Curious...

shiny

I've kept track and I'm 17 days away (yes day after Valentine's day, how ironic) from official menopause. Perimenopause was rough. This past year has been so nice. Bring it on!

I am curious, did any of you do anything special to mark the occasion?

I feel like celebrating!

7 years ago

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15 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

binkle

Veteran

I didn't do anything special to mark the occasion, but I'm still lovin' it - 3 years now.
My skin has finally cleared up - having zits for 40 years was not fun. And a walk thru the feminine care aisle reminds me of what I don't have to buy anymore (including Advil). I feel free and good the entire month, instead of just two weeks out of the month.

7 years ago

Aquamarine

Veteran

Nope, I didn’t mark it. But it’s sure nice over on this side, with the exception of a slightly thicker middle.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I'm done now but I'm not a celebrator of stages of life, per se. I also thought I was done a few years ago, but then had a few surprises that officially put me back to square one after a year without . That went on two more times. I'm reserving celebration for if and when I lose all the weight I gained . What a time it was. I'm happy to feel more emotionally stable though .

7 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

Congratulations, Shiny! I've kept track too, and reached the 1 year milestone earlier this month. I never thought it would happen! I'm 57 and it seemed weird to ask for the senior's discount (20% every Thursday for those 55 and older at Pharmasave and Shoppers Drug Mart!) when buying 'feminine hygiene products'.

I've heard that food banks also provide soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. and are always looking for FHP. Maybe a donation in honour of having crossed to the other side? If you don't have them already, maybe white denim jeans?

7 years ago

deb

Veteran

I went into menopause at 37 and really do not remember how I felt. I did not mark the occasion, though.

7 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

Congratulations Shiny. I do not remember when this happened to me. It was a non-event in my life. The changes that I noticed in my mid-40s were that I started to get migraines and my fingernails got weaker.

7 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

I'm going about it backwards. I had a partial hysterectomy in 2008, so official menopause has long since come and gone. However, I am now dealing with the hormonal portion of it all.

Had you asked me this in 2009, I would have said I would not be doing anything to mark the occasion. I didn't know then what I know now. When this roller coaster ride ends, I'm definitely marking the occasion; I just don't know how yet. So I'm definitely going to be watching this thread for ideas!

7 years ago

viva

Veteran

Congrats! I'm in that one step forward, two steps back period of time right now .... I'll be interested to see what you decide to do. I think I'd be inclined to do something.

7 years ago

Echo

Veteran

Congratulations! While I had a partial hysterectomy so I have no period (hurray!), I still have my ovaries. I have not noticed anything different yet, and I am not sure when/if I will. Without a period to mark things it can be hard to determine whether things are hormonal or just feeling "off". I certainly have had no hot flashes or anything like that, so I am not sure how I will know.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I celebrated by heaving a huge sigh of relief! That was about it, though. Life after has been wonderful.

7 years ago

Anonymous

I was in my late 40s, still on the pill, until I started getting migraines on my off weeks (my gynecologist said it was ok for me to stay on the pill as it would most likely make perimenopause a breeze for me and it did!) I decided that I would rather deal with perimenopause than migraines so I stopped the pill - I was almost 48. Waited one year and never got my period. Never had any of the other symptoms associated with menopause either. I consider myself lucky.

After that one year wait, I packed up all my period stuff that was left over (pads, tampons, heating pad (lol) and put it away until my daughter started her period at 13 and handed her a "starter kit".

7 years ago

Peri

Veteran

I don't even remember when it happened...couldn't even tell you the year. When it comes up as a medical question, which impacts things like "how long did you take HRT" and "how alarmed do we need to be about bone density" I can't even answer. Maybe it's in my medical records somewhere. I think maybe 48 or 49.

Anyway, yes, do something to mark it. It will help you remember and you won't be stuck estimating or guessing how long you've been post-meno.

7 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Thanks all for your wisdom, comedy and solutions! I am happy to soon be in such great company.

I remember when I first got my period (age 13) my mom and older sister celebrated. It made me feel special.... even with horrible cramps and aches. I did the same for my own daughters.

I'd been tracking my periods now for the last 5 or so years, as they became increasingly irregular and harder to predict. So I have been watching them go from every other month, then every three months, then more sporadic then that... until last Valentine's day, and then nothing since. I feel it's kind of ironic that V-day may very well be the last and the beginning. Heh! Which got me thinking about ways to mark the occasion (other than contraceptive-free romantic time with the hubby).

I've felt mostly GREAT this past year... except this month, I did have some symptoms, including annoyingly tender breasts for a few days (something I never got before, but I understand is not abnormal in menopause as progesterone levels flatline). That seems to have passed now, but it is true, I could suddenly re-start again between now and then. Argh. Hopefully not!

Love the idea of treating myself to some white jeans!!

7 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Haha! I never thought about marking the occasion to celebrate. May of this year will mark five years since my hysterectomy (just the uterus, due to fibroids), which was indeed reason to celebrate! I still had some perimenopausal symptoms for a while after that, but gradually, my body has settled into a new normal. No real trouble with hot flashes anymore, more stable moods, no more sore breasts, my skin no longer breaks out so much, and yeah, a little extra weight has settled into my middle. But I still happily pass "that aisle" in Target and love that I never have to buy that stuff again. I never did HRT, and hadn't needed any sort of birth control in 15 years, so I was happy to no longer have to worry about my irregular cycle.

7 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I would be tempted to do something since you have thought of it - maybe buy an accessory that to you celebrates your current part of life's journey ( a scarf, ring or bag). And I think a donation to women's refuge or similar is a nice thought.

I was late to start my period and puberty (14.5 years) and wonder if I will be late to end it.... mine has finally become more predictable in my 40s after very erratic cycles from 20-40. About every third month though I do get very emotional and almost irrational.

7 years ago

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