Deborah Crowe's autobiographical, humorous look at the world, “The Darling Menopause”, begins in August 2014..

Set in sunny Dar es Salaam, I chronicle my menopausal journey of the past 4 years to date, from my perspective and from that of my (now), 10 year-old daughter.

I have gone from thinking I was suffering from Alzheimer’s, to learning that “the change’ lasts 10 years, and that there are 49 symptoms, in addition, to, the only one I knew about then, hot flushes. Everyone comes on trips with me to various doctors and hit and miss treatments, until I finally see a menopause specialist. But even then it is not all plain sailing. It is enough to lead a woman to swearing and outing herself.

I have found out that there is patchy, inconsistent information available. Doctors are NOT trained in addressing the 50 or so symptoms that can come up and bite you on the bottom. Standard HRT is used, as if there are standard women. Even worse, lavender and hot milk are still recommended.

I hope to raise awareness with a wider audience of women and men. Someone asked me last week, “have you finished yet”? “No”, I replied merrily, “I have 6 more years to go”. The Darling Menopause is here to stay.

Comments from happy readers;

I think it’s great – it’s bold and well defined. It made me laugh, I have not found this written about anywhere else. I think you are brave and people will benefit from your ability to be honest.

It’s a great read – I like your dry humour, the rants are great!

I just wanted to say I think your blog is brilliant, you have me in stitches….I’m laughing out loud and loving it. I can see it as a film later down the road, Bridget Jones hits middle age/menopause. It really is hilarious, I absolutely love it and I’m sure there are going to be thousands who will too.

It’s a great read – I like your dry humour, the rants are great!

I just wanted to say I think your blog is brilliant, you have me in stitches….I’m laughing out loud and loving it. I can see it as a film later down the road, Bridget Jones hits middle age/menopause.

It really is hilarious, I absolutely love it and I’m sure there are going to be thousands who will too.

This is so spot on and you just have to laugh out loud…….finally someone is not only talking about the M word but is making us laugh …..as someone said ” when you are going through hell….keep going.."

Your blog had me in fits of pain, recognition, laughter, the lot! Wonderful writing

Very witty. Think 100s would get it and 100s will learn

Great stuff. Where would we be without Xanax & HRT !!! Keep it coming.

Loved reading it, I’ve got loads to look forward too lol.

So funny, but I didn’t know it could last a decade – scary.