Surgical Menopause

EuroAmerican

Hello,

I hope it's ok to ask here. I have had surgical menopause at age 44. I have a blood disorder. And can't take any hormones. I have gain 3 kg / 7 lbs already over my regular weight. I am still in good shape. But don't want to continue gaining weight. I feel that I retain a lot of water. Anybody here who has experience with this and can't take hormonal medication? I also have many other symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes etc. I finished chemo and radiation in March. Thank you

Anonymous

Yes - I was put into medical and then surgical menopause at diagnosis (42) and cannot take hormones (see diagnosis). Between that, a pelvic lesion that made me unable to walk for a while, and covid, I've put on 20 lbs since diagnosis. In the last week and a half my partner and I have been doing the paleo diet (no dairy, grains,legumes, alcohol although we do allow berries and some potatoes) and that has been working well. I don't weigh myself between appointments, but stomach is much flatter, my face is leaning out, and my appetite has shifted from focusing on too much bread and cheese and snacking comfort foods into fixing meals based on healthy components in the fridge and loss of interest in between meal snacking. We've had two cheat meals and they really weren't satisfying.

There were more than a few mornings where I thought I wasn't going to stop going to the bathroom and just how much more water did I have to release? but it seems to have levelled out now. I also drink a lot of water during the day and avoid diet drinks and the like.

Its certainly helped my mood and I feel a lot more calm. I don't have problems with hot flashes or night sweats or aching joints, but I have noticed that the momentary warm times after eating are far less frequent with limited sugar in the diet. Exercise capability has also increased substantially too.

I think there is a specific low carb thread on here. I won't do keto because I like vegetables and moderate fruit and need the range of nutrients they provide. Paleo is pretty easy to follow and as long as you watch the nuts and any paleo baking is kept to a minimum, it strikes the right balance of what you should be eating for a proper healthy diet.