Meno-what?
I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while, but keep finding new things to add. If I leave it any longer, I will have been through and come out the other side!
In my line of work, I see all sorts of people with varying physical and emotional ailments and issues. As I’ve got older, so have my clients. I have seen many through life changes, marriage, children, and now we have the menopause. Is it a ‘pause’ ? I don’t think so, although it does seem to mess up the flow of life for many.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was a teenager at college studying hairdressing and beauty therapy, way before the industry had the wonders of spray tan, gel nails and laser hair removal. ‘Holistic’ was an unknown word, and Aromatherapy was considered an alternative medicine. Day Spas we not even created, and laser hair removal was unheard of. This was the 1980s when we went clubbing on a Thursday night hoping that the 50p a shot drink of the night was something we really liked (not Pernod!) We had shoulder pads, puff ball skirts, white stilettos, and lots and lots of hairspray! No internet or mobile phones, which meant this was before the days of Face Book and social media. Not quite like ‘yesterday’, but it certainly doesn’t feel like 28 years ago! Since then, many of the friends I had during the three years at college have been discovered through the Internet, and a reunion has been arranged for September. Some of us have met a few times in the last nearly three decades, but with many, the last thing we remember was leaving college to take on the world! Some had jobs in the industry lined up, some moved around, one went on to the cruise liners, a couple went in to teaching, and a few didn’t stay in the beauty industry at all. We left, with no thoughts of how we would be in our 40s and we certainly had no idea about the menopause!
So, here we are. Some are hitting fifty, where a few have a couple of years to go. Bodies are funny things. The conversation at our little get-together in the Autumn will be interesting. We will all have painted our toe nails, and groomed our eyebrows, and I’m sure much reminiscing will be done. No doubt we will also be looking at where we all are now. Who has hit the menopause, who has come out the other side, and who is still as regular as clockwork?
I’m the youngest, but seem to be in the Premenopausal stage, which apparently can last for years! I’ve had the blood test which concluded that the results were ‘consistent with early stages of menopause’. Is that helpful or not? I’m not sure.
Last Year at College! Last Years Profile Shot
So, here we are. Some are hitting fifty, where a few have a couple of years to go. Bodies are funny things. The conversation at our little get-together in the Autumn will be interesting. We will all have painted our toe nails, and groomed our eyebrows, and I’m sure much reminiscing will be done. No doubt we will also be looking at where we all are now. Who has hit the menopause, who has come out the other side, and who is still as regular as clockwork? We all must feel pretty much the same as we did years ago, but have more wisdom and life experience.
I’m the youngest, but seem to be in the Premenopausal stage, which apparently can last for years! I’ve had the blood test which concluded that the results were ‘consistent with early stages of menopause’. Is that helpful or not? I’m not sure.
Symptoms for me have been irregularity in menstrual cycle, and recently mood swings, especially in the mornings. Quite unlike me, as I’m an ‘up at at ’em’ girl. Up with the lark! These swings are nothing like the PMT I suffered in my twenties, so I guess I’m lucky. I don’t have the hot flushes or insomnia, but I do have aching joints. Well, lower back issues to be exact. This could also be due to my sitting position while working, but it can be eased when I consciously drink more water and take my Omega supplements. The Turmeric in morning juicing helps too – see previous post.
A few people have recommended this clever magnet for hot flushes, and I decided to give it a trial for aching joints as the area of tension and pain seemed to be related to a potential menstrual cycle regardless of wether I produced one or not. The client who recommended it was extolling its virtues for helping her aching knees, although she originally used it for the hot flushes. No harm in trying it. The jury is still out!
Other potential problematic symptoms endured by many people can range from anxiety, irregular heart beat, memory lapses, nausea, bloating, weight gain, hair loss, osteoporosis and tender breasts. Quite a lot to look out for! As a therapist, I am aware that the skin needs different treatments, as it becomes thinner and with reduced elasticity.
I’m only 47 – turning 48 in the summer. It’s interesting to see those who have symptoms already and the varying degrees. There isn’t a ‘treatment’ for the Menopause. You just have to go through it. Apparently you haven’t ‘gone through it’ until you have been free from periods for 12 months. This could be a lengthy process. I’m three years in with the irregularity. Thank heavens the hot flushes haven’t arrived yet. Maybe they won’t!
