Menopause: What's A Girl To Do?

I've been dealing with premenopause for the last year. I've had two visits from "my best friend" in that time. And so I was very happy, thinking that it was all over now, and I wouldn't have to deal with all that womanly crap anymore. (i've never liked having my period. some women talk like its some wonderful experience, but not me.)

As a younger woman I never thought about menopause, let alone premenopause. I didn't even know premenopause existed until a couple years ago. I thought I'd just come upon menopause one day, and it'd all be over – no more periods, no more tampoons, cramps, bloating, ect. ect.

BUT NO!!!! I am now told that premenopause lasts for years. and then you go into menopause, which has its own downsides. I swear to god, it really sucks being the mother of mankind. Men don't know how lucky they have it.

So i've been dealing with hot flashes, and they are slow roasting me from the inside out. I now must dress in multiple layers because I can go from cold to roasting in a matter of minutes. It usually starts with my face, I'll feel it start to get hot and flush. and then it spreads to my chest and torso.

And when I'm not dealing with hot flashes, I'm dealing with what I call phantom periods. I have all the signs of a period: bloating, cramps, tiredness, crabbiness. Just no blood.

I've been told premenopause can last for years. I have an older friend who's in her early 60's who says her premenopause lasted for 10 years!!!! I have hit premenopause at a pretty early age (46). Most women don't hit it until in their mid-50's. so i guess that's a positive for me.

Anyway, enough with the complaining. I'm still looking for ways to deal with the hot flashes, although I have been using soy products that seem to help decrease how often they happen. I'd love to hear what other women are using to cope with premenopause.