👀 More Menopause Musings
There's a lot to discuss.
Happy Friday, Friends!
After last week's newsletter about menopause, I realized I still have more to share on the topic. We don't discuss it enough, even though half the world goes through this process at some point. So today, I want to share with you what I've learned.
First of all, let's go through some quick details about the difference between perimenopause and menopause. Clinically, the way they decide you're "officially" in menopause is 12 consecutive months of missed periods. For those of us who are working up to that - missing periods now and again - we use the word "perimenopause" to describe where we're at.
Perimenopause has brought some unpleasant symptoms. Just to give you some context, I was dealing with...
- Brain fog
- Joint pain
- Insomnia/sleep disturbances
- Depression
- Restless legs
- Bloating
- Irritability
- Hair thinning
- Brittle nails and dry skin
- and even some new breast tenderness
It was so much to deal with that I started keeping a journal. I'd keep track of my daily schedule (early morning clients, workouts, distance walked), meals, hydration, and feelings. Sometimes I was stressed from the news or feeling overwhelmed by a long workday without much downtime. The journal is what really empowered me to see the patterns and common themes that were marking this big change in my life, plus the symptoms that came with those patterns.
Eventually, I typed it up, printed it out, and put in a binder so I could refer to it at medical appointments. That was useful! But even before that, I realized that making my own changes at home created changes in my experience. I realized I needed more water than I thought, and electrolytes were even better. Plus fiber made a big difference! Everyone gets so excited about protein these days, we forget that fiber is what keeps us regular and helps us absorb the nutrients we eat.
Anyway, I'm sharing all this to let you know that you're not alone. And if you're someone who won't experience menopause at all, you should still know what half the world goes through. We've made some good progress when it comes to ending the secrecy around periods and hormonal conditions like PCOS and endometriosis...
But menopause is one area that's still shrouded in mystery.
Let's end the squeamishness and fear surrounding this critical phase of our lives. Let's stop talking about it like it's another form of death. Menopause marks the beginning of a new era, and it doesn't mean you're losing your spark or what makes you YOU.
And I'm going to keep talking about it! Next week: your essential menopause reading list. I can't wait to share.
With you as we shed light on the things that matter,
Dana