Did you see Oprah yesterday? It was all on menopause. You could show parts of it to him. I thought the doctor's explanation (can't remember her name: she wrote "The Wisdom of Menopause") of the various hormones that start to fluctuate was very good, although I don't like how much Oprah seems to be pushing hormone therapy. It is clearly not for everyone. BTW, I'm 52 and have no signs yet of entering menopause. I'm trying to figure out what I will most likely encounter--and how to recognize it once it occurs!

I missed Oprah in the afternoon but recorded the replay last night and will watch it later. I, too, am just entering menopause...which is why I'm hoping others will provide ideas based on their experiences.

I told my husband that my body is reacting to hormone fluctuations that I have no control over.

Then, on bad days, I would tell him, today is just not a good day to do anything other than be nice to me. :)

So far, this worked. When I feel crappy, I let him know. Rita, I am 54, and still have hot flashes, and some days are better than others. I do stuff for me, that makes me feel good, on days I don't.
Above all, I warn him on "bad days".

Moni

LOL @ the warning! That's a good one, Moni.

I'm lucky that my DH knows all about it. But then I am lucky because I am cruising right through it. Except for the occasional hot flash and night sweat I don't have any of the crying episodes or mood swings.

SamKaren
your resident DJ

It's funny how each woman reacts a little differently to menopause. It would be easier to manage if we all had the same symtoms, etc.
Mine began at age 52 and is still going strong a decade later. Nightsweats, hot flashes several times a day. The mood swings are much improved.
I took HRT for a year or so, and decided if I were to get a cancer, I wouldn't want to think I brought it on myself, by taking hormones.
This is a normal part of aging, and if it's not debilitating, I'll live with it.

Get your husband a book from the library, with pages marked that refer to you. Dr. Northup's book is good.

LOL well, I can tell you that when my DD's first monthly visitor arrived over the holidays, she was in the shower, and started crying hysterically.

DH walks to the door, and gets upset with her, "Why does she have to cry? It's nothing to cry about."

I said, "Honey I love you, now go away."

LOL He has no idea how this female stuff feels.

I'm going thru stuff in my 40's that frustrates him, and I have tried to talk to him but for now, we have agreed that there are some days that if I say get outta my hair, he has to just go watch TV and stay outta my hair.

lol some of the hubby responses are funny! im not making fun of your question but my friends some of whom are male know enough about me to know when im having a BAD day lol, no teasing no nothing they never know wether im going to laugh cry or if theyll have to(hopefully) duck real fast! im a taz devil on a bad day. ive been going through this since my late 20's and ill be 42 in march. as for explaining it well i just said it straight up if im acting more looney than i normally am its my hormones lol. my ex husband was the WORST!! i could not just could not get it through his head that it wasnt him that was totally making me nuts, you wouldve thought hed know all about this stuff his mom was a nurse and she talked about everything with him..i even had her try to talk to him for me to know avail,hate to say it but some men just dont get it! thank god ive got a best friend whos male and lets me rant and rave and turn the heat on and off on and off etc till my hearts content. sorry this was so long i kinda got off track...its the hormones!

Don't forget, in a lot of instances, hubbies enjoy menopause along with us.

I started with the first hints in my early 40's, and it took maybe 5-6 years to get to the end of that particular stage of life for me. Sure there were hot flashes, the cranky moments, BUT there were also the testosterone surges. DH and I had some of the most frequent, and innovative 'togetherness' in all our 37 years, during that span of time. He often enjoyed menopause with me 4-5 times a day, most days of the week (it's a wonder the poor guy could get up in the morning to go to work).

On the more serious side, I guess I was lucky--my husband is pretty well-informed about the human body, and was pretty understanding (although, I'm sure the fringe benefits helped him overlook some of the rougher patches--LOL).

I do agree, that as women, we need to get back to being a little more practical. Menopause is NOT a sickness--even though it's often treated as one. It's a normal and natural part of life. Something everyone will go through if she lives long enough. It may be slightly uncomfortable at times, but it's temporary. I think it's a shame that so many women have been told that menopause is something they should fight, should be 'treated' for with drugs, etc.

Hey, my point of view? I had my own little furnace. It was nice to know that if I got cold in the winter, in a few minutes, I'd be warm as toast. Not saying I wasn't a witch (sp--LOL) at times, but I refused to look at it as anything more than the next adventure of life.