Lately, there has been a lot of commercials, magazine articles, blog posts and discussions about menopause. Some are funny, some serious and some very informative because they forgo the "beating around the bush" and tell it like it is. If you are a female of a "certain age", you know exactly what I mean. But I don't think all the information in the world could have prepared me for my so-called menopause.
My doctor once told me that I never did anything like normal people. I've definitely proved him right more than once. But when it comes to menopause, I am either experiencing deja vu or else I've set the world's record for the longest menopause in history.
Maybe I should start at the beginning. I was forced into menopause before I was 30 years old, following a series of 4 female surgeries. Lets just say what followed would have made an hilarious skit on the Carol Burnett Show (again showing my age). At that time, my son was young and I was an over-active mom involved with PTA, 4-H, little league, room mother, youth group, church committees, etc. etc. In other words, I was often in meetings or in front of people. Just imagine being a 20 something mom in front of a group of people and suddenly break out in a clammy sweat, feeling like you were on fire from the inside out. For those who have never experienced it, it's like having your own private tropical summer in the middle of an air conditioned room. You start peeling off every article of clothing you can legally take off.
Some of the most memorable times were always at night. I remember one particular night in the middle of winter. It was extremely cold outside with snow on the ground. In the middle of the night I woke up feeling like fire was consuming me, starting inside and working its way out. I was so hot a cold shower wouldn't have cooled me off. I sat on the side of the bed and opened the window, storm window and all, and stuck my head out the window!
Luckily, after a long while, symptoms eased off. I thought I was completely over all that....until lately. Lately I have been having hot flashes again. Not sure why but it certainly is like deja vu; been there - done that. Either that, or, like I said earlier, I'm going for the world's record for the longest menopause in history. I was 28 when it started the first time; I'm now 59 - you do the math. I'm hoping it's not more menopause. After this long, the only tropical summers I want to experience are ones that take place in the Caribbean.
Until next time...that's my view.
Kat
Written for GBE 2 prompt - Deja Vu
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