I am so right there with you. This thing they call “perimenopause” is for the birds. And last week at the neuro-shrink’s office was the first time someone asked me when I was “due” thanks to the “fashionable” empire cut top I had chosen to wear that day. The irony being that this question came from a woman who had to be in her early to mid 60’s and was severely obese, but those were not her problems. Her problems were the ones that made me want to ask her stupid question with the snarky one of when she planned to retire from the world’s oldest profession, as she was dressed in a black mini-skirt with slits on both sides clear up to her hips, thigh high stockings, bright red Reebok sneakers and bright red T-shirt covered with patriotic emblems. AND her greying blonde hair was pulled up into a high pony-tail that would make any cheerleader jealous.

Yes. I am PMS’ing, too.

So it’s not just me wishing that “dressing our age” means dressing how our Moms did when they were our age, instead of now being expected to dress like we’re 20 years younger?

I mean, if we get to do it then that old woman in your doctor’s office would realize that SHE ought to do it, too.

I’ve got bad news. Based on personal experience, you can be in perimenopause for at least a decade — possibly more. You can’t use HRT because your body is still thinking you just might reproduce and apparently using HRT when you’re not in menopause will cause bleeding problems. So here I am in my 50s having to use a birth-control Nuvaring to even out my “hormonal chaos.” My gynecologist said this may go on for a few years more. Lucky me!

And what I’m finding out is that menopause isn’t a sweet transition into no cramps or acne. It is like some kind of cold turkey withdrawal from a “drug” you’ve depended on for years to keep your sanity — estrogen. I just wish it would get over with, but no. It goes on and on.

I feel sure I’m wearing Mom jeans. I can’t even figure all that out.

Anne’s last blog post..More Advice on How to Live to Be 100

At least a decade??! That truly is bad news, Anne.

OTOH, if I keep having to argue with my husband over whether the thermostat is too high (it is), and why we need to have a ceiling fan running at night anyway (because I said so), then I might just wind up spending that decade in a nice little climate-controlled cell.

s Wall Street Journal Melinda Beck wrote a fair and well-balanced article on a woman’s choice when it comes to Hormone Replacement Therapy. The articles on this subject are usually so one-sided with nary a mention of …Some Days <b>Menopause</b> Sounds FunBeing 40-something sucks. Theres just something about that age thats neither here nor there: Im no spring chicken, but anyone out of their teens protests when I say I feel… Visit ChubbyMommy.com to read the rest!

Listen, I know exactly what you mean! What a relief to have an end to all this monthly annoyance. My sister is 52 and she says it’s really freeing to not have to worry about monthly anything…

I think we need to find some way to make each age work for us (forty is the new thirty or whatever!) I’m just trying to stay as healthy and on track as I can and move ahead.

I just saw a good article on different stages of a woman’s life and how to stay healthy. I’m going to try to follow their advice.

And those blouses make EVERYONE look pregnant!