Post Menopausal Women

I am.

I take hormone replacement, but I feel fine. I exercise, which imo is crucial. But I DO dye my hair. I don't think those grey hairs are as attractive as you do, apparently.

I can't think of any uniquely amazing menopausal experiences, but it's not terrible. The best thing about being this age is having wisdom.

Ahh yes!! I saw that post. Pretty comical to be called a post menopausal "mean girl". I admit I laughed about that and I'm sure I was included in the group mentioned. I told my 20 yr old daughter and she almost spit her coffee everywhere laughing at that comment!

I had menopause at 40 by way of complete hysterectomy. I did HRT a few years. Nothing really changed for me... No weight gain and I have stayed at petite size 0-2 but my boobs have exploded. My dr says we could be filthy rich if we figured out how I got my boobs. No saggy just healthy and I've actually won bets when someone challenged me that they are fake!! Yes I have done that.

I rarely have to shave my legs or underarms anymore... Nothing to shave. I'm lucky to have a rare hot flash but then I'm always cold so when it happens, I feel normal!!!

Still not showing gray but I do play with hair color.

I'm in good overall health with exception to occasional gout if I have too much shellfish, red meat and wine! I do have a bad ankle that has healed well and I'm back on my walking routine.

Sex drive never left me and actually got better after surgery when I knew there would be no oopsies!

I am 53 now and don't appear to look my age. My hubby is 59 and looks older with his gray hair. It never fails that I am thought to be his daughter when we are out and boy that pisses him off.

I am blunt, honest and speak my mind. I am far from perfect. I see no reason to sugarcoat stuff. So take me as I am. One thing is for sure... I am a loyal friend and you can bet I'll never blow smoke up your pants and I'll be by your side as a friend, always.

I just celebrated becoming fully menopausal last Dec - I'm 53.
I'm finally over the hot flashes and no more monthly mess anymore!
It seemed like peri-menopause was going on forever (lasted more than 10 years).
I've had a little grey for a long time (since my 30's) but henna covers it nicely.
The grey makes me look washed out.
It's not salt and pepper but all the hair around my face and in front of my ears would be white if I didn't henna it.
I don't miss the monthly bloating or salt cravings or mood swings.
I never bothered with HRT - although Estroven helped me get through the worst of the hot flashes.
The only occasional bother is a whisker on my chin every so often that I have to pluck every now and then.
I'm feeling pretty good!

I'm peri-menopausal and look forward to 15 years or so from now when I am 'all done' with such things.

(Personally, I just think someone was being butt-hurt for being called out on their stuff. But you know that already, don'tcha? ;) )

I love this post. I'm only 45, but heading your way soon! I tried dying my hair for about six months and hated it so much! I don't have a lot of grey, but I'm embracing what I have - it's my "hair jewelry" and I love it. I haven't hit menopause proper yet, but I know it's getting close, and for the first time in 10 years, my periods are getting light and short (as opposed to 10 years of post baby hell!) I do not fear getting older and while I'm not going to be acting like a little old lady, I'm embracing this new chapter in my life! I have family members who are now retired, just turned 70, and are spending a year backpacking through Europe and Asia. How cool is that?

ETA: Which post said "post menopausal mean girls"? That's a great flounce!

sistah! we're the same age, and i too giggled when i read that post.
not that i don't have issues. i've been toting around 50 extra lbs for about a decade now, about when menopause really kicked in, and i'm having a very tough time shaking 'em. but they don't stop me from doing anything. i ran my first marathon last year, and other than high cholesterol have no health issues at all. my hair is silvering beautifully, and has a ton more bounce and body and shine than it did when i was younger. i used to shiver all winter long- it takes way worse temperatures for me to get cold any more. my libido is pretty flat, but i know enough tricks now to jump-start it. i'm more relaxed, WAY more confident, smarter, and having more fun than ever before.
i've got a mean streak. always have. but it's got nothing to do with menopause.
:) khairete
S.

Hahaha! They'll all get here eventually, right!?

I feel great.
Confident.
Wise.
Curious.
Sexual.
Secure.
Decisive.
Head over heels in love with my husband.
Still waiting for the gray, too, Feline.

Oh, wait--I do get a few hot flashes each day. And I don't need as much sleep. Yeah....really sucks! Lol

Not there yet. Close but no cigar.

I found it hysterically funny to hear "post menopausal mean girls" because such riveting queries as how to schedule my life, when to shop or what to watch on TV were not given their due respect.

I admit I don't get a lot of the young moms. I have adult children, they do not struggle with what to do with their free time. Never had trouble scheduling. Total pros at finding bargains. So if I am to answer as I would my own kids I would be more interested if they hit their head and perhaps need medical attention for that.

If my friends asked me these questions I would perhaps google early onset Alzheimers for them. I mean seriously, who judges how someone else interacts with their friends by how they interact with their friends, oh yeah, young people who have not lived enough to figure out people are different.

Anyway, rambling but I want to point out I am not speaking of all young moms here or even the majority, there are just a few clueless youngins and dang do the like calling people mean girls.

LOL! Love your post! Although I would be SO happy not to have grey hair - it would save me a fortune because I've been getting my hair colored since I was 39...

I've been in menopause (which is after peri-menopause) for 4 years now. From what I understand from my gyn, that means no period for a year and a blood test that confirms it. I did decide to manage my symptoms, of which I had many, by going on Hormone Replacement Therapy. Love it, I have to say.

I also love the freedom I have sexually in that I don't have to worry about getting pregnant. I love that I am a lot more interested in sex - that is so good. Do I miss things about being younger? Yeah. But I do feel good about me and that is what matters.

You rock, lady! Keep it that way!!

I'm delighted to be post menopausal. I don't feel that my body or my self are defined by being of childbearing age so I don't miss my periods at all! I love my curves and I am happy to sensible about my body image. I don't dress for anyone else - just for myself. I don't give a damn about how clothing and other products are marketed to size 0 women.

I'm healthier than I've ever been, my skin looks great, and I'm generally assumed to be 15 years younger than I really am. I handled all the hot flashes and so on with nutrition so they were very minor and short-lived.

Not shaving? Yes, there's less to deal with, and fewer people who are interested in looking at it, so it's a double blessing!! LOL!

I confess to being vain about my hair - my neighbor has had glorious silver hair for decades and I envied her. Mine came in sort of blotchy, in irregular patches. So I started coloring some years ago. Now my hair actually grows in faster and healthier than when I was younger, so I do have to touch up those roots a bit more often than most others. I don't care -- if that's my only vice (yeah, right!), then I'm fine with it!

I have wisdom, maturity, confidence, excellent health, a phenomenal husband with whom I'm finally in sync (because we embrace and accept our strengths and our flaws), and way better sex. I have the ability to stop caring so much about what others think. I've figured out who my true friends are, and we treasure each other. I don't have the fear of rejection by others that used to govern my younger years - I don't care about acceptance by toxic and small people.

I am just about to cross the finish line. Its almost been a year since my last period. Yay me!!!

Gray hair? I started graying in my late 20s. I have mostly been a redhead. Loreal because I'm worth it! =)

I have cleavage but that because I'm overweight. I have a thyroid issue so that has been interesting going through that and menopause. Yeah, I'm thrilling to be around!

Heightens sexual awareness, I wish. Hair loss south of the border? Yep and what hasn't left is gray. Can I color that as well???

Technically I am post-menopausal. Last September was a full year of no periods. The technicality is that my doctor won't say so officially until it's been a full year since I last nursed my youngest. She fully weaned earlier that same September of last year therefore my doctor won't declare it until September of this year.
I had 2 years of hell leading up to my last period. The hot flashes, the migraines were constant and extra painful, the crazy bleeding. Yuck! I gained a good deal of weight. My breasts went up a few cup sizes and haven't gone back down. I'm beginning to suspect they are here to stay. I was having health issues on top of everything else. I have at least stopped gaining weight and I'm working on the health issues and hope to loose the extra. Though...how much do breasts weight. Like seriously? A G cup is nothing small LOL
I turned 44 near the end of last year so I'm on the very early age of all of this. My doctor wasn't quite ready to call it because of my age alone. But it can happen this young. I'm rather glad to be over with all of it to be honest. I'll feel a lot better in Sept of this year when the doctor and I are on the same page that I'm all done though. I'm good with the 3 I have, I absolutely do not want anymore surprising me!
I am a good deal happier now. It's a very rare thing for me to get migraines anymore. I used to get them every single cycle. I don't have the mood swings, the bloating, the cramping, the nausea among other issues.

I'm almost there - I think. I can't remember when I last had a period, and my spouse has sexual issues, so that part..I can't even assess. Sex hurts but I think that has more to do with not being used to it/feelings about that than dryness or aging issues (we're talking a couple of times over a decade, and my last bio-kid is a friggin miracle - we had sex 2x in 2 years and I got pregnant on one of those times).

I have ORANGE hairs in my eyebrows now (errr), some silver hair on my head (which I like) with frizzy white hair at my temples (which I don't), and weight & mood issues. The mood issues, for me, are new. I still get the occasional hot flash, so I guess this means I'm still on the bridge. eh...

BUT, you know what, this is a great post - because it gives me a great feeling that getting over this bridge could take me to a good place. I have health issues that are more likely to make me feel old and tired than this this part of aging.

Being grumpy with my kids, being unable to handle myself when I get sensory overload and getting to overload more easily than I used to, and the hair that has gone from some places seems to have sprouted in others - these are the things that are challenging to me.

Not having a period, not caring much about things that don't matter, and what seems to be a brand-new BS meter are good things. Oh, I just scrolled down. Missed the other post. Gotta say the thing I like best about my new BS meter is that it often tells me when to speak up and when to shake my head and move on. My kids know they can push me and see me get a bit freaky, but they tease me about it too, so it can't be too bad....and the only people who have issues with how I communicate at work are the sexist assholes who have to remember my contributions as a man's and who were always like that, so screw 'em.

I do have weight issues but that's because for years I had to put in very long hours at a desk job - I'm not putting in the hours anymore, and that's just fine.

Well, Feline...I had doctors take all of my girl stuff out in 2011. So I don't know if that's menopause or not!! LOL!!

Gray hair? Check. I color 'em out!

Haven't got the losing of the hair!! DARN IT!!

Cleavage? Check!! Still happy about that!!

Weight? Yeah...still got that...urgh!! which reminds me...I've not done my work out today. Thanks!:P