Tuesday 6 June 2017

Dear Menopause


Dear Menopause

I see you, peeking around the edges of my days

Being "of a certain age", I can't say you were an unexpected visitor, unlike your friend Aunt Flo who often shows up unannounced


But, really, why now?

And why in such a quiet manner?

I'm guessing that I'm not the only woman out there who ignored you for weeks, then suddenly went "shit, I need to pee on a stick" only to have it say NO

[although in all honesty, that was a relief]

But still, the mind games really are unnecessary.

Just announce your arrival, and leave it at that.

None of this hanging around in "peri" stage for up to TEN YEARS

It's really not needed, and not very welcome.

I mean, sure, I'd love for the day to arrive when I don't have to wonder if that's sweat or something else dripping down my leg in the middle of summer

And let's not discuss the number of surprise pregnancies of women in their 40s (one of my aunts had one)

But why does no one talk about it?

As I've wrestled with this mindfuck over the last 3 MONTHS, I can't tell you how many times I've spotted adverts for panty liners, and calcium, and OMG the new Kotex ad!

Not one single person is talking about these bodily changes that EVERY WOMAN is going to experience.

And while I'm not necessarily eager to be the first, THE CRAMPS are killing me today!

Women "of a certain age" PLEASE talk about this.

Please tell other women what you experienced (and for god sake tell me I'm not crazy!)

I'm just going to go hug my hot water bottle now.

Linking up with Kylie Purtell for IBOT
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12 comments

  1. Oh man, that does not sound like fun!

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    1. It was the whole not-knowing that really threw me!

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  2. Does it hurt more than periods? OMG.

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    1. I honestly couldn't tell you, I've been taking magnesium on and off for over a year, which relieves all those muscle cramps and headaches

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  3. My mum entered menopause early (at the age of 40) so I've been seeing glimpses myself for a while, mainly in a whacked out menstral cycle. After being as regular as clockwork for 30 years, it's weird to enter this world of not knowing when or where it will strike. I'm counting my blessings at the moment as that seems to be the only thing that has changed so far - not looking forward to hot flushes and the rest at all!

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    1. I don't think I've had hot flushes yet, but it's just about the only thing I can remember of my mum's experience, so no doubt it's coming!

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  4. You're right we should talk about it! After all the majority of women are going to go through it!

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  5. I wish women did talk and write about this more. I 'm nearing the age where menopause will soon be visiting me and I'd love to be more informed about it!

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  6. Why is so much stuff secret and unknown? It's weird in this day and age.

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  7. Hmm. Menopause. Fun. I went through premature menopause. I was diagnosed when I was 38 when they told me I was post menopausal. Go see your doctor, have a blood test and see if they can tell you where you're at. I'm on HRT and my hot flushes and night sweats are almost non-existent now.

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  8. It's like all those womanly things. No one is brave enough to talk about menopause. But why? Knowledge is power, I say!

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  9. Stupid Secret Womens Business!
    I think I've been menopauseal (or at least peri) for a couple of years now. AF is fairly regular still, but there have been some changes with that. Often get some ovulation spotting and a bit of spotting a couple of days before AF actually arrives. The regularity is slightly off too. Used to be pretty much 28 days (I'm not on any contraception) but now can be 3-5 weekly.
    I've had headaches every AF, usually the first 2-3 days, for the last couple of years now. That's was my first real symptom.
    Secondly, I haven't had sweats or flushes but I am rather warm all the time. Has made sleeping a real problem. Even now, with nights that have hovered around the 0C mark, I kick the quilt off for an hour or so and sleep with just the sheet (and I have always slept in the nude). I can't rug up in woolies in winter either, I just don't have the need for them.
    I took one of those silly FB quizzes the other day. Of the 15 symptoms they listed, I had 11 of them. Of course I can't remember what they are now (another symptom).
    The biggest relief was them listing "feeling like you are going insane" as one of the symptoms. I have felt that way for the last couple of years too. Tossing up whether I should go to the doctor and seek medical help, then arguing that I am coping ok considering the stress, blah, blah, blah.
    I don't remember much of mums time. I do remember her taking St Johns Wart and will quizz her about that when she gets back from her holiday. That might just balance me out a bit more? Mum had a hysterectomy at 40yo so AF wasn't a symptom with her and was hard for her to know how long her change lasted.
    Tell me more about the Magnesium. That might help me with my headaches too.

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