Menopause - What Did You Expect?
Kaz
Posts: 482 mod
I'm curious to find out from others - what did you expect the menopause to be like? Did you even think about it at all? Is there something that you wish you'd known in advance? With all the knowledge and experience you have now, what would your advice to other women approaching the menopause be?
I wish I'd known more when my mother was going through the menopause. Perhaps if I'd understood what was happening, I'd have been more sympathetic. Looking back, I can remember very clearly some of the symptoms I'm now dealing with myself - flushes, mood swings, crying, depression, crushing insomnia. My advice to any woman now would be to talk about the menopause and all it's glorious side effects and symptoms to anyone who'll listen, and as often and as loudly as you can! We need to make it as normal to be going through the menopause (and hear about it) as it is to go through puberty, have periods etc.
I wish I'd known more when my mother was going through the menopause. Perhaps if I'd understood what was happening, I'd have been more sympathetic. Looking back, I can remember very clearly some of the symptoms I'm now dealing with myself - flushes, mood swings, crying, depression, crushing insomnia. My advice to any woman now would be to talk about the menopause and all it's glorious side effects and symptoms to anyone who'll listen, and as often and as loudly as you can! We need to make it as normal to be going through the menopause (and hear about it) as it is to go through puberty, have periods etc.
3
Comments
Well, according to my mum I was going to experience the worst few years of my life. However, luckily (or irritatingly I guess) I seem to be one of the lucky ones. I get hot flushes, night sweats and brain fuzz but basically that is it so far!
Fingers crossed it stays this way,
L
Hi LellyM,
Its good to have you with us!
I’m delighted to hear you aren’t suffering too much! Although flushes and night sweats are a pain, and the brain fog is just SO annoying! I feel like some kind of comic book detective with my notebook to make sure I remember everything I need to!
Fingers crossed for you! 😊
I was looking forward to it, as I was looking forward to the end of periods!! I did not realise the effect it would have on me, and now I wish I could have my periods back!! I have hot flushes and night sweats, which I was aware of, but did not realise just how bad they could be, and I now seem to go through periods when nearly everything I eat gives me chronic heartburn. Seems to me that all my favourite foods, such as pork pie and cornish pasties (when on holiday) I can no longer eat as the pastry can give me chronic heartburn. If I had known this a few years ago I would of made sure I would of eaten more!! I have also had to have referrals to consultants as I have been getting a lot of UTI's and feeling uncomfortable (slight throbbing down below) over the last year and a half, but nothing could be confirmed, and I felt I just had to live with it. Luckily though I thought I would try a lubrication to see if it helped with the uncomfortableness, and with my sex life, and yes, it has worked, and i actually feel normal in this area again, which makes me feel a lot happier!!
My advice would be to enjoy life, as you never know how the menopause will affect you when you get older, as it seems to affect everybody differently!