All the bleeding had been such a nightmare I hadn’t really considered how I was feeling each dreaded month. I noticed I was like a crazy person for 2 weeks out of every month. I was a horror to live with (my husband and daughter can attest to this) I even annoyed myself with my erratic behaviours. I was a WITCH no word of a lie. Something had to change. I was becoming isolated in those two weeks. I didn’t want to go out, talk to anyone, even my BFF’s. This was all made worse by my crippling anxiety which i didn’t want to even admit to myself let alone anyone else.
I started reading self help books on menopause and how to combat these symptoms naturally because as I have always known western medicine just doesn’t agree with my body. Contraception has always been an issue and the coil well we all know that story now. So I was alone and had to find a holistic natural way to treat myself. I looked back at the notes from my menopause talk and started implementing them. My symptoms at the time were deemed “cold symptoms” which happen around 10 years before the actual menopause. They were difficulty concentrating, anxiety, panic attacks, hair thinning, depression, digestive issues, sleep issues, breast pain and muscle tension.
So I started with the advice I was given. Diet and exercise was key. I started eating clean and I joined a gym and started yoga and meditation. Every morning I would cleanse my liver with warm water and half a lemon before I had breakfast which now included something green and some berries and protein! The next addition was drinking more water, 2 litres a day to be precise. I was committed to my self care because if I wanted things to change I had to do it. What I have found is there is no magic pill that will cure menopause but you can find supplements to ease the symptoms. It’s a journey of trial and error and this is what I advise my clients looking for natural ways to control symptoms.
So from all my extensive reading I found the self help books advised the following:
- A good multivitamin to include vitamin C
- Vitamin D and K
- Magnesium
- Omega 3 (DHA & EPA)
- 5HTP
- Herbs like Rhodiola and Ashwagandha
- Phytoestrogens
So everyone’s next port of call when looking for supplements is to either visit Holland and Barrett or shop in the supermarket. Well I couldn’t find anything in my supermarket and I just couldn’t get the advice I needed in Holland and Barrett. It was so vague and unhelpful. Then I found Cytoplan whilst googling and it was like a breath of fresh air. I filled in a health questionnaire and what I got back was a full report of what I should be eating and a supplement plan.
I worked with the nutritionist and I discovered that when beginning to enter the menopause it is important to support the adrenal glands. These glands take over the production of oestrogen from the ovaries and are also very important for producing our stress hormones and are therefore involved in the stress response. This is often why women can feel more anxious or have low moods when they begin the menopause and can contribute to poor sleep.. Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is really important when supporting adrenal function. Therefore, it is important to include healthy fats and protein to slow down the release of sugar into the blood and therefore stabilising the stress response. It is also important to support the health of the digestive system, the gut and the liver are responsible for the excretion of waste hormones and therefore play an essential role in balancing hormones. The bacteria within the gut also produce neurotransmitters and can have an impact on sleep and cognitive function. When the gut is under stress it can become damaged and leaky, allowing larger molecules to pass through the digestive lining and trigger inflammation. When the gut is leaky this can also lead to a leaky blood brain barrier which can create inflammation and lead to brain fog. The drop in oestrogen can contribute to brain fog, so I was advised to take supplements to support normal cognitive health. I started on these supplements from Cytoplan: CoQ10 multi, Cytoprotect GI tract, Addrenal support, 5HTP, B12 Methyll cobalamin, Omega Balance and biofood magnesium.
Within a few weeks I was seeing such a difference in myself. I was following a great eating plan reducing my sugar and carbohydrates and really focusing on fuelling my body correctly. My breast pain was gone, digestive issues had improved and my sleep was back to eight hours a night. I was amazed and I just wanted to keep going. To top it all I had lost another half a stone. I didn’t feel like I was on a diet, I felt like I was a bad ass mum taking back control of her life.
With each monthly cycle I was seeing a dramatic improvement. I didn’t have such terrible mood swings which meant I didn’t feel guilty. I was less bloated and my hair and nails were stronger. The worst part of my symptoms were definitely poor concentration and brain fog and I was shocked at how much I could join in a conversation without stumbling for words and I got a full day’s work done in just a few hours.
My perimenopause journey is far from over but by making small changes to my lifestyle I have seen a massive reduction in symptoms and I was becoming better equipped and knowledgeable to help others too. I was inspired to learn more and get qualified with the College of Naturopathic medicine. I wanted to help others like me live a full life.
Next time I will talk about my studies and where my learning journey has taken me. In the meantime if you would like to book a discovery call about your menopause then go to my booking page on my website. I would love to hear from you.
Stay safe Mel xxx