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By Deb DeArmond

 

September is Menopause Awareness Month.

Really?

Although I now live beyond the havoc of the hot flash and the neurosis of the night sweats I find it humorous that there is an entire month set aside to draw attention to and raise awareness of the menopause experience.

Like we could forget.

My own mother was 40 years old when she gave birth to me. And then she just never had another menstrual cycle. Done. Over. Finished.

There were times in the peri-menopause/actual menopause/post-menopause mania that having a baby in my middle age seemed plausible – if it would get me off that crazy path.

So the official September deal isn’t really a celebration of menopause. It’s more of an awareness raising, as in “Watch out! There’s something lurking in the shadows waiting to grab you!”

As I thought back on my own experience, I thought I’d capture a few thoughts… in a poem.

An Ode to Menopause

It started seven years ago
It came as no surprise
The time had come,’twas nearly done
My age was on the rise

An extra week or so between
Was how it got it’s start
Then months I skipped, my memory slipped
Forgot to keep a chart

My doctor said, I think you’ve gone
Into the “change” my dear
So there at fifty, not so nifty
Menopause was here

The skin so dry, the brittle hair
Were new and unforeseen
The sweats at night, not feeling right
That left me feeling mean

My hubby tired of being cold
I slept with several fans
But his complaint brought no restraint
On my cool sleeping plans

The thing I really missed so much
Was sleeping all night long
The tossing, turning, brain cell burning
Wakefulness was wrong

But I’ve survived the weary road
I’m on the other side
If you’re not there, take heart and prayer
You’re in for quite a ride!

But truthfully, there’s more information available than ever before. Some of it you might find helpful, so we thought we’d share some sites with you as resources. Please consult your physician before you make any decisions about treating the symptoms – there are lots of ways to go that range from an all natural approach (supplements, yoga, essential oils) to pharmaceutical (hormone replacement therapy).

I have a few souvenirs of that wacky time: a couple of great fans, several books on the topic, and a really great pair of dermatology-grade tweezers. Why? Think about it. You’ll figure it out.

Resources:

Comprehensive Guide

Soy-Based Treatment or Traditional HRT?

Supplements and Vitamins that Can Help

Yoga for Menopausal Women

 

 

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