Victoria Thomas Poller

Have you ever experience the “so-called” symptoms that accompany those annoying distractions in life? I’m talking about PAWS (Menopause - the period of permanent cessation of menstruation, usually occurring between the ages of 45 and 55) Menses, and (PMS Pre Menstrual Syndrome - A varied group of physical and psychological symptoms, including abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, headache, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and depression, that occur from 2 to 7 days before the onset of menstruation and cease shortly after menses begins). These disorders are very real, and they affect, yes, even Christians. This discussion is something that’s not usually covered across the church podium, or in most women’s groups; but it needs to be talked about with some suggestive solutions to the symptoms.

Age doesn’t matter concerning PMS or (Menses - The monthly flow of blood and cellular debris from the uterus that begins at puberty in women and the females of other primates. In women, menses ceases at menopause. Also called catamenia.). These normal body functions come upon young females earlier and earlier. Don’t believe me? Look at all the pregnancies in grade school today (that’s another story). I started my menses at 13 and recall how I usually felt. I sometimes want to dig a hole, get someone to cover me up for a few days, and then come out when it was all over (for that month). We may discuss more on PMS in another group, but I’d prefer to focus on the PAWS.

I’m going through the PAWS and conquering the symptoms in Jesus name. Lord knows that I can’t handle it alone. If you’ve had a Total Hysterectomy (Surgical removal of part or all of the uterus.), you’re probably experiencing the symptoms of Menopause.

Allow me to open the discussion with my personal previous symptoms and how I’ve handled them. What helped me? Prayer, confession, recognition of symptoms, change in attitude & diet, along with some medical assistance, helped me a lot. My symptoms included:

1) Need for Bi-Focal Glasses/Contacts. This happened when I was around 40 something. My husband was driving and I was the navigator. All of a sudden, I couldn’t read the road signs on the map to tell him where to turn next. What a shock. You’re unprepared. Was I going blind? A trip to the Optometrist resolved the problem.

2) You know how Joyce Meyer talks about “The Mind”, well; I thought that I was loosing mine. Yes, I do watch my confessions of faith, but you tell that to your hormone imbalance. Every time I would try a new project (taking a class, starting a new business etc.); I thought I might have had Alzheimer’s. I had to work on my memory by using word associations, repetition, and confessing that I have the mind of Christ (Phil.2: 5, I Cor. 2: 16).

3) Emotions – I continue to work on these. Everything use to affect me. I may not want to kill that spider on the wall (or I still may). Sometimes I’ll have to catch myself (especially if I’m speaking to a group) and I’ll tell myself to ‘suck it up’. I, “Put on my big girl panties and deal with it.” I’m getting stronger in this area even if I am still a bit ‘tender-hearted’.

4) Hot Flashes/Cold Sweats – First you’re hot, then you’re cold & then you’re wet. I always layer my clothing. I got control of my flesh and I stopped using, any and everything ‘to fan’ with. Ask someone else in the room, about the temperature of that room, before you change the thermostat. Usually it would be me having a ‘power surge’. Now is the time to command your flesh to “line-up” in the name of Jesus.

5) Urinary Incontinence – I use to wear a ‘panty liner’ (especially if I had to sneeze), but praise God for “Kegel Bladder Exercises.” I no longer need to use a pad, yet I don’t run water before I have to go to the restroom. Don’t procrastinate.

6) HRT (Harmon Replacement Therapy) - When I first noticed that I was heading for the PAWS, I got a prescription for HRT. I only stayed on the treatment for 6 months and it stopped my irregular periods. Sometimes I would have 2 – 3 bleeding episodes a month. Something was wrong with that, so I sought medical help.

7) Bone Density Tests – I had to make sure that Osteoporosis didn’t creep in. I no longer have to take meds once a week or once a month anymore. I also drink milk (gas or no gas), and I’ve never had a broken bone. Praise God!

8) Dwindling Libido (sexual instinct or sexual drive). They make “Viagra” for men, but what about women? Here is where the ‘confession’ had to come in. I had a heart-to-heart talk with my husband and assured him that I was still deeply in love with him & wasn’t interested in anyone else. Sometimes I’m in the mood and other times I’m not, but that’s me. I work on my feelings and make a date with my husband often. Sometimes we (women) have to ‘press forward’ in order to fulfill each others human needs (I Pet. 3: 1,5) and you’d be surprised at how one can ‘catch up’ and find one’s self ‘in the mood’, after awhile.

The old folks use to say, “Watch what you say to old people, and how you treat them. If you live long enough, you’ll be old too someday.” “What goes around – comes around” (Gal.6: 7).

For all of the children who anticipated your Mother’s head spinning around and foul things coming out of her mouth (hopefully it didn’t happen); it’s OK, she’s not possessed. When I said earlier that I had to confess, well, I had to tell my husband and my children (who were living with us at the time), that Mom was going through a transition in her life and I needed their support and understanding while I figured out what I needed to do, and what I needed to pray for. I had to let them know what was going on with me.

I have a lot to discuss with Mama Eve when I see her, especially the ‘fruit thing’, what was that all about? I hope that you realize that all these ailments are from the devil. We, as believers, have to know that Christ also endured every symptom that we may go through (I Cor. 10:13) when He died on the cross for us. We have to remember that we have the victory through Him. Glory to God!