Let’s be blunt – there is no shortage of menopause information. In fact there is an overwhelming amount, and it is often contradictory.
How do you know what to believe?
Good news – there is a solution for this: Become the expert on you. And yes I know that doesn’t give you a solution for sorting through all the information but it does give you a guiding principle to make it much, much easier.
1. Know what your symptoms are (consider using a symptom tracker). You don’t know what you don’t know. Get very tuned in with those unusual behaviours – like putting ice cube trays in the cupboard, or hot flashes, or being grouchy yet again.
2. Understand how your symptoms impact you, and when. Do you consider your symptoms to be mild, moderate or severe? Are they happening once a month, or once an hour? Are they impacting your ability to “be you”? Are your family and friends tip-toeing around you? Are you one hot mess?
3. Armed with knowing your symptoms, and knowing the intensity of them you can have an informed conversation about treatment options with the healthcare provider of your choice. If it was me, I would consider having conversations with both a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and a Medical Doctor (MD).
Just know that you don’t have to suck it up; you don’t have to go home and deal with it; and you don’t have to watch you “disappear”. Push back. Ask for help. Know your symptoms and be ready to have a conversation about how severe they are, and what treatments options would be appropriate.
And no, don’t stick your head in the sand like an ostrich hoping it will all just go away. Being you is important.Be the Expert on You.
