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Menologues

Because stumbling blindly through menopause is less fun than it sounds

The End of Menopause

October11

Menopause doesn’t end. Menopause starts when you stop menstruating. At that time the hormones that were so much a part of your life have now dwindled significantly, and in some cases completely.

Once those hormones dwindle you have two choices, find ways to replace or mimic them in your system or let them go. If you choose to replace or mimic them you may keep your body functioning in a fashion similar to how it functioned before menopause, for a time. If you let them go – your body will never function in quite the same way again.

Before menopause I heard all kinds of commentary and conjecture about the length of menopause. Menopause is not a journey – it’s a destination. Once you’re there you’re never going back – trust me!

That makes me wonder what the hell those folks were talking about when they said things like “oh it can last as long as ten years.” Were they talking about hot flashes? Hot flashes are not menopause, they are one of several possible symptoms of menopause. Are they considering menopause to be the bridge between pre and post menopause – which is just more menopause? This makes no sense to me.

I went into surgical menopause at the age of 48. I have been struggling with trying to balance hrt to reduce a variety of unpleasant symptoms ever since. I don’t pretend to understand everything related to the physiology of menopause, but I do know one thing: Menopause does not end! There is no going back!

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Is There Such a Thing as Normal Menopause?

January24

My journey through menopause has been anything but “normal.” I had severe, and misdiagnosed, endometriosis culminating in lengthy surgery at the age of 48. They took everything out, including my cervix and then scraped the detritus off of my poor abused organs. Ah hell, it made for fun stories over cocktails!

Is Normal Challenging?

Is Normal Challenging?

Almost a decade later, I’m still dealing with thermostat issues – both day and night, scar tissue challenges and abdominal bloating – which could be attributable to the scar tissue i.e. I didn’t have “normal” menopause, and if menopause is over (another question for the ages – is menopause EVER over?) then why am I still not “normal?”

I hear a lot of stories from a lot of different women regarding their own experiences with menopause. They range from life changing to barely noticeable – but after years of gathering data I haven’t come across normal. I guess what I’m saying is that I can’t define normal even though I know a whole lot more about this phenomenon now than when I first embarked on the journey.

Once it occurred to me that I have a lot to say about menopause – other than what’s normal – my curiosity started working overtime. I want to know what “normal” menopause looks like. Is it “normal” to have hot flashes? How bad? For how long? Is it “normal” to gain weight? Is it “normal to lose it again? (I’m beginning to suspect that menopause is similar to George Carlin’s description of drivers “everyone who drives faster than you is a MANIAC and everyone who drives slower than you is a dangerous road hazard!” – in the event that I’m right about this I might as well plant my stake in the ground, so everyone who’s menopause was worse than mine is “really messed up” and everyone who had an easier menopause is either “a lightweight or a no good lying…”). Which one are you?

I’m guessing there’s no written definition of “normal menopause” but I’d like to know what you think. Was your experience with menopause “normal?” What makes you think that? Will you share your story with me?

 

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When the Journey through menopause is long it takes a toll.

August2

A few weeks ago I was chatting with a relative who recently turned 46. She asked me “when does menopause typically start?” I said “the average age is 52.” Then she asked “and when does it end?” My response “never.” She looked at me quizzically so I explained.

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Changing HRT Protocols or Nightmare on Elm Street!

February23

I’ve been taking bio-identical hormones for several years now – since my hysterectomy in 2004. Once things got going I was feeling great – not a symptom in sight. Then my doctor’s practice had a shake-out and my doctor left the market. Wonderful man that he was, he recommended someone who could help me continue my hormone journey.

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