Comments on: Suzanne Giesemann has an Awakening

By: Ruth Allen

Ruth Allen — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:55:14 +0000

I don’t believe I suffered from ever changing moods, thank goodness! I do however seem to be switching from one temperature to another with no bearing on the actual conditions around me. It is rather disconcerting and sometimes uncomfortable. It does seem to be lessening, at least I think it does. HRT is not an option for me, given the death of my sister from ovarian cancer before she was 42. Adding soy to my diet seems to help. In any case things appear to be settling down. Isnt life an adventure?

By: Lydia

Lydia — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:09:30 +0000

Hey Suzanne – I wish we *could* have a seminar on this topic, but alas, we may have to pass around whatever chemical it takes to drop the inhibitions and get everyone to participate I had my very last period the month that I quit work and moved into a boat yard at 52. There was no wishy washy period (pardon the pun) about it – it was never to be seen again. So, most of my peri-menopausal strife occured before that, and honestly, I think it may have been worse, as far as the mood swings go, than full blown menopause. However, I should probably ask Skip (my husband) about that. Actually, in many ways I feel *better* than I have since puberty, as if loosing my hormones also gave me my brain back. I don’t make too many emotional decisions anymore, for instance, and in restropect, I can look back on a great many poor decisions I made in my life and see that they were often hormone driven. 15 years ago, I could wake up in the morning, stick my head out the front door, and think my yard was bursting with color. The very next day, under identical circumstances, I might find myself seeing nothing but weeds. Once that emotional flip-flopping left with the onset of menopause, I ceased to wonder which was the “real” me – which was a very welcome relief. I haven’t taken any HRT, although, aside from watching my skin age 10 years in the last 4, the main side effect of menopause for me has been libido. Anyone who knows me well, also knows that I tend not to do things I’m not in the mood to do, even if everyone else is doing it. So, based on that little character flaw, our sex life took a bit of a dive. I still don’t have the answer to how to improve it; testoterone pills didn’t help for long (although, initially there was some improvement in libido). Going off anti-depressants after 15 years definitely helped, but even so, I miss the way it used to be, and I’m sure Skip does too. If anyone has any useful tips on that front, I’d be grateful to hear them. Having said all this, we all live in the most amazing circumstances that relaltively few dare to enjoy, and being with our partners 24/7 is part of that. I know that I, for one, am grateful to have the partner I do, who graciously accepts me as I am, and loves me through the changes we’re going through

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:09:15 +0000

Thanks, Suzanne, you always make me feel less alone in this life! It is strange how we can be in the middle of one of these mood swings and still not realize it. I’ve learned that my first clue is when I say something like, “I feel like I’ve been hit by a mack truck.” It’s a feeling of all over heaviness in body, mind and spirit. Countless times I have said that and been deaf to it as a clue to what was on the horizon. Irritability and jaw dropping (at least for my partner, Chris, who is usually within a few feet of me – how can he not be on a boat, righ?) sailors mouth. I will ultimately let out a stream of profanities that I can’t seem to control. Poor guy wonders where is Hula Girl At Heart went. I’ve learned to realize that the mood swings will be coming soon when I hear myself saying it, now. And I, too, have found what I call my “happy pills” (aka Estroblend). As soon as the down moods begin, I take my pills and they seem to help. Plethora or real thing, who knows? I like to think it is helping. For how can we be unhappy when we are Living the Dream, right? Thanks for bringing up this topic. Fairwinds,

By: Kathy Parsons

Kathy Parsons — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:19:28 +0000

I think I had an easier time with the (pre)menopausal mood swings because another cruising friend shared her experience and I knew to be on the lookout for mood swings. Of course, people who know me may have a different assessment… What did require a bigger adjustment for me was living with my changing temperature.

I had always been cold-natured and chilled easily. But now I get HOT aboard. I’ve become fanatical about ventilation aboard: wind scoops and port scoops, as well as 12-volt fans strategically located around the boat, especially over the bunk.

By: Suzanne Giesemann

Suzanne Giesemann — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:07:33 +0000

Loved your comments, Bev. And now, an update. I used to take a wonderful vitamin called Levity Plus for PMS symptoms. It worked wonders then, so I figured I’d try it now for these menopausal mood swings. Well, ladies, I’m just shy of one month of taking Levity Plus and I feel like my old self. I wake up in the morning without that awful “blah” feeling. No more does every little think iritate the heck out of me. In fact, we’ve been pushing hard for the past 4 days, sailing in some pretty high winds and rough conditions, and I’ve enjoyed the heck out of the sailing. The real proof of the vitamin’s efficiency came this morning when I spilled my coffee all over the cockpit. My reaction? “Oh well.” Last month I would have been in a rage. I can’t say enough good things about Levity Plus.

By: Beverly Feiges

Beverly Feiges — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:28:51 +0000

I shouldn’t say I got a laugh out of your misery, but been there, done that. I couldn’t help but think about how “snappish” I got at about the same age, but I blamed it on the hormone pills I was taking on my doctor’s advice, because I had had a hysterectomy a few years before. Now, at a much older age, I find myself getting “snappish” again, and again, it is, I think, just the human condition, in this case age, and nothing to do with cruising. Glad you reached that conclusion too, and can go back to enjoying the cruising life.