22 October 2021
21 October 2021
It’s really important to me that people understand my wife’s menopause journey has been a ‘joint’ experience for her, our children and myself. Everyone is impacted. Over time, my wife’s anxiety had been increasing and it came to a head one day when she became too anxious to get on a plane. Our family are overseas so we were regular flyers. I cautiously broached the subject with her that could it be the menopause. It was one of the hardest conversations we’ve ever had to have and such a reality check that we were reaching that stage of our lives.
The journey to get the support she needed felt like a battle at every turn. She had underlying health conditions and, based on the guidelines we’d read, we didn’t agree with the treatment she was eventually offered. 12 months after that first appointment, we saw a private menopause specialist, who confirmed our beliefs about the correct treatment pathway. In less than two weeks, I got my wife back and my children got their mother back.
Reflection
•If you noticed changes in the behaviour of your mother, partner or friend, would you have the confidence to ask them about it?
•If you thought it might be the menopause, would you know where to signpost them for more information?
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