Helping Gwyneth Paltrow rebrand menopause
Once I reach the Starbuck’s counter, my stomach turns and instead of ordering my Pumpkin Spice Latte, I ask for an iced coffee. My cheeks flush, I begin to sweat and now I am annoyed since I was ready to embrace fall with a PSL. I am actually pissed off often these days, and it can be over something as silly as not getting my PSL. I begin most days at 4:00 a.m., my mind swirling with anxiety over my teens, my dog, my husband…..anything can set me off and keep me awake for hours.
“Sounds like you are in the beginning stages of perimenopause, but since your Mom went thru chemo, we really don’t have any history to guide us,” my doctor explained after I listed my symptoms. “Forty-seven is really young, but I’ll do a blood test just in case.” My doctor called me to explain that the blood test did not reveal peri-menopause, but actual (eek) MENOPAUSE." I could barely swallow that news. Peri-menopause sounded awful, but MENOPAUSE?!?
Later that evening, I went to an Ed Sheeran concert with my girlfriends. Bonus was not having to wear a jacket since the hot flashes kept me toasty. I felt young and hip as we tailgated and posted pics. Women in MENOPAUSE don’t go to concerts! I kept testing out a new hashtag (#menopauseisthenew30), but like my hormones, it crashed and burned. Women don’t get excited over MENOPAUSE as it has an old lady stigma. I found myself embarrassed to even tell Todd who I have known most of my life. MENOPAUSE is not sexy.
I was thrilled to see the article of Gwenie discussing her perimenopause. “You are just all of a sudden furious for no reason.” I feel your pain GP! Now let’s hope that other celebs will come forward so we can change the negative image of aging and specifically MENOPAUSE.
Here are some items that have helped me and my friends as this has been the theme of our conversations this month!
Thank you Melissa for the melatonin, Samantha for the b12, Monique for the ginger and Tara for the charcoal packs. Grateful that you all have passed along these items.
These three read aloud from a porno written by the writer’s Dad and it so awful, that it’s hysterical. Thanks Kristen, this podcast is a fun break from reality!
What’s the sunny side?
When I catch my BRF (bitchy resting face) in the mirror, it reminds me of my Gramma Phyllis, and I smile.
