Don't pause for the menopause
Today I broke that stigma of HRT. I have been struggling with lack of sleep for too long now, during my life but the last few years during my menopause and peri-menopause it has not been good. If I can sleep I know that I can tackle life with few problems. I have been given a pump dispenser and will now use every day!
Those who know me, know that I have an unusual work life. I have different contracts and am running around everywhere, and although I enjoy my work when I am tired I find it hard to manage.
Life is stressful, and can be hard to manage let alone battle with little or now sleep.
I made an appointment with the GP two weeks ago, not knowing what to expect and the prescription was handed to me with no problems. I am healthy (luckily), and there are no issues with getting HRT. Yet with stress from little sleep one can see that illness is not far away.
Having a good night sleep is the main key to better health. As well as food and hydration, not drinking too much, or not smoking and of course movement and exercise. All these things I do, but not sleeping has been making me struggle.
I am also studying for a degree which at times I do think ‘why?’ But I have to keep going, and of course the basis of this course can be something I can work with for menopause. A good diet does help and if we eat too much sugar, it is not good for menopause and this is a key fact that really drive a woman to hard times (I’ve been there, and if people are not understanding!). The stress hormones make you crave processed food, one eats the processed food, we feel rubbish, we can crash and burn, and it happens over again.
If one can be in tune with a good and healthy diet we can then tick that off the list and start to feel better. Eat a rainbow of fruit and veg, get plenty of good protein and not just the stuff we are used to, get some nuts and seeds down you, drink lots of water, eat whole pieces of fruit and not drink juice, that way you get the goodness and the fibre. Fibre is one good key to keeping well. Swap white goods for wholemeal, our bodies are like car engines, they need to keep moving inside and out. Think about it, fibre is our friend, stagnation is not.
This keeps the menopause in check. Talk to your friends and family and get them talking about it. People need to know what women go through at this stage in their life.
So don’t hold back, if you are struggling with menopause then speak to the doctor and maybe the treatment is for you!