UNTANGLING A MEDICAL MENOPAUSE MYSTERY

When you mention menopause, most folks conjure up images of hot flashes as if it’s a quirky sitcom plot. But hold on, my friends, this midlife moment can be a real roller coaster with some serious twists and turns, especially for those who find themselves in the wild world of medical menopause through the surgical removal of a uterus and/or ovaries.

Now, let me introduce you to Kerri. When Kerri had her hysterectomy, she was technically already in menopause–she hadn’t had a period for more than a year. Several women in her family had had the same procedure, so she thought she had it all figured out. But, oh boy, things felt off from the get-go!  When she told her doctor about her symptoms, he waved it off, saying she just needed to “sweat it out.”

Fast forward eighteen months, and Kerri was seriously questioning if she’d even make it to her next birthday. During that time, she gained 60 pounds, and walking up a flight of stairs felt like climbing Mount Everest.  She suffered from sleep apnea and pre-diabetes which led to concerning changes in her vision. Hair loss? You betcha. Chest pain? Yup, that too. Her memory loss and ability to concentrate were so extreme that she had trouble doing her job. To top it all off, volcanic hot flashes pushed her blood pressure through the roof and made her sweat so much that she regularly looked like she had just run a marathon.  

She finally sought advice from another doctor who recommended she see Dr. Helen Greco. Dr. Greco not only validated Kerri’s entire menopausal ordeal but also explained the science behind hormones and her body’s experience, prescribing some hormone replacement therapy (HRT) magic.

With a bio-identical patch in tow, Kerri started feeling like herself again in just three days. But don’t think the story ends there, folks. There was still a lot of ground to cover. Extensive lab work revealed that Kerri’s estrogen-free hiatus had thrown her thyroid, blood pressure, and cholesterol into disarray. Through a blend of medication, intentional nutrition, and exercise, Kerri is slowly piecing her health puzzle back together.

This whole experience has turned Kerri into an advocate extraordinaire. She’s on a mission to share her menopause ordeal with other women. Trusting our bodies when medical advice seems to ignore our symptoms or dismiss our experience is not only necessary but may sometimes be a life-or-death situation. Kerri feels lucky to have eventually found a doctor who knew enough about menopause to help her get better, and she wants everyone to learn from her experience.

“No one should have to go through what I went through,” she proclaimed.  “We don’t have to suffer. We need to speak up with a loud boisterous voice!”

Let’s crank up the volume together! What’s your menopause story?