Women’s Health After Menopause: 7 Brutally Honest Lessons I Wish I Knew Sooner

Women's Health After Menopause: 7 Brutally Honest Lessons I Wish I Knew Sooner

I Didn’t Know My Body Would Betray Me This Hard

So. There I was. Crying in the parking lot of Trader Joe’s because I forgot why I even went in there.

I wasn’t sad. I wasn’t angry. I was just… confused? Sweaty? Swollen? Empty?

That day, I whispered it to myself for the first time like it was a curse word:

“Is this… menopause?”

No one warns you how weird women’s health after menopause really gets. I thought it was gonna be a few hot flashes and boom—freedom from periods. Champagne and no tampons, right?

Wrong.

It was like my entire body rebooted… into a glitchy beta version that hadn’t been QA tested.

And I felt like a stranger in my own skin.

This is my raw, unfiltered walk (okay—limp) through what actually helped, what didn’t, and why I now carry magnesium in my purse like it’s holy water.

1. Sleep Went From “Eh” to “WTF Just Happened”

I used to sleep like a rock. Like, out cold. Anywhere. Anytime.

Then menopause hit and suddenly I was wide awake at 2:17am every night—sweaty, itchy, and hungry. Like some weird reverse Cinderella situation.

Not gonna lie, I cried about it. A lot. Sleep deprivation is a beast, y’all.

What Actually Helped:

• Cooling pillow + bamboo sheets (not sponsored, just obsessed)

• A cheap white noise machine I found on Amazon that sounds like a distant thunderstorm

• Magnesium glycinate before bed (literal game changer)

• Not scrolling TikTok at 1am “just to wind down” — big nope

The sleep issue didn’t magically vanish, but I stopped feeling like a zombie driving a car underwater.

2. My Libido Ghosted Me

Let’s talk about the thing no one really talks about: sex after menopause.

Spoiler: it’s different. Not worse. But different.

For me, desire didn’t just “dip”—it packed a bag and left without a note.

And I blamed myself. I felt broken. Like I wasn’t me anymore. But here’s the thing:

You are not broken.

What Helped Bring Sexy Back:

• Open convos with my partner (super awkward at first, but freeing)

• Vaginal estrogen cream (your OB/GYN isn’t offering it? Ask!)

• More focus on intimacy than performance

• Therapy (because body shame and aging are real, and messy)

Was it weird at first? Yep. Did I cry in the bathroom after one failed attempt? Also yes.

But it got better. Slower. Softer. Sometimes even better than before.

3. My Joints Started Sounding Like a Popcorn Machine

I bent down to tie my shoe one morning and my knee popped like a champagne bottle. Fun.

Another day, I tried yoga and had to literally roll to my side like a turtle just to get up.

I never connected joint pain with menopause. But guess what?

Estrogen affects everything—including your joints.

What Eased the Cracks and Creaks:

• Collagen powder in my coffee (yes, it dissolves fine—just stir like a madwoman)

• Gentle strength training 2–3 times a week (I follow a 60-year-old trainer on YouTube and I love her more than most of my family)

• Daily turmeric capsules (I call them my sunshine pills)

• Stretching. Daily. Even if it’s just touching my toes while brushing teeth

I’m still creaky. But I can walk without wincing. That’s a win.

4. I Gained 17 Pounds Without Changing a Thing

Here’s the slap-in-the-face moment:

My jeans didn’t fit anymore—and it wasn’t because I was “lazy.”
I was doing everything the same. Eating “healthy.” Going on walks.

But my metabolism had apparently packed up and moved to Florida.

I kept saying: “Is this just my life now?”

What (Eventually) Worked:

• Tracking my protein (I was eating way less than I needed)

• Adding short, intense workouts 2x a week (nothing wild—think: dancing in the kitchen with ankle weights)

• Cutting back on alcohol (ugh, I know… but even one glass made me feel like sludge)

• Getting blood work done to rule out thyroid issues (my TSH was slightly off—worth checking!)

I’m not “back” to my old weight. But I’m strong, I feel better in my skin, and my jeans button without a battle.

Sometimes that’s enough.

5. Brain Fog Is Real, and It’s Not Just “Being Forgetful”

Ever walk into a room and immediately forget why you’re there?

I started calling it “menopausal dementia,” which—yes—is dramatic, but damn if it didn’t feel that way.

I couldn’t focus. I’d stare at my laptop like a goldfish. I once put my keys in the fridge.

Things That Brought My Brain Back Online:

• Lion’s mane mushroom supplements (I was skeptical. I now evangelize.)

• Omega-3s (fish burps? totally worth it)

• Less sugar (made a huge difference with afternoon crashes)

• Putting Post-It notes everywhere like I’m the main character in Memento

It’s not perfect. I still have foggy days. But now I’m kind to myself about it.

6. I Stopped Apologizing for Being “Too Emotional”

Here’s a truth bomb:

Hormones can mess with your moods. Hard.

There were days I would cry watching a TikTok of a golden retriever hugging a baby. Like… sob.

I felt unstable. Overwhelmed. Angry for no reason. It scared me, honestly.

I used to apologize every time I cried or snapped. Now? I just own it.

“Yup, I’m emotional today. Wanna hug me or back away slowly?”

What Helped Me Balance the Emotional Rollercoaster:

• Journaling (even if it’s just “WTF is happening to me?” repeated 10 times)

• Black cohosh (I know it’s “old school,” but my OB actually recommended it—and it helped)

• Less caffeine (sorry, but yes)

• Talking to actual women going through it—no one understands like another hormone survivor

7. I Had to Re-Introduce Myself… To Myself

This is the hardest part to admit.

Menopause made me feel invisible.

Like I was aging out of womanhood. Like I didn’t matter anymore. Like my best years were behind me.

But after the storm, after the fog, something shifted.

I stopped trying to go back to “who I used to be.”

Instead, I asked: “Who am I now?”

And honestly? I kinda like her.

She’s softer. Wiser. More honest. She’s okay with saying no. Okay with her stretch marks. Okay with rest days.

What Got Me There:

• Therapy. Real talk: I wish I’d started sooner.

• Reading stories from other women (if you're reading this, hi—I see you)

• Starting a hobby just for me (mine’s pottery—yes, like that Ghost scene)

• Letting go of timelines, scales, and comparison traps

So yeah. Women’s health after menopause?

It’s weird. It’s wild. It’s sweaty. It’s freeing.

You lose things—yes. But you also gain some serious fire.

I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s not.
But it’s yours. This new chapter. It belongs to you.

And no—women’s health after menopause isn’t magic. But for me? Total game changer.

If you're in it, I’m with you. And if you're not yet?

Pack snacks. You’re gonna need ‘em. 💪🏼