I suddenly find myself in perimenopausal hell. According to my GP, a recent traumatic incident followed by an extended period of stress and anxiety may have caused a significant drop in oestrogen, which has led to this rapid presentation of a range of symptoms, almost over night. I'm gutted as, by most people's standards, I've been doing everything 'right'; eating well, healthy BMI, not carrying excess weight, decent varied exercise, no substances or stimulants.
Hot flushes, a suspected prolapse, sleep disturbance, horrendous vaginal dryness, loss of libido and sensation during sex, irritable bladder, relapse of diastasis recti which I supposedly closed 10 years ago, dryness of eyes, mouth and vocal cords, fatigue and brainfog, all of which have appeared in the last 6 weeks: as a result of my googling support and advice, my socials are flooding with advertisements for products claiming to relieve the symptoms I am experiencing, as well as others which I guess may be just around the corner. There seems to be supplements, ointments, gadgets, devices, online programmes and apps for all of my symptoms, and they all cost money.
Is this really what to expect now, at this new phase of my life? For a portion of my monthly income to be earmarked for products to relieve these symptoms? I've just calculated that the cost of some supplements and a couple of products / services I think I might actually benefit from will average a spend of £145 / month for the next 12 months (this is nothing to do with improving hair, nails or skin, just bare nuts and bolts of keeping my body from coming apart at the seams). How much do women tend to spend on products and services to relieve symptoms of menopause? It's so unfair!
For the record, GP is reluctant to prescribe full HRT, preferring a 'watchful waiting' approach, so has given me a nice cream for vaginal dryness. Ho hum.