Chinese Version
10-29-2020，Thursday，Rainy
Today, I went to the hospital for a bone density test. While lying down as instructed, I asked the doctor: “Measuring bone density is still very new to me. How do you do the measurement?”
The doctor said: “The bone mineral density is measured by X-rays in very weak intensity similar to the intensity of the security inspection at the airport. It is also safe for pregnant women.”
I joked, “I don’t have such concerns anymore. I am at a new stage with new concerns now.”
My new stage refers to menopause. My new concerns are hot flashes and fluctuating emotions. I have experienced hot flashes for more than a year now. I experienced suddenly sweating in the middle of the night, where sometimes the sweat could soak my pajamas and bedsheets. I also felt suddenly happy or angry, inexplicable and uncontrollable. I silently experienced the changes of estrogen being unscrupulous to me, ignoring my rich life experience of more than 50 years. I could not help but think of my rebellious youth. Because I realized that the change of youth hormones may be more shocking to the young heart without much life experience than the change of estrogen with me.
When I first experienced hot flashes, I asked around about hot flashes.
In California, I chatted with Karen, one of my best friends, about hot flashes, as Karen also experienced it. Karen said: “The most embarrassing hot flashes are sudden sweating in public places. One time, I experienced this on the air plane.”
In Massachusetts, I consulted Ping, my college roommate, and her mother about hot flashes. Neither of them had experienced hot flashes. The same was true for many of my high school classmates.
It seems that hot flashes have genetic factors. Unfortunately, my mother had already passed away. So I could not know if my mother had also experienced hot flashes.
My daughter also asked her classmates to check with her mother who is in her sixties. She too did not experience any hot flashes.
I called my friends and colleagues in California to talk about hot flashes. I learned that hot flashes vary from person to person, and some will last more than ten years. That is scary! I just hope I don’t have to go through so many hot flashes.
In September 2020, Yang, who studied and practiced in the traditional Chinese medicine suggested: “Drink Ophiopogon japonicus and Schisandra chinensis soup and stop drinking alcohol.” to relieve hot flashes. I bought Ophiopogon japonicus, Schisandra chinensis, and a casserole specially made for soup. I made the soup several times and felt that the soup did reduce the symptoms of hot flashes.
A few days ago, by accident, I chatted with an 80 year old retired professor about hot flashes, and she said that her hot flashes had lasted for more than ten years. She said: “I had hot flashes during menopause and I could not sleep well at night. At that time, I was still teaching. In order to have the energy to prepare for class, I took some medicine I probably shouldn’t have taken. ”
I said, “I didn’t take prescription medicine, but I’ve been eating two eggs a day for more than a year.”
The professor asked curiously, “Who said eating eggs is useful for hot flashes?”
I laughed “My own guess. We generally lack estrogen during menopause. Eggs can improve the productivity of estrogen in our body. ”
The retired professor said: “I heard that the most difficult thing is a mother in menopause dealing with a rebellious child in adolescence.”
Note: In 2021-09, after lasting for more than two years, my hot flashes symptom is almost gone now.
Little Episodes
1, Today, I felt like entering the mysterious hall when I entered the hospital. As soon as I entered the door, I changed my mask and washed my hands.
There are many sentries in the hospital. Each sentry asks the same question: “Did you have a fever or cough? Are you COVID-19 positive? Have you been exposed to COVID-19 positive people? Have you been out of town in the past 14 days?” I answered the same questions twice before I got the green pass. I answered the same questions three or four times before I went into the doctor’s office.
2. In September 2020, my friend Yang gave me a prescription for relieving hot flashes after looking at my tongue remotely: “Don’t drink alcohol, drink Ophiopogon japonicus (10g) Schisandra chinensis (5g) soup twice a day, one time in the daytime, another in the evening..”
3. Ophiopogon japonicus
Ophiopogon japonicus can improve the immune system of the human body. It also has the effects of nourishing Yin, strengthen lung, relieving cough and reducing blood sugar.
4. Schisandra chinensis
Schisandra chinensis can nourish liver, promote the secretion of saliva or body fluid, and decrease perspiration.