{"id":6642,"date":"2022-10-10T17:12:33","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T16:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thekateoutdoors.uk\/?p=6642"},"modified":"2023-10-29T16:08:56","modified_gmt":"2023-10-29T16:08:56","slug":"welcome-to-your-perimenopause-in-your-30s-and-40s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thekateoutdoors.uk\/welcome-to-your-perimenopause-in-your-30s-and-40s\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome to your Perimenopause! (And why if you\u2019re in your 30\u2019s and 40\u2019s you NEED to know)"},"content":{"rendered":"

5 min read with lots of resources.<\/em><\/p>\n

My latest blog post is about the perimenopause and menopause for 2 main reasons;<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 I am in it and had no idea until it got too much for me and I then realised my hormones were a possible factor
\nand;
\n2.\u00a0 I\u2019ve realised that many people I\u2019ve worked with over the years (and perhaps even you reading this), have been or, are in perimenopause and may not even realise it<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Quick Facts About the Perimenopause<\/h2>\n

1.\u00a0 \u00a0Perimenopause – what is it?<\/h3>\n

Peri means \u2018around\u2019, so around the time of menopause (when ovulation stops). The lead up to menopause can take years and many will feel the effects years before their periods actually stop.<\/p>\n

During perimenopause, hormones fluctuate and decrease, our ovaries slow down and at the same time, we may experience health issues or changes in our minds and our bodies. These are potentially clues that we may not even realise.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 When does the Perimenopause start?<\/h3>\n

The perimenopause can start in your 40\u2019s or earlier in your 30\u2019s.<\/p>\n

A sequence of seemingly small health issues \u2018going wrong\u2019 or changing, both mentally and physically – this is how I’ve experienced the perimenopause.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 My perimenopause story<\/h3>\n

I got my first clues aged 44 when I started to realise I wasn’t happy, but had no idea it was perimenopause – I didn’t even know what it was. My mental health worsened in perimenopause and anxiety and stress increased and eventually I got anti-depressants. I then sought further support from a Life Coach and made an epic career change. I wrote a blog post here<\/a> a few months back about career change in my 40’s.<\/p>\n

I’m now on HRT and my mental health is currently strong – hooray!<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 What are Perimenopause Symptoms?<\/h3>\n

There are MANY perimenopause symptoms, including; digestive issues, anxiety, mood swings\/poor periods of mental health, loss of confidence, poor sleep, brain fog, low libido, vaginal dryness, weight gain\/loss, joint pain\u2026Some websites list up to 40 different symptoms.<\/p>\n

In isolation, these symptoms might not make you think \u2018ah – the perimenopause!\u2019<\/strong>, so it\u2019s useful to notice changes to your physical and mental health over a period of time, to then be able to investigate more. Of course seek medical help if you\u2019re unsure or you are finding life or managing symptoms difficult.<\/p>\n

So having knowledge of what to expect in your mind and your body in your 30\u2019s and 40\u2019s<\/strong> can raise your awareness of perimenopause symptoms, how you can handle them and that you’re not going mad.<\/p>\n

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Credit; https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/themenopauseroom\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5.\u00a0 Help for you in your Perimenopause – \ud83d\udea9 warning \ud83d\udea9<\/h3>\n

Medical help for your perimenopause is not as easy as it could be…<\/h4>\n

For any health issue, talk to your GP, YET for the perimenopause and menopause and from personal experience, it’s worth finding out as much information as you can before making an appointment<\/em>; GPs in the UK are not required to have training in the menopause and perimenopause in their medical training.<\/p>\n

WTF?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

In a 2021 Freedom of Information request, #MakeMenopauseMatter<\/strong> campaigner Diane Danzebrink,<\/strong> found that 41% of UK universities do not have mandatory menopause education on their medical school curriculum. So, many doctors leave their medical training with no formal education on the perimenopause and menopause. They are expected to receive it on the job.<\/p>\n

You see the issue?<\/p>\n

In a survey published in 2020, Balance<\/a> (a website and app dedicated to all things menopause and perimenopause) said;<\/p>\n

36% of those who sought help from their GP for perimenopause symptoms, and 26% of those who sought help for menopause symptoms, say they visited their GP three times or more before being prescribed appropriate medication or help<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Two things come up for me here and make me cross;
\n1.\u00a0 You might have to push and push to get help from your GP for the perimenopause – ie HRT
\n2.\u00a0 The onus is on YOU\u00a0 – You have to initiate and equip yourself with good info and have the confidence to ASK for help or for HRT, in order to have a satisfactory outcome from your GP appointment<\/p>\n

Before I asked for help from my GP, I joined the Facebook Group, Caution! Menopause at Work<\/em><\/a> and asked the question, \u2018what to read about the perimenopause\u2019. This book came up repeatedly, ‘Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause (but were too afraid to ask)’ by Kate Muir.<\/strong> It\u2019s cracking – accessible and informative. It will make you angry, feel scared but will motivate you to do something about how you\u2019re feeling.<\/p>\n

The author is I believe the Producer on the now infamous Davina McCall documentary \u201cSex, Myths and the Menopause\u201d<\/em>, on C4.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0 \u00a0How to ask for HRT<\/h3>\n

Your periods don\u2019t need to have stopped to start HRT. AND at the age of 44 you are ‘old enough’ to start HRT – contrary to what my good friend\u2019s GP told her.<\/p>\n

And you of course might want to manage your symptoms with alternative treatments rather than medicine.<\/p>\n

I started HRT because although I was doing all the ‘good’ things in my extensive toolkit for my mental and physical health, it still wasn\u2019t enough<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

4 months after starting HRT, I felt a whole lot better, particularly with my mental health.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0 \u00a0Looking after yourself in perimenopause<\/h3>\n

It goes without saying that taking care of your health, food, exercise, alcohol consumption etc is vital – you have to look after yourself. You may need to change your approach.<\/p>\n

I got help from Nutritionist Kirsten Brooks<\/a> with some good quality vitamins and a useful conversation about food, supplements and pointers to tweak my diet. She told me,<\/p>\n

“This is a time of life where self-care is also critical’.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Oh YES, so true. We have to look after ourselves and realise that our mental health and physical health must move further up the list of priorities. And only you can do this.<\/p>\n

And I started that midlife woman thing of cold water swimming. I began last Winter to get; a boost of adrenaline, the right amount of challenge, pride (that \u2018I could do it\u2019) and probably a whopping dose of serotonin (mood and sleep). You’ll see me at Beckenham Place Park in the lake. And my continuing netball – being in a team, being in flow, playing outside in the summer has been brilliant for me.<\/p>\n

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My first cold water swim – for my mental health and it’s what Midlife women do, right?! Feb 2022, Isle of Wight<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8.\u00a0 \u00a0Perimenopause help in the workplace<\/h3>\n

Support from those who you spend time with is essential – can you share your situation with your loved ones and your workplace?<\/p>\n

Sarah Wilsher Mid Life and Menopause Coach<\/strong><\/a>, runs that funny and warm Facebook Group I mentioned earlier. She said something to me that sounded so familiar;<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking back, my perimenopausal symptoms really derailed me at work. If only I’d had more knowledge about what was happening to me, and more support from my colleagues and managers, I\u2019m sure I would have thrived not just survived through the early years of perimenopause\u201d.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My symptoms have definitely derailed me this year, so I took a little bit longer off at the end of the summer – I needed to stop and reset and luckily I could.<\/p>\n

Sarah Wilsher now offers training and workshops to organisations to develop awareness of the perimonopause and menopause in the workplace so that others can thrive rather than survive . Does your company know and understand what happens to people in\u00a0 perimenopause? Who can you talk to at work about your symptoms and get the help you or others might need?<\/p>\n

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9.\u00a0 I think I\u2019m in perimenopause: what do I do now?<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Read and find out more information – I\u2019ve listed a great book, apps and resources<\/li>\n
  2. Track your symptoms – here’s a good one from Balance<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Track your periods – are they changing? I used my FItbit until it died (oh, the irony!) and now in my Google calendar. I\u2019ve heard people use apps too<\/li>\n
  4. Talk – to your trusted friends or someone ‘not involved’? What are they experiencing? Do they notice changes in their mental or physical health that might suggest the perimenopause? What do you need?<\/li>\n
  5. Basics – keep fit, get outdoors more, eat healthily, drink enough water, create a healthy sleep routine<\/li>\n
  6. See your GP or health practitioner if you have concerns about your health<\/li>\n
  7. Stay or get connected to those who can and will help you (friends, groups who share your cause etc)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I’m keen to hear if this resonates with you; email me here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    This could be something I come back to another time.<\/p>\n

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    Resources<\/h2>\n

    I\u2019ve listed A LOT of resources here that I think are useful and been helpful for me so far;<\/span><\/p>\n