Menopause Support

By Ellen Dolgen

I was blindsided by the onset of perimenopause. My first symptom was brain fog. I was afraid that I was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. I would lose my train of thought mid-sentence. It was scary. Shortly after that, I became sleepless and not in Seattle with Tom Hanks. I felt like I was no longer in control of my body.

I spent hours and hours searching for information to help me understand what was happening to my body and my life. My computer became my best friend. We were up all night long together, reading books, online information, doctor interviews on brain fog and insomnia. I just wanted something or someone who could explain what was happening to my body.

Lucky for me, a retired gynecologist finally diagnosed me. I guess it was highly unusual to suddenly break out into tears while drying dishes at a friends dinner party. Thanks to this fantastic doctor, I began to understand that I was in perimenopause. Perimenopause is the 6-10 years before a woman reaches menopause. It is during this time that women can experience many debilitating symptoms.

It was challenging reading and comprehending all the conflicting dry information about perimenopause while sleepless and foggy brained. The information was confusing, intimidating, and overwhelming. My head was spinning!

So, I reached out to the women who had guided me through things like my first period, childbirth, parenting, and career. Sadly, when I tried to broach the conversation about menopause –I was met with a strange radio silence. Unfortunately, my mentors were very uncomfortable talking about this subject. These women had previously shared every excruciating (!) detail about their childbirth experiences. I could have done without hearing most of those horror stories!

I am now post-menopausal, and NOT at all embarrassed to talk about the various stages of menopause with you or with strangers for that matter. My husband calls me, “The Vagina Whisperer,” as I can spot women anywhere who are struggling with menopausal symptoms! Much to his dismay, I am known to walk over to them and break into a conversation about menopause without any hesitation.

I am here for you too!

Download my free eBook, MENOPAUSE MONDAYS the Girlfriend’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving During Perimenopause and Menopause. The chapters are divided up by symptoms so that you can use the book as menopausal toolkit! Think of me as your best friend that just happens to know a lot about the various stages of menopause. I interview the top experts in the field to get the latest scoop and then deliver it to you in layperson speak with a little humor and lots of love.

My MenopauseMondays® Blog is an extension of the book, as it provides the latest info and creates a safe place for women to share their experiences and chat openly with each other. It is time to educate ourselves about menopause, so we can all get the help we need and deserve! Free free to click on this link, and read 10+ years of blogging on this important topic.

Time to think inside the box! If you have a vagina or know someone who does, please share my free information with them. Let’s have some straight talk about perimenopause, menopause, post-menopause and all the acruitments that come along with it like hot flashes, hormone therapy, dry vagina, anxiety, insomnia, depression, etc. Check out my Menopause Symptoms Chart for a more detailed list. I recommend that you start charting your symptoms. This will help you explain quickly and accurately exactly how you have been feeling to your Menopause Specialist.  Oh, you don’t have a specialist?  I have plenty of tips on how to find a Menopause Specialist that is up on the latest menopause information/studies and can create an individualized program that fits your particular health needs. Think of this specialist like your Menopause Business partner!

Let me know if you need more information about a symptom that is troubling you or your loved one. I am here to help support you!

Remember:  Suffering in silence is OUT!  Reaching out is IN.

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Ellen Dolgen, spurred by her own experience struggling with the symptoms of menopause, is devoted to helping women everywhere. Through EllenDolgen.com and her FREE eBook, MENOPAUSE MONDAYS The Girlfriend’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving During Perimenopause and Menopause, she shares the expertise of numerous specialists to replace confusion and embarrassment with medically sound solutions, presented in an entertaining and informative way. From hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, mental fogginess, loss of libido, heart health, and lots more in between, EllenDolgen.com provides empowerment for women to become their own best health advocates. Her motto is: Suffering in silence is OUT! Reaching out is IN!