1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: I'm Patrina Jones, and this episode Maybe I'm a Chronic 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: OVI Sharer really cuts to the core of the sometimes 3 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,319 Speaker 1: awkward symptoms of menopause for some women. I promised you 4 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: a frank, no holds barred series, and this is exactly 5 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: what my catch up with Sarah Patterson is, completely unfiltered. 6 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: We've been made since we're teenagers working in regional radio 7 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: together as cadets, and have shared all of life's ups 8 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: and downs and have been a constant support to one another, 9 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: none more so than right now as we tackle head 10 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: on our menopause journeys. So pull up a chair and 11 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: let me introduce you to one of my BFFs, Sarah Patterson. 12 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: I'd like to welcome to this episode a very well 13 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: renowned radio journalist thirty plus years experience, Sarah Patterson Radio Today, 14 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: a reporter, former TV reporter, news director, podcaster. 15 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 2: If you might have caught her podcast Food. 16 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 1: Bites and a woman taking on and winning hopefully at menopause. 17 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: How are you very well, Patrina, Thank you so much 18 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: for having me on. We have been dear friends for 19 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: a very long time, so. 20 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 2: Much so that we call each other by our pet 21 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 2: nicknames Ethel and Beryl. That's right. 22 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: And I have known Beryl now since I was I 23 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: reckon seventeen or eighteen. 24 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, I still remember the day I met you out 25 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 2: the front of three and eight in Wangaratta. You had 26 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 2: a floral dress on and Doc Martins AND's you know, 27 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 2: white ankle socks and you had corkscrew curls. 28 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, No, that's traumatic that you bring that up yet. No, 29 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: we've known each other a long time and quite most 30 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: days we do chat absolute days, and it's usually centered 31 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: around menopause. And I thought we need to bring this 32 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: to the podcast because you helped me so much cope 33 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: with what I'm going through. 34 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: As you deal with me. And it is. It's a 35 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 2: bit of a head fuck at absolutely is. There's no 36 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: other description for it is there. And I think the 37 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 2: thing I feel most is ripped off that I didn't 38 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 2: know that this is what it was going to be like. 39 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: I think so many of us hear about the warnings, 40 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: oh you'll have a few hot flushes, but otherwise, you know, 41 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 2: my mother would say it's the change of life. I 42 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 2: hate that expression change of life because it doesn't go 43 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 2: anywhere near to describing how shitty it is. 44 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, what are you struggling with most at the moment? 45 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: Do you think or does it ebb and flow? 46 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 2: I think well, speaking of the hot flushes, I think 47 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 2: they are driving me nuts, especially at night, because they're 48 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: impeding my ability to get a good night's sleep. And 49 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 2: they're not just you know, feeling a bit hot. They're ferocious. 50 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: I can feel it starting in my ankles in the 51 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 2: middle of the night, and it'll slowly rise up through 52 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 2: my chest and eventually feel like my head's about to explode, 53 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 2: and like almost like a Boeing seven four sevens taking 54 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 2: off from my scalp in the middle of the night 55 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 2: when you've got your husband next to you. Who my 56 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 2: husband is. He's quite a cold sort of person who 57 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: likes to keep worn. Here I am on the other side, 58 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 2: red hot. It's not a great combination. 59 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 1: No, it's the sleep I reckon I had. I was 60 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: telling you earlier about four hours sleep last night, no 61 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: particular reason why. And when you're sitting sleeping there, laying 62 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: there trying to sleep, and you know you've got to 63 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: get up at three am, it just makes it worse. 64 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: And then you have all these thoughts in your head. 65 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: It's like you can't wind down because I think the 66 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: anxiety is something I'm struggling with. It's like it all 67 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: feeds off each other. 68 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 2: I agree, I agree, I think it's all connected. 69 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: It is what sort of stuff have you tried? Have 70 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: you tried herbal or are you doing exercise, meditation? 71 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 2: What's working for you. I had somebody recommend a cream 72 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 2: to me, I think a progesterone based cream which you 73 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 2: just put on the crook of your elbow or you 74 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: can put it on your chest. This was a few 75 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 2: months ago, and I thought, well, I'll give it a 76 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 2: red hot go because you know it can't hurt. 77 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: Why the hell? 78 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 2: And this friend of mine ordered it, I think from 79 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 2: the United States and sent it to me. Wasn't cheap, 80 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 2: but she swore by it now. I tried it for 81 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: no couple of weeks and then I don't know whether 82 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: it was related to the cream or what, but I 83 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: started to feel quite sick in the guts, and I thought, oh, 84 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 2: this isn't a good reaction. I didn't feel like it 85 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: was really helping me with the hot flushes, so I 86 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 2: gave that up. But at the moment, and I've mentioned 87 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 2: this to you, I've been taking what are called Tranquil 88 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 2: night tablets. They're blackmors. I think the brand is just 89 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 2: get them from the chemist and they look they take 90 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 2: the edge off the hot flushes. But like you say, 91 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 2: it's the anxiety that really messes with your head. 92 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, it's just I mean, you're like me. You've 93 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: worked decades in the media, frontline media, where you've been 94 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: reporting on scenes. 95 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 2: Like you're used to. 96 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: You're no stranger to adversity in the workfront, on the workfront. 97 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 1: Yet some days just doing one thing is so overwhelming. 98 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: I don't know what it is. It's just I think 99 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: it's that stage of your life where you have elderly parents, 100 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: you've got a teenage a teenager in the house, you've 101 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: got a teenage son. 102 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: It's like you try to. 103 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: Spin all these plates and everything just sort of converges 104 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: in one and it's really really overwhelming some days. 105 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 2: What are the things you think that people don't understand 106 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 2: or misunderstand? You know? 107 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: What I find most debilitating is the zero to one 108 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: hundred in split second sort of mental shifts where you 109 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 1: just fly off the handle and you're very aware that 110 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: you're doing it, and then the extreme guilt you feel. 111 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: This is when you're home and your snap at your 112 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: partner or your child, and it's the guilt that you 113 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: just are you for days after and you know it's 114 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: like totally out of proportion. But how do you I 115 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: guess it feels like it came from a different person. Absolutely, 116 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: you feel like you standing in the room looking at 117 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: yourself doing it and it is just completely and you 118 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: know after it how unreasonable it was, and it could 119 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: be over the smallest, slightest thing, yep. 120 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 2: And then then you feel like the stereotypical menopausal woman saying, oh, 121 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 2: you know, I really fit the bill here. I am 122 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: screaming like a banshee for no apparent reason. 123 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: Just snap. But you know what, I think we need 124 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: to be kinder on ourselves because we're the ones going 125 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: through it, and of course obviously those in the household 126 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: as well, because they're living through it with us. But 127 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: I think we're so harsh on ourselves as women and 128 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: so judgy, and we need to just take a step 129 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: back and think about what you're doing. You've got a career, 130 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: you're a mum, you're going through this massive hormonal shift 131 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 1: in your life. Don't be so sort of judgmental of 132 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: how you're coping. Some days are better than others, and 133 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: other days are shit, aren't. 134 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: They really well? And the proportion of shit days tends 135 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 2: to outweigh the proportion of good ones. When you have 136 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 2: a good days, it's really good. But then it literally 137 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 2: comes up and bites you on the ass, and sometimes 138 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 2: in ways you don't expect, in really unsavory sort of ways. 139 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: I mean, we've talked about the anxiety, and I've always 140 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 2: had a tendency towards anxiety. I just thought, as you 141 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 2: got older, anxiety eases off and you start you know, 142 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 2: you get older, and you know, you just relax, you 143 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: know how, you retire and you wander off into the sunset. 144 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: For me, it doesn't work like that. For me, the 145 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 2: anxiety gets worse, and I feel like menopause and all 146 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 2: this hormonal shit flying around is exacerbating my anxiety absolutely, 147 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 2: you know, to the point where, look, and this is 148 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 2: this isn't a nice topic to discuss, But I was 149 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 2: doing breakfast radio like you, and getting in the car 150 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 2: at three o'clock in the morning to drive into work. 151 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: And after I started perry menopause, I started to get 152 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 2: this anxiety that I wouldn't make it to work without 153 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 2: having an accident with my bows. So I would I 154 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 2: would pack, I would pack tissues, I would pack wipes, 155 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 2: I would pack plastic bags, towels in the car. And 156 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 2: I think it's almost perpetuated in my head, you know 157 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 2: that this was going to happen, that I would be 158 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 2: seized by this overcopwhelming urge to ship myself basically in 159 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 2: the car stop anywhere. 160 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: I've had that too, though, like I actually have a 161 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: couple of times. And when it happened the first time, 162 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: luckily both times I've been home. 163 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 2: But when it. 164 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,959 Speaker 1: Happened the first time, you know what it is. It 165 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: wasn't so much sudden the first time. It was more, Okay, 166 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,319 Speaker 1: I do need to go to the bathroom, but I'll 167 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: just hang out a load of washing because I've got time. Yeah, 168 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: and your body says, actually, no, you don't. You can't 169 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: actually put me off, or no, you can't go and 170 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 1: collect the mail or put the bin out. 171 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 2: You actually you need to go to the bathroom. Yes, now, yes. 172 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: And I thought that's really weird because when I had 173 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: who won't wait for you? 174 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 2: That's it? 175 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,199 Speaker 1: When my daughter I didn't have a vaginal birth a 176 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: cesarean section, and I thought, stupidly, I thought, well, nothing's 177 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: really nothing has been too bent out of shape down there, 178 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: so why. 179 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 2: Why are my bows? 180 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 3: Like? 181 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 1: What's going on? But I think it's more common than 182 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: perhaps than we think, and if everyone was honest, it 183 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: happens to a lot of women. 184 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'd like to know that it happens to a 185 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 2: lot of other women. So that just makes you, it 186 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 2: doesn't well, it makes you a prisoner of yourself. It 187 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 2: makes you withdraw from work, from society, and you know, 188 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 2: makes you fearful of even just going out and doing 189 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:54,959 Speaker 2: social things that people take for granted. 190 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: Do you find that with bladder control as well? 191 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 2: Very much? So. I always like to plot my if 192 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 2: I'm going out anywhere, I like to know where the 193 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 2: nearest toilet is. And I'm one of those people who 194 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 2: goes to the toilet just in case. 195 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 1: Before I ye, empty the tank, Yeah, empty the tank. 196 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: There's a lot they can do for that now, Like 197 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: I know, my physio has done a special course that 198 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 1: helps with pelvic flows, so I haven't. 199 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,599 Speaker 2: I haven't done it yet. Apparently you can do it 200 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 2: at the traffic lights. 201 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: Apparently, But you know what, my kindecologist who's been practicing 202 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: in Melbourne. Lionel Steinberg a vaginal line, they call it. 203 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: He's wonderful. His name just demands that. 204 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 2: He's just amazing. 205 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: He said once that you should actually be doing it 206 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: from the age of light twelve or thirteen. 207 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 2: Wow. 208 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: So I've said to my daughter, this is what you need. 209 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: She looked at me weird, like, yeah, right, whatever, And 210 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: I think, no, you'll thank me when you're on because 211 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: I honestly I don't do it. 212 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I may. I don't do it. I try to, 213 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 2: and then then I figure and then you forget. You 214 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 2: might do it one day, yeah, and then it's like, 215 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 2: oh damn, it's been like a week since. Oh well whatever. Now, 216 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 2: how do you go with overall dryness, not just your skin, 217 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 2: your hair, your eyes? 218 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: Do you do you just feel dry down there? I 219 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: haven't got that yet. I haven't got that yet. But 220 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: skin prickly and itchy and ears the other thing. For me, 221 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: I've got dermatitis in my ears, which is probably related 222 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: to menopause and drives me batty. The itch like ants 223 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 1: crawling over your skin. 224 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. 225 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: Hair is the other thing. Not so much skin, probably 226 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: as hair. It's just manky initially, probably when I was 227 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: at the start of perimenopause, maybe I don't know, eighty 228 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: months two years ago. It just wouldn't sit right, and 229 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: I'd think it was the hair dress or all the 230 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:54,959 Speaker 1: products I'm using, so I change the products and think, 231 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: oh this, or you know, said nah, it was like 232 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 1: no amount of fuss over it would fix it. And 233 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 1: it gets greasy, very like it's just not my hair. 234 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. Mine feels like it's gone back to being baby hair, 235 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 2: almost almost baby fine, with no life or body yes 236 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 2: in it, limp, very limp. 237 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 3: Yeah. 238 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 1: I had Imagen crump on and she was saying she's 239 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: had straight hair her entire life, and her hair has 240 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:27,559 Speaker 1: gone curly, curly, like she's had a perm Yeah, like insane. 241 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 2: These are all the things we don't hear about. It's 242 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,079 Speaker 2: so far beyond the old hot flushes, isn't it. 243 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: But don't you think that's the frustrating thing of it 244 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: that it's just so random? There are so honestly, dozens 245 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: and dozens and dozens of symptoms. 246 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:41,199 Speaker 2: Doesn't mean you'll get them. 247 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: All naturally, but just weird stuff. Speaking of image, and 248 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: I did want to get your opinion on this. 249 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 2: Now you haven't heard. 250 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: This audio before she was speaking on the OBC. I 251 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: think she has helped change the narrative of menopause and 252 00:12:57,679 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: makes kind of helped normalize it. 253 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:00,680 Speaker 2: You the audio. 254 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 3: Let's move on to the Australian. It has the latest 255 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 3: time the Prime Minister to visit the China. 256 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 4: Yes and not a pardon Michael, big chill. But the 257 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 4: PM doesn't pander yet. So the bilateral meeting between Australia 258 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 4: and China, Anthony Albert easy and Chinese. I'm so sorry 259 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 4: I could keep stumbling through this, but I am having 260 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 4: such a perimoral perimenopausal right. 261 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 2: Now live on air. It's so soften. 262 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 5: The point about this is that we need to make 263 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 5: it normal. You have these kinds of conversations, and I 264 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 5: love you for even saying it, because we interview people, 265 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 5: We talk to people about this and this is the reality. 266 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 4: I don't think all bones respect to national television. 267 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 2: It's the furthest of the sun. 268 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 3: Sorry, listen, we'll let you take take a breathe, thank you, 269 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 3: thank you for being honest about it. We can and 270 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 3: while Imagen takes in some deep press, listen, we want 271 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 3: to throw. 272 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:05,679 Speaker 1: What do you think about that? 273 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 2: Oh my god, I just want to cry for her 274 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 2: because that I can. I think we've all been we've 275 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 2: all been there, and she was just so refreshingly honest 276 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 2: about it, just the whole menopause fog and menopause brain 277 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 2: under And I found it interesting that one of the 278 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 2: interviewers was saying, yes, we need to we need to 279 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 2: talk more about this, we need to get it out 280 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 2: in the open. It's it's menopause fog brain, whereas the 281 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 2: gentleman interviewer basically said, well, we'll let imagen just collect us, 282 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 2: collect herself and but no image. And you are a 283 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 2: champion just for being honest enough to make us all 284 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 2: feel you know how it would to me feel. I 285 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 2: actually wanted to scream it from the rooftop. So I thought, Wow, 286 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 2: you've just done such an amazing service to your sisterhood. 287 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 1: But also it made me want to do better with 288 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: the whole conversation around menopause, because there's been so many 289 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: times I've talked to you before, how I've been on 290 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: air and I'll be going on a spiel and my 291 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: brain fog will hit and it's like to stop, sign 292 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: I look like an absolute idiot because I've got as 293 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: It's like the rug is pulled out from under you. 294 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: You know, it's just you can't remember names, you can't 295 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: remember what you were talking about. 296 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 2: It's horrible. It's terrible. I mean, and we you know, 297 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 2: I reckon. We we're pretty eloquent kind of people. Sometimes 298 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 2: we are depends how many drinks we've had alcohol. That's 299 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 2: another subject to get onto. But you're right, it is 300 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 2: like a huge stop sign or a handbrake gets pulled on. 301 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 2: You think, what was I talking about? Where was I 302 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 2: going with this? And it's embarrassing. You feel embarrassed, you 303 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 2: feel inadequate, and you just feel like a laughing stock 304 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 2: sometimes and you can't explain it. But Imagen has explained 305 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 2: it perfectly. And it's menopause. It's your brain, it's your hormones. 306 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 2: It doesn't they don't work the same way anymore. 307 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't know if she realizes just how amazing 308 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: that was. And I'm sorry to play it again. She'll 309 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: be listening and she'll be probably hiding under a table. 310 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 2: But I think she's done a service to so many people. 311 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 2: She really has. 312 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: There's some really interesting stats from HCF, the Health Fund 313 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: on menopause. Just one in four twenty six percent of 314 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: women's surveyed say they'd feel comfortable speaking about periminopause and 315 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: minopause with their pharmacist or chemist, even six percent the 316 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 1: equivalent of three hundred and ninety thousand women, So they 317 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: do not feel comfortable speaking about it with anyone. Wow, 318 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: that stigma is still. 319 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 2: Why is it? Why do we still feel at it? 320 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: I think it's ageism, and I think it's you know, 321 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: it's that stage of life in inverted commas where you 322 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: sort of feel that you can't procreate anymore, so what 323 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: good are you to society? Shove you off into the 324 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 1: top paddic And it's so ironic because I think you're 325 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: at a point in your career where you're absolutely smashing it. 326 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: You know, we've been working decades to perfect our craft, 327 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: and we are, you know where finally, I think, finding 328 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 1: both ourselves in our sort of within ourselves, not making 329 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: apologies anymore, but also really you know, hitting six in 330 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: our careers yet. 331 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 2: And I totally forgot what. 332 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: I was about to say that you go, there's a 333 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: brain fop for you. But so so on one hand, 334 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: you doing so successfully, but then on the other it's 335 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 1: kind of like, well, yeah, you kind of have this 336 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,360 Speaker 1: feeling that you're a bit of a has been you're 337 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 1: getting older now you're not kind of with it, you. 338 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: Know, and that's where the anxiety kicks in again. And 339 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 2: like you say, it's all interrelated. It's like this this 340 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 2: circle and it just keeps it just keeps going on 341 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 2: and going round. 342 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: I just don't understand it. I just that's that's as 343 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: you know. I want to do the podcast because I 344 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: want to open the conversation and you know parts of 345 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: it you talked about bells before. But that's what I 346 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: want to do. It's not going to be a podcast 347 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 1: where don't listen. If you just want to clean and tidy. 348 00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 2: It's going to get messy. 349 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:02,920 Speaker 1: That's what we have to do to make other people, 350 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: other women feel supported and know that this is a community, 351 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:10,159 Speaker 1: and feel supported with what you're going through because so 352 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 1: many other millions of women around the world are going 353 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: through the same thing. There is an element of menopause 354 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: that I have discovered that that's a bit of a positive, 355 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,719 Speaker 1: but it outweighed by a negative, and that is hair growth. 356 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: You'll find that you look on your face, that you'll 357 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 1: find that hair grows and in the strangest of places. 358 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:33,920 Speaker 1: But what I have discovered and that I am into 359 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 1: menopause now, so I have been twelve months without a period, 360 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 1: so I'm on the other side. But I have found 361 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:45,639 Speaker 1: amazingly I've not had to shave my legs or wax 362 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 1: my legs. 363 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 2: All the hair on my legs is gone. They're smooth 364 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 2: as a baby's barm. Yeah, but I think all the 365 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 2: hair from my legs has migrated to my chin and 366 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 2: you're getting these. I remember when I was a little 367 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 2: kid in a grown up in Curranborough. I was in 368 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 2: the newsagent. I clearly remember this old woman. She was 369 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 2: standing at the stationery area picking out a birthday card 370 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 2: and she had a beard. She had a coarse black beard. 371 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 2: I mean Ned Kelly would have been proud of this beard. 372 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 2: And I remember as a little kid looking up thinking 373 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 2: that's that's most odd, what's going on there? And until 374 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 2: I started sprouting these coarse, coarse black hairs out of 375 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 2: my chin, not to mention the white whiskers that start 376 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 2: sprouting in my eyebrows. 377 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: That laser will not will not fit. 378 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, I started to see, Okay, I get how this 379 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:42,640 Speaker 2: could happen. And I know you have told me off 380 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 2: on several occasions about this. But I'm sorry I've kept doing. 381 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:47,439 Speaker 1: It because you're not still doing it. 382 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 2: Well, I have it once or twice. I did this 383 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 2: morning actually before I came in, Yes I did. I 384 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,199 Speaker 2: just shaved my chin. I know you're not. 385 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: If you go and do a laser as a follower 386 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 1: my fine with hair. It grows places where you don't 387 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: want it and not in the places you do, yes 388 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: want it. See, hair is not new to me because 389 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: with polycystic syndrome, I always had. 390 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 2: So that's why I got onto the laser. It's fantastic. 391 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,919 Speaker 2: You have been telling me for years about las. I 392 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 2: need to do it. 393 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: Ever done. 394 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:23,199 Speaker 2: But in sheer desperation this morning, I just grabbed my 395 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 2: husband's bit grazer and I just over the chin and 396 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 2: feels nice and feels nice and smooth. 397 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: Now, why are they so black? And course, why can't 398 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: they be like fair fine exactly so you're not overly dark? 399 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 2: No, how does that work? I don't know. 400 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: It's it's very unjust. 401 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 2: And the white John Howard type whiskers. 402 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 1: Oh that's the other thing odd, like talking John Howard eyebrows, 403 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: like really crazy out of control eyebrows. 404 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 405 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 2: Ye can't tame them like mensies. Yeah, it's although then 406 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 2: they'll start to taper off and they'll be really smina 407 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 2: quite sparse. Yes, yeah, everything feels like it's getting sparse. 408 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:07,159 Speaker 2: My hair feels like my eyebrows and thankfully my legs 409 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 2: are devoid of any that's a bonus. Well, yeah, I 410 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 2: just I have to look at things to look forward to. 411 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 2: I love it. 412 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: Another stat that I quite was surprised by those who 413 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: are currently in minopause or post menopause are more likely 414 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: than those who have not yet started perry or are 415 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:26,919 Speaker 1: unsure if they have to say they feel comfortable talking 416 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: to friends female friends about the topic seventy four percent 417 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: and seventy two percent compared to fifty two and forty nine. 418 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: What does that say that I don't know. Maybe I'm 419 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: chronic overshare, but I. 420 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:41,920 Speaker 2: Just think as we get older, I do think our 421 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 2: care factor diminishes. Yeah, I think we we learn what 422 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 2: is important in life. We become aware of our own mortality, 423 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 2: and we think, if not now, when are we going 424 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,919 Speaker 2: to talk about it? You know, we're not going to 425 00:21:55,960 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 2: be here forever. No, our parents' generation didn't talk about 426 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 2: this stuff, which is exactly why my mother would call 427 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 2: it the change of life, not to menopause. But our 428 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 2: generation thankfully is describing it for what it is. 429 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 1: I'm hoping we're turning the boat, and certainly for other 430 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 1: girls after us, I'm hoping they won't have to have 431 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: the conversation to have the conversation. I'm just hoping that 432 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: it's hey, yeah, I'm going through menopause, going back to 433 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 1: menopause in the workplace, how toility like You've got a 434 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: great setup, your sort of flexible and writing from home. 435 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: Did you think that helps you or is it still 436 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:38,640 Speaker 1: just a. 437 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 2: Bloody I think it's helped me a lot in terms 438 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,680 Speaker 2: of anxiety and especially that matter we talked about before 439 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 2: having to go in a car anywhere, especially early in 440 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 2: the morning. It's given me much greater flexibility because I'm 441 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 2: in my own home. Before I was in actual menopause 442 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 2: and I was still perimenopause, or I was having incredibly 443 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 2: heavy periods revolting just and oh my goodness, it almost 444 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 2: it felt like it's sat the laughing out of me. 445 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 2: And I was glad for that reason that I could 446 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 2: actually just pick myself up off the office heare go 447 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,919 Speaker 2: and just sit on the couch in my own home 448 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 2: and just chill out and deal with it. I feel 449 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 2: that that's given me a lot more flexibility being at home. 450 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 1: What like if it got any worse, or you say, 451 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: now you're fully through menapausal because you haven't had a 452 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: period for twelve months, at what point do you think, 453 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 1: and we've discussed this as well, at what point do 454 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:43,919 Speaker 1: you think you would try like an HRT patch or 455 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: something like that, Because that's always my question. 456 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,399 Speaker 2: We've been Yeah, we've been talking about this, haven't we 457 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 2: for a month. I don't know what some and I 458 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 2: don't know what honestly we're hesitating for, to be honest, 459 00:23:57,600 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 2: or the only thing I can think of is that 460 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 2: you say HRT and people will immediately associate that with 461 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 2: a cancer risk, Whereas if you do read up on it, 462 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 2: and you know, Jeene Hale's Foundation will tell you that 463 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 2: the risk of cancer is absolutely minute. Whereas if these 464 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 2: things are available to us and are going to give 465 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 2: us relief, why the heck aren't we just using them? 466 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: I think that's the thing again, there's a stigma around 467 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,200 Speaker 1: breast cancer and that, but you know, it doesn't help. 468 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: I had my very when I turned fifty I had 469 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: my first bowel no, no, no, mammogram, mammogram, that's right, 470 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 1: I had my first mammogram, you'll remember. And the first thing, 471 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 1: and I've got a cancer history. The first thing the 472 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: nurse said when I sat down, and I was already 473 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: like my anxiety, yeah, as you know, it sky high 474 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 1: after my I had kidney cancer. 475 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:54,159 Speaker 2: I didn't have breast cancer, I remember, you know, so 476 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 2: that was a terrible time. 477 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:58,160 Speaker 1: In that setting. First thing she said when I sat 478 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 1: down was are you on h And you know what 479 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 1: my inner monologue said was, well, that's it. That's just 480 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: made my mind up on that because if there was 481 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: any risk of that ever happening again to me, forget it. 482 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: But that's really not the right, Yeah, not the right 483 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:16,640 Speaker 1: attitude to have, because, like you say, look at the stats, 484 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,159 Speaker 1: speak to your GP, and you know what, it works 485 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: for someone women, maybe not everyone, but I think they've 486 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 1: changed the name of it. They don't call it agent anymore. 487 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 1: But there's also these patches are great, but you can't 488 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: get them. Apparently it's like a worldwide shortage. You can't gosh, 489 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 1: you can't get them. 490 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:36,200 Speaker 2: Yeah. I had a discussion with my eighty nine year 491 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:38,919 Speaker 2: old mum about this. My mum had a radical hysterectomy 492 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 2: at the age of forty eight and she went straight 493 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 2: on to hormone replacement therapy. And when I discussed with 494 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 2: her about the possibility of me going down that route, 495 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 2: she said, well, look at me. Hasn't held me. She's 496 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:54,639 Speaker 2: eighty nine, She's in an incredible nick And so I 497 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:58,479 Speaker 2: think it's something we really really need to, you know, 498 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 2: stop questioning, go to your GP, like I get to 499 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 2: get advice. Yeah, and then just do it. Yeah. 500 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: Information is power. So would you consider yourself as postmenopausal now? 501 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 2: Yeah? 502 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 1: So you're out out of the desk my life. 503 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 2: You know what my last my last period, I was 504 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 2: do you know what I was doing? And I had 505 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:20,439 Speaker 2: a mega, absolutely full on flow period. Unexpectedly, I was 506 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 2: eleven months without a period, and there I was going. 507 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 2: Happened to me? 508 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:24,640 Speaker 3: There? 509 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 2: I was in the middle of the Elvis exhibition and Bendigo, 510 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 2: you know, admiring Priscilla's Brenan Love, and the gates opened 511 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 2: there in the exhibition, and what's the most at eleven 512 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:39,880 Speaker 2: it's like playing monopoly. Then I had to go back 513 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 2: to go and start again. 514 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 1: That's the thing. It's almost like a rude joke. Is 515 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 1: it like around hot day? It's like, what back? Just 516 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: that happened to me as well. It was just before 517 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 1: Christmas and Chris and I were going into my husband 518 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 1: and I were going into the city for a couple 519 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 1: of nights for a mini break, and he hadn't even 520 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: put the suitcase down. And I went to the bathroom 521 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:09,600 Speaker 1: and you are not believe, like seriously, and I thought 522 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: I was. I could see the sunshine on the other 523 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 1: side of the hill. It's like I'm MILLI there and. 524 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 2: Then it was taken away in one felloped out from you. 525 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 2: And usually it's done with gusto too, I don't know 526 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 2: in your situation, but it was. It was literally you say, 527 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:26,200 Speaker 2: the flood gates over, Well, there was a flood. Horrible, 528 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 2: absolutely awful. 529 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: Did you get the heavy heaviness of that for a while. 530 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: I really only got it for like one or two months, Yeah, 531 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 1: probably just the last few I reckon. It was almost 532 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: like period wanted to have a last last so I'm 533 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: really going to put you through the mill, Sarah, and 534 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:43,360 Speaker 1: it did. 535 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:44,719 Speaker 2: Oh gosh. 536 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: Words of advice from one woman to another, What would 537 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 1: your advice be to women who are embarking this wonderful journey. 538 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:57,120 Speaker 2: Well, I would say strap yourself in and be prepared 539 00:27:57,160 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 2: for anything, because you you just can't can't predict where 540 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 2: this journey's going to take you. Be prepared for it 541 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 2: to impact you mentally, is what I would say. I 542 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 2: had no idea how much it would affect my moods, 543 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 2: and I've had some incredibly, incredibly confronting mood swings. I'm 544 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 2: a fairly you know, easy going person, I would like 545 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:25,399 Speaker 2: to think, but I turned into a monster and continue 546 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 2: too at different times of my life with my family, 547 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 2: and I've got a much shorter fuse than I used 548 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:34,400 Speaker 2: to have. So just be kind to yourself, Just see 549 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 2: what alternatives don't like. Just don't sit there and suffer 550 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:40,959 Speaker 2: through it. Try and find try and find a remedy. 551 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 2: Well there's not a remedy, but try and find something 552 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 2: that will help you get through it. 553 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 1: And I think that's the thing. What works for one 554 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 1: woman won't necessarily work for someone else. It's a bit 555 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: of trial and error. Patience, I think is a big thing. 556 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, So what's your what's your overriding piece of advice? 557 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 2: Do you reckon whine? The problem with wine is you 558 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 2: just stayed time makes your honor process it the same way, 559 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 2: which is a real it's really bloody. Feels ripped off 560 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 2: about that too, because all it does is give you 561 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 2: a red face and make you feel like shit. Yes 562 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 2: the next day, Yes takes. 563 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 1: Not that I drink, as you know, I don't drink 564 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 1: actually that much because of my kidney. But I actually, 565 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: if you were to ask me like you did, what 566 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 1: what is it that helped? I actually don't know. I 567 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 1: actually feel like I'm stabbing around in the dark most days. 568 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: I think trying to keep a positive attitude and understanding 569 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 1: that what is happening to me is completely natural. It 570 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: doesn't have to be enjoyable, but it's completely natural, and 571 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 1: that it's not long term, that this too. 572 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 2: Shall pass yep. And you're not on your own. 573 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 1: Exactly exactly, and that's why we need to talk as 574 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 1: much as we can about it, Okay, to help other women. 575 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 2: Thanks Pad, I love you lot, I love you two. 576 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 1: I really hope you felt episode five maybe I m chronic. 577 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 1: Oversharer was like evesdropping on two best es at your 578 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 1: local cafe. 579 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 2: And I also hope. 580 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: It's given women struggling with the symptoms some solace. We're 581 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 1: all here to support one another on this journey. If 582 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: you want to share your experiences, reach out, follow and 583 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,760 Speaker 1: message me on Insta Petrina Jones Newman. We've touched on 584 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 1: the impacts of menopause in the workplace and I want 585 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: to investigate that further. The Bureau of Stats has found 586 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: women are retiring seven years before men on average, and 587 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: twelve years before their desired age of retirement, with the 588 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 1: Institute of Superannuation Trustees estimating menopause may cost women age 589 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 1: fifty to fifty four more than fifteen billion per year 590 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 1: in lost earnings and super Clearly we need to do better. 591 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 1: Unions in our campaigning for ten days paid reproductive leave. 592 00:30:50,440 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 1: My next episode features Michelle O'Neill, President of the Australian 593 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 1: Council of Trade Unions. I wanted to find out a 594 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:00,480 Speaker 1: little more about what it is poising 595 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 2: I