see your post in our group Paulette. Have you posted in M-brace The Change? That's where it needs to be please... ❤️

@Sharon, doesn't seem to be working for me at the moment. I get notifications that you have posted and have to dig around to find the actual post!

@Paulette - yes, I'm experiencing some glitches too. Are you on FB?

Yes, I'm on Facebook, how do I find you?

Search for our M-brace The Change Menopause Support group 😊