My menopause journey

In 2015, at the age of 43, I had a midline laparotomy to remove, as it turned out, a rather large dermoid cyst which had decided to grow inside me and subsequently destroy my ovaries.

The little (or large as it turned out!) minx had been growing there for some time, probably years, without me knowing. Something which, I didn’t know at the time, is quite common.

By its removal, along with what was left of my ovaries and fallopian tubes, meant my medically induced menopause kicked in BIG TIME post op!

And wowsers…that was a shock!!!!

What, no help or advice??

My surgeon told me that I would need to go on HRT, didn't really explain what exactly HRT was or why I had to go on it. Not did I know how my body would change now it had no ovaries. 

So to say I was unprepared for what was to come was an understatement!

Menopause is the next instalment in women’s lives and one which many of us aren’t really prepared for.  When you’re expecting a baby, you can go to pre-natal classes, get advice from specialists as well as have a mid-wife for support. But for those of us going into menopause, we’re lucky if we have a women’s health specialist at our local GP surgery.

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I feel lucky.

I knew I was in menopause. Many women have no idea what's happening to their body. I has taken years for me to understand the changes to my body - both physically and mentally. As well as a lot of research, soul searching, seeking out specialist advice as well as accepting that this was the next phase of my life. And to be honest I'm still learning!

I'm now comfortable in my own skin.

I now know more about my body than I probably did in my 20s, and I'm do everything I can to ensure I look after myself both physically and mentally.
 

I'm constantly learning about what works for me with regards to my health and fitness, and what’s in my power to change.
 

I've accepted who I am, and what I look like.
 

I've stopped comparing myself to others.
 

I've embraced this next phase of my life with open arms.