Hey guys, it’s Katie. I’m the current Nurse Manager at CST. It’s my first time writing a blog so go easy on me! My passions are my family, my friends, my health, wine (lots of it) and menopause (well. talking about menopause). I need to make this very clear – I am not a doctor or a specialist in the subject. I am a lady in my mid 50’s who has the pleasure of treating many clients similar in age. One very clear similarity that we share is the affect of peri-menopause and menopause and the disruptions to our lives.
I started menopause at 45. I became depressed and cried daily. I had a sad empty feeling from the moment I woke up to the time I went to bed. I was driving home from work one day and I thought about not putting my foot on the breaks, thinking I wonder if that could kill me! I found it hard to find happiness in anything. I had injuries through exercise, heart palpations, an intolerance for people (not what you want when working in ED in Darwin). I thought my body and brain had been abducted.
I feel passionate about this subject because it is going to happen or already has happened to every woman in the world. There’s very little talked about it, very little ownership. Women feel embarrassed feeling ‘old’ or ‘weak’ if they mention it. I work in an industry where I treat an increasing amount of women (of a certain age) who are presenting with symptoms such as depression, aching joints, feeling ‘dizzy, foggy and vacant’, memory loss, a lack of self worth, anger, hot flushes, hair thinning, skin conditions, loss of libido and dryness in every crevice and the last comment which I get often is, “I feel invisible.” There are over 70 recorded symptoms that women experience when going through peri-menopause and menopause. I have to add that menopause can happen at any age unfortunately, so some of my younger clients will be reading this too.
Davina McCall and Dr Porter mentions in their book that “1 in 4 women are prescribed anti depressants for menopausal symptoms. Women between the ages 45 and 54 have the highest of suicide rates of any female age group”. Women are spending thousands on MRIs, psychologists, psychiatrists for memory loss, thinking they must have dementia and depression; x-rays and referral to physiotherapists, osteopaths and rheumatologists for joint pain and cardiac investigations secondary to chest palpitations. Of course these studies are necessary if there is a genuine condition. However, through research and my own lived experience, these signs and symptoms may be painting a different picture – imbalanced oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
I once heard, ‘You wouldn’t run a car without petrol, so why should women continue living without hormones?.’ This very much resonated with me. I wasn’t offered hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) until I was speaking to a friend’s wife who was a gynaecologist. Within a couple of weeks of starting HRT I was starting to feel more myself.
So why do I hear constantly from women that go to their GPs asking for help and aren’t getting answers on menopause? Finding a GP who can give this information is rare. It is not their fault, it isn’t mandatory for GPs to be trained on menopause in Australia. Davina McCall/ Dr Porter’s mention in their book 2021 survey 33 UK medical schools 41% did not have mandatory menopause education in their curriculum. This is the same for most countries. Seriously lacking.
In 2015 Diane Danzebrink made it her mission to raise awareness in the UK, after experiencing a very traumatic time after having a hysterectomy at the age of 45. She was given no guidance or information on what may happen to her body after the surgery. She nearly took her own life after being plagued by deep depression. In 2017 she launched #MakeMenopause Matter with 155,000 signed petitions. As a result, menopause became a topic in school curriculum as of 2020 in England. Another mission of Diane’s is the menopause guidance in the work place and for mandatory training of all GPs. Unfortunately it is not mandatory for GPs or medical students. She explained that menopause is not a woman’s issue- it is a human rights issue. It can indirectly affect anybody who knows or loves the person going through it, partners, families, friends and colleagues.
In 1993 the largest clinical trial took place in the US putting women onto HRT. In 2002 the studies were released, it caused a media storm. The findings were women had an increased risk of having blood clots and heart disease. The results: doctors were scared to prescribe HRT, women ceased taking it. It demonstrated that stigma remains attached to HRT as a treatment option for menopause.
What was wrong with the study?
The age of the women in the study were between 63 (more than a decade older the average age for menopause) the oldest was 79! They were already a high risk. Also, the majority of the women were overweight and a substantial amount dropped out of the trial. The latest study confirms it doesn’t increase the risk of breast cancer.
The myths that have been circulated by this study and caused a cease or reduction in prescribing HRT. We now know that woman who’ve had certain cancers can take HRT, woman with relatives who have had cancer, can take HRT. Woman who have had blood clots can take HRT, women who are still having periods and are peri menopausal can take HRT, woman who are in their late 50s-60s and been can start HRT.
Women are losing weeks, months, years of living their lives. Many having psychological symptoms, causing successful women to give up long term careers, struggling to get through daily activities, focusing, anger issues causing break ups, depression, dementia. Long term physically conditions, crippling diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
I understand that HRT isn’t the only magic to feeling better, small changes such, looking after gut health, increasing your protein intake and decreasing sugar and carb intake, cutting down on alcohol and increasing exercise. Learning about mindfulness, yoga, meditation and learn to love yourself again.
By following women like Davina McCall, Dr Naomi Potter, Lisa Snowdon, #MakeMenopauseMatter, Dr Louise Newson, I’ve been educated and feel that we need to educate others. I believe that social media has had a positive impact for spreading the word and helping women not to feel isolated.
Davina explained that’s she hates the word menopause, final period, black hole of boredom, an abyss. The Japanese call it the ‘Second Spring.’ I think that all women should embrace this saying and walk tall and say we are lucky to be here. I hope this helps a little, even if it sparks an interest, a chat with a friend or loved one or even to answer a few questions, with the little knowledge I have. We need to talk more to each other, we need to support and guide each other through what generations of women before us have suffered. As I said earlier, every woman will or is going through menopause,
As Diane said: Hitch up those puppies, no more groaning, walk with purpose and don’t forget to love yourself.
Thanks for reading.
Katie xx
