What’s Your Menopause Story? Here’s Mine.
Don’t Put Me On Pause (DPOP) was founded, in part, due to our own personal search for perimenopause and menopause information, where we discovered a gap in credible information online. That was about a year ago, and here we are. Based on what I’ve learned through my work at DPOP and beyond, I’d like to share my personal story:
Over the past several years, the symptoms of perimenopause have crept into my life, starting with the perimenopausal rage. As time has gone on, I’ve now arrived at irregular periods, heavy periods, frequent headaches, anxiety (seemingly out of the blue), dry skin and hair, including vaginal dryness, and decreased sex drive, to name a few.
After I attended The Menopause Society annual meeting back in September, I felt hopeful. I had learned so much, not only professionally, but personally. There are options to manage this time of life, and women don’t have to suffer. I walked away feeling empowered, and the meeting reinforced our mission at DPOP.
Then, I set out on my own personal mission. I was going to find symptom relief (Don’t Put ME On Pause!). I started by scheduling an appointment with my OB/GYN nurse practitioner, who I’ve seen for many years.
Next, I made use of the tools that were available to me. While controversial, I had received one of the ClearBlue menopause tests from their booth at the conference, so I put it to good use. I also used the Hormonal Health Assessment tool on the Pausology website.
Both of these tools, essentially, yielded the same potential conclusion: I was in pre-menopause. However, the Pausology tool indicated I was also on the cusp of perimenopause. The biggest difference between the two tests? The Hormonal Health Assessment tool is available for FREE.
Before I go any further, I should mention a really important point. I’m diligent with my health and really try to stay up-to-date on any appointments: I go for a yearly physical, keep up with my well-woman exams and mammograms, and I also see a preventative cardiologist regularly.
When it was time for my doctor’s appointment, I used the DPOP conversation guide so that I’d be armed with all of the information I needed to make my case for a treatment plan with my doctor. I also did research in advance. Based on what I’d learned from my own research, and at the Menopause Society meeting, I felt pretty confident that low-dose birth control may be most appropriate for my situation.
My concern was that I would be dismissed and/or offered a supplement that could take months to see results, if results were seen at all (similar to my past discussion see: rage). I was also worried that my doctor would be hesitant to prescribe a hormone-driven treatment due to my family history of heart disease.
When my clinician greeted me warmly per usual and said “You’re here with some questions. What’s going on?” She listened. Then she asked if my periods were regular. I replied with, “not really.” She followed by asking, “What symptoms were bothering you the most?” Luckily, I had those written down in front of me and ticked them off quickly. Again, she listened. I was relieved.
Her biggest concerns were the heavy periods and low back pain. She wanted to make sure I was not anemic (recent bloodwork did not indicate this), and she also ordered an ultrasound as a precaution.
My doctor noted that because I see a cardiologist regularly and my blood pressure is normal, there should be no issue. And, because I’ve exhausted other options (like supplements she recommended in the past), she agreed that the low-dose birth control pill was right for me.
So, I’ll take the pill for three months and see how it goes. My doctor also mentioned that she’s found this to be a very effective solution for others in a similar situation. If it doesn’t work, she said for me to come back, so we can talk about a different solution.
So, what did I learn? It seems obvious, but being proactive can help you feel heard!
My experience was positive, but I understand that may not be the case for others. However, if you are participating in your overall care, there’s a stronger probability of having better outcomes. So, how can you do that?
Educate yourself about your options.
Use your resources (see links above).
Track your symptoms.
Be prepared for appointments – write down any concerns, symptoms, list of medications in advance.
Keep up with your primary care and other regular appointments. This can help to rule out other issues that may be going on.
And, last but not least, remember that YOU have a role in your care. If your needs are not being met, it may be time to seek the care of a new provider and/or a menopause specialist.
What’s YOUR menopause story? Let’s Talk About It.
Written By: Jamie Forward