I recently started a new job and am finding that menopause is impacting my ability to work. I feel tired, don’t sleep well, and my memory fails me all the time. It’s starting to make me feel inferior compared to younger people I work with. How are other working ladies handling this?
- Susanne
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Angel6 years ago
Hi Susanne, I have gone back to admin after a 10 year gap and I have found my menopause symptoms have really impacted my work. My anxiety and stress has really been heightened and I have found even the smallest tasks make me feel useless. I am surrounded by young people and I feel completely inadequate and I use to be so tech savvy and ahead of the game. It has debilitated me so much that I was off for six weeks and my doctor put me on antidepressants (I have had clinical depression and anxiety all my life)and a higher dose of hrt, I also needed medication to control the anxiety. I know medication isn’t for everyone but it has really helped me and I am back at work feeling less anxious. The hrt has also brought relief to severe sweating, insomnia as I wasn’t sleeping at all but now I get 4 hours a night and loads of other symptoms I had no idea I would get. I do hope you find something to help you and please don’t feel alone, Caria has helped me realise I am not alone and that has also helped.
Jackie6 years ago
I find it mixed.....I have some girls that are really supportive and help me get through days and unfortunately I have staff that use my menopause against me (mood swings etc ?) I try to look on the positive and laugh it off with the girls or customers. Some days are better than others and when I’m low I feel really low ?. Brain fog does not help when I’m training and as I have to wear uniform it makes it hard to keep cool!!
Victoria6 years ago
Thank you for sharing this Angel - your symptoms and experiences almost exactly match mine! I’m also on antidepressants and HRT but am still struggling at work due to anxiety, exhaustion and brain fog. My confidence has plummeted and I feel very alone as my team are all so young and alert! I actually had to confide in my (younger male boss) a few months ago as it got so bad and although he seemed supportive and HR became involved, I’ve just been pushed out of the team in a major reorganisation and given a pretty demanding & unpopular new role despite my lack of resilience. So I would advise anyone to tread carefully when talking to their employer!
Angelreplying to Victoria6 years ago
I am sorry to hear you are struggling Victoria as I really know how this feels and for a while I felt I was going crazy. The doctor started me on the lower dose hrt but moved me to the higher dose and it definitely made a difference. I had to take propanol for the anxiety at first until my sertraline side effects settled down but I am doing a lot better now. My brain fog and fatigue are still ongoing but I must admit my managers have been great but I think it’s only when you go through it that you truly understand. Take care xx
Mimi6 years ago
I also suffer from memory loss, zero to sixty anxiety bursts, and night sweats. What I did was increase the amount of time I spent before and after work ensuring I had crossed all ‘t’s’ with tasks. It took more time but made me faster during the workday and reduced stress. I also rely on personal systems to help me remember things such as Alexa and color-codes to trigger recall of the details associated with coding. Regular meditation and pauses in my day to breathe, reflect or give thanks helps a lot. Yoga and waking outdoors equalizes my stress too. It takes work but you can And will find your center.
Mimi6 years ago
Oh, and B12 sublingual drops saved my life. ?
Teresa6 years ago
I am finding it very hard, to be honest. I am 49 and started with peri menopause last year. As of this year I have only had one period. My main symptoms are feeling tired all the time, poor sleep, finding it hard to concentrate. I was working 3 days a week in a pharmacy, with up to 10 hours on my feet and also minding my 84 yo mother-in-law who lives with us. Two weeks ago I had to cut down my hours to 2 days. I couldn’t keep going the way I am. I haven’t worked in 2 days and today I’m still absolutely exhausted. I hope this is only temporary because it is really getting me down ?
Sharon Topham6 years ago
My symptoms are very much the same my biggest symptoms are painful boobs x driving me up the wall I’m taking loads of vitamins my doctor tell me it is hormonal, my anxiety is through the roof, brain fog and memory just as bad x I’ve been listening to mindfulness which has helped massively x
Anonymous6 years ago
It’s tough at first, but it will get better, it just takes time
Sally6 years ago
I am grateful to being able to work from home during lockdown. If this hadn’t happened I don’t know how I would cope getting up and going to work. I just wouldn’t be able to do it and I would have been stressed out. I’m exhausted all the time. I have hip pains and aches in my hands and thighs. I feel I have no energy and no go in me for anything !
Anonymous6 years ago
Hi Suzanne, I am in a similar situation. I feel like my menopause symptoms are holding me back. I am an RN at an outpatient center and I run around a Lot. Thus the dreaded hot flashes start when I hit the ground running first thing in the morning. I stopped caffeine first thing in the am, that helps. My sluggishness and moodiness is also an issue. I’m not the smiling, happy person I usually am. I’m moody and irritable and short tempered. I do my best with my coworkers to be my patient self, but lately it has been extremely difficult to not to loose it and blow up!! It doesn’t help that people are always asking me if I’m okay... which annoys me even more. Already on an antidepressant, sooo not sure what to do now ...it’s so frustrating
Sandra6 years ago
In my last job it was the same, I had only just got diagnosed and it was so difficult. All I got from the young ones was I was moaning, I also felt behind and like I didn’t know what I was doing. My new job the owner is going through the same so she understands! It’s great.
Kitty6 years ago
I work in HR and my employer gave no empathy or allowance, even telling me to stop moaning about it. I felt so bullied and unable to work I had to leave my job at the end of March. Still looking for another. Really affected me and feel so let down due to something that wasn’t my fault and there was no support from GP
Helen6 years ago
Hi, I’m exactly the same, no confidence at work, unable to sleep, feeling tired. Recently took time off sick but now feel I have been classed as having a mental health problem & staff look at me differently. Thinking about changing my job as not enjoying Or fitting in anymore .Lot of new young staff at work after my older coworkers have retired so feel lost & unable to speak about it now at work.
Brooke6 years ago
I’ve found a way to work from home, but it was occasioned by a humiliating flame-out from my regular job. I quit without having a new job, which I’ve never done, but by some miracle, I lucked into a suitable at-home job. It works much better for me and daily I realize how utterly privileged I am to have this opportunity that came from out of the blue when I most needed it. I am sorrowful for those who still have to face the trials of keeping up a work schedule that our bodies refuse to adapt to.