• Cart
  • Checkout
  • My Account
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

Aging Schmaging

Women's Issues Midlife And Beyond

  • Aging Schmaging
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Art
    • Cards
    • Photography
    • Scarves
  • Playshops
  • Blog
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Menopause / Menopause: A Portal not a Punishment

Menopause: A Portal not a Punishment

June 20, 2014 By Gail 4 Comments

Ah, menopause. With 38 million baby-boomer women now in midlife or beyond, the subject of menopause is no longer one kept to hushed conversations over a second pitcher of margaritas and a platter of nachos.

Unlike our mothers or grandmothers, Boomer women and those following in our paths want to talk about what we’re experiencing. Maybe we seek opportunities to complain a bit, or a lot!, depending on symptoms, and yet the real intention— I think– is to acknowledge where we’re at in this age and time. We want to compare notes with our female friends and family to gauge our progress and address our questions.

But what is menopause, really? How do we think about it in general, and how do we think about it when it happens to us? Those are often two very different things! There are an incredible number of layers, nuances, and mysteries that come with menopause and the years that follow. I’d like to discuss—and I mean that, let’s share our stories and realities for the good of all—three areas that relate to menopause: Identity changes, Body changes, and Creative resurgence. I’ll break this up into several blogs so you will stay with me. I hope!

The women in my childhood world were mostly farmwives–sturdy, plump, and a joy to be around. They laughed easily and often, had strong religious leanings, and seemed grounded in ways that influenced my own views as I grew in their presence. There was a “sisterhood feel” during gatherings, but any talk about women’s bodies and functions were whispered at best, and more often experienced in silence. I know my mom, Grandma, and Great-grandmother never liked to talk openly about “women’s” issues.

The reason I’m mentioning my history is because I had questions not only in my youth, but as I took a running jump towards menopause. The same wall of silence I ran into as a teenager was hitting me in early midlife.

I always had irregular periods, but when I turned thirty-eight they really got crazy. I’d either go months without them or I had such heavy bleeding I soaked through a super tampon and two layers of overnight pads within an hour. My doctor decided I was in pre-menopause and convinced me I needed to go on birth control pills for six months to regulate my symptoms.

I’d never used birth control pills—no real reason, just a personal choice– and was less than happy to start. However, I also was not in a place where I questioned a doctor’s authority or the belief that a medical person would direct me in any other direction but the best.

Yeah, well, “the best” was six months of hell. Even though I was on the lowest possible hormonal dose—or so he said—I had constant headaches, nausea, and swollen legs. And what was really disturbing was that despite a lot of vomiting–like stop the car I need to run to the ditch, NOW, vomiting–I managed to gain weight.

However, at the end of six months, my periods were indeed regular. At least for about another four years. As I welcomed my forties, my pre-menopausal symptoms gradually grew stronger again. And that’s what brings me to my first area of discussion, Identity Changes. See you next week!

«
»

Filed Under: Menopause, Musings About Aging

Avatar photo

A Message From Gail

Through my blog and website, I hope to share beauty, laughter, inspiration, aging & midlife lessons and advice on dealing with menopause. I will also devote time to integrative health and healing tips and news. I want feedback and questions because, while we may be sharing the journey, every woman has her own experience and her own story.

Get Our FREE 
Coloring Book!

Comments

  1. Naildon says

    August 8, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    I loved Nancy Anderson’s book Work With Passion In Midlife And Beyond. My brain has been synapsing all over the place since I read it, and just this past week I came up with an idea to work torawds that I would never in a million years considered. If you haven’t read my book review, please do! You can read it here.

    Reply
    • Avatar photoGail says

      September 2, 2014 at 1:26 am

      Thank you for your recommendation, and your visit. I will definitely check it out.

      🙂 Gail

      Reply
  2. Claudia Kittock says

    August 31, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    Can I say I LOVE menopause? I guess I just did. My journey through menopause was ‘unusual’. After my first chemotherapy session at age 53, I discovered I was in full-blown menopause with hair drenching hot flashes because of the chemo. I found out that the drugs I needed to kill the cancer cells also shut off my ovaries ‘like a faucet’ as one kind nurse explained.

    As difficult as the process was, I embraced every difficult hot flash as ‘proof’ that I was not dead yet! It meant I has HERE, in all my sweaty, ishy glory. I was ALIVE and my body was fighting.

    Now, 9 years later, I still embrace every facet of aging including menopause as I learned that it ALL is my goal. Aging is what we aspire to experience. Embrace it or hate it, it is still happening, but the choice you make about how to experience aging matters!

    Reply
  3. Avatar photoGail says

    September 2, 2014 at 1:28 am

    What I adore about you is the lens through which you view life. While others complain you find a way to turn most situations into gifts. You’ve been teaching me the good stuff for years, and I am constantly grateful for your presence in my life.

    Hugs,
    Gail

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Download
Our FREE
Coloring Book!

Get Updates – Signup

Once a month one lucky winner from the sign up pool will receive a scarf courtesy of Aging Schmaging. Good luck!

Categories

  • Giveaways
  • Menopause
  • Midlife Sex
  • Musings About Aging
  • Recipes
  • Remembering
  • Sharing
  • The Best Part Of My Day

Recent Posts

  • Past, Present, and Future: What I am Learning as My Husband Recovers from A Stroke By Gail Gates
  • In One Stroke, My World Changed
  • Christmas Fingerprints On The Surface Of My Heart
  • Tears Water A Memorial Garden
  • Crap Wildlife Photography: How I received 1800 “Likes” From A Fugly Photo

Navigate My Site

  • Almost Done!
  • Free Coloring Book
  • Menopause And Women In Midlife Blog
  • Playshops
  • Privacy Policy
  • Return Policy
  • Shop
  • Silk Scarves Playshops Registration
  • Sitemap
  • Success!
  • Testimonials
  • About
  • Contact

Recent Posts

  • Past, Present, and Future: What I am Learning as My Husband Recovers from A Stroke By Gail Gates
  • In One Stroke, My World Changed
  • Christmas Fingerprints On The Surface Of My Heart
  • Tears Water A Memorial Garden
  • Crap Wildlife Photography: How I received 1800 “Likes” From A Fugly Photo

Connect With Me

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Featured From the Shop

  • habitoi silk scarf Habatoi Hand Painted Silk Scarf 101 $35.00
  • grand marais summer solstice Grand Marais Solstice $10.00 – $45.00

Copyright © 2023 · Gail Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cleantalk Pixel