Q: i want to thank you (susun) for New Menopausal Years, it has been enormously helpful the last 2 years since i began having symptoms (and decided that yes, i am pre-menopausal).
my question is this: when i began have sxs, i was only 40--i have a theory as to why i started early (which i won't bore you with), but my question is, in your experience, how "abnormal" is this age to start entering menopause? i feel terribly alone when i read over and over "i am 48..." "i am 50..." , etc., and i would feel a lot better about this if i knew there were other women this young!
thank you,
blessings
A: Hello, thank you for writing. I will be sure to share your words with Susun - we are glad you are enjoying her book!
I have heard women discuss symptoms of menopause starting in their 30s, a few in their 20s. In the latter and sometimes in the former, the earlier age is sparked by a trauma, physical or emotional, sometimes dramatic like surgery or a death, sometimes simply a deep long term stress. Having been hearing people write in for years now, it does not alarm me that you have menopausal symptoms at 40. Are you concerned? Is there something in what you are calling symptoms that you feel should not be happening? Do you know when your mother, aunts, grandmothers, etc. went through menopause? If someone is starting a little early for her (not early by general standards - we are all unique), then simply the nourishing suggestions Susun makes in the book can help slow it down possibly, depending on where you are at in it.
Please let us know if we can help further!
Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com
Q: Hi Karen,
I am finally back from vacation and the visitors have left, so I have a moment to write you back in regards to your very nice message; again, it helped me a great deal, just to be in correspondence with someone about this.
I have included your previous message (below) in case you need to refer to it. I don't know when any of my female relatives went through menopause, but I do know that my mom had a hysterectomy-induced menopause at about age 50-55, so quite a bit older than I am (42) (but I know that it isn't always the same in everyone). There really aren't any symptoms that I am having that I feel I *shouldn't* be having, I think it's just that I always thought, given who I was, that I'd be the one of my friends/family who had her period until I was 60! :) Which was fine with me!
I have always loved being femaile, and loved my cycle; having the pattern of menstruation has helped me feel very connected to the Earth, and without anything to "mark" (ovulation, menstruation), I feel that I will not feel this connection because there will be no more physical "reminders." While most of the women around me were complaining about their periods, I was feeling powerful and whole and happy with my cycle. So for me this has been completely unexpected (to begin this "early") and has led to intense grief at this loss, because for me that's what it is, a loss.
I do worry a little about if there is a connection between the age you go through menopause, and life expectancy? I wouldn't expect to find a connection, but if you or anyone there know of one, I guess I'd like to know.
Bottom line, I am not worried about the symptoms, and not really worried about my age, I am just sad. I suppose I have just one main question: as I had written earlier, I have used Susun's book a great deal, but have not found anything that says it might help *prolong* my cycle (slow this process down) somewhat, which is *really* what I'd like to do!! Could you or someone there tell me what might possibly help to do this? (and I realize that not everything works for everyone) If it helps in answering this question, I am 42, have been having symptoms for 2 years, and the symptoms are: change in skin (acne; chaste tree is helping!), some bloating, intense hot flashes, and a decrease in periods (For 2 years I missed just one every six months, but this year I have had only one in February, and one in June).
Thank you again for your time, and information. I would be glad of any insight into slowing this down, as I work though the process of letting it go...
Peace and Joy
A: Hi, thank you for explaining this to me. I do understand the grief that must come with this as I too love knowing/feeling my monthly cycles. i do believe I have heard menopausal women speak of noticing a new monthly cycle, it just takes tuning in and being open to something different. I have not heard of earlier menopause meaning shorter life expectancy, but can understand the conclusion. In fact I have heard the opposite. The more we ovulate the more we are exposed to estradiol which increases our risk of cancer. I heard somewhere, from Susun I am pretty sure, that women are going through menarche earlier and menopause later than in the past and this is putting us are more risk, so I would think the opposite for you. The section I think would be helpful for you is Cessation of Menses on pages 22-23 of New Menopausal Years. There you will find ideas for bringing back your menstruation if it is slowing or stopping for reasons needing attention. Some can simply smooth out the transition for more regularity until you cease. Please let me know if you would like me to explore this with you further.
I hear it feels good to speak with others about this. Did I mention before our forum you can join to speak with others, and Susun's free Tuesday night phone consultations?
Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com
Q: hi karen,
sorry to take so long to reply (i've left your previous message to remind you what we were discussing) so long ago! your responses have really helped me, put things in perspective and let go of some of the worries/questions i had (like shorter life expectancy, etc)--i'm still not *enjoying* the hot flashes when they happen (mine seem to be strong to severe) but i am dealing with them with ideas from susun's book and i am going to see a Chinese medical dr. here in salt lake city for a consultation and herbal therapy to support the changes happening--she also (the MD) told me, as you did, that my age is actually not that uncommon.
thank you again, you've been very helpful! and thanks again to susun for her knowledge and suggestions :)
peace
A: It is great to hear from you! It sounds like you are surrounding yourself with wonderful support and I am happy for that. Please write any time, I always love hearing further. And let me know if I can ever help more. I am glad you have Susun's book.
All my very best :)
Karen Joy
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