My Perimenopause Journey Part II
2023: Seeking Help and Understanding
After a year of feeling lost, I finally decided to consult a private menopause specialist. By this point, I was 48, well into perimenopause, and emotionally drained. My confidence was at an all-time low, and I felt like I had lost the person I used to be. I booked an online consultation with a doctor who was based in Kent. Whilst she was lovely and helpful, I now know that I really needed an in person consultation, although she did start me on my journey with using HRT. She prescribed me 25mcg oestrogen patches along with cyclical progesterone. I started using them and began to feel better almost immediately, however this only lasted for a few months before I started feeling off again. Life was a hormonal rollercoaster. I felt so low, worthless, unattractive with no purpose in life. It was a really dark time. I was crying all of the time and I was grieving for the woman I once was without any clear direction of who I was supposed to become.
My very supportive husband suggested I needed more help and found a specialist GP close by. I made an appointment to see her and she explained that the hormone therapy I was on wasn’t strong enough to stabilise my levels now that I’d reached 49. She prescribed a higher dose of oestrogen (75mcg), carried on with the cyclical progesterone, and added in a transdermal testosterone gel—something I hadn’t realised women needed but now see as a game-changer. Testosterone helps with mental clarity, fatigue and low libido. It’s also said to help with bone health & muscle strength. Testosterone is not seen as a necessary part of HRT on the NHS which is something I feel definitely needs to change for the women who need it. The addition of testosterone has been pivotal for improving my confidence, mental clarity, and overall vitality so pretty fundamental.
It was a relief to learn that I wasn’t alone. Losing professional confidence is a common issue for women at this stage of life. Hearing that even airline pilots and barristers experience this was validating. I wasn’t broken; I just needed the right support. The very act of being heard and understood made me break down with relief. I wasn’t alone.
Rebuilding Myself, One Day at a Time
I was lucky enough to be in a position to pause my career and focus on healing. I started cycling more and prioritising my mental health. My husband introduced me to creatine, which has helped boost my energy and mood. Over the course of two months, I decided to taper off my antidepressants. Slowly I began to regain my ability to feel emotions fully. It was like coming back to life. It was nice to be able to feel things again, my husband remarked that he hadn’t heard me laugh for such a long time until now. I began cycling 4-5 times a week. Just being outside in nature and exercising was the therapy I needed. I don’t take it lightly that I was lucky enough to be able to do that.
2024: Adding in weight training
Towards the end of 2024 I wanted to learn more about weights and how to use them in my training. Building muscle during perimenopause is crucial for managing hormonal shifts, preserving bone density, and maintaining overall health as women transition through menopause. It helps combat muscle loss, reduces the risk of osteoporosis, and improves metabolic health, all while mitigating the physical changes associated with declining oestrogen levels. Whilst searching online, I found the girls from Empowher. They were two female PT’s based near me offering an introduction into weights which could be done from home, as and when you wanted to. It sounded like the perfect solution for me so I booked to go on their 8 week starter course.
They asked me lots of questions around diet, lifestyle and sleep to be able to create the correct program for me. They use an online app to deliver the program and there’s a very supportive Facebook Group with other participants. I had no idea what I was doing with weights to start with but now they are an essential part of my workout routine. I have two 20 minute routines to complete in a week. One for arms and core and one for my legs. It was difficult to begin with because I had zero upper body strength. After about three months I began to see my body change and I could see I was getting more defined which was a lovely little boost and it made me feel good about how I looked.
I share my story not for sympathy but to show that help is out there. If my journey resonates with just one person and inspires them to seek support, then sharing this has been worth it. Menopause can be tough, but with the right tools and support, we can navigate it and emerge stronger. I have added some resource links to my blog so if you need to check them out please do and please don’t feel alone, you aren’t going through this on your own.
