MENOPAUSE EXPERIENCES -Beverley Shares Her Menopause Symptoms from the Age of 52 years

Beverley, a Pause and Unite Member shares her Pausal Journey so far  …. 

‘At 52 many would say that I started my menopausal journey relatively late. I have had regular periods all my life every 28 days and didn’t really know when the menopause would kick in, especially as my mum had a hysterectomy at 45 so I didn’t even have a family history.

Then in my 53^rd year my periods started to become erratic, sometimes missing the odd month (I didn’t really track them, which I strongly suggest you do!) and sometimes I had hot flushes, but they didn’t really bother me and only came for short periods of time. For example, I would have them for a week, then they would stop again, and they weren’t even that bad, very easy to cope with and they didn’t wake me up at night.  But I was putting on weight around the middle even though I hadn’t changed my diet or exercise regime

However for me, things started to get a lot worse once I’d actually turned 53. I would go for a good few months without a period then have a really heavy one. The hot flushes also started with a vengeance and my sleeping pattern became horrific (although I have to state that I’ve never been a good sleeper!). I would wake up 3 to 4 times a night dripping in sweat with calf cramping and anxiety. My mood became progressively worse – whether due to hormones of lack of sleep I’m not sure – possibly both! I also developed an “irritable bladder” and constantly wanted to go to the loo even if I hadn’t had much to drink. Weight gain around the middle left me despising myself, feeling fat and awful, yet at the same time I couldn’t be bothered with exercising even though I have always exercised. I just didn’t have the energy, or inclination.

It was at this point that I started to research into the menopause which is when I came across the Notts Menopause Group on Facebook. I was obsessed with reading posts about other women and what had helped them but at that point I thought I could still cope and would get through it like my colleagues at work. But eventually, as the hot flushes did not subside and I was slowly becoming overwhelmed with life, I realised I needed to find some help. After reading posts on the Facebook site and talking to friends I was too scared to visit my GP, especially after a friend of mine finally plucked up the courage to visit her GP about the menopause and he told her that he couldn’t help because he “knew nothing about it!!”

So, what should I do? This was the question that was bothering me, who to turn to and where to go for help? Then, I was lucky enough to come into contact with someone who told me about Kathie Cooke, a menopause expert practising privately so I plucked up the courage and made an appointment via video link. She was very busy and I had to wait a couple of months before my appointment. Interestingly, during the wait my hot flushes suddenly stopped but I hadn’t had a period for about 3 months at this stage and my mood and sleeping pattern were still terrible.

Finally my appointment came and I couldn’t be any happier with the care and guidance I received. We had an hour long chat where we discussed all my symptoms, fears and worries and then she explained how HRT could help my particular symptoms and we discussed all the various options available as well as side effects and risks. I decided to go for body identical HRT as this seemed the most natural for me and she prescribed Evorel patches 25mg changing twice weekly, along with Utrogestan progesterone capsules 100mg taken at night, which could also help with sleeping. I opted to pay privately for the first prescription, but she then wrote to my GP with the details of our appointment and requested that the GP continued the prescription on the NHS, which they have. I started the patches on 22^nd August and within hours I had spotting which turned into a full blown period lasting 7 days. As the bleeding was so heavy I became concerned so I contacted her to ask if this was normal and she replied instantly saying that it was and to ride it out. She was right of course, and the bleeding stopped and I haven’t had anything since. Of course, at the time of writing I have only been on the HRT for a few weeks but I do feel a bit better in that I am sleeping better and feeling more in control of my emotions and mood, however as she explained, it does take a few weeks to feel the full benefit and there is also the option of increasing the oestrogen patches to 50mg when I have a review with the GP in 3 months.

I feel very lucky that I was in a position to pay privately as I know that not everyone is but I needed to put myself first on this occasion and don’t regret a single penny. I also feel that my symptoms have not been as bad as other ladies I have read about who develop depressive tendencies and terrible body aches. I have also informed my line manager at work and whilst there isn’t a “menopause policy” in place I felt that it was important they know about it as I haven’t always been on best form over the last 6 months. I am feeling more hopeful for the future now and praying and hoping that my hot flushes don’t return. I am expecting to have bleeding now and again whilst ever my ovaries still have some life in them but this is completely normal.‘

Visit the 'Your Stories' page for more audios of women sharing their experiences of their Pausal Journey.