Why Sobriety Didn’t Fix Everything

Five months sober and still feeling flat, foggy and not quite myself - this is the post I wrote back then, and what I’ve since learned about perimenopause, hormones and finally feeling like me again

I wrote this over two years ago in Sassy Sober Mum’s now sadly closed Thrive group which I joined when I first got sober. I remembered writing it, but now I’m three years down the line, I couldn’t remember how I felt. So I asked Teri to send me a copy of what I wrote in Thrive, as I think it could be really useful to share if you’re sober, of a similar age but not feeling the joy de vie you expected.

I’m 46 and last year the doctor took my bloods as I had a lack of energy and I was prescribed iron tablets. I’ve been anaemic on and off for a while so didn’t think anything of it.

In August (five months sober and still not bouncing out of bed, vitamins not doing much) I contacted my GP listing off my symptoms and she checked my previous blood test which showed I was “on the cusp” of perimenopause (no one told me!). The doc immediately asked, “have you thought about HRT?” Which I hadn’t as I’m a bit “need to know basis” on most things until I really need to know (see also: why alcohol is bad!), so she sent me some information (and I also remembered I had Davina’s Menopausing book) and I educated myself. Immediately I saw myself in the stories in Menopausing and I cried. How awful to think that was now me!

Two weeks later I spoke to another lovely doctor, and she signed me up to HRT on the spot. I chose to take HRT as Davina’s book was so reassuring and the benefits for me outweigh any risks. It replaces the female hormones that are at a lower level as you experience the menopause. Basically I’m deficient in hormones, so need a boost.

Just one week in and I’m feeling so much more like myself. I honestly don’t know the last time I felt this “normal”. I was dancing round the kitchen today and joking about with the kids and, last night my husband said “welcome back” 😊

When speaking to your GP about how you’re feeling, make sure you write down all your symptoms. I thought signs of menopause were just night sweats! I said something along the lines of:

“I’ve been having brain fog, feeling low, lack of joy, no motivation, aches and pains, overwhelmed and I don’t feel like me.”

So if you’re feeling pretty crap and it doesn’t feel “just one of those things”, I suggest:

1. Read: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/

2. Read/listen to this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Menopausing-bestselling-self-help-symptoms-menopause/dp/0008517789

3. Watch this: Davina McCall On The Myths Of 2002’s Controversial HRT Study - YouTube

4. Phone your GP and have a list of your symptoms ready.

And I don’t care that I’m entering this phase of my life. I actually posted on my Instagram as Davina’s book has inspired me to pay this information forward. I’m getting older, so what? 💅

Feel free to ask me any questions on this post or send me a message and I’ll do my best to answer. For you lovely ladies and anyone else who needs to read this.

(PS Sorry for banging on about bloody menopause, especially to anyone this isn’t relevant to!)

If you’re struggling with similar symptoms, I hope this has helped, and the still offer stands; if you have any questions send me a message and I’ll get back to you. NB - I’m not a medical professional and can only speak of my experience.