Once a month, whether I need it or not
Looking back over my post history, I have been posting about once per month. A monkey with a typewriter could do better.
It’s so different from the early blogging days when I had to hold myself back from posting more than once per day…but that was before all these other outlets for my blather. At least I Instagram daily, mostly pictures of flowers and Abbie.
Part of it was that winter was awful. Or that I was awful in winter. I have been eating too much, started drinking again and barely exercised other than twice-daily dog walks. I’m fat again, have had entirely too much red wine over the winter and am so incredibly disappointed in myself.
Ok, I’ll say it: I’m mad about menopause. It has been driving me pretty literally crazy.
But Suebob, you say helpfully, you were pretty literally crazy before menopause.
Shut up and bring me a popsicle, I snarl in response, mopping my sweaty brow.
Because I most certainly have a sweaty brow. Hot flashes at least twice per hour, every hour of the day and night. My friend Kyle wanted to know what it felt like.
“You know when you have the oven up to 450 degrees and you open the door and that whoosh of heat comes out? Like that,” I said.
I also started getting arthritis. I hobble out of bed on stiff feet walking like a pelican. My hand joints are getting knobby. My neck crunches like a bag of potato chips.
Yes, my friends, I’m having a big old pity party and you are the guest of honor.
I’m considering my options. I had dinner the other night with a woman who went on hormone therapy to cure her night sweats and sleeplessness. Did I mention sleeplessness? Because gah. It stinks. And crabbiness. She had crabbiness. I may have a tiny touch myself.
I might try it. Until then, I’ll be here with my blue chilly towel around my neck and a fruit icee in my hand.
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Suebob's Red Stapler 
Soy. Take from one who has been there. Soy. If you want me to elaborate, PM me.
I thought you were speaking Spanish there for a minute!
Soooo… nothing but compassion and sympathy from me, as menopause is a bitch and winter isn’t much better. Combine the two and… bleah.
That said, I have some sad news: alcohol will exacerbate menopause symptoms (especially hot flashes). If you needed some motivation to put down the wine, there ya go.
Thanks, Mir. I already quit drinking again. I don’t know what even possessed me to start again, other than it was the dark of winter and I was on vacation and my friends were drinking and…d’oh.
I have had it with the hot flashes/night sweats. It’s been years. I am about to start a low dose of paxil because at least my migraines have calmed down since all my hormones have wasted away. This sucks, I understand completely.
I read something that said that most doctors believe hot flashes occur over about 18 months on average, but most women experience them for 5-8 years! I definitely had a few about 5 years ago…but not with any regularity until the middle of last year. I hope it’s not another 3 years. I’m sick of it already.
I just looked at my medical records for another reason and see that I first reported the hot flashes in 200 effing 8. So I guess I’m almost done, right? Jesus.
I don’t know if it helps or not, but I understand all these feelings! (And staying thin is so much harder than getting thin. I can testify to that!)
Thanks, Kalyn. It’s hard to love food so much and not eat all of it!
Suebob, this right here is why I’m so delighted to have met you and to be able to subscribe to the tales of your life.
Rock on, you’re awesome.
Our family got the easy child births, Thanks Mom, and short menopause. Mine was only about 6 months. Hope yours goes away soon. Put your pillow cases in the freezer and then get one when you need it at night. Believe it or not, it helps. love ya,
No one ever talks about menopause. I need more women who are experiencing menopause to talk about menopause. Here’s why. I will be there soon and I’d like to know what I’m getting into. Side note that kind of sucks. My yoga teacher/friend gave up chocolate for Lent. She has not had case of night sweats since.
Sometimes cutting out sugar/low carb can help. The frustrating part is it’s so individual and also symptoms can go away for awhile and then come back so you think something helped but maybe not really. Over the years my weight’s been up & down, diet has been better and worse, etc. etc. and the only constant has been the hot flashes & night sweats except for the rare times I seem to have done everything right.