Early menopause after chemo.

[Sandals]

I finished chemo 1.5 years ago and it has put me in to chemical menopause (now almost 38 years old). I had two menstrual cycles at the beginning of the year when I first started on raw food and have had nothing since.

We are not long married with no kids and we have just met with a fertility expert and my FSH is 90 (normal should be around 12!!) and had more bloods taken aswell but its not looking good. I have all the signs of still being in menopause.

Is there anything I can do to help me come out of this chemically induced menopause? I juice every morning, have a shot of wheatgrass which I believe should be good to lower the FSH and also am going to start acupuncture.

I feel so betrayed by my body. I have done so much over the last 5 months, am completely changing my lifestyle and then this. Knocked out of menopause and then back into it a few months later.

[DebB]

I'm just suggesting this for whatever it might be worth - have you considered bio-identical hormone replacement therapy? I'm very fortunate in that my holistic MD has over 25 years experience with this, more experience than any other doctor in the area I live. Again - it's just a suggestion. *Ü*

[Sandals]

Thanks Deb, really appreciate your suggestion. I feel so lost over this.

I've never even heard of that so am going to look into it more. I wonder if it would have an effect on me after having beast cancer. Will check it out though. Thank you.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Japan are now treating woman with B12 Methylcobalamin (it has to be this kind because it is what human utilise).

Also you may want to watch this youtube with Dan liferegenerator. He is unique but he has helped woman to get fertile.

http://www.youtube.com/user/liferegenerator#p/a/u/1/W7hXY42yVAI

Those are natural way.

I want to say that thinking i had menopause, i got pregnant at 40. I WAS 100% raw food diet 60 days prior to the conception. Regardless that i am missing one ovary and my age. I didn't i would be a mother some day.

Miracles happen, give a chance to your body to heal. Replenish yourself with super nutrient food. Do a detox etc....

All the best

[DebB]

It may challenging finding a doctor to put you on 'bios' after breast cancer. If a doctor does prescribe this therapy, please remember it's important to balance the estrogen with progesterone.

One of the books I read on this subject was by Suzanne Somers who was on bios then diagnosed with breast cancer and continued the bios (feeling it was important to keep her hormones balanced during this time) and continued on afterwards.

Again, (I feel I have to say this) - it's just one avenue to explore. I'm really not trying to push bio-identicals. I wish you all the best! *Ü*

[Sandals]

Thank you both. You have given me lots to start with.

Raw Angel, had you got menopausel symptoms and did you do any conventional fertility treatment? I like that video, the guy is funny but lots of good points.

I think I might do 60 days 100% raw. At the moment I'm doing about 70-80% but struggle as I work 9-5 and can't eat a lot of fruit to the GI index so I end up doing A LOT of prep in advance every evening.

Deb, I understand you are just providing info, and I really appreciate it. Will look into it.

I'm also studying the benefits of raw food on a 9 month course in a Herbal Medicine School and have volunteered to go down for the students to do Iridology on me so will see what comes of that.

[Lady Green Jeans]

Sandals, As already stated, will be hard to find a Dr. to allow bios but if your cancer was not estrogen receptive, much better chance. I went into chemo induced at 42. Had I known, would have gone 100% or even a juice 100% to really clear out all I could and possibly 'jump start' things. Definately worth a try maybe? A month at the Optimum Health Institute showed me a tremendous number of miracles--awsome healing on so many levels.

Wishing you all the best on your path. Please keep us posted.

[Mary Kay]

Back a dozen years ago, or so, I was a host/moderator of a fertility site and I had done much research in the infertility area as I was over 40 and wanted to conceive.

Having chemo-induced menopause is the result of your eggs being genetically damaged or killed. An FSH of 90 is an absolute impossibility, unless by some miracle your FSH could come down. But the reason your FSH is high is that your pituitary is trying to rev up those follicles by cranking out the follicle stimulating hormone. With eggs that damaged or dead a high FSH is to be expected.

Also, I want to disagree with DebB (who kindly admitted to just giving it a shot!) that if you have high FSH, adding E2, for example would only falsely bring your FSH down.....If your FSH is brought down falsely, then for certain your follicles will not be stimulated. Frankly though, in your case, that would require a lot.

It is my opinion that having your own genetic offspring is rather hopeless (Hugs, sorry), but that is not to say that you couldn't do DE! (Donor eggs) I personally know of women who have successfully done so, and many women on my site did DE successfully, I might add. I know one whose donor was genetically superior to herself! She said if she saw herself with all her stats standing in a lineup with her donor and her stats, she'd hands down choose the donor!

Many women of childbearing age should be warned of the possibility of infertility with chemo. I personally know of one who had one of the Hodgins- type lymphomas who did chemo and was never warned! I asked her about it before she was ttc, and was shocked to hear she was never told or asked to perhaps save some embryos, or even eggs. Son-of-a-gun though, she has had two children.

But given your FSH, I'd assume there's genetic damage ---at the very minimum. With DE you could still have your husband's child--you could still be pregnant etc.
But frankly, I don't know (haven't researched) the ramifications of chemo for someone who would consider DE. But I think I have heard of it, and it should be something you could easily research.

One other thing I would do is to try to clean out all that chemo from your system. I knew of an older woman who went to Hippocrates after having chemo. Her room stunk so bad when she began to cleanse there, her son, literally would hold his breath, run in, open the window, run out, wait for the room to air out, then go back. Her room stunk for five days. On the sixth day, the smell was gone. This is pretty amazing to me - signifying that perhaps her body was cleansing out all those stinky toxins.. Brian Clement said that ridding the body of chemo was the most challenging......

So before doing DE, I'd spend the bucks on a place like Hippocrates. Also, you can save a lot of money, if you can find your own donor.

I don't want to be a naysayer to you ---I am actually trying to give you hope with DE.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[Sandals]

Hi Mary Kay,

Thanks so much for that info.

I was told that it was likely I'd come out of chemically induced menopause after chemo because I was 36 when going through chemo. If I had known then or been told the extent of the problems I'm left with, I would never have chosen chemo/rads. The damage I'm left repairing is unreal.

I'm devastated over the FSH result but the clinic are waiting on my AMH to come back too to check the quality or if there are any eggs there. That results is due in two weeks.

I am actually attending a talk with Brian Clement the week after next here in Ireland so am really hoping to be able to nab him for a few mins to be able to talk to him about this.

I have considered Hippocrates a number of times and have requested their price list. I thought I could do most of this at home and but maybe as you say, I should go there and see what they can do.

I would consider DE but think I just haven't grieved the loss of my own genetic child yet. Especially when I really thought I was coming out of menopause as my oncologist told me last February after I had my second cycle that there was no need to test my FSH again, that I was now fertile!!!

Thanks again for your info everyone. Really, really appreciate it.

[Lady Green Jeans]

Sandals, You sound like you are on the right track. I don't have a tremendous medical background but my Dr. told me I had a 50/50 chance on the restoration of my menses. Most women, if withing 10 years of their natural menopause usually do not have the return.

The raw food healing knowledge may be a natural and healing path. You can do it at home--it is just nice to go to an established raw center for the ease and the mutual support. Optimum Health Institute had three raw meals, a two-three day juice fast each week, rejuvalac always available to self-dispense, a dedicated wheatgrass room where you juiced your own for drinking and/or inplants, fresh air walks, daily yoga sessions, a variety of classes on different topics like deep breathing, food prep, sprouting 101, etc.

I did not have the knowledge of raw food healing after my chemo. I spoke with many seriously ill individuals there and heard some truly amazing healing stories.

Do your research--knowledge is powerful. I do not doubt the healing of this path. My healing wishes to you.

[Sandals]

Thanks Lady Green. I hope you're doing well since your treatment and that you are finding the benefits of raw food after your treatment. I don't think I could ever go through it again, eventhough it wasn't so bad at the time. Its the after effects I have found hard to live with.

I do so much at home already and am doing my second juice fast tomorrow. I take wheatgrass and a juice every day, I eat a lot of raw, dehydrate, blend, exercise and as I mentioned, am also studying to be a Raw Food Instructor.

I rang a woman here in Ireland that has a place (but a lot smaller) like Hippocrates but without all the big equipment so I spoke to her today. She works with Brian when he's in Ireland so I'm going to attend her weekend in July where I'm sure I will learn more.

So starting my 60 days of 100% raw food tomorrow and will see how that goes. Never know, maybe that miracle may happen!!

[Lady Green Jeans]

Sandals, Thank you for the kind thoughts. I have done well (am 13 years cancer free) and really trying to live my life more fully. My raw journey has been a twisting, turning road but I find my way back each time after a wrong turn. :). I am currently pretty motivated on a juice f(e)ast--committed through the end of the month.

So glad you are giving your body this great gift of raw. I've heard a lot of good feedback on the raw food instructor course. Awsome for the many avenues you can take it and help others to heal.

Please keep us posted on the retreat.

[Mary Kay]

Lady Green Jeans,

Thirteen years!! Wow, way to go!

Sandals,

Keep us apprised on what your results show.

Best of luck to you,

Mary Kay

[Sandals]

Will definitely let you knwo how it goes.

And yeah, 13 years....now thats inspiring.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Thank you both. You have given me lots to start with.

Raw Angel, had you got menopausel symptoms and did you do any conventional fertility treatment? I like that video, the guy is funny but lots of good points.

I think I might do 60 days 100% raw. At the moment I'm doing about 70-80% but struggle as I work 9-5 and can't eat a lot of fruit to the GI index so I end up doing A LOT of prep in advance every evening.

Deb, I understand you are just providing info, and I really appreciate it. Will look into it.

I'm also studying the benefits of raw food on a 9 month course in a Herbal Medicine School and have volunteered to go down for the students to do Iridology on me so will see what comes of that.

I did nothing except for eating 100% raw food for 60 days then voila, little baby was born perfectly healthy nine month after. Except for being tired, i had the perfect pregnancy too.

Heal your body and get this temply fully charged with nutrient, life force, minerals, etc... (All from food). Vitamin D from the sun too.

You will be a mom, it is innevitable, you are meant to be. Trust and heal this temple now.

[agustinho]

I just want to know, if it's okay to you to take a natural health supplement? If yes, tried the Menopause Factor. I know it's a good treatment for alleviating the most common symptoms of menopause.