Women in Mid 40s

Menopause (Pic source: Google.com)

Hey hi, how have you been?

It has been a while since the last time I posted here. Time flies like crazy. In few more years, I would enter the middle age that I never thought I would be one day. Hahaha...

Talking about this, I want to share what I have been through while passing these years. I would not shy sharing all these because one day, all young ladies (readers) would also one day reach this phase, if you are lucky enough, of course! :D

I wanted to share my menopause experience here. I have it already now. It considered quite early but still under normal age category. I had the pre-menopause moments for about two years before the period had actually stopped.

The most obvious symptoms was irregular periods. In the beginning, the period duration became shorten where usually it took 4-5 days each, had become 2-3 days. The flow had also reduced. 

Slowly, the frequency had also lessen  From the regular once a month, it had reduced to once every 2 months, 3 months, and even it stopped for almost a year. 

The other symptom that appeared was hot flush - a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body. In my case, it was happened mostly at the back upper part, below the neck area. 

I heard about it before, but when I experienced it myself, it still felt weird and funny :D 

Brain fog and forgetfulness. You know, it was when you went somewhere like kitchen, room, toilet, etc., and then suddenly you could not remember what you were going to do by entering those places. Or when in your mind you could picture one thing but suddenly you could not remember "that particular word" of that thing. Or you just lost focus and harder to concentrate.

Well, we thought it was because it was parts of getting older, but apparently, that was symptoms from pre-menopause as well.

Some people would be having difficulty to sleep. Not to the stage of insomnia, but it was not as easy to sleep as before. Luckily so far I have no such thing unless I had a very high dose of caffeine after lunch time or took a nap in the afternoon. And I had to practice a simple mediation before slowly dosing off to the dreamland.

The infamous thing from perimenopause is mood change, which includes easy to get irritation, sometimes could feel depressed too as our hormones changed. Especially when you were alone. 

When I told the doctor that I had my menopause already, one thing she asked me if I did any additional measure in taking care of my bones. The lack of ovarian estrogen after menopause could cause a significant loss in bone strength, placing women at higher risk of osteoporosis. Therefore, I needed enough dose of Calcium and vitamin D taken into a daily basis. As I could not be exposed into the sunlight, I had to take vitamin D supplement into my diet.

I was also advised to do light exercise as not to exert the joint parts too much. So instead of running, I could do walking on a daily basis and light aerobic or Zumba few times in a week.

Food was also playing a big part to lead a healthier lifestyle. You could observe what you get in your basket each time you buy your weekly shopping. 

I just shared with my sister-in-law recently on how lucky we are for staying in Singapore as the Singapore government really takes care of its citizens by always encouraging us to take healthier food (less salt, less sugar, less oil campaign), do at least 150 mins exercise a week by providing us free exercises that we could book through the Healthy 365 apps, providing exercise places, grounds and parks accessible in each neighborhood housings for free or with lesser/ subsidized fees, free checkup for men and women above 40s, sometimes free in-body check up (to check how much muscles are in our body parts) and providing us advises on how to improve them - by exercising and taking more proteins in our food, and many more.

The high cost of hospital bill has also become the deterrent for us to prevent sickness and improve our health being.

I mean, how many countries in the world would bother to care to its citizens health like that? 

Maintain the moderate BMI is still difficult for me, so far, I have always fallen in borderline overweight category. But I tried my best to balance my meals and eat more healthier food. 

Most importantly, keep positive mind everyday. It is not easy, but we can do it. Especially morning time. It is the most important time of the day to have a positive mind. 

Getting old is part of process of living as a human being. We have to accept it that nothing stays permanent. Wrinkles, white hair, loosen cheeks and eye bags, slow metabolism, weaken joints and bones are something we need to face soon or later. 

We cannot avoid it all (unless you go for face-lifting surgery, or Botox, of course). But by growing old, we can focus on how we could grow wiser, calm in time of crisis, and maintain peace in mind despite whatever thing that happen worldwide - high oil and gold prices, wars, natural disaster, economic crisis, and so on. Also spend our money and time wisely in everyday life.

There are more and more people in their 60s, 70s and 80s in Singapore these days. Soon, I too will be there. Hope everything will be in smooth journey and most importantly blessed with good health so I still can travel and visit more countries in the world and do what I love doing.

So, one day at one time. Focus on what is there at the present moment. Just get ready of what will come ahead. Cheers and wish everyone be happy and healthy always..... :)