What does it feel like to go through menopause?

It’s different for every woman. Talk to your close women friends for a sampling. I ended late (just turned 57 when I had my last period). Then I had moderately uncomfortable hot flashes, usually at concerts or the theatre. I’d feel an odd sensation in my chest and then start to perspire heavily from the neck up. My friends said my face turned scarlet.

It still happens occasionally (14 yrs later) when I am stressed or nervous. At home, I used to go outside in the snow and dance around in my underwear. (I have 2O acres of woods so I amused or startled only the foxes or occasional coyote.)

For me it started at age fifty. The most obvious and annoying symptoms are the hot flashes. I know some women have littlte problem with the hot flashes, but for me it has been an issue. I try to avoid things that trigger hot flashes and when they do occur, I try to bear them as stoic as possible. Except when I at home where I feel more free to complain to my husband who endures my discomfort vicariously.
I should add, I chose not to take any hormones other medications during menopause. I know there are products that help but I didn’t want to go that route.

Many women have a lot of trouble with their memory. I was one. I had a fantastic memory. Now I need to write things down. I need to have a habit of checking my calendar.

I hate hot flashes. They are physically uncomfortable, occur at inopportune times and are obvious to co-workers, etc.

Even worse, though, for me were night sweats. I would wake up at night with my sleepwear soaking and my neck wet. Ugh!

Since I am only in my 50s, I went to a naturopath for help. I take 50 mg of pregnenalone a day (once in the morning). It is not a hormone, but a hormone precursor. It did. however, completely stop my symptoms. You can get it at vitamin shops or health food stores. It does take 30–60 days to get into your system.

I will embrace cronehood happily in about 20 years.

Another change I have noticed is attitude. I’m not sure if my change in attitude should be attributed to menopause or something else but my attitude about things has changed.
Anyone else notice that?

@basp If you mean I could give a crap about what other people think about me, and I feel freer and more confident in myself, yes.

at 53, no hot flashes, but some depression and head aches.

Marina
That is exactly what I meant. You articulated my feeling very accurately.

I hit menopause at 30.
I was a cranky bitch, evil, and angered easily.
Oh yeah, I still am…
Seriously, though, I had no symptoms besides the weight gain around the middle, and hot flashes which felt more like I had “blushed” – no sweats.
And I was depressed. Oh yeah, I still am…

And then there are those of us who had absolutely no “symptoms”. Yes no hot flashes, no crankiness, no memory or concentration problems. Mild cramps a couple of times over a 2 year period that were dealt with by a hot shower and a nap.

@galileogirl No fair gloating. :)

Well the truth is I have a serious disconnect between mind and body. There have been at least 4 times in my life where I was so unaware of something going wrong that by the time I did get medical attention I nearly died. BTW they told me I should have considered calling an ambulance instead of a taxi all 4 times. Well the 1st time I drove but then worried for days that my car might get towed.

@galileogirl-what are you going to do about that?

I wasn’t gloating per Marina, I have an incredibly high threshold for pain. Sometimes like menopause it is a blessing but generally it can be dangerous because pain has a purpose.

yes it does. Take care of yourself!

It’s definitely different for different people. My mother had a terrible time with hot flashes for more than a decade. I have never had a hot flash. However, when menopause came in my early fifties, I had terrible problems with excessive bleeding and clotting. And, of course, I put on a few pounds. But once it was over, it was over.

The one thing I feel happy about is that I never felt I had to take estrogen or anything else. Breast cancer runs in my family, and I wanted to stay away from hormones of any sort. Luckily, I was able to.

whenever im out with my mum she ends up getting hot flushes and having to go and ‘cool off’
but i dont have any personal experience…