Viva La Sisterhood!

After Tall One read my last post, he came upstairs and told me, "I read your menopause post". I was a little irritated. Ok, I was a lot irritated...if he read what I wrote (and read between the lines) he should know not to speak to me...anyway, I told him, in no uncertain terms, that it was not a "menopause" post. It's all about the cycle, the common travail of the feminine mystic, the sisterhood, blah, blah, blah...

Guess what, it just may be a menopause post. I got my period...mid-cycle. Up to this point, there have been indications that, menstrual-wise, I was approaching the beginning of the end. The cycle isn't always 28 days, consistently. I am bleeding more or less, for longer or shorter periods of time. I missed a whole month recently, and my tubes have been tied since PhD was born, so I KNEW I wasn't pregnant (and I'm early '50's, another really good indicator of mere hormonal fluctuation). I've been having more definite symptoms mid way through the month as documented (again blah, blah, blah). But, I was hoping, really hoping, that everything would just fade away, or better yet, STOP. And, then I could be really smug about "going through the change" au naturel. Sort of like the superiority of experiencing natural childbirth. I could commiserate with my afflicted sisters, nodding sympathetically, and offering sage advice gleaned from the medical websites and Oprah show, secure in my own superior aging processes. No hormone replacement therapy for me, thank you, no hysterectomy, no antidepressants, no problems.

Well, let me tell you about the debilitating lethargy. No seriously. There are days when I struggle to get out of bed. And days when I can't wait to lie down for my THREE HOUR nap!!! I'm cranky. Irritable. And so very, very tired. I can't think, literally...or figuratively, for that matter. I can't think. If you've never experienced this, just let me say right now, you have no idea. I read about the foggy, fuzzy-headedness that some women experience. They fear dementia, tumors, or stroke. They are not exaggerating. It's been so bad that I can't recall names....of immediate family members! I couldn't remember the number of our street address, and I was just out for a walk, thinking idly, not in a pressure situation WHAT-SO-EVER, and we've lived at this address for over TEN YEARS! I don't finish sentences. I either lose track, lack motivation, or can't - for the life of me - express a coherent thought. Don't ask me for directions, don't ask me to explain...anything, and don't - for the love of God - ask me for an opinion. I'm hanging for days by my last nerve.

But, Friday morning I woke up to a song. Happy, happy me. No bleeding, no bloating, no belligerency! I cleaned the house, rearranged the furniture and canned some salsa. I always do the wash, even when I'm feeling particularly miserable, either physically or emotionally. Laundry is something I can handle during the "bad" times, but I did a few loads today, just because I felt so darn good!

I keep track of these ups and downs. I'm hoping I won't have to, too much longer. Then all I'll have to worry about is osteoporosis, facial hair, and vaginal dryness. Be careful what you wish for, eh?