HTR is such a game changer. It has helped me to improve my sleep and reduce joint pains. However I haven’t noticed any improvement on brain fog. I wonder if testosterone may be the part of the equation that’s missing in HRT for me. It’s so difficult to discuss about the need or not of testosterone supplementation for the menopausal women with doctors. Not to mention that apparently there’s not a testosterone solution for women where I live (besides from HDEA which does not seem to work).
Hello Luz! There are so many things that can contribute to brain fog, a term that most doctors don't like by the way because it is so nonspecific. It can certainly be due to an imbalance in hormones. If testosterone is the culprit, it often feel like a total lack of energy or lack of interest in what normally would be interesting to you.
You are absolutely right that it is difficult to get testosteron but it's not impossible. I don't know where you live but the first step is to seek out a gynecologist who treats menopause; he or she can order through a compounding pharmacy.
I’ve never experienced brain fog as part of the menopausal transition. But now, eight years after menopause, brain fog has appeared to stay. I wonder if it means that menopause took a toll on my brain and a cognitive decline process started. Any one has experienced anything like this ? Your thoughts Dr. Annie ?
Hi again Luz! If you have brain fog years after menopause, I would look for other reasons that may be causing it, like sleep issues, nutrient deficiencies (like iron), not enough protein in the diet, medical conditions (thyroid disease, for example) and there is a long, long list. If you email me I can give you some other ideas. xoxo
Reducing plastic: yes, I credit BHK with helping me get plastic storage containers out FOR GOOD of my kitchen. I’ve long *mostly* relied on glass storage containers, but we amassed a large collection of plastic to-go containers during COVID. These have been banished for good. I also previously stored pantry staples in clear plastic containers. I shifted all that to glass. Some harvested from my grandmother’s kitchen when she transitioned to assisted living last year and some purchased.
Absolutely the puberty/peri-and menopause link has, increasingly, made perfect sense and I can look back now and connect so many of the issues and symptoms I experienced during adolescence with this hormonal transition (including debilitating, at one stage, anxiety during school years). So important in helping us to help the young women in our lives, too, and for us to be able to reframe it in a way that helps makes sense of all we've been through, as a whole. And, thanks to the work of Dr Mosconi, yourself and others passionate about research and education, help ourselves and others, too! 🙏❤️
Absolutely. I find myself constantly reflecting on this, and how grateful I am that I can have these conversations with my daughter, and for her to know about my journey on this side of things, whilst standing with her where she is in her life right now. 🙏🏻💗
Agree to liking the 3P concept as a mother to both a daughter AND a son! Recently a friend’s 4th grader mentioned having received “the talk” at school about puberty. I asked, “did they teach you about menopause?” They did not. Regardless it provided a perfect chance to ‘share the good news’ to this one 10-year-old girl in a neutral, light-hearted, normalized way.
Yes, yes, yes!! Absolutely, such a great point. My son has definitely learned a lot, too, from the open discussions we have at home about women's health. This is wonderful, Kelly!
Yes, I think starting to talk about menopause early in life empowers girls and educates boys, especially when framed as a normal life stage like puberty.
Hi Judy, sounds like a really good choice. I know it is hard for people to hit those protein recommendations but I also prefer doing it with real food.
Well, I may have had brain fog during my menopause transition. I don’t recall, associating it with menopause. So I can’t really speak to that however, I would’ve easily dismissed it as a personality flaw but looking back, I wonder if the times that I was so hard on myself for not being able to problem solve or troubleshoot could’ve been based on the menopause experience and not my lack of knowledge or skills in general.
My favorite takeaway was the Grandmother theory. Or that how I remember it. The theory that menopause halts our ability to have children so that we may be available as a care giver and influencers for our grandchildren.
HTR is such a game changer. It has helped me to improve my sleep and reduce joint pains. However I haven’t noticed any improvement on brain fog. I wonder if testosterone may be the part of the equation that’s missing in HRT for me. It’s so difficult to discuss about the need or not of testosterone supplementation for the menopausal women with doctors. Not to mention that apparently there’s not a testosterone solution for women where I live (besides from HDEA which does not seem to work).
Hello Luz! There are so many things that can contribute to brain fog, a term that most doctors don't like by the way because it is so nonspecific. It can certainly be due to an imbalance in hormones. If testosterone is the culprit, it often feel like a total lack of energy or lack of interest in what normally would be interesting to you.
You are absolutely right that it is difficult to get testosteron but it's not impossible. I don't know where you live but the first step is to seek out a gynecologist who treats menopause; he or she can order through a compounding pharmacy.
I’ve never experienced brain fog as part of the menopausal transition. But now, eight years after menopause, brain fog has appeared to stay. I wonder if it means that menopause took a toll on my brain and a cognitive decline process started. Any one has experienced anything like this ? Your thoughts Dr. Annie ?
Hi again Luz! If you have brain fog years after menopause, I would look for other reasons that may be causing it, like sleep issues, nutrient deficiencies (like iron), not enough protein in the diet, medical conditions (thyroid disease, for example) and there is a long, long list. If you email me I can give you some other ideas. xoxo
Reducing plastic: yes, I credit BHK with helping me get plastic storage containers out FOR GOOD of my kitchen. I’ve long *mostly* relied on glass storage containers, but we amassed a large collection of plastic to-go containers during COVID. These have been banished for good. I also previously stored pantry staples in clear plastic containers. I shifted all that to glass. Some harvested from my grandmother’s kitchen when she transitioned to assisted living last year and some purchased.
It felt good to make this relatively easy shift.
I love it Kelly! I still have some plastic lurking, but I really like these food storage containers I found on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNGKWVWT?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
Well gosh, just in time for Mother's Day. Putting these in my cart! Thank you!
Kinda the perfect Mother’s Day gift, right?
Absolutely the puberty/peri-and menopause link has, increasingly, made perfect sense and I can look back now and connect so many of the issues and symptoms I experienced during adolescence with this hormonal transition (including debilitating, at one stage, anxiety during school years). So important in helping us to help the young women in our lives, too, and for us to be able to reframe it in a way that helps makes sense of all we've been through, as a whole. And, thanks to the work of Dr Mosconi, yourself and others passionate about research and education, help ourselves and others, too! 🙏❤️
Hi Jenni. Yes, I really think Lisa presents a new framework of thinking that will really help the young women in our lives, too. That is such a gift!
Absolutely. I find myself constantly reflecting on this, and how grateful I am that I can have these conversations with my daughter, and for her to know about my journey on this side of things, whilst standing with her where she is in her life right now. 🙏🏻💗
Agree to liking the 3P concept as a mother to both a daughter AND a son! Recently a friend’s 4th grader mentioned having received “the talk” at school about puberty. I asked, “did they teach you about menopause?” They did not. Regardless it provided a perfect chance to ‘share the good news’ to this one 10-year-old girl in a neutral, light-hearted, normalized way.
Yes, yes, yes!! Absolutely, such a great point. My son has definitely learned a lot, too, from the open discussions we have at home about women's health. This is wonderful, Kelly!
Yes, I think starting to talk about menopause early in life empowers girls and educates boys, especially when framed as a normal life stage like puberty.
yes!! 🙌
I would not say there are new foods, but I will say that I am getting rid of protein powders in favor of unflavored nonfat Greek yogurt.
Hi Judy, sounds like a really good choice. I know it is hard for people to hit those protein recommendations but I also prefer doing it with real food.
Well, I may have had brain fog during my menopause transition. I don’t recall, associating it with menopause. So I can’t really speak to that however, I would’ve easily dismissed it as a personality flaw but looking back, I wonder if the times that I was so hard on myself for not being able to problem solve or troubleshoot could’ve been based on the menopause experience and not my lack of knowledge or skills in general.
You bring up a really important concept--women often doubt themselves and can be hard on themselves for the smallest cognitive slip.
My favorite takeaway was the Grandmother theory. Or that how I remember it. The theory that menopause halts our ability to have children so that we may be available as a care giver and influencers for our grandchildren.
I love that too! And it's good to remember that grandmothers have a heightened status in other cultures which no doubt enhances healthy aging!