I'm 48 with 4 grown up kids and believe I have been in Perimenopause for the last 6 years. I had a partial Hysterectomy with Ovarian preservation due to Fibroids and Andymiosis* in 2023. I have been working in healthcare on and off since I was 29. I used to love my job even though it was a highly pressured and somewhat challenging role. I began a temporary contract in January 2026 which then became permanent in April with a three month probationary period. I had a meeting a few weeks ago with my Manager and supervisor who sung my praises as a valued colleague, and a great team player. We ( they and I) agreed I was making a few errors and that because of this the Partners decided to extend my probation by another 3 months to work through said errors with additional training/ guidance. I expressed that I have been struggling with hormonal changes and forgetting basic things, and was informed by my Manager that she had just last week attended a 'Menopause training course' and the Practice was happy to support me through and that her door was 'always open'.
This was on the 9th of July. On the 16th of July I was called into a meeting with my Manager and Supervisor and told that the Partners had decided I was making 'too many Clinical errors' and based on this they were terminating my contract and I could leave now effective immediately. In 3 minutes my 18 year career was flushed down the drain. I was dumbfounded to say the least and just blinked in shock while taking off my Lanyard and handing over their Fob and keys.
I am very blessed to have a supportive and loving partner, and family and friends that I could talk to and who reassured me that in some ways it was a blessing in deguise and an opportunity to have a much needed mental wellbeing break, pause and reset, because to be honest It kicked the bloody stuffing out of me!
I have always struggled with confidence but on that Thursday I immediately felt useless, outdated, washed up and questioned everything I thought I was/ knew/ my life choices.
I could go on forever about the way Perimenopause has altered my life, however I am on a journey to understand and make sense of these feelings, fluctuating hormones, looking in the mirror and wondering where the bubbly, vivacious, energetic and vibrant women has gone. I'm determined to not just survive but thrive while navigating this very unknown and sometimes isolating territory.
Sending blessings, hope and complete understanding to any women reading this who has had a similar experience or who is just trying to make sense of what is happening to them.
'Invasion of the Body snatchers' comes to mind! ( We all need a little humour to get us through) xxxx