"But it cannot be overstated: No. More. Blood. I don’t miss it one bit. No more mess. I’m not driven by tides or lust, moods or moons any more. I bled an ocean and almost drowned — now I rest."
Thank you for this. It’s really important to know that post menopause isn’t post anything — it’s just more life. It’s not an ending really but a beginning. I appreciate all that you share.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Lisa Renee. Menopause is unique to each of us and maybe that is part of the surprise. We hear what's going to happen post fertility-era and then it's just not that simple. It's been a year for me, I think, I have never been good at keep track of my periods (monthly blood letting in my case). My body has not changed ...yet. But, I seem to be allergic to alcohol which is a total bummer. Aging is weird and hard but so was middle school. Hang in there everyone :)
Loved this essay! Something that I wasn't expecting with perimenopause was how my sense of smell would be dramatically heightened. On the one hand, the perfumes I love are revealing marvelous depths, on the other hand, so is the trash can and litter box. I don't know if the change is temporary or permanent, but it's certainly unexpected.
Thanks for sharing this, it's so valuable hearing the experiences of women just a few steps ahead on the path. I am looking forward to the end of the blood, and also to that calm and grounding you (and others) speak of, and in the meantime I'm definitely becoming more intimately acquainted with the word 'no' and with my inner guidance system, which simply demands to be listened to these days 😊
I love this so much Lisa. Such emotion and beauty held in the writing, every paragraph. I too do not miss the bleeding. I too also revel in the relief of not caring so much what others think. What a joy!
My menopause was largely disappointing. I bled so much. So very much. So when I realised that I was unable to make babies with my husband, I decided I no longer wished to bleed. I had a Mirena IUD installed ( it was an installation, with hangy strings and all) and didn't bleed again. I decided to go on HRT last year to manage post menopausal symptoms and the blood came back so the HRT stopped. Screw that. But anyway, because of the Mirena, I didn't have my "last period". But I did get some hot flushes, but that's it. It was a little disappointing. You say you were a people pleaser. I never have been, so maybe that's why I didn't notice a shift.
I also am ferociously capturing what I discovered when I turned 40, menstrual cycle awareness. In my last years of bleeding, so many things make sense now. Perimenopause is kicking my ass and I'm still cycling "normally". I have this immediate urgency to document the phases of each month to impart this to anyone still cycling. And yet I am also ready for the journey out! Currently reading Wise Power: Discovering the liberating power of menopause to awaken authority. Purpose and belonging (long title! Lol) by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wirlitzer founders of Red School.net
Anyway if you get a chance to read it, it uncovers the 5 phases of menopause and talks about post menopause as well. A really great resource.
Your writing is great BTW. Thank you for articulating your journey so well. Sane rage. Fantastic.
This is so beautifully written and speaks to my experience of menopause. One day. A moment. Wait and suffer, then "presto!" You are out of effs to give and lige is filled with red hands and self-acceptance. Horse-hockey. I'm grateful to you for calling it out. I've thought a lot about this supposed midlife awakening and have written a few pieces on meno in my Substack too. Love reading your stuff! ❤️☘️
"But it cannot be overstated: No. More. Blood. I don’t miss it one bit. No more mess. I’m not driven by tides or lust, moods or moons any more. I bled an ocean and almost drowned — now I rest."
THIS!!! SO MUCH THIS!!!
Thank you for this. It’s really important to know that post menopause isn’t post anything — it’s just more life. It’s not an ending really but a beginning. I appreciate all that you share.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Lisa Renee. Menopause is unique to each of us and maybe that is part of the surprise. We hear what's going to happen post fertility-era and then it's just not that simple. It's been a year for me, I think, I have never been good at keep track of my periods (monthly blood letting in my case). My body has not changed ...yet. But, I seem to be allergic to alcohol which is a total bummer. Aging is weird and hard but so was middle school. Hang in there everyone :)
Loved this essay! Something that I wasn't expecting with perimenopause was how my sense of smell would be dramatically heightened. On the one hand, the perfumes I love are revealing marvelous depths, on the other hand, so is the trash can and litter box. I don't know if the change is temporary or permanent, but it's certainly unexpected.
Thanks for sharing this, it's so valuable hearing the experiences of women just a few steps ahead on the path. I am looking forward to the end of the blood, and also to that calm and grounding you (and others) speak of, and in the meantime I'm definitely becoming more intimately acquainted with the word 'no' and with my inner guidance system, which simply demands to be listened to these days 😊
I love this so much Lisa. Such emotion and beauty held in the writing, every paragraph. I too do not miss the bleeding. I too also revel in the relief of not caring so much what others think. What a joy!
My menopause was largely disappointing. I bled so much. So very much. So when I realised that I was unable to make babies with my husband, I decided I no longer wished to bleed. I had a Mirena IUD installed ( it was an installation, with hangy strings and all) and didn't bleed again. I decided to go on HRT last year to manage post menopausal symptoms and the blood came back so the HRT stopped. Screw that. But anyway, because of the Mirena, I didn't have my "last period". But I did get some hot flushes, but that's it. It was a little disappointing. You say you were a people pleaser. I never have been, so maybe that's why I didn't notice a shift.
I also am ferociously capturing what I discovered when I turned 40, menstrual cycle awareness. In my last years of bleeding, so many things make sense now. Perimenopause is kicking my ass and I'm still cycling "normally". I have this immediate urgency to document the phases of each month to impart this to anyone still cycling. And yet I am also ready for the journey out! Currently reading Wise Power: Discovering the liberating power of menopause to awaken authority. Purpose and belonging (long title! Lol) by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wirlitzer founders of Red School.net
Anyway if you get a chance to read it, it uncovers the 5 phases of menopause and talks about post menopause as well. A really great resource.
Your writing is great BTW. Thank you for articulating your journey so well. Sane rage. Fantastic.
This is so beautifully written and speaks to my experience of menopause. One day. A moment. Wait and suffer, then "presto!" You are out of effs to give and lige is filled with red hands and self-acceptance. Horse-hockey. I'm grateful to you for calling it out. I've thought a lot about this supposed midlife awakening and have written a few pieces on meno in my Substack too. Love reading your stuff! ❤️☘️