If you’ve been in northern Europe in the last week, you’ll have noticed that it was hot. And we all melted. Our infrastructure was designed to keep heat in, which is great in the winter, but not so good in 30+ degrees…
The worst possible week to start HRT
For me, I decided last Monday would be a great time to start HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) for the very first time. In a heatwave. What could possibly go wrong? With hindsight, I probably could have put this back a month, but you live and learn!
A frustrating GP appointment and more questions than answers
I’d been prescribed HRT at the start of this month (June) in what I can only describe as a frustrating GP appointment. Guidance has now changed and any female who presents with menopausal symptoms, and is the ‘correct’ age (mid-40s onwards) can be diagnosed with perimenopause. Which is a really positive step. However, when I questioned whether something else could be causing some of my symptoms (my vitamin and mineral levels, and indeed which of my hormones were the troublesome ones), I was promptly shot down, no real options were discussed, and I was prescribed what was called a ‘magic pill’ – ie HRT.
I left the appointment with way more questions than I had answers for and wasn’t really sure what my next steps were. I figured as I had a prescription, I’d collect it, and then do some research and see how I felt.
Why I changed my mind about going ‘natural’
I was always of the opinion that I wouldn’t take HRT and I wanted to enter menopause ‘naturally’. Following 6 months of symptoms, I changed my mind. I am able to take HRT (not everyone is) and ultimately I decided that I needed to feel like myself again. I didn’t have to take this forever, but as my hormones were all over the place, I could try something which may even them out.
What actually happened in my first week
And that led me to last Monday, at the beginning of the hottest week in England for a while, opening my patch and taking the plunge. I’ll be honest, I felt bad pretty much all week. Which isn’t a huge surprise. Estrogen is a powerful hormone, It does a lot of amazing things, including helping regulate body temperature, and if it’s all over the place, it’s no surprise that I struggled in the heat. My ankles swelled up as well (they’re nearly back to normal!), I didn’t sleep that well (that I doubt many people did) and it’s only now that the temperature has dropped, that I’m feeling like myself again.
HRT is personal, and so is this journey
HRT is a really personal decision. Not everyone is able to take it, not everyone wants to and even some of those who want to, struggle to get a prescription, so I do appreciate how luck I am. I’m going to keep an eye on my symptoms, on how I feel, and really take the summer one day at a time. Menopause isn’t a disease, it’s not an illness and I’m aware that I have a huge part to play in how I navigate the next few years – in what I eat and drink, how much I move in my mindset and beyond.
Come and join the conversation
There will be good days and not so good days ahead, and if this is a journey you find yourself on, please join my community on Facebook and Instagram – The Menopause Corner – and I’ll be sharing how we can all get through and come out the other side, empowered and ready to embrace the next phase of our lives.