Re: female problem, was Healthy House

[Guest guest]

Betsy,

Thanks for being willing to put all this here. You are right about

allowing others to see it as it might be helpful to them. Plus

hopefully you will get lots of invaluable feedback.(And as for the

guys, these fellas eat raw liver, spleen, eggs, practice warrior

diets ...these are not your typical SAD fellas here they can handle

a lot!)

For all my researching my bodily ills I feel I never satisfactorily

get my hands around these hormone issues. every thing I try always

feels somewhat like a shoot in the dark - try this see what happens,

try that, try this again in a different amount.

I've given up finding a hormone doctor. They basically know birth

control and hormones have certain effects so that's what they do.

They don't seem to have much of grasp what is causing this.

I think you should be very, very careful about keeping your exposure

to enviromental estrogens as low as you can.

About a month Joanne Pollack (I think) posted about endrometrios and

dairy making it worse even raw and cultured. I don't know in terms

of myself. She said her limit none except a little butter. I decided

to keep mine to around a cup/day. Can't tell if it's making any

difference as I'm also experimenting with other stuff.

> I probably have low levels of estradiol and beginning to

experience

> premature ovarian decline. I plan to have serum hormone levels

> checked at ovulation and the first two days of menstruation to be

> sure.

-----> you are very young for ovarian decline! Yes you do want to

have this stuff checked so you know more of what you could be

dealing with.

I also learned that the build-up of the endometrial lining

> during endometriosis generate estrogen you body can't use, but

keeps

> your own body from producing estrogen it can use (estradiol).

----didn't know that! So now you've got a monthly overproduction of

estrogen going on as will as underproduction.

> symptoms. My other questions are how can you tell for sure if you

> have endometriosis and/or fibroids while it's still early and what

> can you do to get rid of them. And how do you know if you've

> successfully gotten rid of them?

---> Endometriosis has never been my problem but I suspect many of

same hormonal messups are at the root of each. As to fibroid...I

very heavy periods but because I was early 40s didn't think of them

as anything besides perimenopausal. My gyn found them when I went

for a checkup when she was feeling the size of my uterus.

As for getting rid of them I had mine taken out. I have no idea if

they are back. I'm guessing by the extremely light flow of my

periods if they are they're very small. As they are estrogen

dependent they usually go away at menopause.

However I think Elainie's concern with hers is valid. The fibroid

itself may never become cancerous but it a good indicator all is not

as it should be down there. Probably the same with endometrial

problems and my swelling monthly sore breasts etc.

Now as to what to do about all this.....I'm somewhat stymied.

Elainie (under piimaman) has written me a few suggestions about

stimulating my liver with herbs. Estrogen is processed through the

liver + plus I have another reason to suspect my liver so I'm going

to work on that.

Did you read what's on the weston price site regarding womens health

and specifically Ricki?

I'm going to forward a few more things to you as it's too long to go

into here. Don't mind forwarding it to anyone else BTW. Just let me

know.

Bye

Lynn

>

[Guest guest]

Betsy,

I used to use tampons in my early 20's and maybe even up to mid 20's. Then came

the toxic shock syndrome scare. I immediately switched to pads. It was a hard

decision and still is. . .Hate them. But I used to get really bad cramps and

large clots while using tampons. Once I stopped using the tampons and went to

pads, presto the cramping was mild if at all and the clots were not longer big.

Some clotting is normal.

Think of all the bacteria being held inside your body by the tampon. If left to

it's own the blood would go outside the body.

I know that pads are not as convenient or comfortable, but I feel they are for

me a better choice.

Sheryl

Betsy <bettysmith997@...> wrote:

<<<<<<> gross experience and I'd like to describe it to someone who has

done

> more reading about fibroids/endo than I have and get some opinions

> before I go to the mainstream gyn.

----> sure send me an email if you want more privacy. I did tons of

research on fibroids but it was 6 years ago. Funny I never came

across weston price >>>>>>>>>>>

Lynn,

I'm going to go ahead and post this here in case the info it

generates helps someone else, but I'll warn the guys up front, this

post contains graphic details about the inner-workings of a female

reproductive system. You should probably just delete this message

now. If you are even remotely attracted to women, you won't be after

reading this.

I'll start with a brief summary of my menstrual history. I've had

lots of pain with periods right from the start (which I think was

about 12, iirc.) After several months, the pain was so bad, I would

be light-headed and spacey and vomit. The pain would last about

seven hours and would be concentrated in my ovary region, but it

would cause tremendous leg and back pain, too.

As I got older, I began to get a lot of water retention, like 3-4

pounds. Other than this, I'd never had any other noticeable pms

symptoms. I never skipped a period, but the length was wildly

erratic. A few times, I would have a light (but occasionally

moderately heavy) dark brown discharge accompanied by these dark

brown clots of something (tissue??) continuously between periods.

In college, I decided the pain and nausea was for the birds and went

to a doctor. She prescribed whatever birth control pill (high

progestin/low estradiol) they were passing out to the collegiate

crowd. I had no pain and they were, of course, regular and light. I

took them for two years and then quit. Within a year my period was

back like it used to be, except not as much nausea.

Which brings us to today. I'm 29 and I still require about 15 Advil

to reduce pain enough not to miss work. CLO and the NT diet has

helped some (I think). I don't get bad nausea or faint anymore.

During the last several years, I have noticed that during my period,

I discharge lots of these globby clots of dark red (almost black)

that I guess is uterine tissue sloughing off (???). Very recently

(last year) I developed a 2am waking around ovulation and

menstruation that is somewhat alleviated with really, really good

diet and the WD. From what I've read, I understand what I've

described is common, but not necessarily normal.

Okay, so the weird experience I had. Two weeks ago, I was having a

normal period. On my first day, I got up to go to the restroom and

found that been bleeding very, very heavily. So much, I had to go

home and shower!! Immediately after I removed my tampon, this huge

(about 3-4 " in diameter), dark brown clod shot out into the toilet.

It was kinda oval, and maybe .25 " thick, with slightly irregular

edges. It disappeared down the drain and I didn't have a sample jar

or implement for retrieving the thing.

My big question is obviously – what was it? I've been having some

fertility problems over at least the last year. I haven't been

trying to conceive, but there's been a bunch of times when I should

have but didn't.

I've been doing some research in hormonal balances and I believe that

I probably have low levels of estradiol and beginning to experience

premature ovarian decline. I plan to have serum hormone levels

checked at ovulation and the first two days of menstruation to be

sure. I also learned that the build-up of the endometrial lining

during endometriosis generate estrogen you body can't use, but keeps

your own body from producing estrogen it can use (estradiol). But

that's pretty much the sum of my knowledge. Endometriosis had never

before crossed my mind as being behind my female problems, but I

looked at a symptom list on the internet and I have a lot of the

symptoms. My other questions are how can you tell for sure if you

have endometriosis and/or fibroids while it's still early and what

can you do to get rid of them. And how do you know if you've

successfully gotten rid of them?

<<<<<not

being able to take watching suffering anymore. LOL

I teach high school biology in an inner city alternative school. I

have been for 23 years.>>>>>>>

Yes, I'm teaching math right now. By degree, I'm actually a

mechanical engineer, but engineering jobs are few and far between in

my area so I've been teaching math and conducting the choir at a

small high school (weird combo, I know) for 5 years now. I recently

found an engineering job and at semester dropped to part-time, only

teaching the calculus and pre-calculus because they couldn't find a

replacement and several of the students want to take the AP test. In

June I'll go to full-time at my engr job. Teaching has been a great

experience and I don't think I'm through with education. I'm going

to work in the manufacturing sector for awhile and see where that

goes, but I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't end up teaching again.

My dad just retired from 39 years of teaching – math and physics, so

it's in the genes.

BTW, thanks for all the house info. I'm so glad I'm learning about

this now, not right after I paint and furnish my house!

Betsy

[Guest guest]

I started using a menstrual cup made of silicone when my periods started again

after having a baby. Having a baby seems to have fixed my problems (very heavy

bleeding, fainting, enormous clots, unbearable cramping). I used to take advil

4 at a time every four hours for 4-6 days and even then the bleeding was so

heavy I would miss two days work because I could not get in the car and drive

twenty minutes with out overflowing. And this was with using two super plus

tampons and a pad. It took four years to get pregnant and I had really given up

when it happened at 39 years of age. Now my periods are light and regular and I

can feel myself ovulating at mid cycle for the first time in my life.

Amy Waters

Re: female problem, was Healthy House

Betsy,

I used to use tampons in my early 20's and maybe even up to mid 20's. Then

came the toxic shock syndrome scare. I immediately switched to pads. It was a

hard decision and still is. . .Hate them. But I used to get really bad cramps

and large clots while using tampons. Once I stopped using the tampons and went

to pads, presto the cramping was mild if at all and the clots were not longer

big.

Some clotting is normal.

Think of all the bacteria being held inside your body by the tampon. If left

to it's own the blood would go outside the body.

I know that pads are not as convenient or comfortable, but I feel they are for

me a better choice.

Sheryl

Betsy <bettysmith997@...> wrote:

<<<<<<> gross experience and I'd like to describe it to someone who has

done

> more reading about fibroids/endo than I have and get some opinions

> before I go to the mainstream gyn.

----> sure send me an email if you want more privacy. I did tons of

research on fibroids but it was 6 years ago. Funny I never came

across weston price >>>>>>>>>>>

Lynn,

I'm going to go ahead and post this here in case the info it

generates helps someone else, but I'll warn the guys up front, this

post contains graphic details about the inner-workings of a female

reproductive system. You should probably just delete this message

now. If you are even remotely attracted to women, you won't be after

reading this.

I'll start with a brief summary of my menstrual history. I've had

lots of pain with periods right from the start (which I think was

about 12, iirc.) After several months, the pain was so bad, I would

be light-headed and spacey and vomit. The pain would last about

seven hours and would be concentrated in my ovary region, but it

would cause tremendous leg and back pain, too.

As I got older, I began to get a lot of water retention, like 3-4

pounds. Other than this, I'd never had any other noticeable pms

symptoms. I never skipped a period, but the length was wildly

erratic. A few times, I would have a light (but occasionally

moderately heavy) dark brown discharge accompanied by these dark

brown clots of something (tissue??) continuously between periods.

In college, I decided the pain and nausea was for the birds and went

to a doctor. She prescribed whatever birth control pill (high

progestin/low estradiol) they were passing out to the collegiate

crowd. I had no pain and they were, of course, regular and light. I

took them for two years and then quit. Within a year my period was

back like it used to be, except not as much nausea.

Which brings us to today. I'm 29 and I still require about 15 Advil

to reduce pain enough not to miss work. CLO and the NT diet has

helped some (I think). I don't get bad nausea or faint anymore.

During the last several years, I have noticed that during my period,

I discharge lots of these globby clots of dark red (almost black)

that I guess is uterine tissue sloughing off (???). Very recently

(last year) I developed a 2am waking around ovulation and

menstruation that is somewhat alleviated with really, really good

diet and the WD. From what I've read, I understand what I've

described is common, but not necessarily normal.

Okay, so the weird experience I had. Two weeks ago, I was having a

normal period. On my first day, I got up to go to the restroom and

found that been bleeding very, very heavily. So much, I had to go

home and shower!! Immediately after I removed my tampon, this huge

(about 3-4 " in diameter), dark brown clod shot out into the toilet.

It was kinda oval, and maybe .25 " thick, with slightly irregular

edges. It disappeared down the drain and I didn't have a sample jar

or implement for retrieving the thing.

My big question is obviously - what was it? I've been having some

fertility problems over at least the last year. I haven't been

trying to conceive, but there's been a bunch of times when I should

have but didn't.

I've been doing some research in hormonal balances and I believe that

I probably have low levels of estradiol and beginning to experience

premature ovarian decline. I plan to have serum hormone levels

checked at ovulation and the first two days of menstruation to be

sure. I also learned that the build-up of the endometrial lining

during endometriosis generate estrogen you body can't use, but keeps

your own body from producing estrogen it can use (estradiol). But

that's pretty much the sum of my knowledge. Endometriosis had never

before crossed my mind as being behind my female problems, but I

looked at a symptom list on the internet and I have a lot of the

symptoms. My other questions are how can you tell for sure if you

have endometriosis and/or fibroids while it's still early and what

can you do to get rid of them. And how do you know if you've

successfully gotten rid of them?

<<<<<not

being able to take watching suffering anymore. LOL

I teach high school biology in an inner city alternative school. I

have been for 23 years.>>>>>>>

Yes, I'm teaching math right now. By degree, I'm actually a

mechanical engineer, but engineering jobs are few and far between in

my area so I've been teaching math and conducting the choir at a

small high school (weird combo, I know) for 5 years now. I recently

found an engineering job and at semester dropped to part-time, only

teaching the calculus and pre-calculus because they couldn't find a

replacement and several of the students want to take the AP test. In

June I'll go to full-time at my engr job. Teaching has been a great

experience and I don't think I'm through with education. I'm going

to work in the manufacturing sector for awhile and see where that

goes, but I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't end up teaching again.

My dad just retired from 39 years of teaching - math and physics, so

it's in the genes.

BTW, thanks for all the house info. I'm so glad I'm learning about

this now, not right after I paint and furnish my house!

Betsy

[Guest guest]

while we're on the subject...

switching from tampons is really important. if you have to use a tampon

(let's face it, you can't reschedule that marathon you've registered to

run!), make sure it's organic and unbleached. the crud they use to make

tampons white is terribly toxic, and that's a *very* absorptive part of

your body!

the same goes for pads: if you use disposable pads, make sure they're

organic and unbleached. however, consider using cloth pads - it's not as

gross as you might think. you can just fold up a thin cloth diaper or you

can get some premade, like GladRags.

if you need evidence about the ability to absorb bad chemicals by stuff

just touching yer parts, here's some thoughts: suppositories. why do they

work? sitzbaths. why do they work? when you're dangerously dehydrated and

you're hospitalized, they rehydrate you with an enima while they're putting

an IV on you. why does that work? because the rectum, the perineum, and all

the other area tissue is HIGHLY ABSORPTIVE!

(do i need to note that if you use plastic diapers, you should be using

seventh generation or tushies?)

this has been a public service announcement from...uh...me!

At 10:23 PM 3/8/2004, you wrote:

>Betsy,

>

>I used to use tampons in my early 20's and maybe even up to mid

>20's. Then came the toxic shock syndrome scare. I immediately switched

>to pads. It was a hard decision and still is. . .Hate them. But I used

>to get really bad cramps and large clots while using tampons. Once I

>stopped using the tampons and went to pads, presto the cramping was mild

>if at all and the clots were not longer big.

>

>Some clotting is normal.

>

>Think of all the bacteria being held inside your body by the tampon. If

>left to it's own the blood would go outside the body.

>

>I know that pads are not as convenient or comfortable, but I feel they are

>for me a better choice.

[Guest guest]

<<<I've given up finding a hormone doctor. They basically know birth

control and hormones have certain effects so that's what they do.

They don't seem to have much of grasp what is causing this.>>>

I agree. I think I have hormone balance figured out and I'm just

going to use my doctor for testing and any prescriptions and I'm

going to handle the balancing myself.

<<<I think you should be very, very careful about keeping your

exposure to environmental estrogens as low as you can.>>>

This is where I have trouble knowing how far to go. The more I read,

the more I realize that xenoestrogens and other endocrine disruptors,

especially dioxins, have a real effect on women, especially unhealthy

women. But to what extent do they hurt women who have normal levels

of hormones? Dioxins occur in nature and would be there even in a

completely natural world. In the liver, there are two pathways for

estrogen formation, 2OH and 16OH. 16OH is carcinogenic and things

like I3C can cause the liver to favor the 2OH pathway. This leads me

to believe that some bad estrogens can even be converted into good

estrogens. Also, most of the damage caused by dioxins seems to me to

be caused by the dioxins lowering estradiol levels which leads to

female problems and ovarian decline and endo and other hormonal

stuff, rather than the dioxins themselves causing the damage.

(Unless they are the really carcinogenic kind that we're rarely

exposed to.) According to one doctor who tests and monitors

estradiol levels, when estradiol and other hormones are at optimal

levels, bleeding, endo, mood problems etc stop. I figured that these

people aren't being exposed to less xenoestrogens, but they get rid

of endo symptoms. It's so easy with food – when in doubt, look at

historical evidence. Our ancestors never were exposed to the

quantity we are today, so it's hard to know how much a body can

really take.

<<< you are very young for ovarian decline! Yes you do want to have

this stuff checked so you know more of what you could be dealing

with.>>>

According to Dr. Vliet premature ovarian decline is very common these

days; women in their 20s are showing up with beginning stages. Women

are beginning to have estrogen-related bone loss and joint problems

as young as 25. Menstrual cycle related insomnia or awakenings are

one of the first sign and I've been having that for a year now. That

used to only happen to women pre-menopausal women in their 40s and

50s.

<<< Endometriosis has never been my problem but I suspect many of

same hormonal messups are at the root of each. >>>

Hmmm….I was thinking that endo was a precursor to fibroids. Or that

fibroids develop from the build-up of uterine tissue. Hmmmm.

<<<However I think Elainie's concern with hers is valid. The fibroid

itself may never become cancerous but it a good indicator all is not

as it should be down there. Probably the same with endometrial

problems and my swelling monthly sore breasts etc. >>>

Yeah, I agree. From what I understand endometrial problems can lead

to fibroids and cancer and all seem to be caused by some hormonal

imbalance. Even though I seem to be in early stages of premature

ovarian decline, I want to fix it now because many women in my

family, including mom and grandmother, get reproductive cancer of

some sort.

<<< Now as to what to do about all this.....I'm somewhat stymied.>>>

Rats, I was hoping you had it all figured out. That's where I can't

get much information. I'm pretty sure I have a grip on hormone

balancing and I can get them balanced. And if I get my hormone

levels balanced and I test periodically and they stay up, and my

period pain and clods go away, does that mean that the endometrial

build up will go away. Or could it still develop fibroids and

cancer. So many questions…..

<<<Did you read what's on the weston price site regarding womens

health and specifically Ricki?>>>

Yup. Next month I think I might try high doses of CLO and see if the

vit A helps.

Thanks again for all the info!!

Betsy

[Guest guest]

--- In , Sheryl <dovedesignsrus@y...>

wrote:

<<<<<<<I used to use tampons in my early 20's and maybe even up to

mid 20's. Then came

the toxic shock syndrome scare. I immediately switched to pads. It

was a hard

decision and still is. . .Hate them. But I used to get really bad

cramps and

large clots while using tampons. Once I stopped using the tampons and

went to

pads, presto the cramping was mild if at all and the clots were not

longer big.>>>>>>>>

I didn't start using tampons until college and I didn't notice any

worse cramping. Most tampons do contain dioxins from the bleaching

process which is an xenoestrogen and will reduce your own estrogens

levels, and could cause more pms symptoms like cramping. I'd been

planning to switch to organic essentials tampons (no rayon, no

dioxins) for some time now. Guess it's probably time to really

switch.

Betsy

[Guest guest]

<<<switching from tampons is really important. if you have to use a

tampon (let's face it, you can't reschedule that marathon you've

registered to run!), make sure it's organic and unbleached. the crud

they use to make tampons white is terribly toxic, and that's a *very*

absorptive part of your body!>>>

I know, I know. :-) Everything I did before my nutritional epiphany

was bad. I don't have the money, time, or resources to change

everything at once. So, yeah, my clothes aren't organic, some are

even polyester, everything in my house is probably offgassing, my

mattress has fire retardants on it, I don't have a filter for my

shower. But I'm working on it. Feminine protection, though, has now

risen to the top of the long list of stuff to fix.

<<<however, consider using cloth pads - it's not as gross as you

might think. you can just fold up a thin cloth diaper or you can get

some premade, like GladRags.>>>

Can you and whoever else has had an experience with cloth pads expand

on this. Exactly how not gross are they? Are these just for around

the house or can you go out in public with them? With teaching I

must have very dependable protection because I'm constantly facing

the board working problems and if I had any detectable leakage it

would be noticed by the room full teenagers and I'd probably never

regain control. Also, at my new job I'll be at full-time in a few

months, I'll be the only female in my department so my protection has

to be discrete. I'm also like 20 years younger than everyone else

and it seems like I'll be paranoid that everyone could tell that I

was wearing a folded diaper cause I don't really feel like I fit in

very well. Maybe I should just stay at home. Seems like everything

would be simpler for women if we just stayed at home and churned

butter instead of trying to work with men who don't seem to

understand that you can't have a 4-hour long meeting with no long

breaks for anyone menstruating to go back to their desks. It's

probably hard to be taken seriously when everyone knows you're

wearing a diaper. And how frequently do you have to change it. And

what do you do with the used one? Do you just put it in a baggie in

your purse? Do you worry about it accidentally falling out in front

of other people?

Betsy

[Guest guest]

> Most tampons do contain dioxins from the bleaching

> process which is an xenoestrogen and will reduce your own estrogens

> levels, and could cause more pms symptoms like cramping.

I had to stop using tampons for just this reason. I got horrendous

cramps unless I used ultra super expensive tampons. So I started using

pads and from there went to cloth. Now I'm using a Keeper and I love

it.

Lynn S.

who used to sell them and doesn't any more

------

Lynn Siprelle * web developer, writer, mama, fiber junky

Editor/Publisher, The New Homemaker

http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/

Celebrating 5 Years of Homemaker and Caregiver Support: 1999-2004

[Guest guest]

> Can you and whoever else has had an experience with cloth pads expand

> on this. Exactly how not gross are they?

If you're not afraid of your bodily fluids, not terribly. Changing a

cloth pad isn't as gross as changing a bad diaper on a baby, or even

any kind of diaper. As for absorbency, I find cloth pads MORE absorbent

than paper. You would just keep a ziplock bag in your purse to put it

in. If you're concerned on heavy days, you could put a cloth pad on

with maybe a natural sponge tampon for backup.

> I'm also like 20 years younger than everyone else

> and it seems like I'll be paranoid that everyone could tell that I

> was wearing a folded diaper cause I don't really feel like I fit in

> very well.

It absolutely does not show unless you're in the habit of wearing

skintight clothing or walking around without undies in short skirts.

Then maybe someone might notice that that day you were wearing

underwear and wonder why.

> Maybe I should just stay at home. Seems like everything

> would be simpler for women if we just stayed at home and churned

> butter instead of trying to work with men who don't seem to

> understand that you can't have a 4-hour long meeting with no long

> breaks for anyone menstruating to go back to their desks.

That's pretty much what I do. I even churn butter now and then.

> It's

> probably hard to be taken seriously when everyone knows you're

> wearing a diaper.

1) It's not a diaper and 2) How would " everyone " know unless you stood

up and announced, " Excuse me everyone, I just thought you should all

know I am having my period and am using a cloth pad. Please take note

of it. Thank you, " and sat back down again.

> And how frequently do you have to change it.

About as often as a paper one.

> And

> what do you do with the used one? Do you just put it in a baggie in

> your purse?

Yes.

> Do you worry about it accidentally falling out in front

> of other people?

Um, no. Don't you have any interior pockets with a zipper? If you're

concerned, put the baggie in there and zip it closed.

Lynn S.

------

Lynn Siprelle * web developer, writer, mama, fiber junky

Editor/Publisher, The New Homemaker

http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/

Celebrating 5 Years of Homemaker and Caregiver Support: 1999-2004

[Guest guest]

>> It's

probably hard to be taken seriously when everyone knows you're

wearing a diaper. And how frequently do you have to change it. And

what do you do with the used one? Do you just put it in a baggie in

your purse? Do you worry about it accidentally falling out in front

of other people? <<

YIKES!

I have always hated tampons and never, ever used them. I have worn pads, either

commercial disposable pads or cloth pads, my entire adult life. They can easily

last four hours or more, and they are nothing like a diaper.

When my flow is very heavy, I use the health food store pads with a flannel

cover for comfort. The rest of the time I use folded flannel pads, made up my

own old ripped up nightgowns and shirts. Yes, a baggie in your purse is fine for

disposing of it - just as you'd bring your purse or backpack to the bathroom to

get a tampon or to get eyedrops or any other reason, just bring it when you go

pee.

I suppose it's possible your pad could fall out of your purse. You can roll it

into a tiny little ball and then into toilet paper, so it wouldn't be bloody. I

agree disposable options are easier, but as adaptations go, this isn't that big

of a one.

Christie

[Guest guest]

I had to stop using tampons for just this reason. I got horrendous

cramps unless I used ultra super expensive tampons. So I started using

pads and from there went to cloth. Now I'm using a Keeper and I love

it. - Lynn S. http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/

Celebrating 5 Years of Homemaker and Caregiver Support: 1999-2004

******************

Hi Lynn, Betsy, and other gals.

I have had painful cramps forever (until eating mainly raw) and some of the

bleeding/clotting issues for about 6 years (I'm 38). Once, my flow was so

heavy that I went and got got shepherd's purse from my naturopath to stop it

temporarily. I thought my uterus had rupture it was so quick and heavy.

I have found that diet greatly influences my cycles and how they go. More

dairy, processed foods cause me to have greater time between cycles and they

are more deadly when they do arrive. Eating mainly raw helped tremendously

in the menses department, regular cycles with the new moon, moderate flow,

three days long. Giving up wheat may be involved in this, as it all

happened simultaneously.

I just started eating meat again after a few years, so I will have to see

how this changes things for me. I eat a ton of vegetables including a big

green salad everyday. Also, I haven't used tampons since I became a yogini

several years. So I don't swim a few days a month, but it is well worth it

to be natural about the whole process imo.

Anyway, thanks Lynn for the link to your site. I am a homeschool Mom and I

don't get paid for anything I do presently. It's good to celebrate my role

in nurturing a family, although it ain't always easy to be the nurturer. I

look forward to delving into the treasures at TNH.

Deanna

[Guest guest]

Hi betsy,

I periodically get insomnia for what seems like no reason (as well

as sometimes when I do know why) and I've never thought to chart it

against my cycle. I;m 45 so could potentially have had that cause

going on for years.What part of your cycle do you notice it?

Thanks, deb

>

> According to Dr. Vliet premature ovarian decline is very common

these

> days; women in their 20s are showing up with beginning stages.

Women

> are beginning to have estrogen-related bone loss and joint

problems

> as young as 25. Menstrual cycle related insomnia or awakenings

are

> one of the first sign and I've been having that for a year now.

That

> used to only happen to women pre-menopausal women in their 40s and

> 50s.

[Guest guest]

A friend of mine once meantioned that she uses sponges, which she

then washes and reuses, instead of tampons. I had a bit of a look

for them at the time and couldn't find them, and put it into the too

hard basket. Maybe it's time to reconsider them. might be more

convenient than pads, but not as expensive as the good quality

tampons......

deb

PS - Sorry betsy, i read on and found the answer to my question

about insomnia and when, in another post

--- In , Lynn Siprelle <lynn@s...>

wrote:

> > Most tampons do contain dioxins from the bleaching

> > process which is an xenoestrogen and will reduce your own

estrogens

> > levels, and could cause more pms symptoms like cramping.

>

> I had to stop using tampons for just this reason. I got horrendous

> cramps unless I used ultra super expensive tampons. So I started

using

> pads and from there went to cloth. Now I'm using a Keeper and I

love

> it.

>

[Guest guest]

> A friend of mine once meantioned that she uses sponges, which she

> then washes and reuses, instead of tampons. I had a bit of a look

> for them at the time and couldn't find them, and put it into the too

> hard basket.

They're actually very easy. Glad Rags sells them, along with their own

cotton pads and Keepers:

http://www.gladrags.com/alternatives.html

No affiliation, though I was a wholesale customer for a few years.

They're good folks.

Lynn S.

------

Lynn Siprelle * web developer, writer, mama, fiber junky

Editor/Publisher, The New Homemaker

http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/

Celebrating 5 Years of Homemaker and Caregiver Support: 1999-2004

[Guest guest]

Thanks, I'll talk to my local health store (in NZ) about getting

some in. otherwise will order soem direct.

Deb

--- In , Lynn Siprelle <lynn@s...>

wrote:

> > A friend of mine once meantioned that she uses sponges, which she

> > then washes and reuses, instead of tampons. I had a bit of a look

> > for them at the time and couldn't find them, and put it into the

too

> > hard basket.

>

> They're actually very easy. Glad Rags sells them, along with their

own

> cotton pads and Keepers:

>

> http://www.gladrags.com/alternatives.html

>

>

[Guest guest]

>A friend of mine once meantioned that she uses sponges, which she

>then washes and reuses, instead of tampons. I had a bit of a look

>for them at the time and couldn't find them, and put it into the too

>hard basket. Maybe it's time to reconsider them. might be more

>convenient than pads, but not as expensive as the good quality

>tampons......

>

>deb

'way back when toxic shock was making the news, some people

using sponges got toxic shock also. The toxic shock problem isn't

from the dioxins, it is from certain bacteria growing where they

shouldn't, and reusing something without disinfecting it could

be an issue. I never did discover why some folk got toxic shock

and others didn't, but old blood at 99 degrees is a perfect

growth medium for bacteria. Anyway, for my vote pads (of any sort)

are better -- anything inside, be sure to change it often.

-- Heidi Jean