What No One Told Me About Menopause: It's A Hairy Situation

 This post is meant to share what I have learned about menopause based on my own experience.  It is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen.  Never disregard medical advice or delay seeking help because of something you read on this website.

As women, there's a good chance that we have spent quite a bit of time thinking about and caring for our hair. Curly, straight, thick, thin, and a variety of colors. We are always either caring for what we have or trying to change it. And then along comes perimenopause... 

During perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone levels decline and allow for the androgens to have a greater influence on our body systems.  These fluctuations disrupt our hair growth, and can cause changes to our hair texture. 

Thinning hair is a common experience during perimenopause. The loss of estrogen and progesterone can cause increased shedding as well as a shorter growth stage. While the potential increase in androgens can contribute to follicle shrinkage - especially near the temples. 

Deficiencies in vitamins B and/or D can also contribute to poor hair health. A lack of certain minerals, such as zinc and iron can also contribute.

Perimenopause can also affect your hair's texture.  Decreasing estrogen may lead to brittle, drier hair. Some women experience more frizz or find their hair more difficult to manage. A change in your hair's curl pattern can also happen. 

And these changes may not be limited to the hair on top of our heads. Increased androgen levels can cause unexpected hair growth, especially on the face.  Many of us are struggling with a random chin hair that pops up out of no where. And some of us experience that single wirey black or white hair that sprouts out of some unusual places.  

Just as the hormonal changes can cause a thinning of the hair on our scalp, some women experience a decrease of body hair. You may notice that you don't have to shave your legs or armpits as often, or notice that you seem to have less public hair. Personally - I don't have to shave my legs anywhere near as often, but my armpit hair seems to flourish. Go figure.

There are some steps you can take to keep your hair as healthy and beautiful as possible throughout perimenopause and beyond.

• Practice good hair care. Choose gentle cleansers and conditioners free of harsh sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and silicones. Limit or avoid styling with high heat.
• Eat a diet rich in protein and nutrients that support hair health.
• Reduce your stress. 
• Consult with your doctor to rule out any underlying problems that may be affecting your hair health and to discuss treatment options.

Have you experienced any hair changes in perimenopause? 

 

What No One Told Me About Menopaus: Puberty - The Sequel

This post is meant to share what I have learned about menopause based on my personal experience. It is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new healthcare regimen.  Never disregard medical advice or delay seeking help because of something you read on this website.

Your body is going through all sorts of changes that you may or may not understand.  Your hormones have you feeling all out of sorts.  Your emotions are up one minute, down the next, irrationally angry and then weepy.  You might be growing hair in unexpected places.  Your skin is doing things you've never seen it do before. 

Sounds like puberty. Right? Well, hold on to your hat - because I'm actually describing perimenopause!

You remember puberty, right?  That time of change as your hormonal changes to get ready for the years of menstruation, ovulation, childbearing, and adulting.  Perimenopause is the time of hormonal changes as the body prepares to stop ovulating and menstruating. If you think about it - it's sort of a second puberty. Just in reverse.

Let's compare the two...

In puberty,  breast changes occur as hormones cause the development of milk ducts and mammary glands.  The breasts will typically increase in size. During perimenopause, the lack of estrogen causes those glands and ducts to shrink.  This can lead to breasts losing some volume and becoming less firm... and sagging.

During puberty, body hair begins to appear under the arms, in the genital area, and on the legs.  In menopause, hair may become thinner, or could possibly start appearing in areas we didn't expect (or want!) such as the face.

Young women may experience acne as a result of hormonal changes and an increase in sweat and oil production.  Midlife women can experience the same thing - years after we thought we were done with it!  On the other hand, our hormonal changes may instead cause our skin to become dry and itchy. 

That increase in oil and sweat production may also cause a young woman to experience increased body odor.  The same thing can happen during perimenopause.

Puberty is when menstrual cycles typically begin.  They may begin having monthly periods right away, or their cycles may be irregular to start.  In perimenopause, we can also experience irregular cycles.  They may become shorter at first, or they may be longer.  You will probably begin skipping periods altogether.  Eventually, the cycles come to an end. 

Young women going through puberty may experience moodiness and emotional outbursts.  Perimenopause - well... same!

Whether it's puberty or menopause, some of it is amazing, some of it is frustrating, and some of it is messy - the important thing to remember is that it's all just a natural part of life. And whether your symptoms are minor or you are struggling with severe symptoms, help is available if you need it. 

What No One Told Me About Menopause: It Stinks Sometimes

 This post is meant to share what I have learned about menopause based on my own experience.  It is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen.  Never disregard medical advice or delay seeking help because of something you read on this website.

No one warned me that menopause can stink!  And I mean that in the literal sense. Sometimes it can be quite smelly. Pe-yew! 

Perimenopause and menopause can bring on hot flashes, night sweats, and anxiety.  All of which can result in increased sweating.  All kinds of sweat.  I now sweat in places I'm not sure I ever produced sweat before.  Besides underarm sweat, there's now back sweat, thigh sweat, boob sweat.  I'm not entirely convinced that even my hair isn't sweating. And increased sweating means increased body odor.  

To make matters seem worse, we often have a heightened sense of smell during this season of life.  So, we are more likely to notice an aroma when others around us don't.  But, if you're like me, that knowledge isn't going to stop you from worrying that you're offending the olfactory senses of everyone around you.  (aka: grossing everyone out) And no one wants to be THAT person. I have spent more time in the past year or two trying to casually sniff myself than I ever did in the entire rest of my life.

The good news is that there are things we can do to help ease the funk.  Ones that don't involve drowning ourselves in perfumed body sprays or avoiding going out in public.  

-  I now use a combination of two antiperspirant and deodorants - a clinical strength that I use at night and right after showering, and a "regular" strength that I apply every morning.  I also often swipe some under my breasts if I know it's going to be an especially warm day.  Many women also carry gentle cleansing wipes with them for a quick refresh. 

-  Taking steps to help minimize hot flashes can help to reduce the amount of sweating we do in a day (see: What No One Told Me About Menopause: It's Hot) 

-  Stay hydrated. When we're dehydrated, our sweat can become more concentrated and smell just that little bit stronger.  So make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids.

-  Avoid or limit foods such as garlic, spices, alcohol, red meat, or those high in sugar that can contribute to the body odor or increase sweating.

Have you noticed that you seem to have a stronger smell as you entered perimenopause or menopause?  Or do you feel that you smell different than you used to?  

 

What No One Told Me About Menopause: It's Hot

This post is meant to share what I have learned about menopause based on my personal experience. It is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen.  Never disregard medical advice or delay seeking help because of something you read on this website.

If I had a dollar for every time I have said "Why is it so hot in here?" over the last couple of years, I would have - well, a LOT of dollars!  

Everyone knows about hot flashes and menopause.  Right?  Most everyone?  Probably everyone.  The majority of women going through perimenopause or menopause experience them.  But what do we really know about them?  What do they feel like? What causes them? And what can we do about them?  

Let's start with what we feel during a hot flash:

• a sensation of heat in the upper body - chest, face, neck, and arms (makes sense, right?)
• redness of the skin causing it to appear blotchy or as if you are blushing
• sweating
• increased heart rate
• feelings of stress or anxiety

In my experience, these symptoms can range from mild where I just feel a little warmer and flushed, to a full-on "I'm on fire" sensation with sweat pouring out of my chest, back, and underarms.  (you're welcome for THAT mental image)  They can be rather short - just a minute or two.  Or they can last for several minutes. 

Why do we experience these flashes of heat during perimenopause and menopause?  Well, to be completely honest - no one exactly knows for sure.  But, according to the Mayo Clinic, fluctuating estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to become more sensitive to temperature changes - even slight ones. When our body's thermostat thinks we've become too warm, it starts a series of events to cool us down resulting in a hot flash.  

This makes sense to me because I seem to be much more sensitive to temperature these days - both hot and cold.  I'm constantly adding or shedding layers of clothing, opening and closing windows, and adjusting the heat or air in my car in an attempt to stay comfortable. 

So, the big question - what can we do about them?  Unfortunately, if you are one of the many women who will experience hot flashes, there doesn't seem to be anything we can do to completely avoid them.  But there are things we can do to help reduce the frequency or intensity of them and ways to cope when they do strike.

• Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods which may trigger hot flashes. 
• Sip cold water when you feel a hot flash coming on.  
• Adding plant estrogens into your diet may with the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Examples of plant estrogens include soy, chickpeas, lentils, and flaxseeds.
• Dress in layers. 
• Keep your room at a cooler temperature. 
• Quit smoking
• Try meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises to help relax and ease stress
• Herbal  and/or vitamin supplements such as black cohosh, evening primrose, Vitamin E, etc 
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

I recommend talking with your health care provider before starting any supplements or making any drastic dietary changes. They can help you decide what might work best for you and assure that they won't react negatively with any medications you are currently taking. 

For the first few years, my hot flashes were not bad at all.  They happened infrequently and didn't bother me too much.  Until they did.  It seemed as if all of a sudden they were happening much more often. Several times a day.  And they were more intense when they occurred.  I started cutting back on caffeine and added sugars, and started taking Black Cohosh, Red Clover, and Evening Primrose supplements.  This seems to be helping and my hot flashes are feeling less frequent and more manageable. 

Stay cool!

  

What No One Told Me About Menopause: It's A Lot of Back and Forth

This post is meant to share what I have learned about menopause based on my personal experience. It is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen.  Never disregard medical advice or delay seeking help because of something you read on this website.

Just when you think you're starting to figure out this whole perimenopause/menopause thing... WHAM! It throws new and exciting surprises into the works for you.  

For example, you may discover that you now spot for days and days before your period starts. Or for several days as it ends. Spotting around ovulation (whenever that might be) is also common.

Shorter cycles. Longer cycles. Cycles that are of no discernible pattern whatsoever. 

Recently, I had a cycle that was sixty-three days from the start of one period to the next. I'm not gonna lie - I was kind of excited to go so long without a period and hoped this meant that things were finally starting to wind down. 

Then... I spotted for ten days.  Yes, you read that right.  Ten days!  Then nothing for a couple of days.  I left for vacation thinking it was all over with.  Only to be hit on the second day of vacation with one of the heaviest flows I have ever experienced.  Because nothing says "happiest place on earth" like making an emergency run to Walgreens and having to make a bathroom stop every one to two hours.

When that finally ended, I thought "ok, at least I shouldn't have to deal with it again for a while".  

Wrong!!

Because from the start of the spotting to the start of my next period was twenty-four days.  Which if you're counting (I hope you aren't), means I had exactly seven days between the end of that period until the next one started!  

That cycle lasted a whooping nineteen days.   And that gave me a total of three periods in about a month and a half. 

This latest cycle is now on day twenty-four.  And who knows what's going to happen with it.  Will it be ending soon?  Will it go on for another month?

It's anybody's guess at this point!

What No One Told Me About Menopause: It's Unpredictable

This post is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard medical advice or delay seeing help because of something you read on this website. 

When we go on vacation, I like to research where we are going and learn as much as I can about it.  I like to find some interesting sights to visit, restaurants to try, etc.  I'm the same way when I want to learn about a new hobby or experience.  I want to know what I'm getting myself into.  I'm not a planner, exactly - but I like to have some idea of what to expect. 

That's probably why, for me, the most frustrating part of this whole perimenopause experience is that's it's very unpredictable! 

As I said in "What No One Told Me About Menopause: It Can Last a Long Time" - the process is different for every woman, depending on factors such as genetics, general health, diet and lifestyle.  In other words, the most predictable thing about menopause it that it's unpredictable.

Your cycles may get longer, or they may get shorter.  Your periods may become lighter.  Or heavier.  Or it may be lighter than usual one month and with heavy bleeding the next.  You may have hot flashes and insomnia, or you may have mood swings and vaginal dryness.  You may have all of it.  Or none of it.  

For me, it has been all OVER the place.  In the past year my cycles have become extremely erratic, ranging anywhere from 15 days to 65 days.  I've had cycles when I experienced a period that was much lighter than what I am used to.  I've had ones that were almost horrifyingly heavy.  As I write this,  I'm on day 63, but I'm not sure if I should count the very light spotting one day last week as a menstruation or not.  (That all might be TMI... sorry)   

I've experienced days when I've had 3 or 4 hot flashes.  And days without any.  Nights when I can't sleep, nights when I sleep like a log and a few rare nights when I woke up drenched in sweat.  

I'm trying to take things in stride.  Whatever is gonna happen each month is what's gonna happen. I suggested to the Man of the House that we start making bets on how long each cycle will last to make it more interesting.  (He wasn't into that idea.)  

To get back to my main point - menopause is unpredictable.  Whatever you are experiencing is probably "normal" for you.  However, if you are concerned about any of your symptoms or if they are interferring with your quality of life - you should always discuss them with your doctor.  

Do you have questions about menopause?  Let me know in the comments and I'll try to answer them throughout the series.  

What No One Told Me About Menopause: It Can Last a LONG Time

Featured snippet from the This post is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard medical advice or delay seeing help because of something you read on this websiteHave you ever completely underestimated how long a certain activity would take?  Something we think will take a couple of days often actually takes weeks.  Or months.

Have you ever completely underestimated how long a  task or activity would take?  You go into it thinking you know exactly what to expect but then it just goes on and on and on.

That's kind of how this whole menopause journey has been for me.  

I don't know exactly what I was expecting.  I guess I thought that for several months (like, maybe a year or two) your cycles got further and further apart while your periods got lighter and you skipped one here and there until they just completely stopped.  

Imagine my surprise when I learned that perimenopause symptoms can begin years ahead of menopause.  Years!! 

The process is different for every woman depending on factors such as genetics, general health, life style, diet, and lifestyle.  The average length of perimenopause is about 4 years, but for some women it can last for as little as a few months or as much as ten years. 

I had NO idea!

Even when you reach the point when you haven't had a period for twelve consecutive months (menopause), you may continue to have symptoms for several years.  The good news is that they usually decrease in intensity and frequency.  Symptoms such as hot flashes usually disappear within five years.  However one study found that up to one third of women continue to experience hot flashes for ten years or more.

I can't tell you how long my symptoms have been occuring.  When some of them first began I wrote them off to other things.  And of course, still being in the perimenopause stage - there's no sure way of knowing when they will end.

The important thing to remember is that every woman is different.  Just because you're not experiencing what your mother, sister, or best friend experienced doesn't mean that you're not having a normal, healthy menopause. If you are concerned about any of your symptoms or if they are interferring with your quality of life, you should always discuss them with your doctor.  

Do you have questions about menopause?  Let me know in the comments and I'll try to answer them through out this series.  

What No One Told Me About Menopause

This post is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard medical advice or delay seeking help because of something you read on this website.

I am experiencing an entirely new stage of life - the wild and crazy world of menopause.  (Yep.  We're going there.  So, if this topic is going to make you uncomfortable - you may want to stop reading right now and go to a different blog.)  Wait... that's not true,.  It's not really entirely new since technically I have been in this stage of life for several years now.

Here's the thing.  Other than the bare basics - no one ever told me much about menopause.  I thought you had a short time with hot flashes and mood swings while your periods got further apart and then just stopped.  Little did I know.  Even after all this time, I'm still surprised by it on a regular basis.  And I'm still learning what is involved in the process.

Let's start with some of the basics...

What IS menopause?  I think of it as a sort of reverse puberty.  Remember puberty?  That time in life when your body went through changes leading up to the beginning of the menstruation years?  Menopause is the time in life when your body goes through changes marking the end of the reproductive years. During this time your eggs are depleted, your ovaries start to shrink, and you begin producing less estrogen and progesterone - the hormones responsible for menstruation.  Some women may experience early menopause if these changes occur for reasons such as Premature Ovarian Failure or hysterectomy.

Menopause occurs in three stages.  Perimenopause is the 5 to 10 years before menopause when your hormone levels begin to decrease.  This can start as early as the mid-30s, but usually begins in a woman's early 40's.  This is the stage I'm currently experiencing. Menopause is when a woman has not experienced a period for 12 consecutive months (without experiencing other causes such as pregnancy, medication, or illness).  Postmenopause is, well... the rest of your life without periods in which the symptoms experienced during menopause decrease or disappear completely.

What are the symptoms of menopause?  You've probably heard all about the hot flashes, but menopause can also bring about:

• irregular periods
• night sweats
• insomnia
• mood swings
• irritability
• anxiety
• vaginal dryness
• dry skin
• elevated heart rate
• urinary issues
• weight gain
• and more

(Sounds like a real good time, right?)

Throughout this year, I will be sharing some of the lessons I have learned about menopause over the past several years.  And maybe a few more that I learn in the months to come.  I hope you'll join me for the journey.

Do you have questions about menopause?  Let me know in the comments and I'll try to answer them through out the series.