(Originally written in 2015. Read Part 1 Here. Part 2 Here. Part 3 Here.)
Okay, I’m winding this up. Coming to the not-so-dramatic conclusion.
I’ve wondered about blogging my journey. It’s kind of personal topic. But during my journey, I’d lie awake at night suffering with symptoms and surf the web for a bit of comfort.
I’d have loved a blog like this.
As I realized I was not crazy or suffering from some other malady, I wanted to offer hope.
During 2014, I began to feel better and took hope in the fact the “change” would end.
That became the key! To know it would end.
A lot of the women I talked to seemed unfamiliar with my sort of journey.
“Hmm, weird! I think I had a few hot flashes.”
A few said “It’ll pass.” Which was helpful because when you’re in it, you think this mess will be the rest of your life. Take heart, it’s won’t.
Mostly what I wanted to know when talking to other women was, “Did anything like this happen to you?”
Sadly, not many did. If they had similar symptoms, they’d gone on hormones so they had no “end of journey” details.
Some could barely remember menopause. (So unfair!) Almost no woman I talked to had nothing happened to then what happened to me.
I found a few articles online that were helpful. Yet no two journeys are alike.
In March I attended a book club and ended up sharing my journey with the group and saw quite a few bobbing heads.
Anyway, for all the talk of sisterhood-solidarity, my dear hubby was my most constant ally and friend. He understood. Prayed form me and encouraged me.
After the Deep Thinkers Retreat I was way better. No more night tremors. I wrote a novella in March and took some time to rest in April. (Originally April would’ve been my rewrite month for How To Catch A Prince. Just thinking about it would make me feel overwhelmed.)
May was crazy busy and added a bit of stress. I had some sleepless night. I learned melatonin wasn’t the perfect sleep aid in hormonal situations. Nor Unisom.
I stood on Proverbs 3:24. “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”
I’d pop an Advil PM from time to time but mostly just let my body settle and adjust.
Then I got my appetite back. Sad to say I gain 8 pounds. I had a hankering for avocado and black beans. I tried Quinoa once in awhile but never became a fan.
I discovered Horizon Organic Chocolate Milk and Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream makes the most splendid chocolate shakes. Along with a dash of Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup. So yummy! (Guess where the 8 pounds came from?)
After dreading the busyness of May, which included a family vacation, a conference and a friend’s daughter’s wedding — all good things — but in my state just made me feel overwhelmed, I entered June rather jubilant.
I did it! I’d survived. I’d had some sleepless nights but haha!! I got on did what I committed to do. Including flying to Minnesota for a wedding.
God’s goodness carried me!
Somewhere along the way, I did a rewrite How To Catch A Prince and gave it a happy ending! I knew my menopause journey would have one too.
Through the summer I continued to improve. Ups and downs, good days and so-so days. But nothing like the beginning of the year.
I continued to lean into prayer and the Word. I confessed what Jesus said about me.
So whatever your menopause journey, take heart. The One who made you is familiar with your frame, with your journey, and He will help you.
Psalm 139: You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
If you find yourself in a menopausal swirl, talk to your doctor but most of all, talk to God.
I promise, this too shall pass!! You will get over it. I’m post menopausal now. Adjusting every once in awhile but so happy to be on the other side.
All is well!
[Tweet You’re Not Crazy, You’re Super Menopausal Part 4]
Comments 13
Rachel, I’m so very sorry you had to go through this but so glad you are on the other side. I know the Lord & you will use this to good for others.
Love you so much.
I love all your chapters on this….your words and scriptures have been a comfort for me! I’m 34 was diagnosed with hyper thyroid at 19 at 21 I had almost all of it removed so I take synthroid everyday! I’ve been having hot flashes since 19 but the night sweets started over a year ago, I had partial hysterectomy 2 yrs ago…so between my thyroid and hysterectomy they said I am having early menopause now! I will just start getting hot flashes and start sweating for no reason, I started getting panic attacks I thought I was losing my mind and going crazy!! So I tell you this to say I get where you are coming from its not fun and I’m praying for it to be over soon lol, thanks for sharing your story it’s helped me a lot;)
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Bethany, oh friend, I hear you! I actually had issues as a young adult too but in the ’80s not much was said about hormones and panic or anxiety. I just ran to Jesus. Best thing I ever did. I did ask the Dr once and he did blood work, said all my levels were fine. Right or wrong, I just knew peace and joy were mine by the Holy Ghost. I sometimes thing the devil takes advantage of our physical weaknesses. Either way, God is good! It will end! Know that! 🙂 Grace to you! Love, R
Bless you Rachel. So glad you are on the other side. I continue to pray that your words bring comfort and hope to those who need to know they are not alone.
Bless you for being vulnerable in telling your story. It opens doors for others to be vulnerable and tell their doctors and family what is going on.
Thanks for sharing.
Happy for you.. I’m 61 and still not even in
please “meno”…..pause!! yet.. 20 years of hot flashes & night sweats,
only now night chills instead.. Still waiting for the Dr’s tell me every year — It too will pass.. lol
Author
Oh Dee, wow. What a journey we face as women! LOL.
It will pass. It will… Blessings to you!
So glad it is over for you. I am 61 and have suffered (really!) with hot flashes 7 years with small improvements the past year or so. I am talking standing in front of the fan at bedtime, sweat running down my face. It is miserable!. No one I talk to has had them like this & I am glad to hear you tell of your journey. You are the first person who has had them the way I have. Nice to hear from someone I can identify with on this. Thank you for your encouraging words. BTW, I just discovered your books & am enjoying “Georgia on Her Mind.” Blessings to you! 🙂
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Jeri, so good to hear from you! Blessings to you!!
Rachel
Oh Rachel, I am almost in tears reading your blog .Thank you for sharing this, it really spoke to me. Thank GOD for caring husbands eh? Thank GOD for HIS love. I wish I can speak to you in person however it’s like you went through it so I can know that it will end .
I am encouraged. I will keep talking to DADDY and I will keep holding on to HIS word.
GOD bless you ma’am.
Looking forward to when I will say I am completely Post menopausal.
Gosh reading your story really helped
Well done and God bless you,I am going on a roller coaster journey right now and have been questioning my sanity and body like never before.Sometimes I do not even recognise myself internally or externally at the moment and do not trust myselfLike you I had an ongoing build up for years and thought I had coped quite well and that it was over and was patting myself on the back then I realised it was only a dress rehearsal to the real main event happening now!!The only good thing that is coming out of it is that I am having to cling to the Lord like a limpet as this is unchartered waters for me and I cannot even get away with trying to convince the Lord or myself that I am coping and managing quite well thankyou that I have got this there is no room for pretense here at all as “this emotional,hormonal,irrational “ place is too unstable,dangerous,strange,foggy,disorientating,unreliable and confusing and unpredictable for me AND I NEED AN EXPERT to navigate me through these treacherous waters and The Lord is the only Expert there is who completely sees and gets what is happening. I am relieved about the reminder that it passes and it has driven me to pray more and deeper and more ferverently and feverishly and to cling to scripture and cry out to Him more deeply than I have before as the Lord is my only Hope and help
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Sally, hang in there!! I promise, it will get much, much better! I prayed over my body—Psalm 139. I blessed my body… mostly because I wanted to be mad at my body! Ha! I had a few sweet encounters with the Lord along the journey—supernatural peace, the trembling stopping suddenly. I know the Lord is with you!! He knows your body and will walk you through this. He’s your keeper! Ah, what a privilege we have to lean on Him in such a trying hour.
Since I do not know your age or where you are in your journey, please talk to your doctor. Since I was square on the menopause age, my doc said, “If you can, let’s just walk through it.” So I took her advice. But there’s nothing wrong with getting a bit of medical help either. For me, I figured my hormones were on a rampage, I didn’t want to mess with them. Ha!
Praying for you! Bless you! Rachel
I thank GOD for you! And for being a woman. The hardest part of this very similar and epic season of being super menopausal for me is how difficult it is, sometimes, to comprehend reading and intentional thoughtful prayers. I’m also experiencing severe cramping (typical for me throughout my entire menstrual experience) which adds to the fatigue and flat out frustration. One thing is for certain, it is an answer to my prayers for increased faith, dependency, and trust in JESUS! Can I get an “AMEN”! 😉
This part of your testimony is something GOD just used, along with HIS WORD, to bring the comfort and connection I was (desperately) seeking. Would love to know how you are doing now! TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY and so many prayers and thank you’s to and for you!
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AMEN!!
Jennifer, thank you so much for commenting. I appreciate you stopping by and am so glad my story encouraged you!! Nine years later, I’m doing great! God continues to love on me, draw me near and teach me of His ways. I’m more in love with His Word than ever! Read it, write it, sing it, say it, pray it! 🙂 Praying your journey is easing and you sense the presence of Jesus.