It's great to read other people's experiences! I was the person that was always cold ... then surgical menopause hit full on due to ovarian cancer (I'm extremely grateful to be in remission) & at the beginning I had 5 types of hot flashes... 7 years later - I still have no middle ground, either cold or flashing. For me, my date knitting changed to cardigans & other suchlike removable layers.
Thank you so much for this, it is so helpful. I'm experiencing menopause and living in a hot climate. I too have been trying out plant fibers. For my next project I'm trying out a bamboo/cotton blend so I'm hoping there will be some drape in the resulting fabric. Fingers crosssed :)
My periods stopped when I was 57, after years of unpredictable flow, sorry is TMI, and I still have occasional hot flashes at night that leave me drenched in sweat. Thanks for the excellent article! And the lovely knitting!
Wow, I hadn’t yet made the very obvious connection between my changes in my clothing styles and my impending menopause (I think the pandemic years threw me). Thank you so much for writing this and making it so clear!
Due to poly cystic ovarian syndrome, diagnosed when I was 24, my body and cycles have never been regular or normal. I would go months or years without having a period and then have them for a few months and round and round again. Three years ago, this summer, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer and had a complete hysterectomy. The pressures to not have facial hair, be incredibly thin, etc, are hard for women but spending all of your life not being normal is incredibly torturous. Knitting and reading have in many ways, been my calm for many years. Your words and your yarns are a gift.
I am tenderly sitting here, letting in your experience and if we were in knitting group together, I’d give you a big hug. Those experiences are so hard and I am so happy you’re here. 💙
I totally get the core body temp setting being higher than it was pre-menopause. Yes to everything you said about managing the heat, including sleeping with the fan. If I get cold now, the temp is definitely below 32° or I am deathly ill. I'm looking forward to my Dolce yarn, as knitting 100% wool sweaters feels like a futile gesture now.
Re: cultural reflections on menopause- Hie thee posthaste to thy public library or thy favorite bookstore and obtain the book Hagitude by Sharon Blackie. Thou shalt not regret doing so one whit!
You or others have recommended this to me before. I happen to be between books right now (and blessing the return of my reading mojo) so I am OFF TO THE LIBRARY!
At 68, the symptoms of menopause are far behind me. But I remember feeling awkward and kind of outside my body. I want to cheer you on with the words, this will pass. I know this doesn’t help much right now. But I have to say, I feel more settled now than I have ever been. I still struggle with seasonal affective disorder and it’s summer now. So I may feel differently once winter returns. I hope this helps!
Thanks so much for this thoughtful post, Anne. I turned 45 last month, so I’ve been thinking a lot about this life transition, what it means, and the messaging we get about aging, especially as women. I haven’t had many perimenopausal symptoms yet, but I’m being mindful now of the way I think about and frame this next stage of life.
I’m finding it very meaningful right now to be grateful to be here in the world at this time in my life. We lost a close family member this spring to an accident. He was 39, and I think all the time about how unfair it is that he never got to grow old, that he and his wife won’t get to grow old together, and that we won’t be able to walk alongside each other through all the transitions that come with the years. Sorry, I know that’s far afield from knitting, but your thoughtful piece led me there :).
I grew up in a cold climate but have lived in southern CA for the last 16 years, so I’ve also learned to embrace plant fibers and lighter weight yarns. I guess that will be good training when perimenopause starts for me in earnest.
Anyway, thank you for sharing your thoughts and lovely work with us all.
I’m 47, peri menopausal and have found the last six months that I feel like my body temperature has gone up too. I am usually such a cold person - always under cover no matter the temperature, but these last few months I’ve enjoyed fans on, and, like you say, with the feeling of light breeze on my skin.
I studied Chinese medicine for 2 out of 4 years and there is a lot that is taught about ‘Heat’ and all the different causes in the body for it. So, I have been self-acupuncturing when the heat feels overwhelming. It definitely helps my mood because I am sure I am a lot more irritated when I am hotter, but I haven’t yet found the right combination of points for relief from the heat for longer than a day or two.
Anyway. Thankyou for your newsletter and your recommended ‘The Unpublishable’! What a treasure trove! Ros @rosem0nde on IG ❤️
Acupuncture/pressure! What a great recommendation. I did quite a bit when I was pregnant and it really helped. (So glad you like The Unpublishable too! I will subscribe forever because it's just such a great counterbalance to all the 💩 the beauty industry throws at me.)
Aug 20, 2023·edited Aug 20, 2023Liked by Anne Vally
I'm not at that point in my life yet, but I love this conversation and will be keeping these things in mind for later on. It also feels connected (for me) to how few patterns I've seen (none, really) that are marketed for pregnant or nursing parents. As a newer knit designer, I have very little experience with garments, but it's got me interested in potentially focusing my energy in that direction at some point.
It's great to read other people's experiences! I was the person that was always cold ... then surgical menopause hit full on due to ovarian cancer (I'm extremely grateful to be in remission) & at the beginning I had 5 types of hot flashes... 7 years later - I still have no middle ground, either cold or flashing. For me, my date knitting changed to cardigans & other suchlike removable layers.
Thank you so much for this, it is so helpful. I'm experiencing menopause and living in a hot climate. I too have been trying out plant fibers. For my next project I'm trying out a bamboo/cotton blend so I'm hoping there will be some drape in the resulting fabric. Fingers crosssed :)
Nailed it
My periods stopped when I was 57, after years of unpredictable flow, sorry is TMI, and I still have occasional hot flashes at night that leave me drenched in sweat. Thanks for the excellent article! And the lovely knitting!
Off topic. But I don’t know California geography. Are you okay? Are you in the earthquake or rains or hurricane path? I hope you and yours are safe.
Thank you!
Wow, I hadn’t yet made the very obvious connection between my changes in my clothing styles and my impending menopause (I think the pandemic years threw me). Thank you so much for writing this and making it so clear!
Due to poly cystic ovarian syndrome, diagnosed when I was 24, my body and cycles have never been regular or normal. I would go months or years without having a period and then have them for a few months and round and round again. Three years ago, this summer, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer and had a complete hysterectomy. The pressures to not have facial hair, be incredibly thin, etc, are hard for women but spending all of your life not being normal is incredibly torturous. Knitting and reading have in many ways, been my calm for many years. Your words and your yarns are a gift.
I am tenderly sitting here, letting in your experience and if we were in knitting group together, I’d give you a big hug. Those experiences are so hard and I am so happy you’re here. 💙
I totally get the core body temp setting being higher than it was pre-menopause. Yes to everything you said about managing the heat, including sleeping with the fan. If I get cold now, the temp is definitely below 32° or I am deathly ill. I'm looking forward to my Dolce yarn, as knitting 100% wool sweaters feels like a futile gesture now.
Re: cultural reflections on menopause- Hie thee posthaste to thy public library or thy favorite bookstore and obtain the book Hagitude by Sharon Blackie. Thou shalt not regret doing so one whit!
You or others have recommended this to me before. I happen to be between books right now (and blessing the return of my reading mojo) so I am OFF TO THE LIBRARY!
At 68, the symptoms of menopause are far behind me. But I remember feeling awkward and kind of outside my body. I want to cheer you on with the words, this will pass. I know this doesn’t help much right now. But I have to say, I feel more settled now than I have ever been. I still struggle with seasonal affective disorder and it’s summer now. So I may feel differently once winter returns. I hope this helps!
“I feel more settled now than I have ever been” …. I feel this coming too! 🥰
Thanks so much for this thoughtful post, Anne. I turned 45 last month, so I’ve been thinking a lot about this life transition, what it means, and the messaging we get about aging, especially as women. I haven’t had many perimenopausal symptoms yet, but I’m being mindful now of the way I think about and frame this next stage of life.
I’m finding it very meaningful right now to be grateful to be here in the world at this time in my life. We lost a close family member this spring to an accident. He was 39, and I think all the time about how unfair it is that he never got to grow old, that he and his wife won’t get to grow old together, and that we won’t be able to walk alongside each other through all the transitions that come with the years. Sorry, I know that’s far afield from knitting, but your thoughtful piece led me there :).
I grew up in a cold climate but have lived in southern CA for the last 16 years, so I’ve also learned to embrace plant fibers and lighter weight yarns. I guess that will be good training when perimenopause starts for me in earnest.
Anyway, thank you for sharing your thoughts and lovely work with us all.
Thankyou so much, Anne!
I’m 47, peri menopausal and have found the last six months that I feel like my body temperature has gone up too. I am usually such a cold person - always under cover no matter the temperature, but these last few months I’ve enjoyed fans on, and, like you say, with the feeling of light breeze on my skin.
I studied Chinese medicine for 2 out of 4 years and there is a lot that is taught about ‘Heat’ and all the different causes in the body for it. So, I have been self-acupuncturing when the heat feels overwhelming. It definitely helps my mood because I am sure I am a lot more irritated when I am hotter, but I haven’t yet found the right combination of points for relief from the heat for longer than a day or two.
Anyway. Thankyou for your newsletter and your recommended ‘The Unpublishable’! What a treasure trove! Ros @rosem0nde on IG ❤️
Acupuncture/pressure! What a great recommendation. I did quite a bit when I was pregnant and it really helped. (So glad you like The Unpublishable too! I will subscribe forever because it's just such a great counterbalance to all the 💩 the beauty industry throws at me.)
I'm not at that point in my life yet, but I love this conversation and will be keeping these things in mind for later on. It also feels connected (for me) to how few patterns I've seen (none, really) that are marketed for pregnant or nursing parents. As a newer knit designer, I have very little experience with garments, but it's got me interested in potentially focusing my energy in that direction at some point.
I feel all of this SO HARD. Over the last couple of years I’ve been making more tops in silk or linen/silk so I can wear them year round.