Comments on: Ebbing Tide: Reflections on Entering Menopause

By: Melissa M.

Melissa M. — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:55:46 +0000

Jacqueline, I’m so glad you stumbled across this post and I hope you’ll come back to Segullah often. Thank you very much for the book recommendation—I’ll have to check it out.

By: Sue

Sue — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:47:42 +0000

I had an early, surgical menopause, which was not the way to go. Yikes! It was crazy.

Having said that, I never missed my period per se. It was a convenience not having it. But I did feel nostalgia for all it represented, that’s for sure.

I never had negative feelings about my period. It was just a natural part of life, and I have always loved being a woman with all that role entails.

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:42:45 +0000

Oops… And also wanted to add, Dr. Christiane Northrup’s Wisdom of Menopause is a must-read!

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:41:57 +0000

That was so beautifully written -- I have tears in my eyes right now. Oh, how I remember the belt and bulky Kotex. Luckily, feminine technology took a turn for the better when I came of age. Just wanted to say, I'm happy to have stumbled across your blog. And to the other commenters who questions use of hormone replacement therapy or something else, a really balanced article on the topic is from the Women to Women Clinic -- Hormone replacement therapy: what we know now

By: annie

annie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:52:56 +0000

this is a great post and discussion. i’m going to contribute something on the practical side: everyone needs to get a divacup. seriously. it will change your life. i thought it sounded weird and disgusting when my friend first told me about it, but now that i’ve gotten to stop buying and carrying around and changing tampons, and now that i’ve gotten to stop worrying about toxic shock, my life is a thousand times better. a thousand! the wikipedia article on menstrual cups has good lists of pros and cons, if you want more information. remember how awesome it was to use tampons after dealing with pads? the divacup is the same way!

By: Melissa M.

Melissa M. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:56:08 +0000

Aunt Geraldine, thanks for popping in! It was interesting to hear about your experiences, as well as Grandma’s. Hope all is well with you.

By: just a thought

just a thought — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:50:45 +0000

Allie P,
??? Maybe every single unused egg will be resurrected with you–not one lost?? (like hair?)

and when we use them up, we’ll be able to make more somehow….

I have several children, but would like to have more than I do. I just sort of believe God will save them for me, and that I’ll be up for it in the resurrection, when health problems, fatigue, etc. are minimal or gone.

Thanks for the reminder that I’ve been spared that pain you have now. God bless you!

By: Geraldine

Geraldine — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:26:39 +0000

Melissa,my mother, your grandmother, answered all my questions and provided me with everything I needed. But I was the last one in my group of friends to start, and they all knew it and would tease me about it. So when I did start, at almost age 14, I didn’t tell them for awhile. No pain the first time. The 2nd time though I was worried that I had had one period and would never have another one and when my 2nd one started, I cried. Mom thought it was because of pain, but it was from relief!
I didn’t start through menopause until I was about 50. My mother had started when she was in her late 40s and thought she was pregnant for 4 months or so, and finally went to the doctor, and no she was in menopause. I was scared to death I would do that. But I missed a couple of periods and thought I was probably in menopause and didn’t worry about it. My periods got less and less, I never did have heavy periods. I didn’t have hot flashes but would occasionally stick my feet out from under the covers at night because I felt warm, and got right over it. My periods went down to 3 or 4 times a year, and then twice. I read that I shouldn’t consider them over until I had gone a year, and so took precautions. But I got though everything without problems and was finished at about 52 or so.

My mother, on the other hand, had really heavy periods, and all sorts of problems. My older daughters complain of terrible hot flashes. Debbie and Carla have both had hysterectomies so have had less problems.

I love reading your comments. I was turned on to them when we had our last sibling reunion at your Dad’s place in September. Jo had found them and brought copies of some and we LOVED them. I have comments on other of your comments if we ever talk on e-mail or over the phone.

THANK YOU!

By: Melissa M.

Melissa M. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:20:11 +0000

Kshaw, thank you for sharing your story—I’d never heard of these possible side effects of using an IUD before, so I found it very interesting. And I’m glad you’re feeling better now.

I’m amazed at the stories some of you have told about receiving no help from your mothers in preparing for menstruation. Is this a generational thing, I wonder? I hope we’re doing a better job! I love the idea of celebrating our daughters’ starting of their periods—so much better than no information at all, or a cursory, “Welcome to the world.”

And I’m happy to hear that many women are enjoying menopause—that gives me hope.

By: Liz C

Liz C — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:09:51 +0000

Kshaw, how scary!

I’ve avoided all the hormonal bc options (migraine triggers, all), and am allergic to the ingredients or mechanics of all the other artificial methods… luckily, though my cycle is vicious, and I look forward to being done in my early 50s (or sooner!!), it’s been monotonously regular, so natural family planning has been quite easy for us. Takes a little self-control, but it works!

My mother and aunts have all accomplished “The Change”–they’ve shared that the annoyances and discomforts are workable, and they’re all enjoying the new phase of their lives, so I’m encouraged!