Menopause Awareness Month - Week 1 Blog - Emma's Story

In the first of our menopause awareness month blog series, Emma kicks us off sharing her story. Thank you so much Emma for sharing your experiences with us. Read her story below:

 

It’s a Menopause Revolution!!!

Hi everyone, my name is Emma Townsend, I am the Race Equality Lead in HR, I am forty-three and have been officially in the menopause for 4 years! Having had two difficult pregnancies and suffering significant trauma during the birth of my second daughter I was placed into surgical menopause at the age of thirty-nine. I felt as though I had fallen off a cliff edge, I was no longer the same person both physically and mentally.

 

Although physically some of my wounds would heal over time, I felt completely alone and isolated, with little knowledge or support of what I was about to go through, nothing prepared me for the challenges I would subsequently face.

The lack of energy, forgetfulness, the sleepless nights, the hot flushes, the low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression that took hold made me question whether I would ever be well or resemble the person I once was again.

 

I was advised by my consultant that I should take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to cope with the symptoms, and due to my age if I didn’t this could cause significant health issues in the future. The journey to finding the right hormone levels and educating myself to support my health and re gain some of the person I once was, was critical; however, the acceptance of these changes and worries about the effects HRT would have on me meant this was not an easy journey in continuing to care for myself, my young family, maintaining important friendships and upholding a career.

 

I am still on a journey, learning to adapt and continuing to educate myself on ways I can help myself and others, and there are certainly still barriers which I need to work through, but as was described to me by a physiotherapist this would certainly have to be approached as a marathon and not a sprint!

I joined the University of Huddersfield only a brief time ago, in February, but the support I have received so far has been what can only be described as a lifeline for me at a time in my life when I never needed it more from a workplace. The support, understanding and the very fact I feel ok to publicly share my experience, is testament to the University’s culture and the opportunities it gives. The reason I felt so inclined to write this and share some of my story was that I want so desperately for things to change for those experiencing peri/menopausal symptoms, particularly within the workplace and don’t want my girls to have to go through what I have been through. I never want them to feel isolated, unable to talk and receive the help and support they need with such an important and life changing issue.

 

So, this is my story so far and like many others who might find themselves reading this I once thought this was just something that happened to women in their fifty’s, and it meant you got a bit hot or had what my mum called ‘tropical moments.’ As I know now this is not the case and I would encourage everyone to get involved in the events planned to raise awareness of the Menopause this month. Together let’s get talking and supporting and stop ignoring what will inevitably affect us all in many ways at some point in our lives!

Welcome to the Revolution!