In this episode of Menopause Buddies, I am joined by Natalie and Rachel as they discuss their personal perimenopause journeys, outlining the anxiety and emotional upheavals they experienced.

Through their own experiences, they discovered the healing power of breath work and ceremonial cacao (the purest form of chocolate) in managing perimenopause symptoms. 

They have found that ceremonial cacao, when combined with breath work, creates a powerful tool for self discovery and healing and this is the basis on which they set up Breathe, Pray, Love where they offer breath work classes to women entering perimenopause.

Their mission is to empower women on their menopause journey and provide them with tools for self-care, healing, and overall well-being.

Breathe, Pray, Love:   www.breathepraylove.co.uk

In this episode of Menopause Buddies, I speak with Lori from New York about her experience navigating early menopause in 1998.

She shares her surprise at starting menopause at the age of 39  and how it impacted her physical and mental well-being, as it was an isolating experience, at a time when menopause wasn't spoken about in the way it is now.

Lori reflects on the importance of embracing change and finding happiness in transitions. She also discusses the challenges she faced and the decisions she made at a difficult time in her life.

Lori's story highlights the need for support and open conversations about menopause, as well as the importance of prioritizing physical and mental health.

In this episode of Menopause Buddies, Jen, an integrative health practitioner specializing in women's wellness, discusses her personal journey through post birth control syndrome, perimenopause, and menopause and the tsunami of symptoms she experienced.

She highlights the lack of awareness and information provided by conventional doctors regarding hormonal changes and the potential impacts of long-term hormonal birth control use.

Jen emphasizes the importance of addressing the fundamentals of health, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and detoxification, to navigate the hormonal chaos during these transitions.

Jen is passionate about womens' health and she runs a 90-day program called 'Fatigued to Fabulous' to support women in achieving hormonal balance, weight loss, and overall wellbeing.  You can find out more details on Jen's website: www.jenoknin.com

Jen is running a free Masterclass on November 2nd 2023, where you'll be able to ask her questions live on the day.  You can register, using this link: www.jenoknin.com/masterclass-registration-stress

Menopause Buddies is a podcast where women share their menopause journey to help others and all conversations are highlighting what worked for them and not advising others.

In this episode I speak to Jane, who shares her journey after being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing treatment. 

She sheds light on the challenges of experiencing a chemical menopause, due to the oestrogen-suppressing drug Tamoxifen. Jane candidly discusses the sudden onset of the menopause symptoms she experienced.

She emphasizes the lack of awareness surrounding chemical menopause and the need for support and understanding in this challenging time.  

Through her experience, Jane found solace in the Menopause and Cancer group, a valuable resource for connecting with others facing similar challenges. Their website address is:

www.menopauseandcancer.org

and their Facebook group is:

www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

She also explores the benefits of yoga, breathing techniques, and mindfulness in managing symptoms and improving her overall well-being. 

Jane's story serves as a reminder of the importance of patient choice, support, and awareness in empowering women during their chemically induced menopause journey.

Jane is keen to emphasize that this is her understanding of her experience. She says she is not a doctor and other people may experience something totally different. She is aware that all of her symptoms may not be connected to Tamoxifen - it could be some or none are. Or. they could also be connected to stress and anxiety because of what she was going through.  This is Jane's story and her personal experience.  She is keen to share her story to raise awareness of chemical menopause and the difficulties that can be encountered.

Know Your Lemons - Early Detection for Breast Cancer:

https://www.knowyourlemons.org/

In this enlightening podcast episode, I speak to Jackie, an acupuncturist who is navigating her own menopause journey.

With over 30 years of experience in health and wellness, Jackie shares her personal story of discovering acupuncture, dealing with endometriosis, and going through menopause.

She emphasizes the importance of taking control of one's own health and exploring different approaches to find what works best.

Jackie sheds light on the role of acupuncture in rebalancing the body, stimulating healing, and addressing menopausal symptoms.

By understanding the interplay of hormones and adopting a holistic approach, both through acupuncture and lifestyle adjustments, Jackie has found renewed vitality and a sense of empowerment in her second spring of life.

If you would like to find out more about Jackie, her website is: www.fairweatherwellbeing.co.uk

Menopause Buddies is a podcast where women share their menopause journey to help others and all conversations are highlighting what worked for them and not advising others.

If you would like to take part in the podcast you can contact me at: [email protected]

In this episode I speak to Rachel who shares her experience of how the impact of the onset of perimenopause on her existing mood disorder, acted as a catalyst to trigger a severe depression.

Rachel is still working through the impact of the perimenopause on her mental health, but has recently found a balance. 

She shares her story in a beautifully honest manner and explains what has worked for her, to help others who might be going through a similar situation.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, please do contact your healthcare provider to talk through your issues.

Menopause Buddies is a podcast where women share their menopause journey to help others and all conversations are highlighting what worked for them and not advising others.

In this episode I speak to Ingrid, from North Carolina about her menopause journey and her life changing book -  The Musculoskeletal Mystery: How to solve your Pelvic Floor Symptoms.

Ingrid, was a renowned pelvic physical therapist and she shares her expertise and provides practical advice for addressing common symptoms during menopause. From urinary incontinence to prolapse, pain with sex to overall pelvic pain, she offers clear explanations and actionable solutions. 

She also delves into the importance of self-care and provides exercises and techniques to improve pelvic floor strength and function. With pearls of wisdom and guidance for navigating pelvic floor PT, Ingrid insprires us to take control of our health and find relief from symptoms that are often dismissed as a normal part of menopause. 

“The Musculoskeletal Mystery: How to solve your pelvic floor symptoms” can be found at: DesertHarvest.com: https://www.desertharvest.com/books/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Musculoskeletal-Mystery-Solve-Pelvic-Symptoms/dp/0578903563/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DH1L8R2BJJ57&keywords=the+musculoskeletal+mystery+how+to+solve+your+pelvic+floor+symptoms&qid=1683122510&sprefix=%2Caps%2C616&sr=8-1

Pelvic Relief (UK distributor): https://pelvicrelief.co.uk/collections/desert-harvest/products/the-musculoskeletal-mystery-how-to-solve-your-pelvic-floor-symptoms

In this episode of Menopause Buddies, I speak to Nudrat, from the UK about her personal experience with menopause and how she has managed symptoms naturally.

Nudrat discusses her journey and career change into nutrition, as a result of her menopause experience.  She shares how she has found  balance through yoga, as well as the importance of listening to one's body when it comes to food choices. She alsos shares her insights on managing hot flushes, skin sensitivities, and stress.

While Nudrat is open to exploring hormone replacement therapy (HRT), she has found success in using food as medicine and incorporating supplements.

The conversation highlights the need for open dialogue about menopause in all communities and the importance of understanding and support from loved ones and colleagues.

Nudrat's website is: www.nourishbynudrat.com

You can also contact Nudrat on social media: 

https://www.facebook.com/nourishbynudrat/

https://www.instagram.com/nourishbynudrat/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nudrat-chagtai/

In this episode I speak to Natasha from the UK, who takes us through her painful battle with endometriosis and her struggle to be listened to by the medical profession.

Her pain was only ended by a full caesarean, which put her into an immediate medical menopause. 

Her story has a happy ending, but could have been made easier by joining the dots between the different medical professionals that she dealt with on her journey.

In this episode I speak to Amy, from Phoenix Arizona. She shares her frustrations when she started experiencing perimenopause symptoms at 41 and none of the doctors she visited would listen to her. The lack of knowledge around perimenopause, led to her being dismissed as too young to be in perimenopause.

She describes the relief at finding a doctor, who did finally listen to her and encourages every woman who is not listened to when they feel they are experiencing perimenopause symptoms to perservere.

As a result of not being listened to, Amy set up a blog to highlight her perimenopause journey and Jumble and Flow was born. The response to the blog was overwhelming. Jumble and Flow is now in the middle of a rebrand to The Midst and you can find lots of great information here:

https://themidst.substack.com