Seven Dwarfs of Menopause

September 8, 2021

 Disclaimer: The following is based on my knowledge taken from my experiences. In no instances will this be used as reference for medical purposes.

I have reached the age where women usually experienced the symptoms of menopausal. Usually this happens when women are in their 40’s or 50’s.

HOT FLASHES

The first symptom that I experienced was of having hot flashes. I just experience having a sudden warmth feeling spreading in my neck and on my face. Sometimes, when I get to look at the mirror, my face is red, as if I am blushing. And my neck is sweating.

More often I have the hot flashes during the night. Even when the air conditioner (AC) is on and my body is feeling the cold that I have to sleep under the cover but when the hot flashes comes, I have to face the cool air of the AC with my body still wrapped in the blanket.

Sometimes I woke up sweating in the middle of the night.  I have to change my sleepwear as it was wet with sweat.

Hot flashes come anytime of the day or night. It sometimes last for a few seconds or sometimes a minute before I feel back to normal temp again. Usually when this happens, I face the electric fan or the AC until the hot flashes left.

As I know about hot flashes as a most common symptom for menopausal, I did not bother to see a doctor. Though the first time that it happened to me, I cannot understand what I am feeling. I was afraid at first thinking that I might be having a high blood pressure. Eventually, I got used to it and just stayed calm when it arrives.

ITCHY SKIN

Another symptom I have was having itchiness in any parts for my body. What I learned was the itchiness during menopausal was usually at the private parts area but I had it anywhere in the body.

I had itchy skin in my neck going up to my face, I did not know that it was also a symptom of menopausal. I just put Calmoseptine all over my neck and when it did not heal I eventually went to visit an allergist. An allergist is a doctor specialising on allergies.

After check up and several questions, the doctor told me that this is because of my menopausal. As this is one of the symptom of menopausal.

BLOATED TUMMY

I went to see an internist when I was having stomach pains. I kept on burping and sometimes I can feel the acid comes out when I burp.

And again after check-up and several questions, the doctor explained that because of hormone changes due to menopause, women retain water or produce more gas than before menopause.

He further told me to see an OB-Gyne so that I can save on doctor’s fees. Instead of going to different specialist for every symptom that I felt I just need to see and OB.

He said that his wife is an OB-Gyne and he sometimes attend seminars when his wife is the speaker and that during such seminars the SEVEN DWARFs of menopausal sometimes came up. It would be better for the OB-Gyne to explain further.

SLEEPY

I always feel sleepy even though I have an eight hours sleep at night. I usually go to the rest room to close my eyes for a few minutes when I am at the office. Sometimes I just close my eyes in my work area and took a power nap.

On one of my itchy moments, I went to visit an OB-Gyne, the wife of the internist. I mentioned to her about my visits to an allergist and to her husband. I also told her that her husband mentioned about the seven dwarfs of menopause.

She then proceeds to explain what are those symptoms that the medical field called them the seven dwarfs of menopause.

They are Itchy, Bitchy, Sweaty, Bloaty, Sleepy, Forgetful and Psycho.

So far I have been itchy, sweaty, bloaty and sleepy. I don’t know if I have been bitchy as I am already bitchy even before my pre-menopausal stage. But I am sure that I am not psycho.

And, yeah, I forgot to mention earlier that I have been forgetful too. 😁

For the itchiness, the doctor advised me not to take a bath for more than five minutes and to not use a hot water when bathing. Taking a long and a hot bath at that can cause dryness in skin hence it becomes itchy.

For my being bitchy, well, the doctor can’t help me with that. I just turn to God for guidance so that I will not be very bitchy to the point of hurting people. I am just very careful with my words and what comes out of my mouth as I cannot take back what comes out of it.

As for me being sweaty, I observed that when I no longer have my period for more than a year, the sweating has lessened and lessen and eventually it fades into oblivion.

Bloaty? I still have those from time to time. I am just now careful on what I eat and drink. I am now slowing down on coffee as it triggers my burping. I also slowed down on anything acidic.

Now that I am working from home, I have no problem with dealing with my sleepiness. If I am sleepy I will just lie down on the couch and take a short nap. Unlike when I am at the office that I have to fight it even though I sometimes failed.

I am still forgetful but I hope it does not develop into a dementia.

Psycho? NO, not a psycho.

Any read friends here who have experienced the seven dwarfs too?

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That’s all for now folks.

Thanks for dropping by.

I am forever grateful to these beautiful people who extends their support and love. You guys ROCK!

Plagiarism checked! 👍