The menopause has been getting more and more recognition recently…..and about time too!!!! People like @Davina McColl and @Lorraine Kelly has made a massive contribution to raising the awareness of signs and symptoms of the menopause – many of which people had completely unnoticed. I’ve gone through the menopause and I was way luckier than some of my friends. I didn’t suffer from hot flushes or night sweats and believed that I had got of lightly, however when I watched Davina’s programme I started recognising symptoms that I had previously put down to “this just happens when you age”……..wrong – this is what happens when you go through the menopause.
There are apparently three stages of menopause which I was unaware of – I only knew about the first 2 but thought I must be passed the stage of menopause…but apparently not!! The three stages are- perimenopausal – when your cycle is beginning to become more erratic (this can affect you at quite a young age), menopause usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55 when you stop producing hormones which cause your monthly cycle, and lastly postmenopause which can go on for the rest of your life…………..now there’s something to look forward too…….not!! So I guess I must be post menopause. My brain fog is horrendous just now – walking into rooms and forgetting why I am there – forgetting words!! This is even worse than previously and it can be extremely disconcerting – especially when you think the older you get – what are the chances of Dementia or Alzheimer’s? Not impossible, but really don’t want to think about that. I think out of everything the brain fog is the worst thing for me – I find myself getting annoyed because I should be able to remember the name of something or someone or remember what I was about to do. I also find myself sometimes thinking if I am talking to someone and forget something and they must be thinking I’m losing it!!! when in actual fact it’s just I can’t remember
So what can we do? Again there is an abundance of information about what to do to help ourselves. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly there is a wealth of information on the web. One good source of information is The Menopause Charity I can only speak for myself in what helps and what doesn’t and as I’ve said before this is only my opinion!! I do find exercise helps (not with the brain fog but just making me feel better) and I know from speaking to the other women at the gym I am not alone – you can see from the photos and from The Feel Good Gym Instagram page the differing ages which gives good all round conversations (on all topics) but most recently menopause has come up. Another website which I found quite good was Menopause and Me – this website explains the benefits of exercise – there is no getting away from it we all know it’s importance – but it is even more crucial when you hit that menopausal age group – hopefully helping to reduce the likelihood of osteoporosis and/or heart disease. Not only that it helps with stress (I’ve mentioned this before about exercise releasing endorphins). There is a multitude of options available, not only exercise and healthy food but adding natural remedies/supplements (although some may disagree with the supplement part)…but one important ingredient (in my opinion) is remembering to live your life – go out and have fun – eat and drink without feeling the guilt factor, there has to be a happy medium. We shouldn’t get so hung up with what we should and shouldn’t do. Life is far too short and we also need to remember to enjoy it.
60's fit and not ready to quit 