Barbara's Journal
June 2013

     At my annual physical in February, my doctor had told me that if I could go one year without a period, I would most likely be done with it. Then she tells me the story of her making it to the last two weeks of her year and then got it. This made me very fearful about repeating this in my own life. I felt as though I went out of my way to avoid young women… my “Margaret Meade” complex.

     Well, my last period was April 2012. My trepidation is over. It’s been one year and two months since then. I hope I’m not that one exception and have Auntie Em visit in the next few months or years from now.

     I still get hot flashes every once in a while, but they are mild, not the intense painful ones I’d been having the two years prior. Gone also are any of the flashes of anger once a month. In fact, I feel such calmness in my attitude and behavior. I like the “me” that has come out on the other side of this experience.

     Now, I did have weight gain of thirty pounds, but it didn’t help that I was a bit overweight at the start. I did not exercise as much as I should have done. My only regret. But, I stayed with my yoga, one year next week. This was great in keeping me toned and balanced, both physically and emotionally. My waistline is making its reappearance. Probably because I’ve given up that delicious Sprouts dark chocolate and fresh strawberries.

     A couple of times this month I had night sweats. I don’t have air conditioning and it’s been warm here. A cool shower helps every time. One woman told me that she still has hot flashes and night sweats more than ten years after stopping her menses. Well, I don’t want to take Vitex again for symptom relief. I’ve decided that I’m going to let things run their natural course at this point. I know that relief is there should I need it.

     Loss of libido and vaginal dryness is present. But, I have no sexual partners to make this an issue at all. It’s kind of nice to freely focus on other types of relationships and activities in my life right now.

     I do have tender joints, tendons, and muscles from time to time. I had not been aware that this could be a symptom of menopause. It may be a combination of my yoga and changes in my body’s chemistry. I don’t think it’s a problem worth taking any pills to alleviate. Just more yoga.

     As I said, yoga really helped keep my body in balance, so I never had any dizziness issues. A couple of times I remember being slightly disoriented or confused. It was while I was in my car searching for a destination. It was brief both times, but made me slightly anxious. I cannot think of any memory lapses – not that I wouldn’t want to forget some things or even that I would be able to recall if I did forget them… what was I talking about?

     There is one symptom that I did not like. I had one thick hair on my chin that kept growing and growing. I’d pluck and it’d be back the following week. I also had some more darker, prominent hairs above my lip. Took care of those as well. I’m glad that there were no other issues with my head of hair. So far, no thinning or graying. My hairdresser said she found two gray hairs amongst the lot. I don’t go back to see her anymore…

     I wonder about my frequent urination over that last two months. Is this a possible symptom of menopause? Is this why there are so many commercials on television now? The baby boomers are all post-menopausal. This issue was not included in any of the symptom lists I had located. A specific search on the internet netted answers. I found that as the estrogen levels go down, the bladder walls begin to thin. This leads a woman to think she has to go frequently. Well, I don’t have any problems producing urine when I have this feeling. And I hope this issue moderates soon.

     I will continue to take my calcium (600mg) with vitamin D3 (200 I.U. 5 mcg) pills to keep my body healthy. I have heard issues about bone density and want to avoid breakage in post menopause. All other vitamins and nutrients I get from natural foods. Since my Daniel Fast in January, I have really been focused on eating healthy. I read a lot of the packaging and avoid almost all foods with chemicals and additives. I believe that this has helped to make this passage through menopausal symptoms an easier one.

     I hope that my journaling about my personal trek through menopause has been beneficial to a woman or two. I know that it helped me in so many ways. I was not afraid to ask questions or do research to find the answers. I can look back on the entire journey and appreciate where I am because I can see from where I came. And now that I have finished with that phase of my life, I am so excited for this new course open to me!