Flashback to my youth

As I’m now 48 years old, I know that menopause is likely in the relatively near future. If I am lucky/unlucky (depending on how you look at it) it may still be another five or six years. At the moment, my cycles are still relatively regular. Some cycles are shorter and some are longer but they still average out. Hot flashes haven’t entered the equation yet so I wonder if I might be lucky enough to avoid them. Mood changes haven’t been a big issue, cyclically. At least not like they were in my younger days. I used to have a lot of mood swings premenstrually and that hasn’t happened that much in recent years. In fact it often surprises me when it does. I think the Scientist is grateful for that improvement.  During my teens I had some pretty bad dysmenorrhea for several years, enough that I was put onto motrin, which was prescription-only at the time. I think this got better into my 20s and was reasonably bearable after having kids. Most of the time I can manage quite well so long as I medicate before pain becomes too bad and even some of the worst months are nothing compared to what I used to experience.

I had forgotten how bad the cramps were in the early days. I mean, I have forgotten how really bad it felt. I don’t think I’ve had pain like that in 30 years. Yesterday my period started and I took my usual pain medications at the first signs of cramps. When I got up this morning I felt quite fine and continued the same until early afternoon when that old familiar feeling hit me like a brick. I medicated a bit too late and it didn’t break the pain at all and I had to take an extra tablet and wait to see what effect that had. The medication eventually did kick in hours later but what a shock to have those early days brought back to me so vividly.

Which brings me back to this menopause that my body is moving towards year by year. My theory is this is part of that process and I might expect more of the same in future cycles. I think it might be a good idea to stock up on medication for the future so as not to be left unprepared.