What follows here is a rant about menopause. I am telling you this upfront in case any gentlemen readers would like to bow out of reading this post. No hard feelings...really. I'd skip talking about this on my blog altogether because it's a bit personal, but at the same time, it's a fact of life and something absolutely universal.
So, I just woke up after another night of hot flashes, night sweats, and getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night repeatedly. Yuck. All night long I peel the covers off and can literally feel the heat rising off my skin. Miserable. I lie in bed with the covers off, and two fans going - the ceiling fan and a small personal fan on my nightstand until I start shivering and have to pull the covers back on. Worse yet are the times I wake up with my head drenched in sweat. Hot - Cold - Hot - Cold...this goes on all night.
Then there is the issue of trying to figure out how to dress for this time of year and this time of life at the same time! It's generally cold outside right now so I dress in layers. I do get genuinely cold so I put on a long sleeved shirt, a vest, maybe a scarf (you know how I love a good scarf) and a fleece jacket. I will be going about my business when all of a sudden - POWER SURGE - and I feel like I have flames shooting out of the top of my head. Off comes the scarf and the jacket and the vest and then I roll up my sleeves and try not to pull my shirt OFF. I am not looking forward to dealing with this situation during the summer.
In an effort to do some unscientific research on the matter, (asking my friends and family of the same age), I have found out the following facts -
1. I have no idea how long this is going to last. Menopause can go on for 1 1/2 to 10 years or even longer! I talked to a friend that started having hot flashes at 40 years old. She is now in her 60's and is still having them! So, there is nothing to do but to just endure.
2. There is NO magic pill to cure menopause. Just like any other malady, herbal remedies or drugs work differently for each person. I have been taking black cohosh for about a month - this was recommended by my primary care physician. At first I thought it might be lessening the severity and frequency of the power surges, but now I'm not sure. Some one told me that sage helps. Haven't tried that one yet.
3. There is a camaraderie that exists among women of a certain age. We understand each other and can commiserate about this as just one more of the hardships and indignities that come along with being a woman. It's not all bad. I have shared real laughs with my sisters-in-sweat when we talk about our common experiences with this latest chapter of our lives. Sometimes I do find it funny...well, sorta. At least there are others who understand and this does help.
In honor of my sisters-in-sweat, I'd like to leave you with a song by Alicia Keyes. I don't think she intended this song to be about hot flashes, but every time I have one, this is the song that goes through my head...this one is for us, Ladies!
http://youtu.be/J91ti_MpdHA
Hey, before I go - is it hot in here or is just me?
