Dealing with the heat.

My last post...such a long time ago, I wrote about the snow or lack thereof in Vancouver, British Columbia. I showed my gratitude for less snow which brings us to spring in Vancouver. Our spring is typical in Vancouver. Very rainy and cold. I have only just taken off the heavy coat of winter for lighter clothing wrapped in plastic rain wear. The past couple of years Vancouverites were complaining about the heat and mugginess. For the first time air conditioners were in great demand at the hardware stores as spring (what spring?) flowed into summer. While I was speaking with customers a rash of perspiration would slowly form on my forehead. As I stood there becoming drenched, acting like I was quite comfortable with being bathed in sweat, I would wonder if the individual with whom I was speaking thought something was wrong with me. They never said a word and neither did I.

I was suffering with the heat not because of the weather so much but because I was in menopause. Menopause shows itself differently for each woman. For many it may start at the back of the legs, from the solar plexus, for my friend just beginning to indulge in this pasttime that few womwen can avoid, her feet gets really hot. For me it began in my heart. In my chest. A wave of heat started to prickle in the centre of my chest and slowly, oh so slowly oozed over my chest, up my neck, into my face and up into my scalp, then down through my stomach. The heat was suffocating. It was debilitating as its intensity grew and rose up and over my body. It was as if someone took wool batting, and attempted to slowly suffocate me with it. I felt like I was being forced out of air with the heat and as I panicked the experience grow and became more intense.

Over my life I found that as I struggled to overcome a situation, it intensified. I learned that relaxing and surrendering to the physical pain and discomfort caused it to diminish. This is how I faced the hot flashes. I emotionally relaxed, which relaxed my body which caused the discomfort to go away quicker. When my mother went into menopause, I am not sure if she was aware of what was happening but she thought everyone was contrary to herself. She could not understand why people were wearing so much clothing when the environment was so hot to her. She did not understand, she would comment, why we did not put on much clothing when it was so cold. My mother's foray into the world of menopause did not last long because it was not her focus and the same with me. I have heard that the experience lasts for many years, mine lasted for only a short time - unless, I just got used to dealing the heat.

I am looking forward to our (hopefully) hot summer. I should not need to sleep with a fan running all night, nor stick my face into the fridge to alleviate the discomfort. So I am excited about dry picnics, outings and sleeps. Unless menopause is stalking me like my kitten Princess stalked my stockinged feet pouncing when I lease expected it and getting tangled up in my stocking with her claws.