Helping other women
It can be overwhelming to understand what is going on inside our bodies and how best to look after ourselves. Experiencing the perimenopause myself and seeing so many of my friends struggling, led me to create the better menopause cards. I wanted to help women understand what is going on inside their bodies, show them that they are not alone in this and provide lots of helpful facts and information.
The better menopause deck of cards contains 50 A6 sized cards with beautiful photography and everything there is to know about the perimenopause. They would make a great self care gift for you or someone you care about who is in or entering the perimenopause.
You can find out more about my better menopause cards here
Perimenopause can be an opportunity for women to embrace their changing bodies and identities, and to celebrate their wisdom and experience. Perimenopause can be a time to reflect on one’s goals, values, and priorities, and to make positive changes in one’s life. Perimenopause can be a time to rediscover one’s passions, hobbies, interests, or talents, and to pursue new opportunities or challenges. Perimenopause can be a time to nurture one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and to enjoy the present moment.
Perimenopause is not an easy journey for many women, but it can also be a rewarding and empowering one. By acknowledging the challenges and embracing the opportunities of this transition, women can make perimenopause a positive and meaningful experience.
My perimenopause journey
Looking back, I probably started noticing hormonal changes in my mid-40s. I went through a period of feeling intense cold, that no room thermostat could fix. I would go to bed with two hot water bottles, cosy pyjamas, bed socks and a hat just to feel comfortable.
Then gradually the anxiety started to creep in. I got myself books on mindfulness and started meditating, which helped a bit. It improved my overall awareness of myself but couldn’t stop the anxiety. I tried tapping, which helped me calm down but didn’t stop it from happening in the first place. As I was heading into my late 40s, I started to consider that I might be heading towards menopause. I was adamant that I would never take HRT, as I had lived my life trying to avoid pharma as much as possible and like most, I had heard the breast cancer horror stories due to HRT.
So, I tried herbal remedies like evening primrose, St Johns Wort, black cohosh and more. It was okay. I thought they helped, because I was just getting used to this ‘new me’.
Then the intense cold feeling overnight got replaced with feeling incredibly hot all the time. I found myself asking “Is it me, or is it hot in here?” more and more. Mostly with a response of “No, it’s just you!” These episodes started to increase in frequency and then started to bother me in the night too. I would wake up soaked in sweat, feeling claustrophobic and bothered.
Then came the weight gain, aching joins, the itchy skin, and a vaginal prolapse that ended in a rather unpleasant but successful operation. I struggled with forgetfulness. I would speak and random words would come out. I would go into a room and couldn’t remember why I had gone there. My periods got heavier and sometimes stopped for a month or two. I would get extreme PMS with migraines.
I just felt crap. So, one day I decided that I’d had enough. I found some credible experts online started listening to podcasts and did lots of research on HRT.
Finally, I decided to go onto HRT and after visiting a Menopause GP, was prescribed the Evorel 50 patch and Utrogestan. Within days, the majority of my symptoms went, and I started to feel like my old self again.
I have been on HRT for over a year now and only experienced symptoms again when my oestrogen patch needed an increase in strength. The anxiety started to creep in again and my husband noticed the change in me before I did. Once I went on the stronger dose, all was well again.
I now feel great! I feel strong, healthy and full of life.
The impact of perimenopause on many women
Perimenopause is the period of time before menopause, when the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal transition can cause various physical and emotional changes, such as irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, insomnia, fatigue, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and reduced libido. These symptoms can vary in severity and duration from person to person, and can affect the quality of life of many women.
You might want to listen to this podcast by Dr. Louise Newson titled “What is perimenopause?” to learn more.
Often, women will struggle with various symptoms over quite a long period of time before realising that they are in perimenopause.
Perimenopause can also have an impact on the mental health of women, as they may experience anxiety, depression, irritability, or low self-esteem. Some women may feel stressed about the changes in their body and their fertility, or face challenges in their relationships, work, or family life. Some women may also have to cope with other life events that often occur around this age, such as caring for ageing parents, children leaving home, or health issues.
Perimenopause is not a disease or a disorder, but a natural phase of life that every woman goes through. However, it can be challenging to deal with the symptoms and the emotional impact of this transition. That’s why it is important for women to seek support and guidance from their health care providers, friends, family, or other sources of help. There are various options to manage the symptoms of perimenopause, such as hormone therapy, alternative therapies, lifestyle changes, or counselling.
