Has my body been taken over by aliens or could it be perimenopause?

Women’s health is in the spotlight right now and not before time. For so many years, women of a certain age were expected to suffer in silence when their hormones were going haywire. As a society we’ve had grace and understanding for teenagers as they navigate the dramatic changes in hormone levels that puberty brings, but that same understanding has been missing for those going through menopause. It’s been such a taboo topic that many of us with uteruses don’t even know what it actually is.

What exactly is menopause?

The official medical definition is when a woman, or person who menstruates, has not had a period for at least 12 months. Perimenopause refers to the time leading up to menopause and it’s where most of the symptoms we usually associate with menopause are at their peak.

I had never even heard of perimenopause until I was right in the thick of it.

My limited knowledge on the subject of menopause was what I’d seen in pop culture - middle-aged women flying into fits of rage or fanning themselves furiously during a hot flush.

No-one talked about it, or if they did it was with negative connotations.

My first clue that something was not quite right for me, was a sudden onset of crippling anxiety in my mid-forties. For the first time I was having panic attacks, heart palpitations and a constant feeling of heaviness on my chest. Then I experienced debilitating joint pain leading to a misdiagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Next came a frozen shoulder and I felt like I was falling apart at the seams. My hair was falling out in chunks, I was putting on weight around my mid-section, I could not sleep and I was tired and irritable ALL the time. My brain felt foggy and unable to focus - I knew something was wrong, but test after test came back inconclusive. Not once did the Drs join the dots and investigate my hormones. It wasn’t until my periods started becoming erratic that I started to do some research into menopause on my own.

Lightbulb moment! Suddenly all of my symptoms made sense. I wasn’t imagining it - my hormones had been going haywire for years and now that I knew what was happening, I could advocate for myself and get some help. After years of suffering, I am now under the excellent care of a fabulous endocrinologist who is helping me manage my symptoms with MHT - Menopause Hormone Therapy (please seek individual medical advice for your unique circumstances - MHT may not be suitable for everyone).

How do I know if I am in perimenopause?

During peri-menopause, our hormone levels (in particular oestrogen) drop dramatically and highly erratically, so it can feel quite discombobulating. Some people don’t experience symptoms at all and others find them debilitating and they can last for months or even years. It’s really important to get to know what is normal for you so you can recognise if something is not quite right. Many GPs and other medical professionals have not had adequate training in relation to menopause, so being able to advocate for yourself is paramount.

Some of the more common symptoms to look out for are:

• Brain fog/ inability to concentrate

• Anxiety and/or depression

• Fatigue

• Mood swings/ sudden feelings of rage

• Irregular periods/heavier than normal periods

• Hot flushes/ night sweats

• Insomnia

• Dry or itchy skin

• Hair loss

• Joint pain/muscle tenderness

• Frozen shoulder

This is not an exhaustive list, but more of a handy guide to help you recognise the symptoms earlier, if you experience them, and allow you to seek help to feel like yourself again. I can recommend some great resources if you’d like some more information:

If you’re looking for evidence-based information from leading experts, look no further than the Australasian Menopause Society - menopause.org.au or Jean Hailes for Women’s Health - jeanhailes.org.au . Both are excellent resources with lots of fantastic information.

Or if you’d like your facts delivered with a good dollop of irreverent humour, then Kaz Cooke’s book “It’s The Menopause” is a must-read.

Let’s not allow society to dictate what topics are taboo and which ones we’re allowed to talk about - we need to share our stories

And don’t forget, if you need a little extra support to manage your mental health during this transition, talking to a counsellor can be really beneficial. I’m here to help!

© 2024 Jodie Blewitt - meaningfulchangecounselling.com.au