Tuesday 22 February 2011

Red Faced

They say life begins at 40, well something certainly began in mine.

I'd been aware that my face kept sort of 'flushing' from time to time and feeling hot, but I hadn't given it much thought as it passed and it didn't seem to be that big a deal, until I was shopping with my daughter that is. We were routing through the make up aisle, when I felt the familiar hot face begin just as I turned to her to ask her to read some 'tiny' writing on a pencil that I couldn't see (another new addition to my 40's)

I could see by the sudden look of shock in her eyes and the way her jaw had fallen open that all was not well.

"What on earth's going on with your face Mum!"

"What do you mean?"

"Look!"

She turned me to the already unflattering store mirror ... and there it was.

I had thought up until this point that the new occurrence was just heat, how wrong I was. It appeared that when the heat arrived, it came with an intense shade of red  that seemed to confine itself to my forehead, nose, cheeks and chin ... basically my whole face ... except that is,  the area around my eyes. These stayed perfectly (miraculously I would say given the rest of the colour of my face) ... WHITE!

"Oh my GOD!"

Well that was it, now I knew.

Thankfully I found ways to keep my 'affliction' under wraps and with many prolonged rummages in my bag when in public until the heat wore off ... I managed. Until one day in Tescos I bumped into an old male friend who I hadn't seen for a while and began to chat. Everything was going along fine until I felt 'the heat'.

I should have at that very moment said something ... anything!

But no.

I carried on chatting, obviously growing redder and redder, and whiter and whiter eyed until I saw his eyes  widen and scan my face. It crossed my mind at that point to simply turn and run, I hadn't seen him for years, and I'd probably  never see him again!

But no again.

Instead, I lifted my wrist to check the time, rolled my eyes as if  'gosh I'm so late', said goodbye very chirpily, turned and headed for the toilet.

Good move you may think, but as I wasn't wearing a watch, and as he saw me go into the toilet, which I was obviously 'so late' for ... I could have died!

There I sat, locked in one of the cubicles like some sort of Victorian Sideshow Attraction until the heat had subsided.

The facial hot flushing is happening less and less which has been a blessed relief, but lately I've found myself almost extolling its virtues since I've been being frequented by its much much bigger brother

... the full body flush!!

18 comments:

Susannah said...

I loved this and lol when I got to the fact that you didn't have a watch on! and then couldn't stop giggling at the victorian sideshow attraction. - Wonderful writing! :-)

Anonymous said...

I had to laugh, I'm sorry.

Then I stopped, I'm 40 next year.

Elizabeth said...

You must remember that those are not flushes, or flashes. They are called Power Surges by those of us who have lived with them for a time, lol. Love your story and laughed throughout.

Elizabeth

Raven said...

LMAO I must apologize for laughing at your pain, that so has to suck, but you make it sound so funny! Don't worry, Karma will get me back for it as I'm going to be 39 this year and soon entering into the same territory!

Monica Manning said...

Alright. I've been there, and I know this isn't funny, but that was absolutely hilarious! Thanks for making me laugh at my own misfortune.

Rashmi said...

So vivid description of the situation...your confusion ...but if you ask me you have managed it well eventhough by looking into the unseen watch..ha...

tattytiara said...

Haha, oh yes, we've all attempted and failed the smooth exit!

Deborah said...

Thank you everso much everyone for your comments and for sharing in my moment! :o) x

earlybird said...

agghhh! poor you. I watched a friend the other day opposite me at lunch; a red tide rose up her neck and face in a horizontal line, drops of sweat started beading on her forehead and then, as she pulled off her cardigan she declared it was over. Horrible. I love Elizabeth's idea of them being Power Surges. Must remember that.

mamahasspoken said...

Love your wonderful descriptions too! And I oh so feel your pain. This medopause crap is going to kill me before I can get through it!

Anonymous said...

Oh, boy, do I hear you, I've experienced the same things. The full body flush is totally freaky. I thought I was being possessed or something. You got it in one!!

Deborah said...

Thank you everso much for your comments x :o)

jabblog said...

It's just not true when you read or are told that 'hot flushes' don't show. As you and I and everyone else knows, they do! I laughed at your account, though:-)
Incidentally, some time after my 40s I now have only two temperatures - hot (most of the time) and cold with the odd all-encompassing full body roast!

Jae Rose said...

Tesco is the scene of many a personal woe..in some quarters pale eyes and rouged cheeks are the ultimate beauty..Jae

Tom said...

I'm not qualified to speak on this subject, but if it helps any, just know that many of us men start to re-distribute our hair after 40. It stops growing on top our our heads and sprouts out of the ears instead.

Deborah said...

Thank you for your comments ... and the smiles :o) x

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

This made me laugh. As the saying goes, "Been there; done that; have the tee shirt." I don't believe my face ever turned the red that you describe, but the "flushes" would come about every 20 minutes. They were awful. I did the hormone therapy until questions arose about their safety. Then I stopped, and the flushes started again. Fortunately, they're very rare these days, and I don't have to think so hard about what clothes to wear. You'll get through it. It's good you can laugh about it.

Deborah said...

Thank you Linda, laughing is always the best medicine! :o)