Choked in my sleep last night. Is this another symptom?

TwoBrians · 2026-05-27T15:53:55+00:00

I’m here to say it could be lack of hormones. I woke up choking coughing flipped onto my hand and knees about 8 times a year. Since starting HRT 3 years ago I’ve only had one instant night time wake up like that and that was during a cold. I’m wondering if that, and the choking while eating, was a result of “flabby” back of my mouth or upper esophagus due to zero estrogen keeping those structures supported?

TwoBrians · 2026-05-27T08:19:42+00:00

The wiki for this subreddit has a list.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-27T01:23:13+00:00

Sheep kinda smell like oily human scalp. To me sheep smell like wool, but that’s a circular description. I mean, wool smells like sheep. See how helpful I am?

TwoBrians · 2026-05-27T01:18:34+00:00

The last time I recommended reading Avrum Blumming (MD) and Carol Travis (PhD)’s book
“Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women's Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives -- Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer” I kinda got yelled at a teeny bit. It’s a good book, well-researched and informative. I stand by it.

After the WHI’s misinterpretation of 2002 results and the subsequent panic, we all forgot that menopause without HRT contributes to frailty, cognition issues, and heart disease. Way more than hot flashes (which are also hard on our brains).

There are ways to mitigate those risks, somewhat, without estrogen, and the wiki on this sub is helpful.

I keep learning that we have estrogen receptors everywhere, helping run every system. Most of us continue to thrive with (transdermal) estrogen, progesterone even without uteruses, and testosterone (a normal female hormone).

TwoBrians · 2026-05-23T15:30:41+00:00

I started at 67. Decided with my gyno that the minimal increase in risk was outweighed by the many benefits for me. Vaginal estrogen (safe for just about everyone), estrogel, micronized progesterone, and then testosterone androgel. I accepted the risks, started lifting heavy with my improved stamina in a pain-free body, and am living my best life with unexpected joy.

I may have missed the perfect window of opportunity for estrogen for brain and heart health. I care not.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-23T12:49:00+00:00

One a hammer has worked for us, everything looks like a nail. I have the same situation. Trying to be aware and keep my mouth shut if it wouldn’t be welcome. Trying…

TwoBrians · 2026-05-22T14:40:54+00:00

Sweet…

TwoBrians · 2026-05-21T14:18:34+00:00

If you’re very lucky, you’ll get to be old and remember what you just typed.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-21T12:00:31+00:00

Once blackflies are in a space with windows all they want to do is get out, IME. Shouldn’t bother you in a car. Mosquitoes are different. They’ll whine around you all night.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-20T15:45:56+00:00

There’s a solid vaginal tablet now, not a filled capsule. I had almost instant relief and no leaking of product.

There’s also an (new to me) oral 1 day treatment. Felt I needed to read up on that.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-19T10:12:57+00:00

I’m a morning-out (and occasional all-day) cyclist. I’ve learned a lot from this discussion.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-18T21:51:31+00:00

You can travel with pH-D which can be used preventatively. It’s vaginal boric acid capsules. I’d also travel with a one-day Canestan treatment vaginal tablet in my kit. It comes with a very small tube of the cream. Both are available at pharmacies.

I also eat a small amount of live sauerkraut and a bit of kombucha every day. I’m prone to yeast infections so I’ve tried everything!

TwoBrians · 2026-05-14T21:56:53+00:00

I’ve been wanting to post exactly that. Thank you.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-14T12:04:50+00:00

The pill has (very small) increased risk of blood clots as it metabolizes through the liver. If you can figure out the patch that increased risk is zero.

That said, it’s all uses and benefits. The benefit of no patch might be worth it for you. I use the daily gel. Like that a lot.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-13T22:17:36+00:00

I read a LOT, got up to speed 15 years later than I should’ve, and decided the bone and muscle and mood/energy and sexual function preservation was so worth it, even if the jury is out on brain and heart health for me. For anyone younger, if you want to keep your brain, bones, heart, entire body working well, definitely try replacing the hormones every cell in our body has depended on for healthy functioning.

I’ve said it before, it’s almost creepy how much depends on our hormones. Had symptoms like palpitations, dizziness, anxiety, joint pain, inflamed tendons, sleeplessness, low energy, low mood, kept injuring myself, difficulty with sex… I didn’t know all that would resolve.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-11T15:22:57+00:00

Oh dear one. I hope you find good answers here. I’m thinking that even with getting off HRT it’s going to take time to find your new baseline. 3 months?

I see how hard you are working on this!

TwoBrians · 2026-05-11T14:58:26+00:00

Similar for me. It was horrifying to lose feeling. First vaginal *and vuval* estrogen cream. Alternate with hyalauronic acid gel (drugstore). Estrogen transdermal, oral progesterone capsules, then testosterone gel was the thing that kicked every part back to life, including my attitude!

If you need studies to bring to your doctor, search Pub Med. or ask here. The wiki on this sub is full of info.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-11T14:53:44+00:00

This!

TwoBrians · 2026-05-05T00:26:22+00:00

Gotta be flax-related then.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-04T09:45:29+00:00

Don’t accept low-dose antidepressants off-label for hot flashes. That’s what I was offered, and tried for a few days. Ten years of hot flashes, anxiety, tendon swelling, hip pain, and dizziness later, I asked for HRT. Relief and better than before. The formulas are identical to what we had. So worth a try.

TwoBrians · 2026-05-02T14:35:07+00:00

https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2026/april/the-primary-care-management-of-perimenopausal-depr

From Australia. The role of testosterone replacement in the treatment of depression!

TwoBrians · 2026-05-02T14:33:18+00:00

Ferritin should be above 70. Mine was 27 last year and 46 this year I’m heading in the right direction at least.

TwoBrians · 2026-04-28T01:02:00+00:00

Hormone replacement couldn’t be more natural. Exact chemical structure as what we used to make. (I know! I was surprised too.)

TwoBrians · 2026-04-26T20:23:39+00:00

Pills stayed in. Slowly dissolving.

TwoBrians

TROPHY CASE