"Breaking the Silence: My Real-Life Experience with Peri-Menopause”
My first period, I remember it so vividly, it was awful, I was 12yrs old. Firstly, I thought I was dying and then heard my mum say, ‘my little girl is a woman’. We’ll let me tell you, I wanted no part of this woman stuff.
My period was heavy, and I suffered deliberating pain, that would cause me to have to stay home from school. I could have got FF points on how many times I went to ED to get pain relief over the months of chronic pain. Fast forward 5yrs and I had my first laparoscopy was put on the pill and a loose diagnosis of endometriosis. With no information on my diagnoses, just told by the specialist ‘don’t wait too long to have children’. Are you serious, kids were not on my radar anytime soon.
I then decided to pretty much skip my monthly period, by butting my pill back-to-back for the next nearly 20yrs, to avoid the heavy and painful periods. I tried so many different types of contraceptives (to help clear my skin, not put weight on, avoid nausea etc). I only came off the pill just before I got married. As we knew we wanted to try for a family immediately (I was in my mid 30’s by this stage).
As I didn’t show the classical symptoms of endometriosis I was dismissed by doctors. After trying to conceive with no luck. We decided to go to see a fertility specialist. After a series of different methods before IVF, we were then successful with our first round of IVF and have a miracle baby, our daughter.
My endometriosis flared when my daughter was about 2yrs old and it was then I was diagnosed as stage 2, my pain was bearable though. We went down the IVF path again, but we were unsuccessful and decided to be grateful we had one healthy child and stopped our fertility journey.
I feel that my peri menopause symptoms started around that time, I was around 40yrs old and it’s been a slow burn until about 3 years ago. If you ask my husband, he will say I’ve been a rollercoaster with my emotions for the past 10 yrs. Now that I look back and reflect, I was always very up and down, one minute fine and then something could set me off. I was frustrated easily, short tempered and did not like myself much at all. Now with my knowledge I realise I was definitely in peri menopause and a little depressed.
I’m now 51 years old, about to turn 52 and I started my HRT journey about 3 years ago. I was feeling not myself physically and mentally and just knew that I didn’t want to have to have all the hard symptoms associated with menopause. So started my education on peri – menopause & HRT.
I found myself a hormone doctor and I decided to give HRT a go. No one woman is the same when it comes to perimenopause, your symptoms and how you react to HRT. So, it’s a trial and error for each individual.
So here is the truth too – it’s not bloody cheap either and I would say some people wouldn’t go down the HRT path not only because of the misinformation out there but because they can’t afford it.
I am on estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Being 75mg patches of estrogen, which I change twice per week. Progesterone tables nightly and testogel nightly also. Along with estrogen vaginal pessary (which I call the tic tac) and my levels are looking good. Along with my facial routine, I have a bit to do before bed as you can imagine. Some nights I can’t be bothered, but I must stay consistent.
How do I feel? - reasonably good – I sleep well and no hot flushes. I have a bit of lower back tenderness but that is from an SIJ problem that I’ve had for ages plus I’ve always been a tight muscle person, a physio once said I’m have quite a rigor mortis body 😆
Clarity is back to about 75% though I still feel overwhelmed at times, and I can struggle to sit and focus on one task. But I am getting better with that, I think. Though I do still walk into rooms and forget why I’m there. Apparently this is called ‘walking through door syndrome' seriously google it.
My main concern would be the thinning of my hair and some weight gain, especially around the mid-section area. They refer to this as visceral fat! So much information on this.
I have been researching peri menopause from the start of my journey and I refuse to be fobbed off as just part of getting older (you can see a pattern here, being fobbed off) from when I started my period to now not having a period. But finding a doctor who understands peri menopause is hard to find and then getting in to see them is even harder. So, if you find one, hang on to them with dear life.
I was getting spotting each month and it was frustrating, as it could happen anytime, without warning. I decided to have an ablation last year. Best thing I did for myself.
Each month when I get my script filled, I do realise that there are women out there that are suffering in silence, as they can’t afford to access this medication to help them (if they wanted to go on HRT).
Let me breakdown my month for you
1 x packet of Estrogen patches $21 x 12 boxes = $252
1 x packet of Progestorne tablets $38.95 x 12 boxes = $467.40
Tesoagel $78.80 x 2 boxes = $157.60
Estrogen $30.00 x 3 boxes = $90
Yearly $967
Plus, I have a yearly mammogram/ultrasound to check my breasts, is around $500 (I get some back from Medicare)
Plus my two visits per year to see my hormone doctors, which I get some back from Medicare.
I have been following Dr Mary Claire, Kelly Casperson and even Mel Robbins and I love that the conversation is out there, and more people are bringing perimenopause into the limelight, and we are talking more about it.
My latest research is on successful weight loss for me. What I have learned so far, increasing my protein (not as easy as it sounds) so I have been using Healthy Chef Pea Protein in my morning smoothie. Drinking lots of water. I’m also using a Vida Glow collagen powder (just started this).
Weight training for bone density and I even got myself a weighted 5kg vest to wear whilst I clean the house. If you know me well, I’m a bit of a clean freak. So, 2025 will see me going back to training.
A friend asked me on New Years eve, what was my new years resolution. I don’t usually make them, but this year it’s to be healthier, which includes mindfulness and more movement throughout the day and trying to stretch each morning.
About 5 years ago I decided to make a change in my life and became a certified Personal Fashion Stylist, whilst learning my new skills, I also found out alot about myself and how clothes made me feel. Now I help women feel good and how to dress for their body shapes. But working as a stylist and in retail I hear so many women, feeling so down on their bodies. So of course, if you know me, I love a good chat. I get to find out alot of these women are going through peri menopause or menopause and how their body shape has changed so much, and they find it hard to dress the new shape and do not like what they see when they look in the mirror.
This makes me realise that like myself along with so many women, we are not alone in this journey, and I think the more we talk about how we are feeling and the symptoms we are having and more importantly normalise different body shapes, then it’s one small step in the right direction.
I’d love to hear from you and your journey in the comments section or you cand send me a private message. Your experience might just be what helps that one woman!
Cath x
