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[Sammas]

Good Morning,
I finally took the plunge and have been on Femoston 1:10 for 3 days Still feel the same, nausea, headache on and off, tired and slightly more anxiety, but I keep it hidden I am making myself do stuff everyday but can't wait to come back to my safe place at home I am due back at work in 2 + weeks and am really worried that I won't cope even though I love my job My question is, in the field of education is menopause seen as a health problem? Sx

[Peri-wrecked]

Best of luck Sammas, I hope it helps you. I too am going to demand hrt later this month as I feel i'm not enjoying life at all right now. I'm only 36 so they dont believe I'm in peribut I assure you I am.

Fingers crossed for you. I truly hope it helps. This journey is a difficult one. Keep us posted.

[Sammas]

Thanks DaisyDot How did you cope with work when you were changing HRT? Peri wreaked, hope you get things sorted Yes 36 is young, but it still happensHave you tried anything so far? Sx

[CLKD]

Peri-wrecked - do have a look at the Daisy web-site for early menopause symptoms!  You probably need HRT to protect your heart and bones!! Your GPs should be doing check ups, maybe see your Practice Nurse?

HRT can take a few months B4 the body feels benefit.  Do you have a Personell Dept. at work Sammas?

[Miabella]

Hi Sammas,

When I started to suffer badly with anxiety last autumn I didn't want to take time off work unless I absolutely had to, but I worried a lot (and I still do) about being at work and just not being able to cope. I have days where I just can't pretend everything is ok, and so I felt I really had to talk to my boss and explain what was going on. At the time I was very worried about a family member and was relating the anxiety to that, not even thinking i might be menopausal.

So I talked to my team manager and she was so kind and understanding and asked me what she could do to make things at work easier for me. We have weekly catch ups where I keep her up to date with how I'm feeling.  I think that has been a big help as it is stressful trying to do any job when you have anxiety, never mind trying to pretend that you don't. If you can make things slightly less pressured for yourself at work then I would say don't hesitate.

A few months after I spoke to my boss, I then told my 2 other team members - they were both very kind and both opened up to me about their own issues, which I had no idea about, so it felt almost like a supportive bond had been formed, again just making me feel I don't need to worry about how I come across on my worst days.

I still worry about how my anxiety is affecting my ability to do my job, but I know that if I was going there and trying to cope as if all was well, the stress of that would probably be too much. Obviously I am lucky to have lovely colleagues but I would say that if you can find one or two people at work you can confide in then you might find that will help.

Take care xx

[Sammas]

Clkd- the local authority has occupational health but never spoken to them Miabella, I am close to a few people at work but I try to battle through it, just talking to people when headaches are bad or I'm really emotional S x

[Dee46]

Sammas I started suffering bad anxiety 3 years ago & didn't know why, I felt I didn't want to talk to anyone about how I was feeling even disconnecting from my mum & sister putting off seeing them, it wasn't until I realised this was the menopause that I was feeling this way & how rough it can make you feel, even my mum didn't realise as she thought I was too young at 45 to start it.

As Miabella says once you have spoken to a boss or line manager about how you are feeling the support starts there, when I told my first line manager it appeared her sister was getting anxiety due to the meno, I then told my next line manager & it appeared her mum went through a bad menopause in her 40's & felt like I did, I then started to tell my female colleagues who opened up about their own issues too & I was like how come I have never thought that people could have problems in their lifes, hitting the meno has made me realise that lots of people have something but just go to work & do not speak about it. My colleagues now know if I have a bad day & a sobby one, they are all so supportive & do not make me feel bad about what I am going through.

I also was the sort that hated taking time off when ill, but I have to listen to how I feel, yesterday I felt so rough I thought right I will go into work but if I feel I cannot cope I will ask to come home early, I managed to get through the day & know that I can do it. HR are also aware of what I am going through & when I had a meltdown earlier in the year they suggested I went home, I managed to sit at my desk crying on & off all day but was not prepared to go home & sob so my poor colleagues had to put up with me, the next day I was fine & it was forgotten about what a fool I felt.

Same as Miabella I am lucky to have such an understanding work place & colleagues, they whisk me off if they see I am getting anxious or tearful & we go for a walk.
Something that was put on the forum & I printed if off & gave to our Mental Health Team at work, maybe do a search on Guidance on the menopause at work & you will find the link.

[Nik2502]

Hi ladies.

I'm so with you both! I just started a new job in March and have suffered terribly with anxiety and depression. I only recently discovered that my HRT didn't seem to be working and have now been changed to Evorel 75.
My new manager is supportive but for how long? They must be thinking they've employed a right one!

The job is part time and was meant to be much less stressful for me but I find it dull and I get myself anxious about it but the people are lovely and so is the place. Normal me would be fine but I'm focusing my anxiety on the job. It's a catch 22.

I think employers are more sympathetic these days but I still think you feel inadequate!

Nic x

[Sammas]

Thanks for your replies It's good to hear that some workplaces see menopause for it's debilitating effect and that we don't choose to feel this way S x