My menopause story so far……

I truly believe perimenopause started for me in my late thirties, mainly because I intermittently experienced hot flushes that I couldn’t control.

 

It was like being embarrassed, I could feel the heat rise from my chest to the top of my head. It only happened during the day every now and then, but not often enough to be concerned about it.

 

I had seen my GP and asked for a blood test to check my hormone levels on various occasions. She wouldn’t do it as our hormones fluctuate all the time and a blood test would only give a snapshot in time in hormone levels. Fair enough.

 

At this time I was also experiencing extremely painful and debilitating periods and digestive issues. I would feel well for two weeks of the month, unwell for the other two weeks. This took a toll on my happiness and quality of life. It took a few years to finally get a diagnosis.  I had adenomyosis, when the endometrial lining grows into the muscular layers of the uterus. Some time before this diagnosis, after many tests, I was also diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. I had been finding relief with the Low FODMAP diet, but the symptoms with my cycle continued.

 

After much research (because I always do my research!) and a few visits with my gynaecologist, I decided to have the IUD mirena inserted to alleviate the adenomyosis symptoms. I was really apprehensive about this, but to be honest, it was my lifesaver. I was 42 at the time, and my gynaecologist was sure I was perimenopausal. I didn’t think much about it at the time, I was just looking for relief from this two week cycle of feeling well and unwell.

 

Life was good, I was happy, had energy, was pain free and started yoga and walking (setting a routine had be difficult before). It was at this time I decided to go back to University, and I started my postgraduate degree in nutrition. With work, family and study, I needed to feel well and have the energy to do all of these things.

 

Fast forward a few years, when I was 46, I started to experience hot flushes day and night, insomnia, low energy, fluctuating moods, I couldn’t concentrate or remember anything and felt like I had put on weight, or that my body composition had changed.

 

I really wasn’t feeling like myself.

 

I went to my GP who did a blood test, and I was in “confirmed menopause”. I was in shock despite the symptoms I had been having, felt I was too young to go through this and was not prepared for what was to come. I have found perimenopause to be very challenging, particularly physically and emotionally. After doing some research in treatment options, I made the decision to use hormone therapy. I used it short term to get me through to the end of my studies, and then took a break, as I was feeling great.

 

Six months later, the hot flushes returned with a vengeance along with the other symptoms I had experienced earlier, so I started hormone therapy again. It’s been a couple of months now, most of my symptoms have settled. I now live with depression and anxiety and work very closely with my GP and see a psychologist to work through my transition. I am very aware of the choices I make and the lifestyle factors that benefit my experience, and am always listening to my body and it’s needs. I especially always remind myself that menopause is a natural and normal phase of life, and although my experience is very challenging, I try to remain positive and feel grateful for what it is teaching me about myself.

 

I hope my story resonates and that there is comfort in knowing that you are not alone in these experiences.

Much love

Megan xx