MOST WOMEN my age are either approaching menopause or on menopause. Don’t laugh now, but the intense or less intense discomforts (hopefully the latter) that you are experiencing right this very moment are brought about by this so-called “natural” but uncomfortable, sometimes unnerving, phase in a woman’s life.
For starters, let’s understand what menopause is. According to medical literature, menopause is a normal condition that all women experience as they age. Yes, as we age. There’s no denying the fact that we all age.
Accordingly, it’s a “normal” condition. My doctors assured me, as well. However, when your body is beset by severe discomforts brought on by this “normal” condition, you easily start to question the wisdom of your doctor’s statement. The term “menopause” can describe any of the changes a woman goes through either just before or after she stops menstruating, marking the end of her reproductive period.
According to WebMD.com, a woman is born with a finite number of eggs, which are stored in the ovaries. The ovaries also make the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which control menstruation and ovulation. Menopause happens when the ovaries no longer release an egg every month and menstruation stops.
Moreover, menopause is considered a normal part of the aging process when it happens after the age of 40. However, some women can go through menopause early, either as a result of surgery (which my obstetrician-gynecologist or OB-GYN calls “surgical menopause”) such as hysterectomy, or damage to the ovaries, such as from chemotherapy. Menopause that happens before 40, regardless of the cause, is called premature menopause.
A lot of women I know, myself included, went through surgical menopause. Yes, and it’s all because of myoma. Whoever invented myoma should be punished mercilessly. Natural menopause is not brought on by any type of medical or surgical treatment.
Medical literature further says, the menopausal process is gradual and has three stages:
- a) Perimenopause – typically begins several years before menopause, when the ovaries gradually make less estrogen. Perimenopause lasts up until menopause, the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last one to two years of perimenopause, the drop in estrogen quickens. At this stage, many women have menopausal symptoms. I totally agree! I experienced perimenopause before my surgical menopause. The discomforts were less severe compared to the aftermath of my surgical menopause.
- b) Menopause – the point when it’s been a year since a woman had her last menstrual period. At this stage, the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and making most of their estrogen.
- c) Postmenopause – the years after menopause. During this stage, menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes ease for most women. How true! However, health risks related to the loss of estrogen rise as the woman ages. Here goes age again!
With surgical menopause, I immediately experienced the following intense discomforts:
* hot flashes – a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over the upper body, often with sweating. The severity of hot flashes varies from mild in most women to severe in others.
* mood swings – Goodness! My kids had to suffer from my mood swings.
* fatigue – For a time, I lost interest to drive. It was too exhausting.
* irritability – My, my, I easily snapped.
* headaches – I had to consult several doctors for relief.
* joint and muscle aches and pains
* vaginal dryness
* unmanageable hypertension – This made me anxious for many months; my doctors were very helpful;.
* vertigo – which is really annoying; and even ringing in the ear. You bet I had the textbook menopausal syndrome and I wasn’t happy about it!
Some women are confronted with insomnia, depression, racing heart, changes in libido (sex drive), and bladder control problems.
However, some others are very fortunate. They just breeze through menopause without experiencing any discomfort. These women are totally blessed! What they can do is to be more compassionate and supportive of those who are experiencing the brunt of menopause.
My menopausal journey was severe. I had to quit my job so I could manage my health. I totally altered my diet. I went on regular exercise. I combined my medication with vitamins and food supplements. I experimented until I had the right mix.
I also went to several doctors. I did not limit myself. I went to six doctors in the course of three years. I did my regular bi-annual checkups. I focused on my health and well-being. After all, you’re the only person who can understand and take care of yourself best.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel. – Eleanor Brownn
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For comments, you may reach the writer at belca.87@gmail.com./PN
