Menopause – A Life Changing Experience
Menopause can be a life changing experience, it can be scary, lonely, debilitating and can “sneak up on you”. The impact can be huge, having a good support network is important, as is a company that understands or at least has an awareness of Menopause.
Often people look to change jobs because they feel they can no longer cope, are inadequate, have brain fog, and as such this has a negative impact on their work and feel they cannot speak to their employer. We always encourage people to speak to their employer if this is their situation and, in many instances, they have a positive conversation and support mechanisms are put in place. But sometimes the anxiety is too much, and that conversation doesn’t happen.
Menopause isn’t only about the person who is going through this change, it also has an impact on work colleagues, both “up” and “down” the business structure, husbands, partners, children, family and friends.
We are not experts in menopause, cannot advise on what you should do with your health, but we wanted to share some of our experiences, which may resonate with you, give you hope and the knowledge you are not alone. If sharing our personal experiences helps just one person to “get themselves back” then we’ll be happy.
Lisa’s Experience
“You are the most positive person I know” a quote from my brother-in-Law, “little bubbly Lisa” a friend always said. And then over the course of time and I didn’t know why, the positivity and the bubbles disappeared. I went from waking up smiling most days, to drinking my morning cup of coffee in tears and not being able to stop. Going for a run, one of my favourite things I couldn’t bring myself to do. Socialising with friends and family was something I was afraid to do, as well as believing I was not good enough at my job, my relationship, even popping to the shops filled me with anxiety.
I am so very lucky that my family, friends and work colleagues were so supportive and that I did (eventually) talk to a doctor – best thing I ever did. I now feel more like “me” and although some days are still hard, I feel so much better.
Nicki’s Experience
I can’t remember the exact day things started to change but I’d been working in the same industry for over 20 years at the time and always felt confident and capable of doing my job very well. But suddenly, the things I’d done with ease for many years caused me to feel anxious, lacking in confidence and I thought I could no longer do my job.
Even though my family, friends and colleagues all tried to reassure me that I was still the same person, nothing could change the total despair I felt everyday going into work, being in crowds and talking to people. The night sweats, fear and nearly constant anxiety had started to become a way of life, it was as though I was living under a dark cloud. No longer a happy go lucky person who was very happy with life.
My saving grace was being the youngest of 3 girls, my 2 sisters had both started going through menopause, they shared with me their experiences and suggested I see a doctor. However, due to being in my early 40’s the doctor dismissed the fact that I was going through menopause and offered me anti-depressant medication. I knew my mental health wasn’t good at the time, but this wasn’t what I needed, so with yet more support from my sisters I again went to the doctors and sat in the chair with absolute determination that “I know my own body and mind” and that I was going through menopause, and I wouldn’t leave until I was given HRT, which I was prescribed. The first medication wasn’t the right one, but I wasn’t deterred, the second HRT medication worked brilliantly for me!
After a few months, my hormones settled and even though it had taken time, a few years on and looking back I can see that the clouds began to lift and I became my old self, confident, very little anxiety, happy in my own skin and happy with my life.
Debbie’s Experience
I’m not sure when I first started to get the symptoms, but I do remember going from a “happy go lucky person”, who always saw the positive to doubting everything that I did, my joints and body ached, my sleep was interrupted (but no night sweats) and I just felt awful. I muddled on through, having appointments with specialists about my joint pain, nothing unusual, normal for my age. At one point I didn’t want to go on with life anymore, trying to function and run a business became more and more challenging mentally.
And like for so many, the doctor suggested anti-depressants, but I knew I wasn’t depressed. I’d been depressed before when I had a bereavement, I went on anti-depressants then and at that time in my life, it was absolutely the right thing to do. But this was different.
Luckily for me, in 2017 I met Nicki and offered her a job with DBR, it was then that we started to discuss menopause and Nicki shared her experience with me. Wow it was a “light bulb moment”, there were so many synergies, lack of confidence, low self-esteem, zero energy and brain fog that made “baby brain” look like nothing!
Armed with the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines on menopause, I went off to the doctor and insisted I have HRT. The tablets didn’t agree with me, so we tried body identical oestrogen gel and a progesterone tablet. All I can say is my aching joints, ached less, my mood started to lift, and I was getting “me back”. There are still times if I don’t use the correct dose or miss a day that my mood fluctuates, but no where near the degree that it did.
HRT doesn’t suit everyone and isn’t the only solution but we hope by sharing our vulnerability it helps you, your family, friends and your team on the Menopause Journey.
Menopause – A Life Changing Experience
Menopause can be a life changing experience, it can be scary, lonely, debilitating and can “sneak up on you”. The impact can be huge, having a good support network is important, as is a company that understands or at least has an awareness of Menopause.
Often people look to change jobs because they feel they can no longer cope, are inadequate, have brain fog, and as such this has a negative impact on their work and feel they cannot speak to their employer. We always encourage people to speak to their employer if this is their situation and, in many instances, they have a positive conversation and support mechanisms are put in place. But sometimes the anxiety is too much, and that conversation doesn’t happen.
Menopause isn’t only about the person who is going through this change, it also has an impact on work colleagues, both “up” and “down” the business structure, husbands, partners, children, family and friends.
We are not experts in menopause, cannot advise on what you should do with your health, but we wanted to share some of our experiences, which may resonate with you, give you hope and the knowledge you are not alone. If sharing our personal experiences helps just one person to “get themselves back” then we’ll be happy.
Lisa’s Experience
“You are the most positive person I know” a quote from my brother-in-Law, “little bubbly Lisa” a friend always said. And then over the course of time and I didn’t know why, the positivity and the bubbles disappeared. I went from waking up smiling most days, to drinking my morning cup of coffee in tears and not being able to stop. Going for a run, one of my favourite things I couldn’t bring myself to do. Socialising with friends and family was something I was afraid to do, as well as believing I was not good enough at my job, my relationship, even popping to the shops filled me with anxiety.
I am so very lucky that my family, friends and work colleagues were so supportive and that I did (eventually) talk to a doctor – best thing I ever did. I now feel more like “me” and although some days are still hard, I feel so much better.
Nicki’s Experience
I can’t remember the exact day things started to change but I’d been working in the same industry for over 20 years at the time and always felt confident and capable of doing my job very well. But suddenly, the things I’d done with ease for many years caused me to feel anxious, lacking in confidence and I thought I could no longer do my job.
Even though my family, friends and colleagues all tried to reassure me that I was still the same person, nothing could change the total despair I felt everyday going into work, being in crowds and talking to people. The night sweats, fear and nearly constant anxiety had started to become a way of life, it was as though I was living under a dark cloud. No longer a happy go lucky person who was very happy with life.
My saving grace was being the youngest of 3 girls, my 2 sisters had both started going through menopause, they shared with me their experiences and suggested I see a doctor. However, due to being in my early 40’s the doctor dismissed the fact that I was going through menopause and offered me anti-depressant medication. I knew my mental health wasn’t good at the time, but this wasn’t what I needed, so with yet more support from my sisters I again went to the doctors and sat in the chair with absolute determination that “I know my own body and mind” and that I was going through menopause, and I wouldn’t leave until I was given HRT, which I was prescribed. The first medication wasn’t the right one, but I wasn’t deterred, the second HRT medication worked brilliantly for me!
After a few months, my hormones settled and even though it had taken time, a few years on and looking back I can see that the clouds began to lift and I became my old self, confident, very little anxiety, happy in my own skin and happy with my life.
Debbie’s Experience
I’m not sure when I first started to get the symptoms, but I do remember going from a “happy go lucky person”, who always saw the positive to doubting everything that I did, my joints and body ached, my sleep was interrupted (but no night sweats) and I just felt awful. I muddled on through, having appointments with specialists about my joint pain, nothing unusual, normal for my age. At one point I didn’t want to go on with life anymore, trying to function and run a business became more and more challenging mentally.
And like for so many, the doctor suggested anti-depressants, but I knew I wasn’t depressed. I’d been depressed before when I had a bereavement, I went on anti-depressants then and at that time in my life, it was absolutely the right thing to do. But this was different.
Luckily for me, in 2017 I met Nicki and offered her a job with DBR, it was then that we started to discuss menopause and Nicki shared her experience with me. Wow it was a “light bulb moment”, there were so many synergies, lack of confidence, low self-esteem, zero energy and brain fog that made “baby brain” look like nothing!
Armed with the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines on menopause, I went off to the doctor and insisted I have HRT. The tablets didn’t agree with me, so we tried body identical oestrogen gel and a progesterone tablet. All I can say is my aching joints, ached less, my mood started to lift, and I was getting “me back”. There are still times if I don’t use the correct dose or miss a day that my mood fluctuates, but no where near the degree that it did.
HRT doesn’t suit everyone and isn’t the only solution but we hope by sharing our vulnerability it helps you, your family, friends and your team on the Menopause Journey.