Is it detox or the <shudder> change?

[somelikeitraw]

Ok, I've read the threads I found on menopause and nobody mentions this. I am getting things like hot flashes but they truly put hot flashes to shame. I want to peel my skin off I get so hot and my face gets red and my skin gets sweaty/clamy and then after it's over I get soooo cold. Then in a few minutes I have to relieve bladder pressure and am amazed at the amount. Sorry, hope I haven't grossed anyone out.
I'm 47 and have had hot flashes and night sweats for a few years now. Come to think of it though, I haven't had a true night sweat in a long, long time. I've been eating high raw since Feb. 2nd.
Anyway, is this a normal RAWaction to a high raw way of eating? Or is this the change going through changes?
Any help is much appreciated!

[Colorawdo girl]

If it was my body, and I had switched to high raw in Feb, I would say it is stuff coming from inside out. Perhaps your body needs heat to burn something out, an old virus or something. Trust it.

This is how I view any symptoms that might show up. I trust raw to take care of my body. Things are going to be shifting and sorting and rearranging and being made new and cleansing and healing all at the same time.

For me,it showed up as extreme cold.

It might look like somethings wrong. Nothings wrong here, it is what it is and i go with it. It passes. I get healthier and healthier. Rawkin n rawllin on raw!!!!

p.s I did not go into the menopause idea. To me, it is a "sickness" created by pharma and I had no challenges. My menses simply stopped.( I have to say..tee hee, I did not fan myself in public or private once, you know, like they do).
That time of life is as natural as childbirth. Simply an ending and a beginning.

[Revvell]

For me, a lot depends on what I eat NON raw. Anything soy, turns up the heat.

Keep a journal and see when the flushes come.

I don't know why the <shudder> when you say "change". To me, it's right there are the top of my list of the best things EVER happening to me. No more monthly mess, no more cramping, no more underwear... total freedom!!! I absolutely LOVE it!

Revvell (http://LetsTalkRaw.com)

[somelikeitraw]

Colorawdo girl: Thanks, I was kind of thinking it was along the lines of something my body was trying to heal. I’m learning to allow the trust. Were you raw when your menses just stopped?

Revvell: ROFLMAO! Thank you for the new view! I hadn’t looked at it that way.
I have not been good with journaling/charting things in the past. The only non-raw I am eating is when I didn’t realize it was cooked, as in agave or nama shoyu. Haven’t had either one in about 3 weeks and still flashing. Maybe I’ll be better at journaling now.

[ruffsongraw]

Revvell---i cant WAIT till that day!!! praying it will be sooner than later....44 now...pleasepleaseplease, Giant Period God in the Sky!!!!

[Colorawdo girl]

No I was not raw when it all just stopped.

Naturopath wanted to do ultrasound to see what was what. Was all good.
She asked did I want to start it again???? What a question.....awwww uuuuum NO! (as a half a second had passed)

So bravo Rev to no mess, no fuss, AND no underwear...we are freeeeee....and who said it was a rough time of life of a womans life???? I beg to differ....weeeee I'm free!!!!

[Revvell]

I think I was 54 ~ or so.

Giant Period God in the Sky? ROTFLMSSSAO! :D


Revvell---i cant WAIT till that day!!! praying it will be sooner than later....44 now...pleasepleaseplease, Giant Period God in the Sky!!!!

[Revvell]

So bravo Rev to no mess, no fuss, AND no underwear...we are freeeeee....and who said it was a rough time of life of a womans life???? I beg to differ....weeeee I'm free!!!!

Absolutely! ^5's ya!

[LNdolls]

Oh, good, cause I am 52 and both my older sisters had already stopped by this age. I have not, yet and am so looking forward to it. It is going to be a huge relief.

I did notice a huge change in the whole mood around my period, the more I ate raw, the more I cleansed. No PMS - none. Cramping only once in a while - usually right when the flow began. No hot flashes at all. And fewer night sweats.

[cara4art]

Since you've just gone raw, you're at the beginning of the curve, and it likely is coinciding with the big M - LOL! But you are doing yourself such a favor by going raw and side-stepping Big Pharma for sure that wants to keep you sick and dependent on very questionable drugs! Menopause is a natural cycle of life, but many women these days have an awful time of it because of all the bad habits previous to this time. Stuff has a habit of catching up with you. Since your body is going into detox mode with going raw, it may very well ACCENTUATE menopausal symptoms for awhile until things stabilize. Just keep rawking, and know that by doing this you are avoiding the pitfalls that many women of our age fall into, like all the cooked refined carbs that are so-o not good since our digestion has changed anyway. Not to mention that the raw diet is low in cholesterol and other baddies that nail middle-aged people.
As far as the transition itself, ideally, the ONLY thing one should notice is that periods taper off and stop. But every body is different. Unfortunately, due to the environment we live in, there is a lot of toxicity and many women have eaten denatured diets for so long and gotten virtually no meaningful physical activity either. Both of these add a big load and cause all kinds of problems, which then Big Pharma LOVES to medicate away - ugh! No thanks!
The transition can take a long time to complete, too, as it starts several years before periods stop, and it can take up to 10 years or so post-menopause for things to stabilize. Again, this is dependent on what you have going on with your health, your lifestyle, previous diet, etc.
But in the meantime, keep on eating good raw food - hope this helps some! And yes, as Revell says, there is a LOT of freedom after menopause - one no longer has to kowtow to what others think, for one thing.

[Myca]

I had a complete hysterectomy last March. Never took any hormones and I have never had a hot flash like you just described. I did get very hot, but not sweats. Since RAW the hot flashes are very mild to none.

[Ilse W.]

I'm with Revvell. Menopause is the best thing EVER. I wish it had come 10 years sooner. Haven't "missed" those periods once in the last 6 years. :D:D:D

[snoops]

oh please, my turn PLEASE - 51 and waiting!!!!:p

[sport]

I am post and love being period free but I am aware of the fact that nature has decided that it has no further use for me and has decreed that I will deteriorate very fast from here on out so I consider it a mixed blessing.
I have exchanged periods for Osteoporosis and Ostio arthritis.

[snoops]

I have no plans to deteriorate rapidly:p. If you don't exercise you should. Specifically weight bearing exercise and weight lifting. Your bone density does not have to decrease causing osteoporosis. That said I am at low risk for it anyway. Who would have thought being a large boned, large framed woman would have its benefits. LOL

Don't know if you are all raw yet but animal protein (ie. cheese, milk) creates an acidic condition in your body which cause your body to leach calcium out of your bones to correct it. Eat lots of green leafy veggies. Parts of the world that don't drink milk like North Americans do have virtually no osteoporosis.

[snoops]

ha ha, just looked at your number of posts. I'm guessing you're all raw and probably didn't need that lecture!!

[Revvell]

I am post and love being period free but I am aware of the fact that nature has decided that it has no further use for me and has decreed that I will deteriorate very fast from here on out so I consider it a mixed blessing.
I have exchanged periods for Osteoporosis and Ostio arthritis.

WOW! What a dis-empowering thought! At 50, I felt like my life had just begun. At 60, I'm more enthused than ever. My bones and my spirit are strong and life is better than ever! I would NEVER go back to my 20's. The thought makes me shudder.

Revvell

[sport]

I have no plans to deteriorate rapidly:p. If you don't exercise you should. Specifically weight bearing exercise and weight lifting. Your bone density does not have to decrease causing osteoporosis. That said I am at low risk for it anyway. Who would have thought being a large boned, large framed woman would have its benefits. LOL

Don't know if you are all raw yet but animal protein (ie. cheese, milk) creates an acidic condition in your body which cause your body to leach calcium out of your bones to correct it. Eat lots of green leafy veggies. Parts of the world that don't drink milk like North Americans do have virtually no osteoporosis.

I am actually a compulsive vegan to the point of having a psychological problem about it. I have a small frame, I was always light (have purchased a weight vest now). I have been a healthy eater all my life, I have not smoked a cigarette since I was 15 (and only a few before that), drank coffee about 4 times a year and not for the past 10 years.
You could say that I did most things right but got weak bone genes and I can not be blamed for that. I still say that it is natures way of telling me that it has dispensed with my services.

[Revvell]

I still say that it is natures way of telling me that it has dispensed with my services.

Your choice, your life. I was born with a weak constitution ~ always sick with one thing or another. Now, I feel stronger than ever and do what it takes to remain that way. My choice, my life.

[Ilse W.]

Whatever you do, don't take the pharmaceuticals they give you against osteoporosis. They build bone, but it's extremely brittle and instead of breaking it will shatter, if you ever fall. Lots of leafy greens etc., and don't forget the Vitamin D, which is extremely important in bone building. If you live north of the 45th parallel, you don't get enough sun in winter (it comes in at too great an angle), and you should supplement.

[cara4art]

I so agree with Revell here - it IS your choice. Like her, as a kid, I was always sick as a kid, but my health has gotten way BETTER as I've gotten older, because along the way I have made it my business to find out about the importance of natural means to improve my health. That point was driven home for me when I was relatively young with a bout with mono. It occurred to me then that a doctor couldn't help and that I was best off healing myself. That started the quest for nutrition, fitness, etc. that is ongoing today, 35 years later. It is critically important to step away from the extremely negative conditioning and fear that is out there for mature women, and make one's own empowering decisions. In order to do that, one must first clear away the cobwebs, so to speak!
I also agree about the difference between hard bones, and firm flexible bones. guess which ones can withstand greater stresses(that are built by a proper diet and resistance exercise and sunlight). All these calcium pills that are so commonly recommended tend to build brittle bone, like the pharmaceuticals that EmmaT mentions. No way would I go NEAR that stuff, and I just know that if I went to a regular doctor(not likely unless under dire emergency)that they would recommend this kind of trash since I have a light frame. Not too long ago I had a couple of nasty spills, and I totally believe that being on a largely raw diet with a lot of greens really helped me heal up faster, from what could have been some real damage. For the type of spill that I took, people in worse shape with their diets and exercise often break their hip or something.
A final note, never let anyone tell you that you are not of any use because you are not young. It seems that elders in our culture are not respected the way they are in other more indigenous ones - just my thoughts here!

[sport]

Some of these replies to my comment would paint me as a negative thinking person who has given up on life. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am a 100% raw, 100% natural, very positive, glass more than half full person who loves her life to the full. This does not stop me being a realist. I think that this fact helps me as I am more prepared for what life throws at me. I do not fear getting old. In fact my husband accuses me of "looking forward to it" because I speak so positively about it.

[somelikeitraw]

Well, Saturday I was extremely busy and slept past the normal weekend wake up time, so I just dashed out of the house and didn't take my MSM. Didn't have any flashes that day, so I didn't take any yesterday to see if maybe I would have some without it. No flashes yesterday either. I'm thinking that since the weather seems to be very similar to yesterday's I will take my MSM today and see if I get any flashes.

I'll keep y'all posted.

[somelikeitraw]

I didn't take MSM for 2 days and had no hot flashes on those days. Then I started up with my MSM again, lower dose than before, and no hot flashes. Maybe I was overdoing it on the MSM. Glad I can still take it without any flashes :)

[Lavendula]

I have been 50 for almost a month. No fanfare, I was born on Mother's day and every few years it is again. I have been like clockwork all my menstruating life. Then starting with Thanksgiving, then Valentine's day, then three months later, bled for a month, heavy fresh raspberry red at the end. Have since had an ultrasound, pap, and my complete labs. All looks good, but the hormones are all very low. While I was bleeding heavy, I looked up stuff online about estrogenic foods and herbs. Turns out, I had been sick with a cold twice back to back, and was taking handfulls of different herbs, foods etc., that were all on this list. Any one alone would probably not be a problem, but there were too many factors.
I am also looking forward to putting my old aunt flo to rest. Ill talk about getting and or feeling old later. I had planned to be fit at fifty, 5 years ago, I had lost 45#, was working at the HFS, feeling healthy and good about myself, my son had told me I was looking hot. I took a cross country road trip by myself, then over the next year, the bottom fell out of my life. Starting with the oldest child coming home to roost after being somewhat estranged for about 9 years. I'll do the next installment on that later. Now, I am working hard to reclaim my life, and regain the vibrant health I was enjoying before. There are so many variables that the things that hit us broadside, are many times not something we have done to ourself by bad choices, maybe sometimes out of ignorance. The genetics are what they are.

[sport]

I have to agree with the previous posts regarding MSM and sleep. I sleep a lot better without it.

[somelikeitraw]

well, I still have the intensely hot trips to the center of the earth for no apparent reason, only now they are getting hotter. I'll be just fine sitting on the couch and BOOM out of nowhere I get so blinking hot that I start dripping sweat! Could be day, could be night, all I know is everyone else in the room says they are ok temperature-wise.

I am at this point I'm thinking that my body is dealing with something that it is in the process of healing. I'm moving my focus elsewhere and letting my body do it's thing.

Thank you for all of the help, you are all fantastic!

[margoss]

Do you have a partner to help with the hot attacks? Seriously, to me..people don't think about relieving our body in that way helps to remove so many things from us. Just a thought.