For women in the age group of 45 to 55, menopause is a dreaded M-word. It marks the end of their reproductive cycle as the ovaries stop producing eggs but also comes with a period of anxiety and pain. While it affects everyone differently, hot flushes, mood swings, weight gain are some of the common concerns associated with it.
Recently, writer Kiran Manral sought to shed light on these very issues and several Indian women shared their personal experiences.
Women over 45, how difficult or easy has menopause been for you? #SeriousQuestion
— Kiran Manral (@KiranManral) March 29, 2021
First and foremost, women shared the common symptoms they’ve faced:
Also so many other symptoms hidden under this umbrella. The more I read , the more it bothers me. Worst is I have turned into a full blown insomniac 5 days a month and it affects my sleep generally too
— Monika Manchanda 👩🏼🍳🍽 (@monikamanchanda) March 29, 2021
crazy mood swings, irritability, hot flashes – you feel like you’re in a furnace, anxiety, depression, irregular flow, hair fall, weight gain, loss of libido, other assorted nonsense.
— Kiran Manral (@KiranManral) March 29, 2021
Some humorous, but very real examples of how it could feel like:
One month you're begging for freedom from pain and hoping for heavy bleeding. Because that means less pain. Next month you're thinking pain is better. I warn the folks at home that I'm entering the zone, be very wary. I retreat because the anger is awful. I reel in guilt later
— Subha Jayanagaraja (@subhajrao) March 29, 2021
Tough. Crazy hormones are driving me insane. Issue a warning of choppy waters, tempest or hurricane almost every other day. Trudging through, this too shall pass.
— Harshali Singh (@harshalisingh) March 29, 2021
Mood swings, deep despair embraces you , overwhelming sometimes i feel its created a split personality
— Puja Talwar (@talwar_puja) March 29, 2021
Some people remembered their mothers going through it.
Not currently going through it.
But from my mother's experience she definitely had a tough time. I was the only woman in the house beside her, so it was difficult for her to relay her hot flashes and heavy periods during perimenopause to my dad & brother. https://t.co/SqmgwG1U6I
— Michelle Frank (@DrMichelleF) March 29, 2021
My mother is not here on Twitter.I have seen her suffer. She had to take the Mumbai train up and down to work and she will come home and start crying unbearably with the heat. We did not have A/c and with two teenage sons she didn’t have anyone to talk about her perils either.
— Anuj (@violinmirage) March 29, 2021
Not just for those over 50’s!
This thread is so informative.i thought i need to worry about menopause only after 50s but clearly i am wrong https://t.co/0EugQB5msn
— Kontiki (@santoor_mom) March 29, 2021
So here is one who has recently been diagnosed as enroute to early menopause 😞. I am still getting around accepting the diagnosis and looking for people who hv gone through a similar experience
— Paromita Deb Areng (@suddentwilight) March 29, 2021
Family and friends, please see!
Also, cannot say this enough – when a partner shows up and supports with care, research and listening, it is everything ❤️ Friends, family too – care is a game changer for those flashes 🙂
— Tara Baswani (@tarabaswani) March 29, 2021
Damn. No one told me. And now I have a teen to deal with. Thankfully, he's a sweetheart and makes more leeway for my menopausal moodswings than his own.
— Kiran Manral (@KiranManral) March 30, 2021
.@KiranManral Good question. Obviously, all responses are from women. However, men should also read thru it as it will help them find out what their spouse is going thru during this phase, and support her cope with it. Not betting my money on it happening though!
(from a man)— Mr India (@MrIndiaHere) March 29, 2021
Concluding on a hopeful note.
To all of you 1. It’s terrible 2. No-one understands the wild swings in mental/physical wellbeing 3. It will last 5-7 years, it’s a long haul 4. BUT once you are done, the feeling of freedom & empowerment (the extra testosterone 😜) is incredible. So wait, better days are coming!
— Apurva Purohit (@apurva_purohit) March 30, 2021
Brb, I’m off to shower mum with hugs and pamper her with dark chocolate!
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