The History of Menopause
Menopause can be traced all the way back to the ancient Greeks. The roots of the word can be found in Greek as well—”men,” meaning month, which is related to the word moon, and “pauein” meaning to cease or stop. In other words, the time when a woman’s monthly (lunar) cycle ends.
From Wikipedia: “Menopause, also known as the climacteric, is the time in women's lives when menstrual periods stop permanently, and they are no longer able to bear children.[1][7] Menopause typically occurs between 49 and 52 years of age. [2] Medical professionals often define menopause as having occurred when a woman has not had any menstrual bleeding for a year.[3] It may also be defined by a decrease in hormone production by the ovaries.[8] In those who have had surgery to remove their uterus but still have ovaries, menopause may be considered to have occurred at the time of the surgery or when their hormone levels fell.[8] Following the removal of the uterus, symptoms typically occur earlier, at an average of 45 years of age...” Read the full article here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause
Blah Blah Blah
All I care about is when my menopause symptoms are going to stop. The day menopause started will haunt me forever and the day menopause ends will be celebrated like an anniversary every year.
My history does not fall into the medical professionals' definition of average, not even close. Cervical cancer at 18, a child at 22, a miscarriage at 23, my tubes tied around 35, and a partial hysterectomy at 42ish, which did NOT throw me into menopause. Menopause did not hit until I was just past my 51st birthday. I was at the bloody gym.
The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the ugly, disgusting truth.
My childhood was active, maybe too active, but I was active and that carried into adulthood until the injuries sustained having a fun childhood caught up with me. When menopause hit, it was just after I was at the gym doing some tough stuff I had never tried before, getting seriously pushed by the trainer. This was a cross-fit gym and you sweat like mad in Florida. The next day I had serious diarrhea and thought I had picked up something from the gym. Then hot flashes started hitting me during the day, every 20 minutes or so and I thought, shit I've got the flu…. but no temperature. This lasted for a month: diarrhea and hot flashes. It lasted through a week-long vacation to Hawaii with friends (one bathroom, 4 people…. ugh), and then it settled in for the duration.
The duration, for the last three years, has been my own personal hell as I am sure it is yours or why would you be here?
My husband has learned to shed layers when I am cold and add them when I am hot. The cats have their places to warm up or cool down as well. The thermostat is tired of me and would like to be left alone instead of me changing it 10-15 times a day.
There are ice packs and frozen washcloths in the freezer which I would love to climb into sometimes, plenty of blankets when my teeth chatter and it's 80 degrees in the house. Every day is a new adventure, a new pain or symptom.
There are Voodoo Pains (my term) which I will explain later, but soon because you need to know about these. If you are new to menopause, the VooDoo Pains will scare the crap out of you, but WE ALL HAVE THEM. Take a breath. Aaaaahhhhhhh. Yes, we all have them.
So, there is the history of menopause and how mine is going. How about you ladies? We would love to hear your menopause story and all about your menopause symptoms from sex drive and libido to dry skin and bloating.