full moon in dark night sky

Is This Menopause?

Who the hell knows? And better yet, who the hell talks about it? Remember back in 4th grade when they split up the boys and girls for the awkward “puberty talk”? Yeah, well, where’s the midlife version? There’s no “Welcome to Menopause 101” session at work with handouts on malfunctioning body parts and WTF symptoms to expect. But let’s be honest—they damn well should! Imagine the money, medical bills, and missed workdays we could save if someone just handed out a menopause manual.

For me, it wasn’t until the hot flashes started—you know, the “it’s not just hot and humid” kind—that menopause even entered the conversation. Apparently, sweating like a banshee in public is the official “Congratulations, you’re old!” diploma. But guess what? That’s just the beginning. They don’t tell you about the endless extra credit symptoms you’ll earn along the way.

Being the Type A sleuth I am, I made a list of all the symptoms I’ve read about (and trust me, this list is LONG). Then I highlighted the ones I’ve personally experienced. Let’s just say… holy hell. After that, I went through my medical records dating back to 2011. What did I find? Turns out, just because I wasn’t sweating buckets at the time didn’t mean I wasn’t knee-deep in the perimenopause trenches.

Here’s the real kicker: when you start feeling "off" or dealing with weird symptoms, what do doctors say? “It’s nothing to worry about,” or my personal favorite, “It’s just your cycle.” So, you brush it off. Then another symptom shows up, rinse and repeat, until one day you’re knocking on 50’s door and someone finally says, “Oh, maybe it’s menopause.”

By then, you’ve spent YEARS feeling like a glitchy robot without a manual. And that’s the problem: there is no damn manual. So, guess what? I’m writing my own. If you’re reading this, it might just become yours, too.

What Am I Going to Do About It?

I’ll tell you what I’m not going to do—sit around and be miserable because it’s a “fact of life.” Hell no. Let’s be real: when a man’s main event stops working, there are pills, procedures, and entire industries ready to help him get his groove back. Well, guess what? I want solutions too. Real ones. Ones that don’t involve gritting my teeth and “just getting through it.”

It blows my mind that in a world full of tech miracles and medical breakthroughs, we’re still playing hide-and-seek with menopause solutions. So, I’m tackling this head-on, even if it means navigating a maze of trial and error.

The Game Plan

Here’s what I’m doing to reclaim my sanity (and maybe yours too):

  • Doctor’s Appointments: I’ve been to more doctors than I care to count and am finally (hopefully!) on a path to feeling better.

  • Lifestyle Changes: I’ve ditched the smokes (yay me!), cut back on alcohol, and started exercising… kinda. Exercise and I aren’t exactly BFFs, but I’m working on it.

  • Living Low-Key: I’m learning to say no more often and focus on self-care. Some days it’s easier said than done, but I’m getting there.

  • Research: I’m a knowledge junkie, especially when it comes to helping myself and others. The more I learn, the more I can share—and maybe save someone else a little grief.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Forward. Always forward.

Some days I have answers, and other days I’m just winging it. But here’s what I do know: I’m not alone, and neither are you. This isn’t just about surviving menopause—it’s about reclaiming our lives, our joy, and our sanity, one hot flash at a time.

So grab your fan, your drink (beer for me), or whatever gets you through the day, and let’s tackle this together. Let’s swap stories, laugh, cry, and maybe curse the menopause fairy into oblivion. This journey doesn’t have to be a lonely one—we’ve got each other.

In the weeks ahead, I’ll be diving into the nitty-gritty—what works, what doesn’t, and all the surprises along the way. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here, but together we can figure out what works for you.

Here’s to moving forward, one step, one laugh, and one WTF moment at a time. We’ve got this.


Why Read My Menopause Journal? Well…

Good news—it’s totally optional. Monthly Menologues is my real-life, unfiltered, R-rated menopause talk and some opinions that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I’m putting it all out there, just like I say it in everyday life. So, if cracking the door open into someone else’s personal mess sounds like your jam, welcome—you’re definitely in the right place!

If my menopause journey has you nodding along and thinking, “Same, girl, same,” then mission accomplished! Because, trust me, you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not losing your mind. And hey, if you’re here just to laugh or because you ran out of other things to read, that’s cool too. Hit that button!

Minor Disclosure: If this kind of content isn’t for you, I totally get it—thanks for checking it out, and I hope you have an awesome day! Feel free to say "Hi!" if you want. Please refrain from negativity. We have enough of that going on. But I do not at all mind constructive criticism. Different opinions diversify the mind, so it's totally okay.

With that said, and you feel you can handle it, tap that button! Thanks for joining!

My Personal Medical Timeline

Sharing my personal medical timeline for anyone curious, comparing notes, or just wondering what the hell has been going on. Spoiler alert: menopause starts creeping in long before we even realize it or give it a second thought. Consider this your heads-up!

white coffee mug on calendar at october
white coffee mug on calendar at october

My Choice for HRT

Why I finally said “screw it” and went for hormone replacement therapy. If you’re curious, consider this your invite to step into my HRT experience

shallow focus photography of prescription bottle with capsules
shallow focus photography of prescription bottle with capsules