Menopausal Health

 Oh menopause, you finicky little bitch.  For those that do not know, or have not had the pleasures of experiencing it - yet. Things to know. 

No two women go through menopause the same way. I have been extremely fortunate that my symptoms on their own are okay. When they cluster together, holy mother of gawd. 

Menopause rage is real. In the moment you think your behaviour is totally a reasonable way to react/behave.  When it passes, you wonder how you have friends, a job and are not in jail. 

I swear the military has it all wrong. Do not recruit young men. Recruit peri/menopausal women. We're angry all the time, waiting for someone to give a gawd damn reason, we can stay awake for weeks - cos we're not sleeping anyways, and we can carpool. We're ready to go! And the poor suckers at the receiving end of women at this stage, will tell the horror stories (should they survive us) to the young for generations to come. 

Menopause fog is real.  I think every woman in peri or post-menopause will be sitting with their doctor having serious concerns about their cognitive memory. It does get better. 

Menopause weight gain is real. Gaining weight in your midsection is never fun. Being female we are subjected to heart disease and cancers as a result of this puberty in reverse. 

The 5 F's: Female, fertile, fat, fair and over forty. This is a special formula just for women as we lose estrogen, our eggs, etc. this is just a formula to take us down. 

Hot flashes, insomnia, loss/increase appetite, and our inability to filter and tolerate bullshit is all broken. I've had three hot flashes. 1 lasted 3 days. No you can not wave it off. It is like you are coming down with the flu. You know, that internal heat like you're gonna have a fever. It's like that, but it never really goes away. And you wonder why we are punchy. 

Vaginal Atrophy - Dry Vagina is fucking real! Vaginal estrogen is a godsend. 

Due to my family history with cancer and heart disease, I am not eligible to take hormone replacement. I have been fortunate. I do take vaginal estrogen which definitely helps in the bedroom. 

Bacterial Vaginosis and UTI frequency is real. This has nothing to do with anything you are doing. This is simply your body's PH balance changing. The Change.   Many women experience frequent UTI's and BV. I had 11 UTI's in one year.  Enter rage. 

Mammograms are a regular routine. For some it is early, for others every other year etc. Make the appointment, take care of your breast health. No one want the cancer. Regular checkups can detect early signs/symptoms. Get it taken care of. 

Periods of any kind after not having a period for 12 months is NOT NORMAL. Even if you are spotting. You must have it checked out.  

I have been having period pains for 3 months now. No bleeding. I have been post meno for 4 years. Went to the doctor, had an ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound. I have a polyp that is 16mm x 10mm. This size it is recommended that it be removed. Anything over 16mm have a higher chance of being malignant. I have uterine fibroids. That is muscle in the uterine wall and may be (for some) on the outside of the uterus. 

My polyp was not there when I had my last ultrasound. After discussion with family and our history, I am requesting to have it removed. Why take the chance?

You MUST advocate for your health. It is your body. If a doctor ever says, "oh, it's normal for a woman your age to go through this",  throat punch that fucker immediately, and get a new doctor or request to only manage your menopause symptoms with a gynecologist. 

Change your lifestyle, your eating habits, exercise more. Build the muscle, stay strong! We do not have to repeat the path our grandmothers, mothers, aunts, cousins, sisters went through. 

Screaming Banshee & Anger Management Course

For the last two weeks I have been attending an anger management course. This particular course is not for me, as I have many years of therapy under my belt. This instructor only has 3-years experience.  Am I learning new tools? No. Am I being reminded of the tools I already have? Yes. 

Screaming Banshee. I have had enough. She insulted my abilities again. I have filed a formal complaint explaining I can not longer be paired with her to work together. She is unprofessional at every level, and in all honesty, is a liability to the company. She creates a toxic, unsafe and unhealthy, and very loud environment. Not just towards myself, but everyone person in the office. 

In my letter I was factual, too the point, and advised that if any of the many solutions/suggestions I have offered were not feasible, then I would have to do what is in my best interest for my mental health. There was no ultimatum. Just facts. I explained in the letter I was aware these things take time (it's been two years in the making), and they have to do their due diligence.  

This is not my first letter to management about the Banshee. I however, have reached my limit. 

I have drafted my resignation letter with great detail of the all the reasons I would be leaving. It is not the company, or the management, it is solely the Banshee.  Hopefully I will not have to submit the letter.