My Menopause Journey: How I Found Balance in the Hormonal Chaos

One of the problems with managing the symptoms of hormone change, is that we don’t understand them enough to recognise what is happening.

That was certainly the case for me when I first started experiencing peri-menopausal symptoms. At the time, I had no idea what was going on, I was still having regular periods and so the idea of menopause didn’t occur to me!

The Unexpected Start of Peri-Menopause

The first signs that something was wrong was when I began to experience acute crushing chest pain followed by head spinning vertigo. This came on one afternoon when I was in the clinic, and I was terrified. 

You might know how it feels with those scary niggles in your chest and pain, the more scared of them you become, the more the symptoms develop. This started happening to me and in no time I was suffering through migraines and numbness in my face that lasted several days at a time. 

I was suffering with insomnia as well, sometimes for 3-4 day stretches. My confidence to do anything on my own hit rock bottom and my work - a part of my life that is so important to me - was becoming impossible to manage.

So what could I do?

Seeking Help...and Finding Disappointment

Desperate for answers, I turned to my GP, only to be met with frustration. Despite my symptoms, I was told that panic attacks were the root cause and was handed a prescription for antidepressants. No tests were offered to check my heart or hormone levels because, at 44 years old, I was told it wasn’t worth checking my hormones because “they’d obviously be all over the place.” 

And so my symptoms persisted. Twice more I saw the GP increasingly desperate for help - I was unable to drive, work, or even walk without someone to balance me by this stage. 

This experience is not unique. According to a Fawcett Society survey, 31% of women said it took multiple appointments with their GPs before they were properly diagnosed.

Taking Control of My Health

It was at this point that I realised I needed to take control and look for help elsewhere.

I was lucky to be in the fortunate position of knowing a great group of natural health practitioners that I really trusted. Their knowledge and support were life-changing. Together, we discovered that peri-menopausal hormonal changes were behind my symptoms.

The peri-menopause is a complex, highly individual process, and no two experiences are the same. Your hormone levels fluctuate wildly, oestrogen levels dropping and progesterone falling even faster, leading to a huge array of symptoms ranging from common to rare, all easy to misdiagnose or dismiss entirely.

Finding Relief with Natural Remedies

With the help of herbs, particularly adaptogens like red clover, I was able to bring my body back into balance. These incredible plants help regulate hormone levels, whether they’re too high or too low, supporting your body no matter what fluctuations you’re experiencing on a given day.

Alongside these herbs, I prioritised self-care to support my physical and emotional well-being. Slowly but surely, I started to feel like myself again.

Kick-Starting My Mission to Bring a Solution to Every Woman

Inspired by my experience, one of the top priorities when I founded Hello Wellness and began to craft formulas from my 25 years of experience and knowledge as a Natural Health practitioner, was to combine those same adaptogenic herbs that saved me. 

I wanted to distill that revelatory experience into a capsule to support others navigating peri-menopause and menopause. And so Hello Menopause was born, a blend designed to help balance hormone levels, ease symptoms, and empower you to embrace a new chapter of life that can be filled with positivity and resilience when armed with the right help!

Hello Menopause has since been awarded 3 stars by an extensive panel of industry expert judges at the Nourish Awards.

The Takeaway

If you’re experiencing symptoms like fatigue, migraines, or mood swings, you’re not alone, and there is hope. Understanding your body’s hormonal changes and finding the right support can make all the difference. Whether it’s through adaptogenic herbs, self-care, or alternative health professional guidance, you can take control of your menopause journey and thrive in this next phase of life.