CallaFirestormBW
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Joined: 6/29/2008
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Honey, both my Darling and I have been through this. Neither of us did the 'hormone replacement' thing... it didn't work for my Darling, and I had cancer and couldn't. Women have been dealing with this since the beginning of time, and the only way to get through it is to get through it. We use some of the old techniques and alternative health techniques like naturopathy, homeopathy, massage, exercise and chocolate to get through the roughest patches, just like women have done for millenia, and we consider it a "rite of passage". I've gone all the way through now, and have come out the other side. I'm not as patient as I was before the menopause -- but that isn't necessarily a bad thing, since I think, now, that I may have been -too- patient with some things that I just deal with head-on now.
Hot flashes: My Darling and I, both dominant, call these 'power surges'. We make sure we are clean and have good deodorant. For the s-types we've worked through this, we allow lighter clothing, and give more leeway as to the temperature that the house is kept at while they're having struggling times.
Night sweats: Lots of middle-of-the-night cool showers, and lots of having to have bedding hung to air. Again, we have more leeway in terms of sleeping arrangements (since menopause, the only person I can sleep with is my Darling in any case, and even then we're thinking that we might prefer to sleep alone), house temperature, and basic comfort/health issues. Homeopathic and naturopathic solutions are used where night-sweats interfere too much with sleep.
Mood swings: We just let the people around us know we were going through menopause and were apt to get cranky. We have two young adult female daughters (boomerang adults) living with us, so 'cycle time' that coincides with 'menopause mood swing' time happens pretty regularly -- but we haven't killed each other or anyone else yet, so I'd say we're managing. For our servants, we have recognized the normal volatility of this time, but we -do- crack down on outbursts of temper -- they can be as annoyed as they feel... but the normal discipline and courtesy of the household will not suffer for it. In the same way, though we may be more irritable, and may even be irascible with one another, my Darling and I -do- strive for courtesy in dealing with both our servants and our younger household members (until and unless they repeat things we've already said annoy us... in which case, they're liable to be raked over the coals).
Cramps, muscle spasms, malaise, exhaustion, etc.: We deal with those in ourselves and others with compassion, though we're both very much inclined to encourage self-help techniques and things like regular exercise and a good diet, which can help.
Weight re-distribution: The only thing that deals with this is exercise and a strict diet. Frankly, I chose to just deal with the physical changes wrought by menopause, the physical restrictions of a mobility disorder, and the prednisone required by my health situation by embracing my changed shape graciously and enjoying life in the body I have. We eat foods that are close to their natural source, our diet is high in raw foods and naturally-raised foods, and we don't binge on sugar, salt, or processed junk very often... but we don't dwell on repression and restriction, either. We try to keep a positive attitude about the changes we're going through, and enjoy life to the fullest in the ways that make us feel -good- about getting up in the morning.
Calla Firestorm
< Message edited by CallaFirestormBW -- 9/28/2008 8:48:08 AM >
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Said to me recently: "Look, I know you're the "voice of reason"... but dammit, I LIKE being unreasonable!!!!"
"Your mind is more interested in the challenge of becoming than the challenge of doing." Jon Benson, Bodybuilder/Trainer
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RE: Oh joy -menopause - what now? - 
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but we play footsy in bed so we aren't completely disconnected. 
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