Krista's Menopause Story

First, I had heavy periods that sometimes lasted for weeks when I was fifty. This wasn’t what I had envisioned, but eventually, the heavy bleeding stopped.

Some women find it difficult to say goodbye to their fertility. I had been sterilized when I was younger, so that was no longer an issue. I had already said goodbye to my fertility. But then the hot flashes started. At first, it was almost amusing—just shedding some clothes, and done. But soon, the hot flashes began occurring at the most inconvenient times. A hot flash cannot be ignored: I don’t just feel hot. When I have a hot flash, sweat pours off my body, and I can’t think clearly anymore.

The nights are also horror; whether it is freezing or not, I get hot flushes. Often multiple times a night. After such a hot flush, I feel cold, which literally costs me a lot of energy. It makes me sad. The hardest thing for me is when it seems like no one in my surroundings has it as bad as me. I recently met a woman going through the same thing and felt somewhat comforted by that. And that’s also the reason I want to share it here on AndBloom. It helps me know I am not alone in this, especially at night.

I have tried everything to fix this, supplements and hormone therapy, special diets, and swimming. Nothing turns out to be as powerful as my own thoughts. It sounds so cliché, but accepting it as it ultimately works best for me. As shitty as it is, if I don’t “fight” it, it’s usually less fierce. Then I get softer and prefer to myself.

Due to the intense hot flashes and the energy that costs me, I have lost a lot of weight. That also often happens to those who would rather not lose weight. I was already slim and slimmer was not mandatory for me. The medical examinations I underwent showed nothing underlying except menopause. So it turns out that you can get a big blow from “just” that. In recent months I have been on a specialized eating program that many would envy … but gaining weight remains a significant problem.

You first need a little energy for a positive mind with positive thoughts. Energy I often don’t have because of the broken nights because of night sweats. Nowadays, I get my energy from making something beautiful and creative or being outside in nature. I like to listen to beautiful music and think of my grown-up children. And, yes, I take the time to eat well.

You can always climb back up in a downward spiral, but the start is difficult. Actually, my body hasn’t changed that much, except for my skin and my hair, of course. But I’m not so concerned with wrinkles; I usually like them. And I like my gray hair. Next week I get Acupuncture treatment against the night sweats. I hope for a positive result. I turned sixty last month, and I hope to reach the other side of the tunnel soon.

To the women who recognize themselves in my story, I would like to say, hang on!

With love,

Krista