What Happens After Menopause? Are you just old? Happy 54th Birthday!
Posted by Robin DonovanOn average menopause starts at age 52 and goes until age 54. And that can vary a great deal – starting much earlier and lasting for as long as ten years – it’s really anyone’s guess. I will never know when menopause would have started for me because I went into surgical menopause at the age of 48. About a year ago I asked my doctor if I was past menopause. He said there was no sure way to tell because I supplement hormones so some of the changes that would be expected won’t occur unless I stop supplementing them. And I’m not about to do that.
Right after surgery they put me on the transdermal patch so that I wouldn’t go cold turkey without any means of producing estrogen (they had removed my uterus, ovaries and cervix). We never found out until over a year later but the estrogen wasn’t getting into my bloodstream. I actually did fairly well during that potentially dark time. No close friends, relatives or co-workers were murdered with an ax. I didn’t pull any day long crying jags – or any crying jags for that matter. What did happen was that I felt old. And it wasn’t a good feeling. I wasn’t me.
Once the blood test revealed that the patch wasn’t working for me (why didn’t I have that blood test sooner!!!) I quickly pursued another course of action. And once I was on the right level of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone for me – I started getting younger again. So whew, I was over the worst of it. Right?
Well, then there was that pesky old weight gain. Was it all the fault of menopause or was it my thyroid issues. I’ll never really know for sure. But thanks to some serious dieting (and let’s face it this is not the first time I’ve chunked up and had to get serious on a diet) I’m over that phase as well – at least for now.
And today I’m 54. So I’m going to assume that I’m past menopause and ready to take stock. It’s been a journey. I’ve traveled to the land of old and then stopped off in the land of fat and now I’m back. And what happens when you’re back? It’s like someone put you in a time machine and took you back to when you really were younger. There’s a bounce in your step and a gleam in your eye. You know it and other people comment about it. It feels good. And it’s a huge relief to know that you can still feel good about yourself – like you used to way back when.
Happy Birthday to me! And look out!
I had surgical menopause (ovaries, uterus, and cervix) when I was 33, and there was no patch, just high doses of Premarin that caused me to have excess facial hair and some weepy rash on my inner thighs. Three months of that and I said, “enough” and did some research on ERT (now called HRT). I decided it was dangerous for me given my genetic background (breast cancer; Mom and all 3 maternal aunts), so I went cold turkey — for years. I did find some natural alternatives that helped alleviate some of the symptoms. Acupuncture and some herbs helped, but it was rough.
I just found your blog after you commented on mine. It looks like you are doing great work for women who are undergoing this rite of passage. I’ll be reaading and referring!
Thanks for your comments and support, Taru. It’s critical that each of us decide on our path based on how we’re feeling coupled with a look back at our own personal and family history. We need to trust our instincts and not just do whatever the doctor tells us without question. We need to fight for ourselves.
I really enjoyed you comments! I turned 54 12/26/09. This January, 2010 was like a light switch was turned in my body, I felt different all of a sudden! I could not explain what happened, I just knew something had changed! I have hit menopause amazingly quick. My periods just stopped! The first 3 weeks in January I had hot flashes and night sweats. I have never had so much heat come over me at one time! I would have one start and stop only followed by another that would start in a matter of minutes. And the night sweats I could hardly sleep. I was blessed though, one of the girls at church prayed over me and the Lord delivered me from the hot flashes and night sweats! I have not had one since then and I feel great. I must say I experienced menopause rather quickly and I am very blessed! I praise God for his blessings!
Debbie,
Thanks for sharing. At the risk of being a bit of a downer – have you gone a whole year without a period? Because from what I understand that’s the technical definition of the start of menopause. Until then it’s considered peri-menopause. Don’t be too surprised if some of those symptoms come back for a visit. That said, if you’re over and done – that’s awesome! I’m happy for you! P.S. If things start up again give me a yell – it can get pretty frustrating!