top of page

The Menopause Chronicles

In 2021, I received a full hysterectomy and was not prepared for the menopause that followed. I had some fantastic images of what menopause consists of—I was very wrong. Television has a very limited conversation about menopause based on the shows I watch related to the "Change."

The only depiction of menopause that I recall, consists of a very mature woman with a lack of emotional control. I think I saw this on the Cosby Show some time ago with Mrs. Huxtable. The women were prone to anger and fits of tears with no understanding of their source. I knew that wouldn't be me because my reactions have always been justified. Yet, there are some things that have been downright ridiculous.

In my personal life and experience, I have only heard of hot flashes. I admit that I thought the old women were being extra and exaggerating the result of the flash, but Baby Jesus, the hot flash is very real. I didn't think that hot flashes could possibly be that bad. The being perfectly fine one minute to being drenched in sweat to the point I have to wear pajamas to bed to catch the sweat. One minute it's 60 degrees and the next it's 125 degrees. My experience during menopause is nothing like what I have seen or heard.


Due to the hysterectomy, I didn't get a build-up or gradual transition. It jumped out of the closet like, here I am. I went to the hospital on a continual period and came home in full menopause. However, I don't think I have irrational mood swings. :) From my point of view, they are perfectly valid and justified. For example, my daughter who is my youngest child telling me that my ponytails are ugly is a very good reason to not speak to her for three (3) days. That would be a usual reaction for me from someone talking about me.


Another totally rational reaction is within my home. My house has a no-outside-shoe-inside rule that goes back as far as I can remember, carried over from the Smarts. I got my outside/inside shoes mixed up one day. When Rajah brought it to my attention, not only did I go off, I purchased six (6) pairs of inside shoes so that wherever in the house I happened to not have on shoes, there was a pair available. See! Perfectly sane. No extreme behavior here.


On television, the women were upset because they were going to lose their femininity. I disagree with the storyline completely. I finally got breasts without pregnancy. I went from an empty cup to half a cup and I'm a little thicker and rounder. I am a Black woman so that just goes with the territory. I appreciate the maturity that my body has formed but would appreciate twenty pounds less of it. Don't get me wrong though, I love the shape of my menopausal body.


I have always been a little moody, but them damn hot flashes are the only part of this new part of life that I have not adjusted to no matter what I try. Each and every wave of heat brings a new exclamation of whew baby Jesus. Having the internal HVAC system that kicks in when it likes is making some adjustments.


17 views1 comment

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page