Congratulations. You realize that you are not insane and that your menopausal symptoms are normal. It is the most magical time of your life. NOT, but in this post we will look at how to cope with menopause and keep your sanity in place.
If you are a woman in menopause right now, you are probably experiencing physical symptoms, and if you are not, then wait your time will come, or if you are lucky and you skip this, you better say thank you fast. Just in case it raises its ugly head.
For those of you that agree with me…I am so sorry girl! I feel you! For the other side of the coin that is not there yet, or is in early menopause, and is just curious about what is to come…enjoy your life while you can!
Ok, that is just me being funny, don’t take me too seriously, but the quality of life does change during menopause and as far as I understand all the research that was done on this subject, it has all to do with our Estrogen that is depleting. All are part of the menopausal transition.
So, let’s take a look at what science and/or experience tells us.
Table of Contents
Symptoms of Menopause
Before we dive into the various symptoms of Menopause, we need to understand why menopause affects breast cancer and heart disease and why you are having mood changes.
Breast Cancer
During my research, I realized Menopause does not cause Breast Cancer. Funny enough, the products women use to manage menopause may increase breast cancer. Another possible cause is hereditary. If you have a history of breast cancer in your family. If you started menstruating too early in life. If you had children after 30 If you did not have children.If you are overweight after menopause. All of this increases the risk of breast cancer. Most of these are things that I believe we should educate our daughters on so they can make the right decisions early in their lives.
Heart Disease
This is the one that worries me the most, because the significant decline in estrogen levels, which normally protects your heart by keeping the arteries open, now increases the risk of a stroke because of the cholesterol build-up in the arteries. The only way to combat this is to exercise and eat healthy. I know it is not the best solution girls, but it is the only solution we have. Taking other drugs like statin because we now have high cholesterol is not the answer. We either take control by doing some lifestyle changes or risk cardiovascular disease.
Mood Changes
I am really lucky in this area as I did not experience emotional changes. So, the hormone that controls your menstrual cycle also affects serotonin which is the chemical in your brain that promotes feelings of well-being.
1. Hormonal Imbalance
Before we blame Estrogen (our enemy now, a friend in the past – maybe it is a frenemy), let us first understand what estrogen levels are.
As far as I understand it is a hormone that plays a role in the development of our health and reproductive system. I actually thought it was only the reproductive system, but to my surprise, it also affects bone, brain, heart, and other tissue health, such as your skin.
(Will I die soon? I have to ask that question because it looks like it will take me down soon.)
Anyway, let us summarize what they mean when you research this topic online. Let us take all the airy, fairy words out: “Your body is no longer producing Estrogen, and therefore you are doomed.” LOL, Well, the clever guys out there can give you HRT which is hormone replacement therapy that will help you be a “better” person, but is it safe? There have been concerns about the risk of HRT and if I read just one article about the possible risk that goes with it, I would probably stick to suffering in silence.
Now many things form part of menopause, but in this post, I want to keep the focus on the itching and burning.
I am now (2024) going 2 years being post-menopausal. When my hormonal levels started dropping faster than my patience in traffic, my skin decided it was a great time to rebel. It was like my body throwing a tantrum because the “queen hormone” left the house.
2. Skin Dryness Factors
At first, the skin around my eyes became flaky. At the time, I thought it was a very bad allergy. It was so bad that I even went for allergy tests, and ended up forcing my husband to move away from the house we were living in because the doctor told me it could be a dust allergy and we were living next to a very large, dusty land. I was given a bunch of pills, a shot and a few days later, the “hives” went away. But, I know better now. It was not hives and it was not an allergy. It was the beginning of the end. (Ovaries no longer making/releasing eggs).
What pills were given? Antihistamine and some Prednisone. Remember, if someone wants to give you Prednisone, (and you really, really) do not need it. RUN, because some research states it can affect weight gain, mood swings, high blood sugar, skin problems, and osteoporosis.
Anyways, you know that scene in the desert (the Rango movie) with the dried-up cactus? That was my skin. Every moisturizer I tried felt like it was fighting a losing battle. I would then get advice from others to use this miracle lotion, which I obviously did because I am desperate, just for it to work for a month, and then it jumps back to being dry.
I even went that far as to whip up my miracle lotion that consists of:
- Vitamin E oil
- Castor Oil
- Bit of Rose (to just give it a nice smell)
- Some collagen
Did it work…I suppose my skin does absorb the good stuff in helping to slow down the aging process, but taking away the dryness. A stern no.
The only solution that helped me and I am sure not many will like this solution is Baby Vaseline. Yes. I make sure to clean my face properly at night, then apply a thin layer on my face. The next morning, the dryness was gone. There are many benefits in Vaseline, but you can go to Google and you will soon see why it is not my go-to for dry skin.
3. Increased Sensitivity
Remember when you could wear whatever lotion smelled the best?
My favorite was Panache or White Linen. I even tried organic Honey and even products with bold statements like Made for sensitive skin.
Well, not anymore. Now, even “sensitive skin” products make me feel like I’ve rolled in poison ivy.
If a product doesn’t practically whisper, “I’m gentle, I promise,” I’m not risking it. For a whole-body (great experience) I choose products like Eucerin as it is great for eczema relief too.
4. Genetic Predisposition
Thanks, Mom. Turns out, my skin drama might just be hereditary. If she survived without scratching her arms off, I guess I can too. Just joking!
Remember, dry skin in menopause is mostly about the hormonal changes that impact the skin’s ability to retain water and produce oils, so do not go and blame your mom now. Genetics can play a role in the menopause symptoms, but some women do not even experience certain symptoms and some of them do not even get them at all. It is all about the genetic variants. For example, If you are prone to hot flashes and night sweats, you probably have the (TACR2) gene.
Learn more about Menopause genetics here.
5. Stress Impact
Stress is like throwing gasoline on an itchy fire. I can tell you, when I am stretched out, I normally start to fiddle with my hands. Scratching my fingers, as it is the first place my stress shows its ugly face. It is so itchy that I end up with swollen fingers. The solution here is to learn how your body acts to stress, and then avoid scratching by focusing on other things that help you relax. Maybe a quick walk, a nice cup of Earl Grey Tea, or even a calming bath.
6. Allergic Reactions
My skin and I have become that overly dramatic couple that fights over everything. Even the air feels like it’s out to get me some days. A slight change in detergent or trying a new snack? It all causes a flare-up. Now, I know, not everyone will experience the same things, but I have never had so many allergies as I do now. I cannot blame the type of food I eat, or the lack of exercise because it only really started when I was premenopausal.
7. Environmental Triggers
Winter air, summer sweat, or even just sitting too close to the heater—it all feels like a personal attack. If someone figures out how to create a climate bubble for menopausal women, take my money. I used to love hiking and taking walks, but now, I found it to become something I hate, because heat (that I used to love), also causes patches of itchiness, depending on where you sweat. Also, do not forget the grass that lightly touches your leg as you gradually pass by. My solution for this is simple: Either get a treadmill and walk in your house where you are safe from the triggers outside, or walk during cool periods of the day on a tarred road, away from grass.
8. Medical Conditions
I just told you about my fingers itching. Sometimes it’s not just menopause, but a sneaky sidekick like eczema or psoriasis tagging along. You need to determine what is really a medical condition, and what is menopause. If you had eczema all your life, then you cannot blame menopause for that.
9. Healthy Diet
When I started reading up on menopause, I soon realized that what you eat plays a huge role when it comes to menopause. Food like tree nuts, shellfish, spicy foods, fruits, and milk can add to the itchy fire. If you are sensitive to these foods, try to eat less or cut them from your diet.
10. Aging Skin Effects
Aging gracefully? If you like me just will not opt for surgery, injections, or any medical intervention to stay youthful, then you need to learn to accept that wrinkles are part of the gift God has given you for a long life. You can make the fine lines look less deep, by ensuring you moisturize your skin often, but there are no miracle creams out there, that will reverse aging skin. You might get away with some serum to help you out during the day, but eventually, it will bounce back.
11. Vaginal Atrophy
This is a sensitive topic for many women, but it is something that needs to be talked about. We know during menopause our hormone levels drop so much that it affects our vaginas too. They waste away. The degeneration of cells becomes vestigial during this transformation. The walls inside become so thin and dry due to the lack of the Estrogen hormone that it causes burning, itching, and even bleeding.
If that is not enough you might even go to the bathroom way more than ever before, because your weakened muscles cause urinary incontinence.
Also, your vagina opening can even become tighter, making your sex life extremely difficult. To top that off you might experience vaginal dryness, but for this you can make use of lubricants designed specifically for this problem.
Last but not least this topic is your sex drive. Women experience this differently. Some say they just do not have any interest in it anymore, and some say they cannot be aroused anymore, making a climax almost impossible. I believe these common symptoms can be overcome by making use of vaginal lubricants and speaking to your husband. Communication is key during menopause. Men have no idea what we go through and if we do not open up about the problems we are having, they cannot help solve or look for solutions.
How To Cope With Menopause Solutions
Before we talk about the various ways to make your menopause transition as easy as possible, I would like to summarize all of what I am about to tell you in four words. It will be the best way to help you with your brain fog, sleep problems, sex drive, and mental health without any side effects:
KEEP FIT, EAT HEALTHY
Menopause Solutions
Hydration is Important
Listen, if I had a dollar for every time someone told me to drink more water, I could fund my menopause research center. Besides you do not need to be in menopause to know that you should drink a lot of water.
Balanced Nutrition
Yeah right. I only live once and I am going to eat what I want when I want it. That is my thought every single day, especially when you have things like Chocolate (your hormone replacer) in your house. And seriously, who can eat Kale all the time? Girls…we need to balance it all out. If your body does not get the nutrients it needs, it is going to go against you. You might end up with other symptoms like IBS, spastic colon, and the like of it. Eat that chocolate, eat your pizza, but do not eat the whole thing. Think about what you put into your mouth. I always say: Take your plate, add half of the plate protein, and split up the other half into three sections. Two-thirds will be veggies and the other third carbs. Believe me, your body will thank you for that.
Stress Management Techniques
My favorite stress releaser is swimming. It will be different for everyone. Some might want to take a stroll, others read a book. The point is to recognize your stress levels and take action when you feel it.
Exercise
You can never, ever out exercise a bad diet, but exercise is super important unless you want to get to the point where you are so stiff you can hardly walk. Especially after menopause things go down fast. Your bone density and muscles that used to be great are depleting and you need to exercise to keep in shape. Walking, swimming, or any gentle activity, combined with some weight training is the answer to keep the bones, and muscles in place.
Sleeping Beauty
There is a good reason why people refer to sleep as beauty. It is the time your body rejuvenates and fixes what was “broken” during the day. So make sure to invest in cooling pillows for those night sweats, blackout curtains to help your natural melatonin, and stock up on some Herbal teas like Camomile, and Dandelion. You need enough sleep to ensure you perform optimally during the day.
Skin Care
Your face is not what it used to be. Treat it gently by avoiding fragranced products. Opt for natural products as far as you can. I use a wonderful soap called Goats Milk. Extremely gentle on the skin. The same applies to the make-up removers. Most of them contain chemicals. The best is baby products for gentle skin.
Other Irritants
Most of us love to wear a little bit of make-up, but believe me, there are major differences when it comes to make-up. The cheap versions tend to have ingredients that will irritate your skin. Look for make-up products with a good name, that are not being tested on animals. Most of the time when things are tested on animals, it means they had to add something that could potentially not be good for you, and therefore they had to test it on an animal. Other irritants to avoid are certain types of material. Make sure to use only cotton as far as you can, especially when it comes to panties. Rough fabrics, extreme perfumes, and exfoliators should be banned from your life.
Keeping Cool
Invest in a fan or two, or go even further and install an air conditioning unit where you can control the room temperature. You can also buy yourself a hot water bottle that you can freeze and use when you have hot flushes. I also make use of a tiny spray bottle with cold water. Carry it everywhere I go because you do not know when you will be attacked by another heat moment.
Support Group
Whether you want to admit it or not. Even as an Introvert, I quickly realized that my husband was not someone who would understand what I was going through. Make friends with people who are in the same boat as you. You need someone to cry and laugh with. There is something very comforting when you share your misery with others.
Treatment Options
I am not someone who will opt for medical treatments, but I do know that there is a place for medical intervention. If your menopause is so bad that you want to kill someone every day, then it will be better to see your healthcare provider and discuss an effective treatment with prescription medications that will help you with your hormone changes.
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