In my family, by the time I was headed into peri-menopause, there was no woman left who had experienced natural menopause. My mom and her sisters had had hysterectomies. My sister who is five years younger than I am has had a hysterectomy. My grandmas were both gone. I had no wisdom of the clan to refer to.
I went into peri-menopause in my late forties. I have polycystic ovarian disease and have never had regular periods in my life until peri-menopause. I had a few hot flashes early on, but then I went into what I call cold flashes. I was cold, shivering cold, even in a warm room. It was painful to take off my clothes to take a shower, because even in a warm bathroom, I shivered. And nobody would ever call me a thin, skinny, or even normal sized woman. I carry extra weight. Even when I am at my best weight.
Toward the very end of peri-menopause, I experienced very heavy bleeds. So heavy that I got dizzy and even fainted once. I learned from my doctor that this could be helped by drinking extra water. That really helped the dizziness and fainting. I could see why women demanded a hysterectomy while going through the heavy bleeding. But, soon, it was over.
My last period came sometime during my 50th year. It was light, as I recall. I was nice to say goodbye to my little visitor as some women call it. I really enjoyed menopause and the cold flashes even stopped. I never took hormones during that time and I didn't suffer.
But this year, my 60th year, I experienced spotting. Scary, very scary. After lots of tests, it appears to be nothing too much. I have a fibroid in a place where it may be causing some problems. I took steroids for an ear infection last spring and that may have triggered something. I am taking some progesterone which should stop the spotting. If it doesn't reoccur I am in the clear. Otherwise, I may be joining the ranks of the many women in my family who have had hysterectomies. It was nice to have experienced natural menopause.
And I decided to share this personal piece of information on the blog for the benefit of any of you who like me, don't have anyone to talk to abut this subject.
I went into peri-menopause in my late forties. I have polycystic ovarian disease and have never had regular periods in my life until peri-menopause. I had a few hot flashes early on, but then I went into what I call cold flashes. I was cold, shivering cold, even in a warm room. It was painful to take off my clothes to take a shower, because even in a warm bathroom, I shivered. And nobody would ever call me a thin, skinny, or even normal sized woman. I carry extra weight. Even when I am at my best weight.
Toward the very end of peri-menopause, I experienced very heavy bleeds. So heavy that I got dizzy and even fainted once. I learned from my doctor that this could be helped by drinking extra water. That really helped the dizziness and fainting. I could see why women demanded a hysterectomy while going through the heavy bleeding. But, soon, it was over.
My last period came sometime during my 50th year. It was light, as I recall. I was nice to say goodbye to my little visitor as some women call it. I really enjoyed menopause and the cold flashes even stopped. I never took hormones during that time and I didn't suffer.
But this year, my 60th year, I experienced spotting. Scary, very scary. After lots of tests, it appears to be nothing too much. I have a fibroid in a place where it may be causing some problems. I took steroids for an ear infection last spring and that may have triggered something. I am taking some progesterone which should stop the spotting. If it doesn't reoccur I am in the clear. Otherwise, I may be joining the ranks of the many women in my family who have had hysterectomies. It was nice to have experienced natural menopause.
And I decided to share this personal piece of information on the blog for the benefit of any of you who like me, don't have anyone to talk to abut this subject.