Aug 93 min read

Perimenopause

Updated: Oct 4

Sun Flowers

August 10, 2024

Oh, Perimenopause, you funny new little guest!!! What a strange way to change the past 30+/- years. The beginning of my menstrual cycle was rough; terrible cramps, super moody, no schedule at all. Then into my late twenties I had it down to a science, 26 days, PMS but it was pretty minimal, my menses lasted 3 days and that was it...minor cramps, nothing else, no big deal...it was super easy. But in 2018 it all began to change and now the entire cycle is anyone's guess. I mark off 26 days on my calendar and then hope for the best. She shows up whenever she chooses...a few weeks late, a few days early...keeping me on my toes constantly. Before perimenopause, I'd PMS about three days leading up to the start of my menses, but now it starts my second week in so there's no indicators there...and boy have my moods ever changed...Oh My!!!...I feel for those around me at that time...my poor sweet Man, I am very lucky to have someone so loving and patient...phew... And now the cramps are outrageous, and the flow is ...OMG... don't wear white! I don't dare leave the house without backup...my purse is always full of supplies just in case.

Now there's also the excessive weight gain (which I can't seem to stop), the disgustingly sweaty hot flashes (I swear I'm going to catch fire), night sweats (which leave my sheets soaking), insane mood swings out of nowhere (I'm sooooo annnnggryyy), food cravings (no wonder I've put on so much weight), and even worse pain and headaches (...they're driving me nuts...). My sleep pattern is even worse than it has ever been...and it's always been bad. My memory is like ... pause, head tilt ... "...what were we talking about...?" or, stop, look around puzzled ... "what did I come in here for?" hmmm... worse than what it used to be. I like this one ... go to the grocery store for a specific item, get home to realize I bought everything but what I went there for ... again ... I guess it couldn't have been that important.

And this heat...when did it get so freaken hot?! I just think about it, and I start to sweat. And when a hot flash comes on, with the high temperatures of our lovely humid Canadian summers, I'm just a walking puddle. I seriously look like I got caught in a torrential rainstorm yet its super sunny out...my clothes are sopping wet like I just walked out of a lake, and I literally have to peel myself out of them. I melt doing my farm chores (not enough to lose weight though...insert eye roll here), but I'm glad I don't have to be in air conditioning all day, say in an office, then go do my chores, I couldn't imagine the huge difference...the heat would be unbearable.

The pain...man the pain...it has just escalated to a level that I can't even describe. Every day...every single day, I am in pain! Every day, I have a headache, a migraine headache. Every day, I have to decide what I can and need to get done before the pain completely takes over and I can't do much else. It sucks. There's so much here on this beautiful farm that I want and need to do yet my body will only allow me so much and then I'm done. When I have to, I'll really push myself, I can try and work full tilt for maybe a week, but then I'm out for a few weeks trying to recuperate. And my full tilt now is nothing compared to what I use to be able to do, not even a third of what I use to be able to accomplish, and yet it still knocks me on my ass, and I am literally dragging until the pain has calmed down enough to move properly again. It truly is all so exhausting!

I won't take hormone replacement therapy, it seems far too dangerous for the small benefits it might bring, I'd rather just deal with the issues as they are. But I am trying my hardest to make things a bit more manageable and tolerable, with exercise, supplements, healthy eating, mindfulness, psychotherapy, writing, playing my Cajon drums and signing, spending time outdoors, sleeping...lots of sleeping...but I am just trying to deal with these symptoms as well as what perimenopause has stirred up with my many other health issues. Almost makes me excited to see what the next chapter will bring...hahaha...what a ride!!!

Sharing pictures of the beautiful flowers in my yard!

Things that make me happy...