How a King Bed Helped My Marriage During Menopause
by Christina Parisi
Okay, we get it. Menopause is a way of life for women, but while it may be a natural way for our body to age, Menopause is anything but a fun ride. One might even say it’s a cruel joke.
I mean, we get the periods. We have the babies. And now this? Right, ladies?
AND THEN THE WEIGHT GAIN!
Are you kidding me?
Okay, deep breath. I know. It could be much worse. I mean, imagine if we had to deal with men going through this?
And speaking of the male species, on a particularly sweaty night, after flinging the sheets right off my dripping body, I sighed out into the dark, hoping my husband was listening:
“We need a king bed.”
He laughed, knowing exactly why I was out of breath despite laying down, and said we should look into it.
Now, let me divulge that we live on a budget. Especially during these ever-changing pandemic times, saving is more important than ever, so we did our homework. We dug out sales (holiday-based ones like Memorial Day Closeouts and Labor Day Specials) and cut back on dining out, entertainment, and traveling.
For under $2.5k, we made it happen, complete with box spring, bedding, and headboard!
The savings are another story, but the decision to get a king mattress has proven to be one of the best things my husband and I have ever done for our marriage.
Spaceland
First things first. You have the space to sleep exactly how you want. As a menopausal body shifts, sweats and expands, this is EVERYTHING. Personally, I love the splayed-out-snow-angel pose, but a good side-sleep with legs diagonal is also a favorite. And with the extra space comes more breathing room when the hot flashes come on.
Sound Barrier
The extra relief for those with significant others who snore is almost reason alone to start saving for a King bed. Add a pillow in the middle and a sound machine, and the cacophony is more muted than ever before! I’ve been known to snort and wheeze myself, so please, no offense to any nightly noisemakers, but trust me, to the other person beside you in bed, this is a Godsend.
Slow Your Roll
A good toss and tumble can wake anyone in bed, but with a king mattress, the area allows for less turbulence from your partner’s desire to shake, rattle and roll at 3 in the morning. Not to mention, your sleep mate’s early mornings or late nights are much less disruptive. In fact, I’ve found I wake up about fifty percent less than when we slept on a smaller mattress. On the flip side, my multiple nightly bathroom breaks are much less troublesome to my mate. Not only does he stay asleep, but he doesn’t even budge.
Shine Bright Like a Diamond
Menopause is the great disrupter of peaceful nights, loving to come out in the wee hours of the morning to play. It not only produces insomnia but add hot flashes and mood swings, and your partner is in for one wild ride. And no, a king mattress is not a miracle worker, BUT it does give me the space to use my book light* without my husband knowing. The glare is buffered to a much greater degree.
*This also works for those on electronic devices like a smartphone or tablet.
The Great Divide
Marriages are put to the test during Menopause. Mood swings, depression, raging emotions, hot flashes, sleepless nights, headaches, and so much more can weigh a woman down and, in turn, their marriage. Women need to be loved and listened to more than ever when in this highly hormonal and emotional state. I am NOT advocating sleeping separately during this time. What I’m supporting is a bit of distance, like when the sight of your significant other makes you want to cry for no apparent reason; a little space in between will allow for a necessary breather.
Anyone else who has changed to a King bed during Menopause and found it to be helpful? Or maybe it wasn’t? I’d love to hear! And please stay tuned next week when I tell all about how a portable A/C unit almost RUINED my marriage!
