What's Your Personal Story?

What’s Your Personal Story?

The NursingMenopause Opinion Poll results are still coming in, and so far people are saying they want to hear your personal story. So, this is what this page is all about.

NursingMenopause is an interactive website, meaning people from all over the world can contribute their experiences and personal stories to be heard and to help others.

As you many have read in my article on culture, my website traffic is coming from over 40 countries. Wouldn’t it be great if we can learn from each other, hear someone else's personal story, encourage each other or just simply mope?

As different as we all are, one thing we all have in common is that we all will -should we be fortunate to live long enough- go through the menopause.

Why Participate in this website?

When you help others, you are helping yourself. You are not alone in your journey through menopause (in fact, there’s a whole world of women with you, in front of you, or behind you). Whether your story is educating, encouraging, funny, tragic, motivating, honest, painful, or grateful it is valuable to others.

Here are some ideas to get you started

• What are your physical symptoms?
• What bothers you the most?
• What do you do that helps?
• What makes your condition worse?
• Is this what you expected?
• Do you avoid specific foods, places, or people because of your symptoms?
• Are you currently taking any hormone replacement therapy?
• Are you currently taking any antidepressants?
• Have you gained weight?
• Do you have a healthful recipe to share?
• What are your thoughts about menopause?
• What is your most difficult challenge?
• Have you tried any natural remedies?
• Do you have a joke you would like to share?
• What makes you laugh?
• Do you have a funny story to tell?
• What’s the worst thing your spouse has said to you about menopause/aging/your moods etc?
• What’s the best thing your spouse has said to you about menopause/aging/your moods etc?
• What’s was your mother’s menopausal experience? Do you expect to have the same?
• What’s your favorite method of relaxation?
• What’s your favorite fun thing to do?
• What are you doing to keep fit?
• Are you happy with your body?
• Do you think you are aging well?

…or anything else on any topic related to this website. Simply scroll down and use the form at the bottom of this page. If you choose to give me your personal information (not required) it will be shared with no one. You may read my privacy statement. Once it is received, it will be added here along with other stories below.

Be the first! It's easy, just start typing and then submit when you're done. Your comments will first come to me directly, and then I will post it to the site (and omit anything you have requested).

Personal Story about menopause #1: "Thanks to going through menopause, I now feel that I can do anything I want; very liberating."

September 28, 2010: I think I almost lost a job because of the fun symptoms: Felt fuzzy, couldn't remember daily steps in projects I had been doing every day for several years, didn't get work done as quickly as the boss wanted (she was having her own menopause issues), being written up for b.s. that was unfounded. My reward & revenge: Getting a new job, in a different state and starting over at age 50. Thanks to going through menopause, I now feel that I can do anything I want; very liberating!!! Kathleen M. U.S.

Glenda's response: FABULOUS Personal story. Congratulations. This is so inspiring, I'm smiling from ear to ear.

Personal story about menopause #2

September 28, 2010: I had a hysterectomy 15 years ago, but they left me with my overies. Then 5 yrs after that they removed one overy. Life has not been a bowl of cherries for the last 6 months. (probably longer) Stress is my middle name. I took in a foster child for over a year. I had him when he was 14 months old. In June of this year Children's Aid let him go back to his Mother. My heart broke. We still see him often which is also so difficult. I thought that I was going crazy. But last week I had blood work done, and low and behold... I'm in the middle of menopause. Plus my Husband has a testosterone level of 2.3(very low) We are trying to hang on together but its hard. We need to find more to keep us occupied, and laugh more. I'll be 50 in January. Next they'll be telling me I have Osteopoosis to along with my fibromyalgia and chronic depression. There is humor in here somewhere.

Glenda's response: If this is humor, then it would be classified as dark humor. Isn't it so true that a number of factors can hit you so hard in mid-life, and then menopause (and your husband's andropause) is on top of it all.

It is sweet sorrow that you had to return your foster child to his mother. I think foster parenting is the most selfless thing to do. God bless you.

Please read my article on depression. If it lasts too long or goes too deep you should seek advice from your doctor.

I hope you come back often to tell us how things are going.

Thank you for your contribution.

Personal Story about Menopause #3: "...when evil twin appears."

September 28, 2010.

I havent even gone to the doctors yet, but everyone around me is extra nice/ precautious when evil twin appears , but i would like to learn and talk to woman going through this, cause right now, i could use , an understanding ear and information, ty : ) Chrystal Leblanc.

Glenda's response: Thanks Chrystal. I had to laugh about the "evil twin" sister. What's interesting to me is that you are noticing others are treating you differently and you suspect it is because of the way you are acting. Emotionally intelligent women like you are especially attuned to reading others reactions. In other words, some people wouldn't even be aware they were affecting other people's behaviour by their own behaviour, and they would just carry on. Keep up the dialogue and tell us more.

Personal Story about Menopause #4: "Absolute champion of hot flashes..."

September 30, 2010

I am nominating myself as the absolute champion of hot flashes/sweats which occur about every 45 minutes 24/7 and have been happening for nearly 10 years...B.Ellis

Glenda's responseThis question required a lengthy response which you can read here.

Personal Story about menopause #5:"My husband's to-do list is being accomplished by a menopausal wife."

January 13, 2011

I walked 1.60 miles at 5:30 a.m. in my pj's. I was pouring down sweat! It is 8 degress, snow flying. I needed to cool down I stepped outside; the snow shovel screamed to be put to work. For the next 25 minutes I shoveled snow without a coat, hat or gloves. A lot of my husband's to do list is getting accomplished by a menopausal wife. I came in the house and I was still pouring down the sweat. The sweat was dripping from my breast, I thought I sprang a leek! What more was I going to experience in this change over, it is the PITTS!

Rebecca Wampler, U.S.A.

response from Glenda

Thanks for your personal story. I can just picture you out there early in the morning in your P.J's shovelling the snow. That's one way to make lemonade out of lemons!

You can also go to the menopause forum to read more about what women are talking about.

Return from Personal Story to NursingMenopause Home