I would love to hear how the OP is doing now. I found this website because I was trying to find reviews on Estroven. It seems the "Estroven?" thread that was here is now closed. Hopefully, something in my experience will help "Tired & Weepy". I had a partial hysterectomy in 2006 at the age of 42 (removal of one ovary and uterus due to innumerable fibroids). I did have "surgical menopause" symptoms following surgery, but they subsided within a few months. During the two months following recovery, I went back to my Dr. complaining of cramping and other symptoms *similar* to what I had been complaining about prior to surgery. My Dr. sent me to a specialist and I learned that, along with the fibroids (and disrupted hormones due to same), I also had IBS. IBS cramping pain and other symptoms are triggered by certain foods and above-normal stress. 5 years later, I am now having what I consider to be very serious hot flashes and night sweats - so much so that I looked into OTC remedies as I wait to find an OBGYN in my new city. I found and just started Estroven last night. Right after my surgery, I turned down all meds from my Dr. to treat "surgical menopause" and was ok until now. I have noticed a direct connection between IBS "trigger foods" and hot flashes (and for me, the trigger foods are the same for IBS and hot flashes!). The only difference is that caffeine causes cramping for people like me with IBS (my hot flashes do not come with or from cramps, but caffeine does trigger hot flashes). These are my NO foods: chocolate in any form, caffeine in any form, sugar, sweets of any kind - even fruit (but I still take in fruit), spicy food, and large meals in general. It has gotten so bad that I will start face sweating just while eating a small bag of Skittles! Last night was my first night with Estroven Extra Strength. It did give me an increased heart rate so I had difficulty sleeping. I woke up sweaty, and I only got 4 hours of sleep, but that was just the first night on it. It is morning now and I just took my Estroven pill again and am keeping a diary to track the number of times I hot flash, what I eat and what happens, and the effects of exercise. I know it takes time to work, but I am dedicated to finding relief (I, too, am weepy and cry). In the past few months I gained a little weight. I am not convinced that menopause and weight gain are foregone conclusions because I went to see my primary care Dr. in late November and told him I was trying to lose weight. He told me it wasn't going to happen as long as I was not sleeping through the night. He stated that getting a good night's rest on a regular basis is critical to weight loss. From September through late December, I was not sleeping through the night because I was nursing my dog who was dying and I would wake myself up every 3 hours to check on him. He passed away in December and then, all of a sudden, I can't sleep through the night because of night sweats onset. If I do get a lot of sleep, it's only because of a prescription sleep aid. I do believe that exercise -- I recently started again with jogging/running, swimming, Pilates, dance, and yoga -- goes a long way toward keeping hormones balanced, but lately this menopause thing has TAKEN OVER MY LIFE no matter what I do! I will report back my Estroven results. Based on the "research" I've done on the web, it seems that lots and lots of women simply can't tolerate anything - or find longstanding relief - with any supplement. I hope I'm wrong about Estroven. I need to add that after learning about fibroids and having a hysterectomy because of them, I learned to HATE estrogen. Estrogen feeds fibroids, as I understand it, and I had too much estrogen to begin with. Too much or backed-up estrogen gave me Chloasma (facial skin darkening) which was treated by Dermatologists with bleaching creams and skin peels, LONG before the accurate "cause" diagnosis was made! My OBGYN at the time was incompetent. I am so grateful for the Dr. who diagnosed the fibroids as the source of so many of the problems I had been experiencing. After the hysterectomy, my skin issues resolved themselves. She gave me a lot of information about electing to have a hysterectomy -- I would choose to do it again, I only wish I had known years earlier what my problem was. I just now have to deal with menopause -- which is what I think is happening. I'm now past the peri-menopaus part because I'm getting cold flashes following the hot flashes and night sweats. I didn't have those before. After the hysterectomy and subsequent diagnosis of IBS, I lost 15lbs. What with being unemployed right now and having recently lost my dog, I gained 10lbs. I'm hoping that with increased exercise and Estroven, I can lose the 10lbs. Right now, though, I would be utterly grateful to just sleep through the night without sweat and -omg- the occasional enuresis that has just started. Anyone else having that in menopause?! It just started. Will address it with doctor). Although I mentioned that I have a "hate" relationship with estrogen, I'm willing to try Estroven (which I understand is a plant-based product) in the event that I'm wrong (theoretically, I should now be under-producing estrogen, right?). When I see the Dr., I will explain all of this to her and if Estroven hasn't helped, I will try progesterone cream or anything the Dr recommends with the exception of HRT. I will NOT do it. One of the other symptoms I noticed last night after taking Estroven was cramping. I will not know until later today if the cramping was due to the Skittles or the Estroven (or my morning coffee which I cannot do without!). Aside -- has there been a discussion of the impact of menopause to spouses? I can no longer even sleep in the same bed with my husband because of the sweating and tossing and turning. Driving is a nightmare for us. Too hot for me, too cold for him. Even the cats don't like sleeping with me anymore. Thanks for letting me share.

I joined Curves last month (end of May '03) and I LOVE it. It is truly the ideal thing for me. In January of this year my schedule changed and I couldn't take my walks any more, and boy did I notice a difference. I'm about 30 pounds overweight but I'm tall and my weight is extremely evenly distributed (literally, from my face to my feet) so I don't look really heavy but my strength and endurance are very low. I knew I needed to start some form of exercise and began looking at every possible option, and ended up choosing Curves. I go to Curves straight from work. My heart rate goes up within the first 10 minutes and stays there the rest of the time. After just 9 sessions (in 2-1/2 weeks, 3x a week), my resting heart rate is noticably slower which tells me I am getting a good cardiac workout. I'm not as winded when I go up stairs. And that's what is important to me -- not how much weight I lose, but how fit I am. At nearly 50 years old, strength and endurance are far more important (actually, at any age, they should be most important but I wouldn't have listened to that when I was younger, LOL). I'm also starting to notice that my heart rate doesn't go too high now like it did at first during the work-outs, another sign that I'm already in better shape. I believe that weight loss will eventually take place, since I need to lose weight (if I didn't really need to, I might not lose any). but right now my overall fitness is more important. Everything else will fall into place. Curves is great for me in every way. A fun, cheerful, up-beat atmosphere (typical gyms are very visually unappealling to me), perfect for my schedule, and I look forward to it. I don't diet and don't believe in it. I believe in eating healthy foods in moderation without unrealistic restrictions. Eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm full is best. I don't eat just salads and soup. I don't count calories. What I do is choose a salad and fruit instead of chips to accompany my sandwich -- because it is a healthier choice not because it is lower fat or "diet" food. It works for me and I can stay with that for the rest of my life. And sometimes, during special occasions, I'll partake in the chips and dip without going overboard. BTW, the women at my Curves gym are all shapes, sizes, and ages. So, it is NOT just for overweight and/or older women. Anyone can enjoy and benefit from it. But like everything else, not everyone will like it. Hey, even chocolate isn't liked by everyone! :-) Jen

I found that I got too involved socially with everyone and didn't really put forth a good effort of the machines so I joined a full service gym and like it much better....especially the pool. But my friend, who would rather eat snail slime than exercise started Curves and is very happy with the program. I think it depends on how much you exercise now....if you are very active, you may get bored with it but if you are just starting to exercise it is a great place to start. Try it out and see if it will work for you.

No, actually, my ick comment was meant for William. I just don't think he's attractive at all, and, in fact, the opposite. It's his mouth, I think. Now Harry, I've always thought that he was an adorable munchkin and still think the same today. In my opinion, William is geeky looking and Harry is fun, cute looking. I think that some people (I'm not saying here!!!) think William is good looking because the popular opinion says he's good looking. Maybe the emperor has no clothes. I'm sure they're both wonderful men. Perhaps William is a better person, I don't know. I am referring to my reacion to their physical looks - that's all. Now, if we were to post a picture of me, we'd all have something to say! Hahaha. They do look like a happy, in love couple and I hope the love lasts. As far as Charles goes, and "having a mistress waiting in the wings", I actually feel sorry for him, in a way. He loved Camilla all along but was not permitted to marry her. It was forbidden for him to be with her. What a shame! I loved Diana, but I don't entirely blame Charles for the facade. I'm glad he and Camilla are together now. I wish Diana were alive and happy with someone.