Menopause & Me

I want to take a minute and talk about menopause. I am not having a great time with this part of my golden years. Wait. Am I in the golden part of my years...? I just turned half a century, but I'm not sure if I can consider myself Golden yet. I believe you have to be around 65 or older -- at or around the age of retirement. And I'm not ready to retire...I like working.

I digress. I was talking about these damn hot flashes. Weight gain. Chills. Night sweats. Insomnia. Mood changes. Weight gain and a slooooow metabolism. Dry skin. There are a plethora of other body changes, but thankfully I haven't experienced them. Yet. I'm not looking forward to vaginal dryness, sagging breasts and thinning hair. Good thing I stopped having a menstrual cycle at the age of 42 when I had a partial hysterectomy or else I'd have irregular periods to look forward to. Ugh. Menopause. 

Symptoms of menopause

I started feeling like something was wrong when I turned around 48 or 49 years old. I would find myself having to turn on the ceiling fan at night or would catch myself feeling slightly chilled during the day in the height of summer. And I live in Texas when it gets to be over 100° majority of the time. I knew something wasn't right so I went to see my doctor, took the blood tests and got the phone call a few days later, that yes, I was perimenopausal. 

Menopause be giving me the straight blues. I keep an electric fan on corner of my desk for when I start sweating for no dang reason. And a space heater under my desk at my feet for when get cold, also for no dang reason. The people at my office must think I'm nuts! 

Oh and the other thing you have to look forward to is the declining sex drive. That's the worst part, if you ask me. Thankfully I have a fiancé who is patient and very understanding. Which brings up another topic. Why don't they have medicine for a woman's ED, for lack of a better phrase. They have all kinds of pills and potions for men, but nothing for women. Ain't that a kick in the rump? 

Take some comfort that there are a few over-the-counter medications that help. I take Estroven and Black Cohosh to help minimize the symptoms I experience. I also practice a sort of meditation and yoga to help. Menopause can wreak all kinds of havoc on your mental state, not to mention your body. So here are a few tips I suggest:

1. Eat a healthy diet.
2. Do some sort of physical activity. (When you reach around the age of 40, muscle starts to deteriorate so strength training is a must.)
3. Homeopathic medications, like Black Cohosh or Estroven. I don't didn't want to do hormone therapy.
4. Hydration. Drink lots and lots of water! It will help you with the weight gain. For some reason, our appetites increase with age. 

Thankfully, menopause is not a disease, but an annoying and distasteful part of life that we can't avoid. Just think of menopause as puberty's evil older sister.