Journey Through Menopause

Information and resources about the journey from peri-menopause to menopause and the physiological and emotional changes a woman can experience during this time. Nurses General Nursing Article

Journey Through Menopause

According to the National Institute on Aging, “Menopause is a point in time 12 months after a woman's last period. The years leading up to that point, when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms, are called the menopausal transition, or perimenopause.  The menopausal transition most often begins between ages 45 and 55.” 1

While the old discomforts of speaking about menopause openly have changed, what has not changed is its impact on many women’s physical and emotional daily lives. Back in the day, menopause was often treated as a pathology. Books and journal articles were written about the disturbing changes women go through and menopause was often given a diagnosis identifying it as a related mental or emotional pathology. The famous Phyllis Chesler's book, "Women and Madness"2 is such an example.

Much emphasis was placed upon the physical changes of menopause as just part of what a woman can experience during this time. Medicine didn't have much to offer women who were suffering through this transition. The emotional changes of a woman during menopause were often referred to as “hysteria”, depression or melancholy. This labeling suggests a pathological quality to any woman who experienced those symptoms during menopause and the treatment was usually a popular tranquilizer or sedative.

Some of us do not necessarily welcome the signals of the ending of our reproductive years. For many women, it can impact not only physical body changes but also their sexual drive and experience. Many of us fear this transition because of hormonal shifts that take place and produce unwanted effects such as hot flashes, night sweats, or insomnia.

Other issues like facial hair growth, thinning of hair, weight gain and fatigue can also accompany the hormonal changes that take place during menopause. *While menopause is a natural, inevitable, and even healthy part of our reproductive experience, there are many women who do not have an easy time with it. On the other hand, some women have little to no discomfort at all.

I have taught the subject of reproductive health for many years. Thankfully, the options, treatments, and our ability to have control over the resulting symptoms have changed significantly. Yet, we are not given information about this process that could greatly reduce our concern about the symptoms that happen during this time. Many of us did not necessarily have all the information we needed to make the experience
easier in those years of transition.

As many of us are aware of but don’t necessarily connect with, the physical symptoms that can accompany menopause until they are in the process themselves. Some of the changes that can be difficult to deal with are:

  • Irregular periods
  • lady partsl dryness
  • Hot flashes
  • Chills
  • Night sweats
  • Sleep problems
  • Mood changes
  • Weight gain and slowed metabolism

The National Institute of Whole Health (NIWH), an accredited Whole Health education organization since 1976, has made available a free video course titled Journey through Menopause that is entertaining and informative. This course can give you a different perspective and understanding of menopause. It also provides 4 ANCC-approved contact hours.

The video offers you new insights and tools to make your own Journey through Menopause less challenging and easier to move through. Understanding the 5 Aspects of Whole Health™ * can help an individual reduce or greatly control the symptoms of the menopause process.

The course video addresses the accompanying aging issues women experience as well as common physical and emotional challenges that can accompany them. The course is filled with evidence-based information on the subject, yet is fun and engaging. You can access the course online for free at this address:

https://wholehealtheducation.com/journey-through-menopause-free-ce-webinar/.

If you or any of your friends or relatives are experiencing this “change of life” it may be helpful and greatly appreciated if you share this free information with them as they will come away with a clearer, deeper understanding of what the journey through menopause is all about and what they can do to take more control over the process.

References

1. National Institute on Aging, 2017
2. 5 Aspects of Whole Health™
3. FREE CE – A Whole Health Approach to Experiencing Menopause
4. Women and Madness: Revised and Updated | amazon Book

3 Votes
Dr Georgianna Donadio

About Dr Georgianna Donadio, PhD

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Specializes in LTC, Assisted Living, Surgical Clinic.

Thanks for raising awareness on this topic!  Just wanted to add that, for those on Reddit, there is a sub with a wealth of information and support for menopausal women.  It’s been super-helpful to me and lots of others.  r/menopause

2 Votes
Specializes in Whole Health and Behavioral Health.

Hello Walkingon -

Thank you for sharing that resource with everyone!
It is so helpful to have the information and resources we need
to navigate the transition of menopause.
Kind regards,
Georgianna

1 Votes
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I was never so glad to be done with anything like I was with my reproductive years. I’d always had horrendous periods, but in my early 40s I began to have ones that were so long and heavy I almost needed a transfusion once. Things got so bad that I was going to have a hysterectomy, but my insurance decided I hadn’t suffered enough and would only pay for an ablation. I had that and still had periods, but they were lighter and didn’t interfere with life as much as before. 
 
Fortunately, I only spent about five years in the morass that was perimenopause, living on Paxil and Ativan, and by age 47 or 48 I was done. SO happy not to have to deal with all that anymore. I’ve never felt like I was less of a woman because I could no longer have babies, in fact I have felt *more* feminine since passing through “the change”. No more hot flashes and night sweats for THIS gal. 

 

3 Votes
Specializes in Whole Health and Behavioral Health.

Hello VivaLasViegas,
Yes, its really different for each woman....some of us are happy to be done and others are not, some have no symptoms (or very little) and some of us suffer considerably.

Glad your transition was not a bad one! That's a blessing and its great that you feel better and more feminine since your change. 

Thanks for sharing your experience!
Kind regards
Georgianna

1 Votes
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I am pretty disappointed that menopause is still a "dirty" subject among so many. It's whispered like it's some big secret that won't happen either surgically or naturally to all women.

I wanted my mom to tell me about hers so I could have an idea what to expect. She refused to discuss it. She is only 18 years older than I am.  I thought Boomers were more open about discussing such things. Not my Boomer family members.

I am going though it all  now and I gotta tell you it's been a rough journey. I am hot all the time.  Even in the dead of Winter. My poor husband ----I have to have my room at like 65 degrees to not feel like I am suffocating. I have to have a fan blowing on me at home to keep sane. I thank God we got air conditioning in our house some years ago. Most homes don't have it here in the PAC NW unless it's added.  I am glad I thought ahead.....

My skin-----oh my skin----- feels like pin pricks when I get my "flashes". I don't sleep any more. Like literally. I went to bed last night at 2130 (had to be up at 0300 for work). Guess who woke up at 0045? Yep me. This happens all.   the.  time.  It is exhausting and depressing. I cannot get back to sleep any way any how. Migraines, I have them. But now they are like every other day, not week or month....

Oh and depression? I have to be on two different antidepressants to keep the gloom at bay so I can function. This all became a huge issue during perimenopause, one I did not expect to exacerbate so badly. I have a history of moderate depression but now it's in high gear.

I have never been fatter. I eat my emotions and my metabolism is eclipsed by that of the average tortoise.

The good thing is no more periods-----and it's awesome. But I feel like I have PMS about 3 weeks out of each month........

NO ONE told me it would be like this. Not even my doctor. I feel like I am blindly finding my way through a major life change that is natural, but is not fun or inspiring.

Yes there are books---- but reading about it versus talking about it can't be compared. I deserved and should have had more guidance from the older female members of my family (mother, cousins, etc) but everyone clammed up when the "m" word was mentioned by me. How sad.

I will discuss w/ my own daughter and granddaughters my experience if they ask, not to scare them but to give time to prepare and cope better than I have----helping them on their way through such a huge change event in life.

Thanks for this article. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT!  And talk more---- And then talk about it again,  until it's no longer taboo.

As sisters we need to have each others' backs.

I am so sorry to complain so much but it feels so good to let it out. My poor husband can't understand and he tries, bless his soul.....ah life.

3 Votes
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
20 hours ago, VivaLasViejas said:

I was never so glad to be done with anything like I was with my reproductive years. I’d always had horrendous periods, but in my early 40s I began to have ones that were so long and heavy I almost needed a transfusion once. Things got so bad that I was going to have a hysterectomy, but my insurance decided I hadn’t suffered enough and would only pay for an ablation. I had that and still had periods, but they were lighter and didn’t interfere with life as much as before. 
 
Fortunately, I only spent about five years in the morass that was perimenopause, living on Paxil and Ativan, and by age 47 or 48 I was done. SO happy not to have to deal with all that anymore. I’ve never felt like I was less of a woman because I could no longer have babies, in fact I have felt *more* feminine since passing through “the change”. No more hot flashes and night sweats for THIS gal. 

 

Your post is encouraging to me. There IS an end to this madness. Or at least abatement. Thank you so much.

3 Votes
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I am not on hormone replacement. I was for a while but realized the risk is not worth any benefit, especially the older I get. I take black cohosh but heard it can take 6 months to really make a difference. Well, 6 months will pass,  on it or not, so it's worth a try!!

I just want to feel "normal" again. My mother in law did say she has gotten much better in the last 6 or 7 years or so. She is about 15 years older than me. I wanted to cry and kiss her feet for giving me hope....

On 6/18/2021 at 6:35 AM, walkingon said:

Thanks for raising awareness on this topic!  Just wanted to add that, for those on Reddit, there is a sub with a wealth of information and support for menopausal women.  It’s been super-helpful to me and lots of others.  r/menopause

I will have to check this out. Yes, I am passionate. I am sorry to hog the thread; please forgive me. I just want to stop my personal madness here.

2 Votes
Specializes in Whole Health and Behavioral Health.

Hi Smiling Blue Eyes - a privilege to hear your story.

I had a horrendous menopause and went on transdermal, bio-identifcal hormones and they changed my life. Was on them for a year and that did the trick! The transdermal doesn't require your liver to process the hormones and the concerns about any pathology is so minimal that unless you have a genetic marker for breast pathology, they are worth a try!

My sister has been on them for quite a while and she is so happy she is on them because when she's not - she is a mess emotionally and physically. I could write volumes about why, but instead suggest you watch the video on menopause that is mentioned in the post and hope you enjoy it! Let me hear from you after you watch it and let me know your thoughts :)

Warm regards,
Georgianna

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
On 6/20/2021 at 3:41 PM, Dr Georgianna Donadio said:

Hi Smiling Blue Eyes - a privilege to hear your story.

I had a horrendous menopause and went on transdermal, bio-identifcal hormones and they changed my life. Was on them for a year and that did the trick! The transdermal doesn't require your liver to process the hormones and the concerns about any pathology is so minimal that unless you have a genetic marker for breast pathology, they are worth a try!

My sister has been on them for quite a while and she is so happy she is on them because when she's not - she is a mess emotionally and physically. I could write volumes about why, but instead suggest you watch the video on menopause that is mentioned in the post and hope you enjoy it! Let me hear from you after you watch it and let me know your thoughts ?

Warm regards,
Georgianna

From whom did you get the bio-identical hormones? My doctor just tells me to take black cohosh and I am not thrilled w/it so far. Thank you so much for your encouragment and help. I really do appreciate you. I will watch the video when I get the time. I did not notice it at first; thank you for the reminder.

1 Votes
Specializes in Whole Health and Behavioral Health.

Hi Smiling Blue Eyes,
I went to my MD gyno who is a holistic doc. I live near the Needham, Massachusetts area where he practices, but believe there are a number of docs who would prescribe it. 
Good luck and let me know how you do with that!
Kind regards,
Georgianna

 

1 Votes
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
1 hour ago, Dr Georgianna Donadio said:

Hi Smiling Blue Eyes,
I went to my MD gyno who is a holistic doc. I live near the Needham, Massachusetts area where he practices, but believe there are a number of docs who would prescribe it. 
Good luck and let me know how you do with that!
Kind regards,
Georgianna

 

Thank you. And again, my sincere thanks for opening the conversation! It's an important topic as more women than ever in history enter this life change.

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