Fabulously Hormonal: My Menopause Saga

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Welcome, as I hit the grand age of 46 this week , I am doing a little dance because I've finally boarded the HRT express! Let me take you on my crazy nearly two year journey - buckle up, it's been a bumpy, and very emotional ride!

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For nearly two years, I've been playing ping-pong with my doctors, trying to figure out why I felt like a zombie. Four hours of sleep per night? Check. Attention span of a goldfish? Double check. And let's not even talk about my memory. I think I've forgotten what it's like to remember things.

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My family? Oh, bless them. They've been riding this rollercoaster of mood swings and exhaustion right alongside me. I've been the delightful combination of sleepy, grumpy, and occasionally completely absent.

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Physically? Some days felt like my body was made of lead. Headaches, body aches - you name it, I've felt it. Also not forgetting ?the oh so ?glamorous side of menopause: scratching my ears till they resembled a crime scene. Other details I will not share, but it is fair to say it is not much fun.

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The hair loss - it has been an emotional journey, to say the least. There were mornings I'd wake up to find what felt like more strands on my pillow than on my head, a silent reminder of the changes my body was going through. It was tough, watching part of my identity seem to fade away. However, amidst this challenge, I found a small solace in semi-permanent makeup and false lashes - they became more than just beauty products, they were my little acts of defiance, a way to reclaim my sense of self and grace in the midst of this storm.

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So, why spill my menopausal beans on social media? Because, ladies, I was in menopausal denial - courtesy of being told I was 'too young', 'too this', 'too that'. A chat with a savvy industry friend led me to and gave me the strength to not be so politely British and ?insist on more tests. And voilà - menopause, not just peri.

Menopause is not discussed enough and for some women, fortunately I think I have come through it relatively unscathed, it is a living nightmare and totally debilitating.

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There was a tiny part of me wondering if I was losing my marbles. Was it something more sinister? Nope, just my body throwing a hormonal party.

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Embarrassed? Not at all as today, I start my HRT journey with more excitement than a kid in a candy store. Why am I sharing this? To empower you, my fellow women, to nudge, no, shove your doctors for proper testing. You know your body better than anyone. Please do not suffer for as long as I did by being typically British and putting up with it, even though I knew there was something not right.

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So here I am, armed with hormones and a sense of humour. Let's destroy the stigma around menopause together, with a good laugh and even better support.

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Remember, you're not alone. Menopause isn't just a phase; it's a rite of passage. And with a little push, a lot of humour, and a dash of stubbornness, and sometimes a bloody good kick up the arse from friends, we can get through this - one hot flush at a time.

Love

Nikki