Orchid I have been finished with menopause now for years and even going through it, never had a single hot flash, headache, bloating or any other discomfort caused by menopause. I think I was just so glad to be having no more discusting periods that menopause was my friend. I looked forward to it and also took Wild Yam Root in capsule form which the Indian women use to gather in the wild and never suffered ill effects of menopause either.

You just substituted your friends: Cute!

What I actually said was, I was so happy to have my periods STOP, I thought of menopause as a friend and was happy when it arrived, maybe that was why it treated me kindly and I never felt any bad effects from it.

Me too, Chats. I have not regretted menopause, one bit. Sure, I have gained weight, went through my night sweats, etc, but I am embracing menopause with every ounce of my being.

I'm still perimenopausal and it hasn't been so bad. What I like the least is the metabolism that seems to have hit rock bottom.

Dotsie...yeah...old far for sure...but like Chatty...the best part is no more periods...happy happy happy!!!!

Well, am still just gradually fading away... it's quite gentle what is happening to me and no discomfort as mentioned earlier.

A question asked much earlier or a thought pondered if exercise helps reduce the menopausal symptoms:

On another forum devoted exclusively to women's cycling, there a number of ladies there who are perimenopausal but some of the gals are experiencing the same usual hot flashes and some of the women are truly strong, competent cyclists (ie. cycling mountains and logging in over 4,000 miles annually). The only 2 main things I sense are:

a) cycling or consistent regular exercise helps to mitigate negative feelings or distract you abit from physiological negatives reactions.

b) help in weight control, by exercising regularily one increases metabolism.

I felt the same way, chatty. Why were we given the idea that menopause was a bad thing? (I mean, normal, not-sick, not-too-early menopause.) Sheesh; did they all think we wanted to lug around sanitary supplies for the rest of our lives? Not me!

Following along on the de-baptism idea, but funny: I'd love to have gotten a 'graduation' certificate. Done with this stuff!

And I had a very easy time as well.

orchid, great points. Stae of mind has a lot to do with it. If we are feeling good about ourselves, perhaps it doens't bother us as much.

This is not to negate the harsh symptoms that some women get. We can only control so much.

Ellen, maybe the GYNs could offer those certificates!

Ellemm, my graduation certificate was throwing out all that old hideous underwear that we save for "those days" and buying a whole bunch of new ones.