Menopause

Yvette’s Massage
Jun 18
3 min read

🌸 Menopause: The Real Deal (From Me to You)

Hey beautiful people—it’s Yvette here. By day, I’m easing tight muscles as a massage therapist. By night, I’m fighting off rogue heat waves like a midlife superhero with a malfunctioning thermostat. Menopause isn’t just hot flashes and skipped periods—it’s a full-body takeover. And honestly? Most folks, including many doctors, still don’t get it.

I Remember…

Back in my 20s and 30s, I thought menopause was just something older women made dramatic fusses over. “You’re hot? Go enjoy it—Alaska’s waiting!” I’d tease. No one—and I mean no one—prepared me for the real deal.

Now? I’m mid-massage, heart pounding, face glowing like I just ran a 10K, and I’m not even the one on the table. Or it’s 3am, I’m drenched in sweat, staring at the ceiling, praying for sleep and wondering if I’m slowly combusting from the inside out. Brain fog? Check. Mood swings? Triple check. And don’t even ask about trying to date while explaining the mystery of damp sheets. Sexy, right?

The Baffling Gap in Menopause Awareness 🧠❓

Here’s what blows my mind: how is it 2025 and still—still!—so many doctors, particularly male ones, are completely lost when it comes to menopause? I’ve talked to women whose doctors told them to “just deal with it” or acted like hot flashes were a mild inconvenience. We get yearly physicals, pap smears, mammograms… but menopause? That’s treated like a side note in our health journey.

Even worse, tons of women (and partners, family members, coworkers) don’t even know what menopause actually entails. We’re walking around thinking we’re going mad, when really, it’s our hormones doing the cha-cha. This lack of education isn’t just annoying—it’s dangerous.

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The Science Behind the Sweat 💧

• Around 75–80% of women experience hot flashes—intense, sudden heat, sweating, chills, and heart palpitations.

• They can begin years before your last period and stick around for up to 14 years.

• Caused by dropping estrogen and your hypothalamus losing its chill (literally).

• More than half of us also suffer from night sweats, leading to poor sleep, worse moods, and daytime exhaustion.

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My Real-Life Symptom Bingo

• Chest heaviness that mimics a heart attack

• Mood swings so unpredictable I scare myself

• Night sweats that turn my bed into a Slip ’N Slide

• Brain fog that leaves me searching for keys I’m already holding

It’s like juggling fire while blindfolded—and trying to give someone a relaxing massage in the middle of it.

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Things that help;

1. HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy): a game-changer for some, not suitable for all.

2. Veozah (fezolinetant): a newer non-hormonal option that reduces hot flashes (finally!).

3. Diet magic:

• A plant-based, soy-rich diet has been shown to reduce hot flashes by up to 92%.

• Eating 30 different plants a week cut symptoms by a third in a UK study.

4. Lifestyle tools:

• Avoid spicy foods, caffeine, and tight clothes (bye-bye cute bra).

• Use fans, cold packs, breathable sheets, and wear layers like it’s fashion week.

5. Mind-body therapy:

• CBT, mindfulness, acupuncture, yoga—all great for calming your nerves and your thermostat.

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My Takeaways (After Surviving the Sweat Storm)

• Menopause isn’t just a phase—it’s a full-body transformation.

• It’s OK to laugh through the madness—I do it daily (usually while crying).

• We need better education, real conversations, and supportive doctors who actually know what they’re talking about.

• You are not crazy. You are not weak. And you are definitely not alone.

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What Keeps Me Going 💪

• my boys❤️

Filling my plate with whole foods—beans, berries, greens

• Keeping cooling tools near my bed and massage table

• Having a circle of midlife warriors to vent and laugh with

• Talking to a knowledgeable doctor (if you can find one) about all my options

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Let’s Break the Silence

Menopause isn’t something to whisper about. It’s powerful, raw, and transformational. And yes, it’s hard—but we don’t have to go through it blind, or alone.

Let’s start normalising the conversation. Let’s educate the clueless. And let’s demand better from our healthcare system.

Drop a comment or send me a message:

• What’s been the wildest menopause symptom for you?

• Got any cooling hacks or miracle foods?

We’re in this together, sista. Sweaty, moody, foggy—but still fabulous. 💁🏽‍♀️🌿💖

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📚 Menopause Must-Knows

• 75–80% of women get hot flashes

• Some women experience symptoms for 10–14 years

• Plant-based eating can drastically reduce symptoms

• Veozah is a non-hormonal FDA-approved flash-buster

• HRT helps—but it’s not one-size-fits-all