The Beginning
I was never particularly focused on health while growing up, and until my early forties I didn’t give my health a whole lot of attention. I was naturally active, played racquetball, lifted weights, hiked outdoors, and was always in good overall shape. In my late thirties, my career as a mortgage loan officer took off, and to my already busy personal life I added an intense, highly-stressful workload. My diet wasn’t great – I ate a lot of sugar, drank sodas, ate fast food regularly and paid no attention to my stress levels. Even given that, my life was fulfilling and productive.
Then in 1999, I had an embolization procedure to remove some uterine fibroids, including a blood transfusion prior to the procedure. This was my very first hospitalization ever. The good news – my uterus was saved through the procedure. The bad news – the procedure triggered full-on menopause. My life changed rapidly… and dramatically.
My Journey
The first thing that hit me was hard-core brain fog. As a mortgage loan officer, I needed deep attention to detail and I lost that ability. Then other symptoms came on fast and furious changes in my cycle, hot flashes, insomnia, hair falling out, extreme fatigue, pain in my ankles, loss of all motivation, and weight gain (especially belly fat). The above is just a partial list.
Overall, I experienced no less than 34 different menopausal symptoms. My life was turned upside down. After a few years of intense suffering I knew I had to do something. On my 49th birthday, I started working out with a fitness trainer; I thought perhaps just getting into better overall shape would help. I did lose quite a bit of weight – 40 pounds, still had belly fat – but the menopause symptoms did not abate.
Next I began bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (“BHRT”) and antidepressants. The antidepressants lifted my spirit a bit, and the BHRT reduced my hot flashes; but overall I was still miserable, and the treatments did not eliminate other major symptoms.
Being naturally stubborn and determined, I continued to search for answers. At this point, exercise and overall fitness, plus the most advanced treatment available from medical professionals had all failed me for full relief from my menopause symptoms.
Basically “at the end of my rope”, frustrated and desperate, I asked, “What else could I possibly do?!” The answer came, strangely, not from another attempt to beat the menopause symptoms, but from an ongoing desire to get rid of the belly fat I had previously failed to lose.
I overhauled my diet. I eliminated sugar, started eating home-cooked meals, read food labels, exercised portion control, educated myself about good fats and proper nutrition. Further, I figured out “cheat days”, how to manage eating (and over-eating) during holidays, and still have fun. I also made some other changes, including introducing various essential oils and herbal remedies into my daily regimen.
Remember… none of this was done with any expectation that it would remove my menopause symptoms. Imagine how shocked and delighted I was when within less than 2 months my remaining symptoms all disappeared! I had finally reached my goal, “feeling right in my skin again”. What a life-rejuvenating relief!
