AtHomeWithLorraineKelly2016 - 115

ALL CHANGE ▲
completely run out of oestrogen and
no amount of herbs could replace
that. I started using the bioidentical
patches immediately and felt an
improvement within 48 hours.
'I was relieved there was something
I could use, but angry nobody had
given me this information before!
'As a result of my own experience
I now run a service called Menopause
Support (www.menopausesupport.
co.uk) to help other women.'
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, 60:
'The menopause can be hard to
deal with, because it really is a
shock when it hits you. There's
no countdown. It's just boom.
All those years bitching about
my period, but when it stopped,
I was stunned to realise how
much my womanhood was tied
into it. It hits you hard.'

needed a trusted remedy. I took
estradiol hormone therapy for 10 years
and it alleviated many of my symptoms,
but, at 50, I was advised by my doctor
to stop taking it due to long-term
risks. I came off it straight away, but I
should have reduced the dose slowly.
'I went into a downward spiral of
mood swings, hot flushes and sleepless
nights and I was beside myself with
frustration. For two years I tried
natural remedies with no significant
success. Another doctor advised me
to have HRT at a low dose until my
symptoms improved, then to slowly
withdraw. I'm now 54 and not on any
medication. I'm sleeping better but I
still have hot flushes. Trying to keep
stress to a minimum helps.'
JACKIE TAYLOR, 54,
SOUTHAMPTON

DIANE DANZEBRINK, 49,
LEIGHTON BUZZARD

WORDS: GEORGINA MARIC,
IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK

SHIAN LEWIS, 49, LLANGOLLEN

SHARE EXPERIENCES
SO YOU DON'T FEEL
YOU'RE ALONE

'I started the Menopause Remedies
Facebook page a few years ago and, to
begin with, it was just a way for me
to record my feelings and frustrations

TAKING MAGNESIUM
HAS HELPED ME TO
GET SOME SLEEP

'Lack of sleep has been one of the
main problems for me and, once
I do get to sleep, I am constantly
disturbed by night sweats, or waking
up to go to the bathroom. I feel like a
zombie - and that makes all my
other symptoms worse.
'About a month ago, I started taking
magnesium supplements and I cannot
believe the difference it has made.
I am sleeping for around six hours
now, which is a great improvement.'
PATTY MERRY, 58, DORSET

I USE VITAMINS AND
MINERALS, WITH A
HEALTHY DIET

'I'm not taking HRT, but have found,
by trial and error, a vitamin and
mineral supplement regime that
works for me and helps to control
my symptoms. I also add 10ml of
Metatone tonic - which contains
vitamin B1 and four essential minerals
- in water ever morning, too, which
does make a difference.

DO YOUR OWN
RESEARCH INTO
TREATMENTS

'I went into menopause overnight
after a total hysterectomy. Initially,
I tried to control my symptoms with
vitamins and herbs, and, for a while,
it seemed to be working.
'I had chosen not to use HRT as I
believed it to be synthetic and derived
from pregnant mare's urine. But a few
months later things went very wrong,
very quickly. I became increasingly
anxious and emotional - I lost my
confidence and I felt hopeless. In
desperation, my husband took me to
my GP who explained there is an
alternative to synthetic HRT that is
plant derived, called bioidentical.
My doctor explained my body had

'I have also reduced my intake of
dairy, chocolate and junk food. I still
have the odd treat, but, in general, I
eat a healthier diet and also exercise
regularly to a level that pushes me.'

OPRAH WINFREY, 61:
'I've discovered that this is your
moment to reinvent yourself
after years of focusing on the
needs of everyone else.'

KIM CATTRALL, 59:
'One moment you're fine, and
then minutes later you feel like
you're in a vat of boiling water
and that the rug has been pulled
out from underneath you,' says
Kim. 'What I would say, and what
I always tell my girlfriends who've
also experienced hot flushes, in
particular, is that change is part
of being human. We evolve and
should not fear it.'

about my own menopause experiences.
I began documenting my good and
bad days, and everything in between.
'The overriding message I get from
the women who visit my page is
gratitude and relief that they are able
to share similar stories and aren't
going through this alone. I think that
kind of normalises things and keeps it
in perspective, especially on bad days.
'Every woman will experience
menopause differently - the lucky
ones may have one or two hot flushes
and not struggle at all, while others
will get every symptom going.
'I personally chose not to go down
the HRT route, but I think every
woman has the right to make up
her own mind on this; it's a personal
choice and she must do what she
feels is right for her.'
JANE ATHERTON, 56,
NORTH LONDON

www.athomemagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2016 | 115
AtHomeWithLorraineKelly2016

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