Article on menopausal hikers

[RuthN]

I'm a writer with The Trek and am working on an article titled "Tips for Menopausal Hikers," which will discuss issues and concerns of hikers who have entered menopause. It will cover both health-related and practical issues.

I would like to speak with hikers who are dealing with challenges and/or benefits related to menopause. If you are interested in talking with me, please email me at ruthmiriam at earthlink dot net. Thank you!

[RuthN]

Here’s a link to the completed article. Thanks to the women who shared their thoughts with me! https://thetrek.co/hot-flashes-tips-menopausal-hikers/

[RuthN]

Here’s a link to the completed article. Thanks to the women who shared their thoughts with me! https://thetrek.co/hot-flashes-tips-menopausal-hikers/

[illabelle]

Ruth,
Thank you for posting your article - well written by the way!
I meant to respond to your original post, but never got around to it. Not that I'd have anything original to add. You've covered all the bases. Good job!

[RuthN]

Ruth,
Thank you for posting your article - well written by the way!
I meant to respond to your original post, but never got around to it. Not that I'd have anything original to add. You've covered all the bases. Good job!

Thank you! Feel free to share!

[gsingjane]

Good job Ruth! Really enjoyed the article, and have never seen another one anywhere that covered this topic.

[RuthN]

Good job Ruth! Really enjoyed the article, and have never seen another one anywhere that covered this topic.

Thank you!

[Cynthia_T]

Good luck in writing this article! I think with fear of the period when I will have menopause ...

[RuthN]

Good luck in writing this article! I think with fear of the period when I will have menopause ...

Here is a link to the article: https://thetrek.co/hot-flashes-tips-menopausal-hikers/

[Traffic Jam]

I am struggling with this transition and have been very frustrated with the lack of practical advice for dealing with the sweating —-> cold cycle.

I can’t find any info on how to manage my sleep system to get a comfortable nights sleep. All the available advice for women is geared towards what supplements might work (but only for a lucky few) and to stop eating practically everything.

Then if that’s not depressing enough, we need to change our attitude. My attitude doesn’t prevent my down bag from getting soaked at night and doesn’t help figure out what sleeping clothes will keep me cool, dry, and then help me get warm again.

Sorry for the rant, I am very frustrated. I’ve done a lot of research on sleep systems and all the advice is on how to prevent sweating, nothing geared towards women who can’t avoid it.

Practical advice is welcome...please don’t advise me to take any more supplements, they don’t work. And I already exercise, have cut down on my caffeine and alcohol, and won’t stop eating dairy and carbs.

(If anyone can recommend a very lightweight, dependable, battery-operated fan and how to rig it up in my tent, I’d appreciate it.)

[rockyiss]

I am a little late to this subject but here goes what worked for me . At age 49 total hysterectomy , I had immediate bad menopause . I tried different stuff and finally ended up wearing a patch that contains 1.56 mg of estradiol . Over the years I have cut the patch down to the smallest piece that gives me relief from the hot flashes and the heart jumping around. I told my Dr. I wasn't worried about cancer , heart attacks or strokes cause if I didn't have my patch I was going to jump off a cliff instead of hiking it ! lol If I stop the patch all the hot flashes , heart jumping, not being able to think comes back . So I will die wearing it hopefully still hiking . Oh I am now in my later 60s and I believe my patch has kept me active and healthy .
Everyone talk to your Drs and educate yourself because everyone is different, I know women that never had one problem with menopause ... go figure right. Hike on because life is all ways good when your hiking !!!!!

[RuthN]

Ugh - sorry to hear about that. My best suggestion is to reach out to some of the sources I interviewed for that article. Try emailing Sue Williams of fiftysense.net at [email protected]. She is a hiker/backpacker whom I interviewed for the article. In researching another article about menopause, I learned that online support groups are a growing resource for menopausal women. Take a look at these sites:

https://menopause.supportgroups.com/
https://friendfortheride.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MenopauseSupportGroup/

Bear in mind that I haven't participated in these groups myself, so I can only pass them on as recommended by others.

You might also try contacting Buzzcut, the thru-hiker and Trek blogger who wrote about her night sweats. If you comment on her article, hopefully she will answer.

I hope it gets better for you.

[Traffic Jam]

Thanks Ruth, I will try those resources.

What I hope to find is expert advice on moisture management.

On my last BP trip, I slept in minimal clothing, directly on my sleeping pad, and used my bag as a quilt. This worked ok except that I sweated on my pad which made it sticky and uncomfortable. When the cold chills hit, I had to readjust and zip myself into the bag to get warm. This readjustment happened multiple times throughout the night so I barely slept.

Ive been thinking about the bag liner vs baselayers debate and neither option is ideal. The thought of being trapped in form-fitting baselayers and not being able to quickly remove them is unappealing. Also unappealing are the usual issues with sleeping in a liner when you’re a rotisserie sleeper.

If I decide to try a liner, which is better for wicking moisture and allowing it to evaporate, silk or polyester? And is one preferable over the other when using a down bag?

An option I’ve been considering is using a UL fitted sheet on my pad and sleeping in the lightest baselayer that I can find while continuing the quilt/bag readjustment throughout the night. (But I’m open to other strategies.)


And I’d be grateful if anyone can explain the difference between clothing that’s marketed as “keeps you cool when it’s hot” and clothing that’s marketed as “keeps you warm when it’s cold” when both claim to wick moisture away from the body. Is there a difference in performance? Do they truly perform better in different temps or is it a marketing gimmick?

[kestral]

I love my Marino midweight wool 1/4 zip top and bottoms from LL Bean. I think they are called Kresta They are years old and just get softer with each washing. They do wick away sweat during a flash, and keep you warm if you get damp. The worst flashes wake me up with heart racing, so I kick off quilt and pull up top to let belly get some cold air and cool me off. Back to sleep. Repeat x 3 during typical night. Starting to lessen after 10 years. Menopause ain’t no joke.

I typically hike when nights are very cool, this wouldn’t work well on a balmy night.

Keep getting out there!

[Traffic Jam]

I love my Marino midweight wool 1/4 zip top and bottoms from LL Bean. I think they are called Kresta They are years old and just get softer with each washing. They do wick away sweat during a flash, and keep you warm if you get damp. The worst flashes wake me up with heart racing, so I kick off quilt and pull up top to let belly get some cold air and cool me off. Back to sleep. Repeat x 3 during typical night. Starting to lessen after 10 years. Menopause ain’t no joke.

I typically hike when nights are very cool, this wouldn’t work well on a balmy night.



Keep getting out there!

10 years! I can’t even imagine dealing with this for the next 10 years.

I have a feeling winter will become my favorite season and can’t wait to do more winter backpacking. Trying to focus on the positive.

Thank you for the advice. I have Merino lightweight and midweight LS shirts and Patagonia Cap II(?) pants. For warm weather I may try my tencel sleeping pants with a tech tee.

I’ve almost decided that a synthetic quilt is ideal but I’ve invested in two WM bags this year and can’t afford anything else for a while.

[danil411]

What about buying a cheap liner and cutting it or buying a cheap sheet and cutting it so you don't have mummy effect? I agree that sleeping directly on a pad is not comfortable.

[Traffic Jam]

What about buying a cheap liner and cutting it or buying a cheap sheet and cutting it so you don't have mummy effect? I agree that sleeping directly on a pad is not comfortable.

Good idea, I love DIY.

Another good idea... someone suggested slipping an extra tee shirt over the sleeping pad, covering the top half.

[Traffic Jam]

I’ve been doing a lot of reading on menopause and hormone therapy and I’m appalled at the misinformation we have been fed through the years, leading to incorrect conclusions that have been accepted by much of society as the truth.

Much of what we are told about the risks of HT is based on the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative which is a flawed study. Indeed, the history of HT through the years is quite fascinating, especially how our collective perception was affected by marketing tactics.

We’re not supposed to believe what we read on the internet, but it still astounds me that so much available information, even from supposedly well-regarded sources, continues to use the 2002 study and disseminate that information to women. I’ve also found reputable sources using a combination of the most up-to-date information mixed with some of the incorrect conclusions from the WHI study. In addition, many, many medical providers haven’t kept up with the research and can’t be relied on to correctly educate their patients.

Women are being failed by the medical community.

If your quality life is being negatively impacted by menopause symptoms, I strongly urge you to read the 2017 position statement of the North American Menopause Society, locate a physician who is a member of NAMS, have an in-depth discussion about your risks and benefits of HT and alternatives, and develop a plan for improving your life.

Happy hiking.

[TwoSpirits]

I’ve been doing a lot of reading on menopause and hormone therapy and I’m appalled at the misinformation we have been fed through the years, leading to incorrect conclusions that have been accepted by much of society as the truth.

Much of what we are told about the risks of HT is based on the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative which is a flawed study. Indeed, the history of HT through the years is quite fascinating, especially how our collective perception was affected by marketing tactics.

We’re not supposed to believe what we read on the internet, but it still astounds me that so much available information, even from supposedly well-regarded sources, continues to use the 2002 study and disseminate that information to women. I’ve also found reputable sources using a combination of the most up-to-date information mixed with some of the incorrect conclusions from the WHI study. In addition, many, many medical providers haven’t kept up with the research and can’t be relied on to correctly educate their patients.

Women are being failed by the medical community.

If your quality life is being negatively impacted by menopause symptoms, I strongly urge you to read the 2017 position statement of the North American Menopause Society, locate a physician who is a member of NAMS, have an in-depth discussion about your risks and benefits of HT and alternatives, and develop a plan for improving your life.

Happy hiking.

This.

I struggled for a few years with wicked bad hot flashes, and was on a similar quest quest for the right sleep system & tactics to deal with the soaking and freezing at night. It's a unicorn; doesn't exist.

When I finally gave in and admitted to my doctor that this particular symptom of menopause was really causing me grief (i.e., it was negatively impacting my quality of life simply because I wasn't hiking & camping in cold weather, the very thing I love the most -- well, except for my new granddaughter), he suggested Hormone Replacement Therapy. And like a lot of women, I balked at that because of all we'd heard and been warned about in the past. He explained how that had been de-bunked, and I did my own homework, and agreed to try it.

BOOM! Absolutely life-changing. It helps with a lot of pesky problems, but in regards to night sweats, I never have had to worry about them since.

There is no reason to suffer with this crap.

[Traffic Jam]

P

This.

I struggled for a few years with wicked bad hot flashes, and was on a similar quest quest for the right sleep system & tactics to deal with the soaking and freezing at night. It's a unicorn; doesn't exist.

When I finally gave in and admitted to my doctor that this particular symptom of menopause was really causing me grief (i.e., it was negatively impacting my quality of life simply because I wasn't hiking & camping in cold weather, the very thing I love the most -- well, except for my new granddaughter), he suggested Hormone Replacement Therapy. And like a lot of women, I balked at that because of all we'd heard and been warned about in the past. He explained how that had been de-bunked, and I did my own homework, and agreed to try it.

BOOM! Absolutely life-changing. It helps with a lot of pesky problems, but in regards to night sweats, I never have had to worry about them since.

There is no reason to suffer with this crap.

Thank you so much for the validation! I feel like I’m going crazy.

I tried to describe these symptoms to someone...

Imagine you go out for a 5 mile run. It’s 90* outside. After your run, sweat is running down your face and back, your clothes are wet, you are dizzy, your heart is beating out of your chest, you are short of breath and can’t be still because you’re so uncomfortable. NOW, imagine if that same feeling happens multiple times throughout the day when you least expect it... when you are eating dinner with friends, sitting in a meeting, changing the dressings on a patient’s wounds, talking to your boss...


You haven’t slept in months because you wake up in a drenching sweat followed by teeth-chattering cold. You stop all your beloved outdoor activities, the same activities that made life worth living, because you can’t tolerate the heat. You become depressed and feel guilty that you aren’t a better woman. Because this is part of life, right? Suck it up, this is part of being a woman! Not only that, you’re embarrassed by all these symptoms and don’t want anyone to know this is happening to you!


TwoSpirits, I’m not putting up with this crap either. Hopefully, relief is on the horizon for me because this life isn’t worth living.