I honestly thought I’d be done with menopause by now. Spoiler alert: I’m not.
It’s nearly ten years since I had my very first hot flush, one of those early menopause symptoms you hear about but never expect to last this long. Back then, I had no idea what was coming. The symptoms slowly crept in and then, before I knew it, they ramped up big time. After about three years of putting up with it, I finally went to the doctor and started HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). What a relief.
Fast forward a few years and suddenly it was September 2024. Time had flown by, and I found myself sitting opposite a not-so-helpful doctor who told me that, because I was now 60, I was “too old” to be on HRT. In October I reduced my dose, and by the end of the month I was completely off hormone replacement therapy.
At first, things seemed okay. November and December passed without too much drama, and I started taking a menopause supplement from Kollo Health, which seemed to help with perimenopause and menopause symptoms. I thought I’d cracked it.
Then February 2025 arrived, and I headed off to the Far East—with only one month’s supply of my supplement. To make it last, I took it every other day. Not ideal, but needs must.
The Gift that keeps on giving!
That’s when the sleep problems returned. At first, I wasn’t sure whether it was the climate, night sweats, or menopause insomnia creeping back in. By May, there was no doubt. A single hot flush could completely wipe me out. I was in Abu Dhabi, yes it was hot, but I’d already been living in a hot climate for nearly five months. This felt different.
There were moments when I had to sit down, overwhelmed by menopause fatigue, nausea, sweating, and pure exhaustion. It was brutal.
When I returned to the UK in June, the menopause came home with me. So much for blaming it on travel.
Since May, I’ve tried every natural menopause support trick going. I’ve given up tea, coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods. I’ve watched what I eat, focused on menopause-friendly nutrition, and got straight back on the Kollo supplement. But as the year comes to an end, I reached my limit.
I went back to the doctor and talked her through the last year. I even said, “If you can tell me when menopause will end, I’ll carry on.” But the sleepless nights during menopause were unbearable. How am I meant to work when I’m getting out of bed five times a night?
So, seven days ago, I started HRT again. We’ll review it in three months. The hot flushes are still here, and I’m still waking during the night, but today I feel like I actually had a solid sleep.
The symptoms haven’t gone yet, but I’m hopeful. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that menopause doesn’t follow a neat timeline. For many women, especially during late menopause, it can keep going longer than expected—and that conversation needs to be talked about more.
Has this happened to you? How are you getting on?
Let me know, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Tracy x