today is just seriously shitty.

100%.

When I had my hysterectomy 5 years ago, the instant surgical menopause meant hot flashes galore. I had a bunch of those herbal packs and had three or more in the freezer at all times. I would just keep switching them out until I cooled down. It was a novel experience, because I have been the person who was too cold all my life. So, sitting around in the evening in shorts was interesting.

The Bill Nye debate is being live streamed at debatelive.org. It starts in a few minutes.

My periods are still regular, but, praise be, very light except for about every three months. I'm tracking them primarily by the psychological changes of my cycle.

Can't comment on my period because Mirena changed my life. I may have a day or two of spotting but it is SUCH a difference. Of course, my doctors plan is that I will be done with menopause by the time it would need to be replaced.

My experience also. My periods had gotten insanely heavy and the cramps in my back were sidelining me. Mirena changed all that. After almost three years of no periods to speak of, now I'm noticing that my cycle seems to have shortened by a week, week-and-a-half. I'm assuming that's another symptom of menopause. Man, I will be so happy when it's over and my hormones settle and I get my personality back.

Hot flashes. Limited, light ,irregular,Heavy cramps, night sweats, boiling under the skin. Yup. Less now. But sometimes with a vengeance

The hot flash folks have my sympathy. I've been getting cold flashes since just after HPF was born. Sitting here right now with two sweaters and a heating pad. Still freezing. Plus the added bizarro stuff of the past 5 months and 6 years ago.

Bodies. How do they work?

I have no experience in this area.

I am roasting some broccoli. Instead of attempting to chop or slice or whatever into something like uniform pieces, I'm trying just splitting the bunches vertically.

Up until a week ago I always assumed I would be on the pill till menopause was over and past. Now I'm not at all looking forward to the next few decades without the option of added estrogen. Oh well, "new normal" and all that.

I've had non-hormone related flushes, and as they've been so rare, they are fascinating. They've always been hot, but hot the way icy-hot or bengay is, in that they're also sharp like cold is. Over in a couple minutes.

I always run hot part of my cycle, wake up sweaty in the morning, no matter how cold it is. And I'm a head-sweat-er normally, so ew. It nicely coincides with the part that runs me with no patience whatsoever and the focus of a gnat. Funtimes.

This hand cream I unearthed from my xmas stash smells like yellow lemon cake mix. Not batter, the mix. Down to that baking-soda edge. Kinda makes me want to eat my hands.