Detoxing, Withdrawal, & Menopause

[Sonrissa]

I must say whoa1 inspired me to write this post! It's gonna get personal, so I apologize in advance! I'm 53 years old and I had a partial hysterectomy about 10 years ago! I still have one functioning ovary! My Gyno/surgeon told me that I would eventually go through a more "normal" menopause. Well, flash forward 10 years and I've become dependent on my pain medication for severe arthritis and a bad shoulder! I've been tapering my dosage over the last couple of weeks so that I can eventually get off them! Well, my body now decides it would be a great time to go through menopause! Are you kidding me? Like I need this right now? In addition to all the withdrawal symptoms, I also get to enjoy hot flashes, soaking night sweats, severe mood swings, and crying jags! It's hard to tell the difference between my withdrawal & menopause issues! I did have some bloodwork done, and it is Definately menopause! I find myself wondering, did my taking pain meds or withdrawing from them bring this on? Is my tapering causing it to be worse? Will I survive it!! Would anyone like to weigh in on this? Any "mature" ladies like me experience this while Detoxing? Would so love to have some imput!

[minn66]

While I haven't had any tests done, I have been having the same symptoms you have. I, too, had a partial hysterectomy. I don't know if wd could bring it on or not. Very good question. I have thought about trying the all natural supplement first to see if it will help. I think it is called Estroven or something like that. Like I said in the other thread, my daughter is convinced I need hormones. I would rather not take hormones, but if I go to the doctor and I am, in fact, going through the Change and I keep soaking the blankets a few times a week then I may have to. I am hoping it will pass. My mother claims that she hardly had any symptoms. Sometimes I wonder if I were adopted...

[Pat1956100]

Stress can bring on menopause.  I started at 49 when my husband first got sick.  It can also create anxiety, mood swings and all the things you guys mentioned.  I was so emotional over the littlest things.  My hair started growing in white instead of blonde.  
I think that opiate withdrawal is very stressful and can definitely bring on menopause.

[Sonrissa]

Hey Minn & Pat! How funny, my mom said the exact same thing! First, she went through it at exactly my age and she told me she had absolutely no symptoms! None! Doesn't seem fair! My sister, who is 1 year younger is starting to have symptoms also! She doesn't take pain pills! Pat, my hair would be totally grey if I didn't Clairol it every couple of months! I'm gonna try some herbal stuff, I saw an advertisement for something called I Cool, which is a natural supplement! I do not want to get on hormones if at all possible! Thanks for the input! Let me know if you find something natural that works!

[minn66]

Will do, Sonrissa. I tell ya, if it ain't one thing, it's ten! Hmm, I wonder if the symptoms skip a generation??!

[whoa1]

I never noticed my mother going thru any signs of "the change" either.  Maybe they just kept quiet @ it or possibly we weren't paying that much attention.  I was probably a teen-ager at the time so I was having my own hormone issues.  I have to admit if I didn't have some Xanax given to me by the Dr. I would have had what they used to call a "nervous breakdown"..

[treevie]

   Hey there, I'm going through the same thing but I am not sure if it is menopause because it is the first  month that I have not had a period.Iam addicted to ms contin and loritab for the last 15 years off and on since a very horrible   wreck. I was burned pretty severly and have had 17 surgeries in the past 15 years.I am not sure if it is withdrawals because it seems alot worse than when I stopped for about 6 years off of oxys and it didnt seem this bad.Any advice would be good.I am trying to wing off of it then this happens and I dont know if Ican now.Iam sweating like a man mowing the yard and I cant stand it and the hot flashes are just aweful and I cry all the time for nothing really I mean I have reasons to be sad everyone died( my fiance)GOD rest there souls!!!! in my wreck but me but its been a long time and you r so right it is hard to tell the difference between withdrawals and menopause.I woould like to get through this without hormones any suggestions?????

[hawik]

You in my opinion are experiencing both withdrawal & Menoause. As for Withdrawal, tapering off your opiate pain meds will cause your sweats followed by cool, and you will experience this until your body becomes normal again, don't be in a rush, it could take months after taking your last pill. your time taking opiates will determine how long it will take to stop.

[hawik]

You in my opinion are experiencing both withdrawal & Menopause. As for Withdrawal, tapering off your opiate pain meds will cause your sweats followed by cool, and you will experience this until your body becomes normal again, don't be in a rush, it could take months after taking your last pill. your time taking opiates will determine how long it will take to stop.

[searchingforhelp760]

I am in desperate need of help also, I am 51, am going through menopause & withdrawls from pain killers which I have been taking for many years now due to painful uterine fibroid tumors, have no health insurance and cannot get surgery & I just feel like there's no hope for me at all...I am totally miserable...I cry almost all ofthe time..If anyone knows where I can get help, PLEASE PLEASE let me know

[Sonrissa]

Hi there! Wow! I wrote this post nearly a year and a half ago. For me, things have changed dramatically. I am no longer on any type of prescription pain killers, and my menopause symptoms are mostly gone. I still have an occasional hot flash, crying jag... But things are much better.

It sounds like you are in a vicious cycle of pain, pain pills, and menopause. how far are you into withdrawals? What have you been taking for pain, and how much? Have you tried the over the counter supplements for menopause? Some of them can really help. You really need to somehow get those fibroid tumors taken care of.

It would be great if you can start your own personal thread. Just go to the top of the page and hit the "Post a Question" button. You will get lots of advice and support. I wish you the best, and I truly understand what you are going through.