Menopause in the Workplace | Right at Home Solent

Ali, our Office Manager at Right at Home Solent, recently wrote about how her experience with the Menopause; how it affected her personally and in the workplace. She wants to try and get other women to talk about it, as for some reason, the Menopause has become a taboo topic which many people in Fareham, Southampton, Gosport & New Forest East, and all over the UK, don't feel comfortable discussing. This is what she said: 

"I started going through the Menopause at the age of 34. At age 36 I had a full hysterectomy and I was told that I may be lucky and not experience any more symptoms. However, sadly at the age of 38 the Menopause came back full belt and this continued until I was 51.

4 years ago, I  was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. They believe that I may have had Diabetes for many years before actually being diagnosed, as some of the symptoms are actually the same as those associated with going through the Menopause. 

Now I am through the Menopause, I have lost nearly two stone in weight, this is by attending Slimming World classes, but it means I am still constantly watching what I eat and continuing to make better, healthier options. There are nights that I may get a night sweat but now I know this is my Diabetes...so if I have been naughty, I sweat the sugar out."

The Menopause Symptoms That I Had For 12 years:

• Hot flushes
• Migraines
• Night sweats
• Panic Attacks
• Foggy brain
• Weight Gain – and it doesn’t what diet you try you just cannot lose the weight!
• Feeling tired at the strangest time of the day
• Thyroid symptoms, I couldn’t wear anything around my neck, as it felt as I was being strangled
• Not able to have a full night’s sleep

I took HRT tablets (Hormone Replacement Therapy) which are taken to relieve symptoms of the Menopause, I had the patches (which are also another common way of taking HRT), and even tried the gel, but unfortunately nothing helped. All of the medication I took to make the Menopause that small bit easier, actually just enhanced my symptoms. I eventually understood that I just had to accept what I was going through and learn to live with it."

Some of Things I Changed to Help Myself:

• Reduced Caffeine Intake – I changed to decaf so that I could still enjoy coffee!
• Ate more fresh food (fruit and vegetables) – and tried to stay away from the fatty foods
• Reduced my alcohol intake
• Reduced all sugars
• Drank more water using fresh fruit to infuse the water (this is a great way of drinking more water for those who struggle with this!)
• Carried on with Exercise – Walking, Swimming and Bike Riding. I get out and do some exercise whenever I can!
• Cotton sheets on the bed at night
• A cool mat – I found being able to put my feet on this during the night helped a lot, still use it now.
• Talking about it to others! Especially my husband, having someone close to you that understands what is happening to you really helps, and what a superstar he was!
• Wore loose clothing
• Having a sense of humour about it – so if I was having a flush, I would say "I'm just having a moment!"

How Did My Employers Help?

• They were checking in on me on a regularly basis and having honest and open conservations. Let your Employers know what you are going through! They let me know that they are fully supportive of what I was going through and in turn I was being very sensitive towards them, which helped take the edge off. 
• They made sure that I wasn't being over-worked and that I was having plenty of breaks (reducing my hours or flexi working).
• If I wearing a uniform, I was able to change this to something more comfortable, i.e. cotton -
• Making sure that there is cold water available if working in an office
• Making sure that there is enough ventilation if working the office, access to a fan (I know I had a fan all the time even in the winter).
• If working in the office, being able to leave your workplace to go and cool down, being able to take 5 minutes to get yourself together.
• Just having the understanding of my employers and work colleagues!

If you would like to have a chat with our lovely Ali about the Menopause, please don't hesitate to give her a call. You can contact Ali on 01329 233755. Right at Home Solent is here for you!