Satjit reviews Dr Amrinder Bajaj’s book, Live Your Best Life, which weaves humour into medical details in a storyteller’s voice – exclusively for Different Truths.

‘Live Your Best Life’ by eminent gynaecologist Dr Amrinder Bajaj is a delightful read. It weaves medical details into exciting stories with dollops of humour that inform and amuse. As the author says in her introduction:

‘I have addressed these issues through the lives of three friends – Mona, a smart corporate head; Shiela, a portly school principal and Meera, a happy-go-lucky homemaker. This is because they are real women facing real problems that any of us can relate to. No points for guessing who, I have fashioned the compassionate Dr Rosy, to whom these three go for counselling and treatment!’

With an increase in lifespan, more and more women spend a third of their lives in the post-menopausal period. Throughout the book, she has endeavoured to impress their minds that‘menopause is the end of menstruation, not the end of the world. There is a fulfilling life ahead of them, and they must make the best of it. Their me time has finally arrived, and they must do what they enjoy most, which could include hobbies, friends, spiritual pursuits, romance, and intimacy. Of course, changes will occur in their bodies and minds. If these changes negatively impact their lives, the author says, remedies must be sought. Many women shy away from revealing embarrassing details like the passage of urine while coughing and sneezing, pain during intercourse and suffering in silence. Dr Bajaj emphasises that there is a cure for most ailments; an increase in the duration of life does not mean a decrease in its quality.

She stresses that a yearly medical check-up is a must, even if the woman feels perfectly fine. This way, age-related problems may be diagnosed and managed at the earliest. Also, no symptom, however trivial, should be ignored. She urges her reader to let the gynaecologist decide whether her problem is serious or not. This is because everything that occurs during this time is attributed to menopause and neglected; as a result, cancer of the female genital tract remains undetected till it is very late!

It was also interesting to note that, at times, some women experience menopausal symptoms even before their periods have stopped completely – in the transitional phase, called the perimenopausal period, that bewilders and confuses them. Professional help should be sought to alleviate them. 

Overall, the 244 pages are packed with information. Laced with anecdotes packaged in humour, it makes for an absorbing read. Personally, having known the effort that has gone into the writing of this book, the level of involvement of Dr Amrinder, as a seasoned gynaecologist, a keen observer of human behaviour, a voracious reader, and a prolific writer, I was motivated to read the book. It is a must-buy for every woman over forty and her partner if he wants to understand this new phase of her life. Being forewarned, he realises its tremendous impact on her psyche and the relationship issue that may arise. His support reassures her, and believe me, and he will be repaid with gratitude and love a hundred times over.

The poem that she has written on something as unpoetic as menopause sums up the book beautifully:

MENOPAUSE and ME NO PAUSE

 

‘I’ll shrivel you into a prune,’ said Menopause.
‘I will counter your assaults,’ said Me No Pause.
‘I’ll break your bones.’ said, Menopause.
‘We’ll see about that.’ said, Me No Pause.
‘I’ll addle your brain and weaken your heart.’
‘But can you weaken my spirit, you upstart?’
‘I’ll ravage your skin and thin your hair’
‘Do you think that, for such trivia, I care?’
‘I’ll make you sad and cry without reason.’
 ‘Don’t you dare, try to commit such treason!’

‘After hot flashes with cold sweats, you’ll shiver.’
 ‘Is that the last arrow in your quiver?’
‘A hundred ills within you, I’ll let loose.’
 

‘Yet, I know, this battle you will lose.’
C’mon now,
Stop playing the fiend and be my friend
And this stupid quarrel let us both end.
Menopause, show us your Jekyll side,
And endeavour to hide your horrible Hyde
Infighting please, I say, no more
Let’s team up and together win this war.
I am a part of you, and you are my part
Together, let’s make a healthy start.
For now,
Menopause and Me No Pause
Will fight together for a common cause
We have miles to go and years to live
And back to society, we’ve a lot to give.
With a husband married to his work
His decreasing demands no longer irk
With children gone and elders gone
 For myself alone, I am reborn

With sacrifice and drudgery, I’m done
 Now is the time to have some fun
So, behave yourself, dear Menopause
And I promise,
Life will be a party, with no pause.’

Book Cover sourced by the reviewer.

Satjit Singh

Satjit Singh is a retired banker and freelance writer. His philosophical take on some serious or routine issues is often reflected in his conversations and writings, generally mainly published in newspapers. He finds stories in mundane, everyday situations amusing and has a rich repertoire of anecdotes from his days as a banker. He lives with his wife in Gurgaon and finds time to read, write and talk, despite his busy schedule with a management company.

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