How many of us have to drag ourselves to work every day feeling so ill day in day out - how many of us feel like crying and want to stay in bed but can't because needs must - how many men could carry on like we do I wonder - how many of us wipe away secret tears and have to put on a brave face through our agony. How many of you lovely ladies agree that this should be classed as an illness that we can claim allowances for so that we don't have to go to work ? Not fair is it 😢😢
hi lou. this is a very interesting post. I worked all through my frozen shoulder (which lasted almost a year) and which only came on me with the start of the bad symptoms of perimenopause. It was sudden, very painful and came with a list of other horrible symptoms at the same time. The doctors could not see anything on paper, through blood tests or anything else obvious that would have caused it, and were inexperienced in perimenopause, so I suffered for all that time. At a time when I needed rest and help, I didn't get it, as peri and menopause is not considered an illness and the devastating effects that hormones can have on your body are not recognised. I missed a lot of days and a lot of pay during that time and am still recovering from that as well as ongoing symptoms. I believe that there is a certain period during all this where symptoms reach a level where it becomes impossible to function normally and this needs to be recognised to allow women to take time out to get through it. I am sure many women take time out for one of their symptoms, be it depression or an ongoing physical symptom that is actually classed as an illness in order to stop working to recover, but in my case, because I was considered too young and otherwise healthy because of tests, I was not given this option. I wonder what other ladies think, but this is a difficult one...
Hi there and im so sorry for your suffering, yes it is a difficult one but I think it's high time we had more support through all this although I can't see it happening to be honest with you. Support financially would be such a massive relief for so many of us , it's bad enough that we have to struggle on working and then to be too worried about money to take time off work really can be too much for some of us. Menopause for some of us is so debilitating and cruel and we just don't know how bad we are going to feel every morning when we wake up, how we can get out of bed let alone going to work and functioning through the day. It would be such help to have some type of benefit financially even if short term to help take some of the strain away but like I say I can't ever see it happening sadly - although we could do something about it and start a petition !
I completely agree with you!!! I noticed recent exposure on mainstream TV re HRT and woman experiencing PMS with the need to take time off work. I hope they keep the momentum going with these public discussions and start making changes in employment law to support woman during this difficult time.
I totally agree i worry about bills all the time. I had to get an injection in my back last Wednesday because i couldn't take the aching in my left leg anymore. I also took off Thursday because I'm exhausted from perimenopause symptoms. No sleep at night and i have to be up at 4:30 every morning to be to work at 6. I'm struggling this morning. I was just texting sime friends wishing i could hit the lottery so i can stop working. I have been tired for a whole year and had horrible symptoms. I pray we all get through this. Sure would be nice to be able to take time off and get paid for it.
Awww i do all those things but thank god i hav a job an wk wit great ppl ..but it is hard sometimes but i cry in d car ...
I was also horrified to find out a while ago that after seeing a specialist my insurance didn't cover it because it was described as menopause. You need to say "pelvic issue' or such related to have it covered.
yes, this is the problem. Menopause is not considered an illness and insurance only covers illnesses. But pregnancy is not an illness and yet procedures etc. are covered.????
Yes a massive loop hole, as the sypmtoms are the same as with brain issues, heart issues, other main organ issues because our hormones support the proper function of all our key organs. Needs to change urgently.
Im so sorry your feeling this was but hold onto the thought it will pass happier days are ahead
I was up very late with heat discomfort the gerd is terrible! I feel like I'm having a heart attack then I panic. The pain and I'll feeling is debilitating and just don't know what to take to feel better
misty, i've had a few nights of this. heat that starts in the middle of upper stomach, then horrible pain in upper stomach, then lower and radiating outwards, all chest area. can describe the pain as prickly for want of a better word. Is this what you feel?
More horrors discomfort in my stomach can't say it prickly just a dull horrid feeling that takes forever to go away
yes it's horrible. nothing eases it!
I can not imagine getting menopause leave in the U.S. It's still a fight for women to get leave to take care of a new baby!
Hi misty i was the aame way however am taking flaxseed an ginger i mix in drinks or anyting i can get my hands on , i create my ow stuff u can try it helped me alot
there is no way i can work. i filed for disability back in june under anxiety disorder. they would never allow menopause but im not lying, my anxiety is debilitating. i have mental exam later in month. i pray i get approved. women have it rough sometimes
Me! I worked over 60 hrs this past week at 3 jobs and support myself fighting to stay in my home of 20 yrs. I was divorced, and didn't want to move. I was ok until this struck now I'm having a hard time maintaining it because I've lost ambition to keep up with it! These changes need to go away
Hi Kim , so sorry you're going through this and yes anxiety is a massive part of this journey for a lot of us me included, I just wish the word ' menopause ' was enough for us to get financial support without having to go through all the 'exams' and explanations in detail it get anywhere. Some of us have such trauma on different levels and it's going unrecognised. Hope you get approved, good luck.
i understand I really do. I ended up in hospital overnight with a similar thing and thought I was having a heart attack . After lots of tests , chest X-rays etc it was all put down to menopause symptoms ! There you have it ' menopause ' a doctor said it - it has a name and that name should be listed as an illness !