I’m a woman of a “certain age” (I know, you’re totes shocked after seeing my photo, right?!) and lately I’ve been thinking about menopause.
In particular, how will *I* recognise it – as I had a hysterectomy last year, I no longer get the monthly visit from Auntie Flo!
Thinking about Menopause
I did however keep my ovaries, which means that I’m still cycling, something I can definitely confirm by the menstrual migraine which arrives every month without fail :-(.
However, there are likely to be plenty of other signs to indicate my hormones are shutting up shop …
Symptoms of Menopause
I’ve heard all sorts of things – dry skin, weight gain, the need for a personal lubricant for intimacy, moodiness, new facial hair, lack of libido, memory lapses, achy joints, hair loss or thinning, and disturbed sleep patterns. Not having a Mum to chat to about these sort of things, and being the oldest of three sisters, means that I am heading into uncharted territory.
I’m told it’s a bit like periods – every woman’s experience is different. Just like some women experience debilitating cramps, crazy cravings, belly bloat and heavy headaches during their period (actually, I got all of them!), others will not – and it’s the same for menopause. I think it’s only fair that seeing as my reproductive years gave me such a hard time, I should find it smooth sailing through menopause, right?!
So far, the only sign I’ve had that “the change of life” may indeed be on my horizon, is occasional hot flushes and night sweats.
Is It Hot In Here, Or Is It Just Me?
I’m seriously considering recording this question so I can save myself the hassle of repetition! I’ve been asking it quite a bit since my hysterectomy, and I’m told it will only get worse … I think I need to start stockpiling Rexona Clinical, to prevent sweat, embarrassing underarm stains and odours!
The flushes and sweats associated with menopause are due to the body temperature regulation unit (the hypothalamus) confusing warm with cold, cold with hot, and trying to compensate for its sudden inability to correctly sense if we are warm enough or not. Our bodies are pretty well equipped to counter act themselves, though the resulting perspiration is not always welcome.
Here are some of my top tips to make life easier when you’re feeling hot and sweaty … whether it’s from menopause, or the fast approaching Summer season!
Do you have any hot tips (pardon the pun!) for me on dealing with menopause?!
I don’t want to scare you but here is a good website for the symptoms to look out for http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/.
My recommendation would be to find the best hormone dr specialising in menopause that you can. If I have found Maura 6-8 months earlier I would have not suffered nearly as much as I did.
My other recommendation (and it’s one I am still working on !!) is to accept that it (for me anyway) is going to be a bit of rocky ride and just go with it. I spent too long beating myself up because I wasn’t coping with the changes that my body was going through – if I had to do it over again, I would accept it a lot sooner and just get on with dealing with it the best I could (and of course if I had seen Maura sooner, I probably would have been able to do that without any trouble at all !!!)
You may be one of the lucky ones that pass through menopause without even knowing it !!!
Good luck – I am here if you want to chat or mail – I am now about 15 months into it and it’s really only been the last 6-7 weeks that I have felt like it isn’t completely taking over my life.
Love, hugs and positive energy !
Me
Me, I have actually been wondering if I have started the fuzzy thinking / memory lapses too. I have always been VERY good at remembering names and faces, and being very confident in this ability, tried to call people by their names at Problogger on the weekend … only to find I’d completely stuffed it. This was a bit of a shock for me as I’ve never had a problem before! Or maybe it was just too many people & info for me to take in? 😉
I have a work collegue going through menopause and I had no idea about it before. I must say I’m not happy about going through it one day but I am glad I’m more aware of it now and what to expect!
I’ve had colleagues suffering with it in the past. I work from home so can’t talk to my co-workers about it so I guess you lot will just have to put up with my ramblings! 😉
……..and for some of us, it just happens, none of the above mentioned events – just one day – bye bye Auntie Flo (as you so quaintly call it) and that was it. Might be explained that for a few years previously I took a soy supplement called Phytolife, and apparently Japanese Ladies don’t suffer the dreaded menopause either. Perhaps I was just one of the very lucky ones….. and you could be too.
Jan I am definitely looking into that supplement! Glad to hear it CAN be smooth sailing – seems we only hear the horror stories.
Yep – I’m a woman of a certain age too (actually older than you I suspect). Aunty Flo still visits me and to be quite honest she gets worse with age and I will be very glad when she no longer visits (please don’t tell her I said that or her next visit will knock me off me feet!). Since Aunty Flo has always been quite harsh with me, I suspect that the big M will be a mean dude too. Far out – as if us guurls don’t get enough of a rough ride – what with Aunty Flo, birthing babies etc etc Bring on the big M – I’ve had plenty of practice with Aunto Flo!! 😉
I found the same thing Min, that it was getting worse and I just put it down to getting older. UM, NO! Turns out I had fibroids hence the hysterectomy. Might be worth getting a checkup? I’ve got my fingers crossed I have a smooth ride through the change …
Oh I am so relating to your post at present …… I know it has only been in the teens degrees wise lately but I am sure it is so much hotter!!!
Here in Bris-Vegas it’s like mid-Summer already, which doesn’t help!
Awww Janet. The pleasures of being a woman, eh?! I love Linda’s response up the top, I’d be seeing all the specialists I could to help in any way possible! As if it’s not bad enough we have to GET periods to start with, then be the child bearers, then we suffer this?!? Cruel world!!! x Aroha
I know. Blokes have NO idea!!!
Aww no, I hope you find some helpful remedies or anything to ease this transition!
Just another one of the wonderful things us girls have to put up with … *sigh*!
I am not that far away from it myself, but the weird thing is all the symptoms I have fairly frequently, so I may not even notice. Wouldn’t that be nice!!
Fingers crossed we are the lucky ones Becc!
Thinking of you Janet (I’m 45, I know you wouldn’t guess right, he, he), and I’m certainly feeling hormonal (and I know I’m not very nice), although Aunty Flo still as bloody regular as clockwork, as has been the case all through my infertile life, with the exception of IVF cycles. So to say I’m sick of getting my period is something of a understatement. But still, I’m not exactly waiting with open arms for menopause either.
I must admit – I’m VERY glad I had the hysterectomy last year – don’t miss Aunty Flo AT ALL! By the way I’m 46 😉
Well this subject doesn’t relate to me at all since we are different ages but thank you for giving me something to look forward to… 😉
You made me appreciate my mum so much more… these kind of topics are always what you would ask your mum. xo
Actually, after reading Me’s post about it a little while ago, I started thinking a little more about menopause. Maybe there’s a support group you can contact? It must be such a hard thing to go through on your own. Especially when there surely must be countless of women going through it too. Good luck x
Hmmm, menopause is not a subject that has been forefront of my mind. I think the suggestions of Me and Grace – finding a good doctor and a support group might be helpful. Perhaps some close girlfriends that you can talk to about the nitty gritty of this stage of life as a female might be good too? x
See I thought menopause didn’t hit til you were in your 50s or 60s – show how much I know. I’m totally dreading it one day – I’m moody during PMS – like HORRIBLE – and sweat like a pig all the time as it is. Love your honest posts J x
I’m doing what my mum did and avoided menopause altogether by taking HRT. My mum is 77 in a couple of weeks and yet she looks at least a decade younger. Her hair is thick, nails, bones, teeth all in good shape. A CT scan recently showed she has the brain of a 50 yo. She doesn’t need lube for intimacy because the oestrogen implant she gets every so often (I don’t know when). Testosterone injections keep her libido going. Her memory, while not as good as a whipper snapper, is as good as mine.
My mum was involved in a pilot program for HRT in Australia going back to the 80s. She swears by it. That and a full hysterectomy because she was bleeding well into her 50s. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
My sister in law, on the other hand, who is 55 has been having a shocker with menopause for the last four years. She can’t take HRT because she’s a breast cancer survivor. Poor thing.
It’s a very personal choice, but I know I’ll be lining up for the HRT drugs as soon as menopause starts rearing its ugly head!
Good luck with your ‘change’.
V.
AWESOME. Being a woman really sucks balls at times. Menstruation. Childbirth. Menopause.
I’m really looking forward to menopause.. like a poke in the eye with a sharp stick 😉
My tip is to get a blood test to make sure you are going through menopause. Most women of a certain age can tick the menopause symptom lists, or at least a few of them, but sometimes the symptoms can be due to something else, that hopefully is treatable.
Smart thinking Bronnie. I initially put down my symptoms to peri menopause – turned out it was fibroids and I needed a hysterectomy – blood test at the time showed I wasn’t near menopause at all!
Oh gosh, I know. I went through hell and thought I was going mad and then came across a natural product. I’ve joined the company! We are trying to get a support group going and get out help, advice and this product which is really good for a lot of people – working on helping the women of Australasia 🙂 I’ve been a beauty and health writer for years, hence my passion. Please note: I’m not trying to push product here, but if any of it helps then that’s a good thing right! http://www.meno-me.co.nz if you want to come over or get in touch.