EquiTeam’s Louise Gillings chats about her experiences and frustrations.
October is Menopause Awareness Month, with 18th October recognising World Menopause Day with the focus for 2024 being Menopause Hormone Therapy, so I thought it would be a great time to share my thoughts, findings and experiences.
When the lovely Caroline Wilson joined us for a podcast in June 2022 to talk about her experiences I started to have a think about what was going on with my own body and mind.
Was I perhaps a bit more grumpy than usual? Were my periods all over the place? Had my brain stopped working? Was I struggling to sleep?
Yes – as well as developing a weird sensitivity to certain smells – synthetic vanilla and one of Gav’s favourite aftershaves were a big NO anywhere near me.
I realised I was second guessing myself even more than usual and doubting my ability to do things I was more than capable of doing. One day I sat at my laptop to build a new page on the EquiTeam website and I had no clue how to edit a certain element, despite the fact that I had built the whole site only six months earlier.
I finally took the plunge and rang the doctor… six weeks later I got an appointment. The doctor proceeded to tell me that the NHS guidelines that they use advised prescribing anti-depressants and she recommended that I went on the contraceptive pill.
I was so relieved that Caroline had shared her own experiences and these had sparked conversations in EquiTeam Connected with many people sharing their stories and advice too. Because of that I felt more confident to not just say yes to anti-depressants. It had been such a big decision to contact the doctors in the first place that I felt confused and a bit disappointed. I very nearly just gave up didn’t bother getting back to them as it seemed like such an uphill battle.
I decided to take a few days to think about this and had a text conversation through the NHS app with my Doctor about the options. She sent me a link to a website where it said anti-depressants can help with the symptoms of peri menopause but after doing some of my own reading I replied – “Is there a reason why I can’t have the body identical HRT?” She eventually conceded that even though I was ‘a bit too young’ (at 45) that we would trial a low dose of Progesterone, (taken orally) and Oestrogel (a gel applied topically).
The brain fog did improve and the low mood was definitely better, my periods however were even more all over the place than before and I was getting morning sickness type feelings too. Another few months went by and we trialled a different product with no improvement, so it was recommended that I went for a scan and biopsy. Thankfully they were all clear and after another few months with the same symptoms, the doctor finally referred me to the menopause clinic to see what they advised.
I began to wonder if things would ever improve, or just how long it would take. It has been so frustrating – feeling as though I am constantly waiting.
Another month later and I received a reply to say the menopause clinic advised that I have a Mirena coil fitted! The next challenge – the wait list is four to six months. What I found really frustrating about this, is that I was expecting to actually see someone and have a person to person conversation.
It is now over two years since I first contacted my GP and I haven’t actually seen a doctor in person about this apart from the consultant who carried out the biopsy – who was quite frankly pretty abrupt!
In the meantime my GP suggested another different dose of the original progesterone – finally several more months later symptoms seem fairly under control, I still have days when I simply don’t feel like me anymore, when all motivation has gone, but for the most part its ok!
Five months on and I haven’t actually heard any more about the coil appointment, so I think I’ll stick with what I’m now doing.
It’s not perfect but and I know my lifestyle over the last few months haven’t been helping symptoms. Interestingly when I started writing this blog I was a bit tired, was having a bit of a rubbish day mood wise and felt as though winter was the worst thing that could possibly happen and I couldn’t see a positive.
The blog was turning out a bit negative, so I switched the laptop off, watched some TV, had a much better night of sleep and today everything seems a bit more manageable. In hindsight the low mood was probably a combination of hormones and a weekend of poor (but very delicious) food choices, not much sleep and a house that is very much emptier than it used to be.
Doing research
In the last 18 months I have read lots of articles, listened to podcasts, read Davina McCalls brilliant book…. and learnt a lot. I am very relieved that I did do my own research before heading to the doctors, or I would have just gone with the anti-depressants she suggested – as at the end of the day, we have to trust that the doctors are the experts. Something that I have since heard numerous GPs say is how little menopause featured in their training despite it being something that half of the population go through.
It is scary the number of people who are still talking about a study which said taking HRT carried an increased risk of Breast cancer and blood clots, despite the fact that this study took place in the early 2000’s and was incorrectly reported. Alongside the medical development in the HRT currently being prescribed, 20 years later we are much better informed – but it’s the scare mongering news that sticks in people’s minds.
There are obviously people who are unable to take HRT for various health reasons, but I would urge you to do your own research. The Balance App is a great tool to record your symptoms of which there are many more than the few which are often spoken about.
The Menopause Charity has a brilliant article on debunking the myths of menopause – https://www.themenopausecharity.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-myths-vs-the-facts-.pdf
Mental health
Although less than ideal, my experience is certainly not terrible compared with some I have read and spoken with other people about.
Something which really hit home in the last few weeks was when I listened to a podcast with Davina McCall, talking about how your hormone levels can fluctuate so much within a few hours, let alone over weeks or months and how this can affect your mood to extremes.
She spoke of women who have felt suicidal at times because of the effect their hormones and symptoms have had on their body and mind. This really made me think about the friends I have who struggle with their mental health already without the extra pressure from fluctuating hormones.
If you need support Riders Minds are available to discuss anything 24 hours a day – it does not need to be horse related for them to be able to offer advice and a friendly professional at the end of a phone, text or online chat.
Call 0800 088 2073
Or text 07480 488 103
What can we do?
Ultimately taking HRT is a choice and it is not the right choice for everyone, but it can make a big difference to supporting those decreasing hormones. There are other things we can do to help – and they are all things which will help our overall health too:
Prioritising sleep –
If you are taking progesterone, taking it at night time does seem to help relax the body, it definitely helps with my sleep. I also take Magnesium bisglynate as recommended by Pauline Cox – The Hungry Woman. My phone goes into sleep mode at 9.20pm and I try very hard not to look at it after then.
Eating well –
Nearly everything I have listened to or read recently has suggested that a Mediterranean style diet, avoiding refined carbohydrates (white breads pasta etc) and ultra processed food will help with your gut health, and so much of gut health is linked to the mind and overall body health. Some experts say intermittent fasting helps too – and I have found that not eating after 6.30pm helps my sleep a lot.
Exercise –
Not only is it good for our bodies, our bone health heart health, and it also has a positive effect on our mind too.
Cutting down on alcohol –
I have definitely found that drinking even a small amount really affects my sleep.
Meditation and mindfulness –
This is an interesting one for me as I really struggle with meditation, I just can’t switch my brain off to that point, but listening to a podcast with Rhi Bowden recently, she made a very good point, that it doesn’t need to be the same for everyone. It can be doing something you enjoy where you can switch off and relax – for me that is cooking and swimming.
Make time for fun –
Spending time with friends and doing things you enjoy. Make plans and do your very best to stick to them. You generally don’t regret something you do, but often find you regret the missed opportunities.
I think the take home message is to try to make little positive changes and find what works for you, do your research. Try to keep a diary or use the balance app – note what you have done differently and how that has affected you, positively or negatively.
Remember – you are not alone, whatever your symptoms, there will be someone experiencing something similar. The EquiTeam community is a great place to connect with other, you are always assured of a friendly reply. I for one am very grateful for their help and advice or I would probably be struggling along, or taking anti depressants and not know any better.
Lou x
