1. Hot Flashes: Sudden feelings of intense heat, often accompanied by sweating and a red, flushed face.

2. Night Sweats: Severe hot flashes that occur during sleep, leading to excessive sweating and disrupted sleep.

3. Vaginal Dryness: Decreased moisture and elasticity in the vaginal tissues, leading to discomfort or pain during intercourse.

4. Mood Swings: Sudden changes in mood, including irritability, anxiety, and depression.

5. Fatigue: Persistent tiredness and lack of energy.

6. Sleep Disturbances: Trouble falling or staying asleep, often exacerbated by night sweats.

7. Decreased Libido: A reduction in sexual desire.

8. Cognitive Changes: Issues with memory, concentration, and overall cognitive function.

9. Bone Density Loss: Increased risk of osteoporosis due to the sudden drop in estrogen levels.

10. Weight Gain: Changes in body weight and fat distribution.

11. Joint Pain: Increased pain and stiffness in the joints.

12. Hair Changes: Thinning hair or increased hair shedding.

You have likely heard and read about many of these symptoms, as had I, and I was prepared for most of them. My hair thinned at the front and went through stages of significant shedding, though it seemed to grow back except for the front area. Fortunately, I never really suffered from mood swings. As for anxiety, I can’t say it was a new symptom since I was already dealing with it.

One thing I was not prepared for was the severe memory loss and cognitive decline. When researching, I found little information about this side effect, which is why I want to address it here. It had a profound impact on my life, causing significant distress and fear. These symptoms were far more severe than the ‘brain fog’ commonly described in discussions about menopause.

1. Memory: The ability to store, retain, and recall information. This includes short-term memory (holding information temporarily) and long-term memory (storing information over a longer period).

2. Attention: The capacity to focus on specific stimuli or tasks while ignoring others. It involves both sustained attention (maintaining focus over time) and selective attention (concentrating on relevant information).

3. Perception: The process of interpreting and making sense of sensory information, such as sights, sounds, and smells.

4. Executive Functions: Higher-order processes that involve planning, decision-making, problem-solving, and the ability to manage and regulate one’s thoughts and actions. This includes skills like working memory (holding and manipulating information in the mind), cognitive flexibility (adapting to new situations), and inhibitory control (resisting impulses).

5. Language Skills: The ability to understand and use language effectively, including reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension.

6. Reasoning and Problem-Solving: The capacity to analyse situations, identify problems, generate solutions, and make decisions.

7. Visual and Spatial Processing: The ability to interpret and respond to visual and spatial information, such as recognising shapes, patterns, and spatial relationships.

8. Processing Speed: The speed at which the brain can process information, which affects how quickly one can understand and respond to stimuli.

This is my story of how these symptoms impacted my life and some of the strategies I put in place to help.

I began to forget things frequently. For instance, I would go to the pharmacy to collect my medication and find myself unable to remember my own address. Navigating supermarkets became a challenge; despite having a list of items, I would wander the aisles for hours, struggling to recognise the words or relate them to the items I needed. At the checkout, I would forget to pack my bags, as if I had overlooked that step in the process. When asked if I had a reward card, I knew I did but couldn’t remember where it was, often attempting to pay with the card. On several occasions, security or checkout staff would ask if I was alright or offer me assistance. One day, I even stood in tears, staring at my shopping, completely unsure of what to do next.

I began to forget words I used every day, and they seemed to vanish from my memory. In their place, I would invent new words or combine existing ones into unfamiliar terms. At the time, I held a key position at work and was responsible for chairing meetings. I found myself struggling with vocabulary I had relied on throughout my long career. This had a significant impact on my confidence, affecting my ability to speak up, attend customer visits, and participate in meetings. Overall, it deeply affected my self-assurance.

Subsequent appointments and tests eventually ruled out dementia. Given my history of abuse, I was offered therapy. Although I knew the symptoms were not related to my past—since I had healed long ago and could recognise when my stress or anxiety levels were rising—I attended the therapy sessions, nonetheless.

As I began to explore the issue further and speak with more people, I discovered that others undergoing menopause were experiencing similar, and sometimes quite severe, symptoms.

1. Maintaining a Detailed Diary: I began keeping a meticulous diary to track everything I needed to do, including everyday tasks like making tea, retrieving items from the freezer, going shopping, and posting parcels.

2. Organising and Tracking: I noted where I placed items, designating specific locations for certain things and ensuring I returned them there immediately. If I couldn’t find something, I referred to my notes.

3. Systematic Notetaking: I documented everything in one consistent place. I taught myself to use Notion for this purpose, which I continue to use for organising and tracking tasks.

4. Utilising ChatGPT: This tool proved invaluable for improving my vocabulary, drafting documents, and preparing for meetings.

5. Detailed Meeting Preparation: I planned every meeting meticulously, including writing prompts for words I might forget.

6. Journey Planning: I detailed every journey, noting departure times, routes, whom to ask for upon arrival, and where to park.

By being as organised and detailed as possible, I alleviated much of the stress, anxiety, and worry associated with forgetting or struggling to complete tasks. While I still experience difficulties with words, the planning and organisation have greatly reduced my stress and worry levels.

I use HRT patches, which have provided some relief. With these strategies in place, I am significantly better than before. Although my confidence is not yet 100%—as I still occasionally forget or invent words—it has improved considerably.