I LOVE menopause. For me the only downside is that it increases the risks of heart disease, osteoporosis, etc. But in terms of quality of life, it's been a big plus. I had just sort of resigned myself to the awful PMS I experienced for decades, and now that I'm free of it, I marvel at what I endured for so long. In menopause I get hot flashes, but those are no big deal--I used to get both hot and cold flashes with PMS, and hot flashes are not painful. (In winter I even welcome them.) It is so wonderful to no longer have the sickening, debilitating, writhing-on-the-floor pain of periods!
Always love your fireside discussions Jody and looking forward to this one. My own experience, 7 years into perimenopause, is that 'symptoms' only show up when my life and nervous system are out of balance. It feels like a call to take a long hard look at how I'm living and burn away what's no longer serving me. If I am ruthlessly honest about what my mind, body, and soul need, then my body is at peace. If I'm over-doing, appeasing, and ignoring my boundaries, my body speaks LOUDLY. There is so much wisdom in this life transition. Can't wait to hear what you wise women have to share ❤️
I’m going to try and come to the live event. Just checking time: it says 7pm here, and 8pm when clicking to register, and the confirmation also says 8pm.
I had not clicked the box to adjust for Summertime - I have adjusted it now, and you will hopefully get an email from Zoom confirming that. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention! Hugs, Jody x
I'm "beyond menopause" now, but it still feels challenging as it really drained me of so many things (apart from my fertility). My libido dwindled entirely, I gained weight, I lost confidence and questioned my own identity and place in the world. Finally, I had to face that I would not have my own biological child, so it stripped me of hope too. Such a challenging and at times heartbreaking time. Yet I have come through. Finding small moments of joy and meaning have bought some sunshine back into my life and I am more myself than ever. And if people don't like that, I'm fine with that too!
"I am more myself than ever." Me too. In many ways, post-menopausally, I feel more like I did before puberty - sassy, feral, confident and courageous. My 'style' is returning to the more androgynous style of my childhood too (I was never a girlie girl). If I could start climbing trees again, my transformation would be complete!)
The webinar sounds really interesting and I have questions.
I had a medically induced menopause at age 42 having hung on for years with debilitating pain, loss of blood and anaemia. I had always hoped to have children but without a partner in sight and the body not helping I had to agree to a hysterectomy.
As well as coping with a major operation I had to cope with the devastation of knowing I would never have a child of my own which was huge but I felt I had to keep it buried.
I tried hard to cope with sweats so extreme that drops were spurting off my head, dank hair and feeling like I was going out of my mind. I thought well it's natural and maybe I can get through it?
But after 6 months I went to the GP, who was very sympathetic and was prescribed HRT. Over the years the dose has changed and now I use patches. However what I had never expected was that menopausal symptoms would never stop and to date I've never come out the other side! Who knew you could have menopausal symptoms for 28 years? HRT helps but symptoms are still there and when I've tried to come off HRT I've gone downhill rapidly.
So am I alone in still having menopausal symptoms 28 years after a medical menopause I wonder?
I'm sorry that your health/timing meant that you didn't get the chance to try for children, and that you got zero support (either emotional or medical) post-surgery. I wish I could say that things have changed around this, but I know many other stories like yours, and it makes me mad as hell!! I hope a few others here in the comments can speak to your questions about symptoms 28 years post-surgical menopause. I'd also really recommend checking out Ann Marie's work @hotflashinc - she interviews everyone in/adjacent to the menopause space and has no agenda to push. She's also childless.
Having surgically experienced menopause at 40, without children, I can attest, a month from 80, to the truth that we're still here and going strong. I echo Lynn - Thank godess you're doing this!
Thank goodness you’re doing this! I am tired of the menopause narrative that it’s the end of the world. I am 64 and have coached many post-menopausal women who may have no children or with children, who have developed a huge desire to re-invent themselves and/or do what they love and haven’t had the time, or realise a dream. Menopause is a portal and whilst the physical symptoms can be challenging, the transition at a soul level is an opportunity.
I have had very challenging symptoms for 20 years now, and yet I wouldn't trade them in - I feel so much more centred in myself, true to my values and with a bullshit detector that could have saved me SO MUCH when I was younger!
I LOVE menopause. For me the only downside is that it increases the risks of heart disease, osteoporosis, etc. But in terms of quality of life, it's been a big plus. I had just sort of resigned myself to the awful PMS I experienced for decades, and now that I'm free of it, I marvel at what I endured for so long. In menopause I get hot flashes, but those are no big deal--I used to get both hot and cold flashes with PMS, and hot flashes are not painful. (In winter I even welcome them.) It is so wonderful to no longer have the sickening, debilitating, writhing-on-the-floor pain of periods!
For me, post-menopause means making peace with a new body. Thinning hair, thinning skin, thinning sex drive, etc., etc.
In our culture of valuing outward beauty with “lush & young” standards (look, I get it!) how do I find such peace?
Always love your fireside discussions Jody and looking forward to this one. My own experience, 7 years into perimenopause, is that 'symptoms' only show up when my life and nervous system are out of balance. It feels like a call to take a long hard look at how I'm living and burn away what's no longer serving me. If I am ruthlessly honest about what my mind, body, and soul need, then my body is at peace. If I'm over-doing, appeasing, and ignoring my boundaries, my body speaks LOUDLY. There is so much wisdom in this life transition. Can't wait to hear what you wise women have to share ❤️
I’m going to try and come to the live event. Just checking time: it says 7pm here, and 8pm when clicking to register, and the confirmation also says 8pm.
So is it 7pm BST? I’m still confused…
What time zone are you in locally?
I’m in the UK
I had not clicked the box to adjust for Summertime - I have adjusted it now, and you will hopefully get an email from Zoom confirming that. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention! Hugs, Jody x
I'm "beyond menopause" now, but it still feels challenging as it really drained me of so many things (apart from my fertility). My libido dwindled entirely, I gained weight, I lost confidence and questioned my own identity and place in the world. Finally, I had to face that I would not have my own biological child, so it stripped me of hope too. Such a challenging and at times heartbreaking time. Yet I have come through. Finding small moments of joy and meaning have bought some sunshine back into my life and I am more myself than ever. And if people don't like that, I'm fine with that too!
"I am more myself than ever." Me too. In many ways, post-menopausally, I feel more like I did before puberty - sassy, feral, confident and courageous. My 'style' is returning to the more androgynous style of my childhood too (I was never a girlie girl). If I could start climbing trees again, my transformation would be complete!)
I love the idea of you climbing a tree Jody! ☺ x
The webinar sounds really interesting and I have questions.
I had a medically induced menopause at age 42 having hung on for years with debilitating pain, loss of blood and anaemia. I had always hoped to have children but without a partner in sight and the body not helping I had to agree to a hysterectomy.
As well as coping with a major operation I had to cope with the devastation of knowing I would never have a child of my own which was huge but I felt I had to keep it buried.
I tried hard to cope with sweats so extreme that drops were spurting off my head, dank hair and feeling like I was going out of my mind. I thought well it's natural and maybe I can get through it?
But after 6 months I went to the GP, who was very sympathetic and was prescribed HRT. Over the years the dose has changed and now I use patches. However what I had never expected was that menopausal symptoms would never stop and to date I've never come out the other side! Who knew you could have menopausal symptoms for 28 years? HRT helps but symptoms are still there and when I've tried to come off HRT I've gone downhill rapidly.
So am I alone in still having menopausal symptoms 28 years after a medical menopause I wonder?
I'm sorry that your health/timing meant that you didn't get the chance to try for children, and that you got zero support (either emotional or medical) post-surgery. I wish I could say that things have changed around this, but I know many other stories like yours, and it makes me mad as hell!! I hope a few others here in the comments can speak to your questions about symptoms 28 years post-surgical menopause. I'd also really recommend checking out Ann Marie's work @hotflashinc - she interviews everyone in/adjacent to the menopause space and has no agenda to push. She's also childless.
Thank you. I'll check out Ann Marie's work.
"Menopause can be an end to playing nice with the world." Yes!
Grrrrrr! xxx
Having surgically experienced menopause at 40, without children, I can attest, a month from 80, to the truth that we're still here and going strong. I echo Lynn - Thank godess you're doing this!
'Still here and going strong' - love it, thank you Susan. Those in the maelstrom or just younger, need to hear that! Hugs, Jody x
Thank goodness you’re doing this! I am tired of the menopause narrative that it’s the end of the world. I am 64 and have coached many post-menopausal women who may have no children or with children, who have developed a huge desire to re-invent themselves and/or do what they love and haven’t had the time, or realise a dream. Menopause is a portal and whilst the physical symptoms can be challenging, the transition at a soul level is an opportunity.
I have had very challenging symptoms for 20 years now, and yet I wouldn't trade them in - I feel so much more centred in myself, true to my values and with a bullshit detector that could have saved me SO MUCH when I was younger!
Oh yes, my bullshit detector is awesome 😀 sometimes it goes on overdrive cos there’s alot of it about!