I Survived Menopause and So Can You

I really don't know what the big deal was. For many years before menopause struck I had heard the horror stories. Night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, and facial hair growth seemed to be the worst. I heard stories of women going through 'the change' getting adjusted to it and then starting their cycles all over again only to go through the same thing, menopause all over again.

Ok, I will admit those night sweats were a major hassle. Waking up in the night and thinking my waterbed had sprung a leak. Having to change bedding a couple times a night sometimes for months really ran up the laundry bill and interrupted my sleep but I survived it. One trick I learned was to place a plastic sheet under a light blanket. This kept the mattress and mattress pad dry so there was less to wash in the morning and I just kept an extra blanket at the foot of the bed to grab during the middle of the night changes.

Honestly the hot flashes got to be a bit fun. When I least expected it - zap I would have one. Living in Michigan I actually learned to use that aspect of menopause to my benefit. During cold days I saved on the heating bill when the hot flashes hit, just turned down the furnace and rode it out. Summer was a bit different but I knew eventually it would pass and I survived the hot flashes. Dressing in layers really came in handy during those times.

Now the mood swings I have to admit my youngest son suffered that great feature of menopause the most. He was the only one in the house so was very close and often the target of the ups and downs of Mom's menopause or as he put it 'the old lady thing'. He even managed, bless his heart, to make fun of the situation and we both made it through those although he will still say I'm 'moody' - maybe I always was. Spending as much time alone as possible helped to keep my friends and family still loving me. But having people such as my son who could make light of the situation really helped during my time going through menopause.

The last 'horrid' characteristic of menopause I survived was the facial hair. Yes, it's true there were times I felt like just taking a shaver to my beard, mustache, and side burns but I didn't. My Mom provided me with some great facial wax and I only had to use it every couple weeks. One of my sisters is going through menopause now and she's shaving, every single day, day after day. Don't do it ladies! Shaving only encourages the growth and makes it come back even courser.

I was against the shots and pills and such they were recommending plus the fact that at that time I didn't have medical insurance and the expense would have drove me to the poor house so toughed it out. I choose to go it alone, let nature run its course, and survived menopause.

No I wouldn't say it was my favorite time of life but honestly now that I'm over it I'm loving it. No more feminine products to buy monthly. No more concern about special times being interrupted by the 'monthly monster'. And the truth is I haven't seen any change at all in myself except for no periods since I've survived menopause.

It's Mother Nature, it's going to happen whether we want it to or not so why not look at the positive side of it and embrace the new mature women you are. I survived menopause and am happy now that I did.