1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:06,479 Speaker 1: Welcome back to my new podcast series, Rage Against the Menopause. 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 1: Episode two has something for everyone, really, not only women, 3 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: but those with male partners and kids. Also, because perimenopause 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: and menopause radiates to everyone around you. If you like 5 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: me and at times really struggling with the symptoms, some days, 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: chances are your support network is looking for ways to 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: help and also trying to understand what's going on with 8 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: their matriarch. Miserable Magical Menopause features author Alison Daddo. You 9 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,919 Speaker 1: may remember her as the eighties Aussie supermodel married to 10 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: actor Cameron Daddo, but she's also a hugely successful author 11 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: of the bestseller Queen Menopause, Finding Your Majesty in the Mayhem, 12 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: which touches on the impact of menopause on her marriage 13 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: and her family unit. It's really helped me and my 14 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: husband and teenage daughter. I think you'll find it useful also, Alis, 15 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: in congratulation on. 16 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 2: Your book, thank you so much, Thank you. 17 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: And can I say the title it's just an absolute triumph. 18 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,119 Speaker 1: It's absolutely the title is brilliant. How did you come 19 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: up with it? 20 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 2: You know it jumped out at me at the very 21 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: beginning because as I was writing the book sort of 22 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 2: towards the end, I just I was just like, I 23 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: just want women to feel at the end of their 24 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 2: menopause or as they're going through it, that they feel 25 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 2: like a queen, that they can somehow find the queen, 26 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 2: and then that they don't feel like some broken, horrible, 27 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 2: washed up old lady at the end of it. I 28 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 2: want them to feel so good about themselves. And there 29 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: is so much mayhem, as we all know often with 30 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 2: ferrymenopause and menopause. Not everyone, of course, but it certainly 31 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: was to me. And I had that title Queen Menopause 32 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: for a while and then I actually changed it because 33 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: I mentioned it to my family and my daughter went, so, 34 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 2: you're saying that you're Queen Menopause. I was like, oh, crap, no, no, no, no, 35 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 2: now I'm not Queen Menopause. I was like, oh, I 36 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 2: can't have this going to haunt me that people are 37 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: thinking that I've claimed myself as the queen. I was like, no, 38 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 2: I want everyone to feel like they are, and so 39 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 2: I changed it. I think I had miserable magical menopause 40 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 2: or something like that, but the publishing company went, nah, 41 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 2: it's got to be queen menopause. So I'm glad they 42 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 2: talked me back into it. 43 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: Oh no, it's brilliant. Don't you love the honesty of 44 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: a daughter. They can't write to the chase. 45 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 2: That's so true. 46 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: The thing with it, Allison, I've got to say, it's 47 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: it's for me. It's been the most amazing self help book, 48 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,399 Speaker 1: and I've bought it for so many of my girlfriends 49 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: in their fifties as well. It honestly, it feels like 50 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: your words right through your chapters, they're so profound, like 51 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: they struck such a chord with me and my girlfriends. 52 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,119 Speaker 1: It really it feels like a beautiful, warm hug from 53 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: your best friend. There's so many passages in there where 54 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 1: I have been able to get solace. So it's it 55 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 1: has helped me so so much, And I think what 56 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 1: I've gained most of all from your words is that, hey, 57 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: you're not alone and you're not going crazy, that you 58 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: are inverted commas normal. 59 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 2: Well, it became sort of multi layer. The more I wrote, 60 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: the more I sort of realized, you know, what was 61 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 2: sort of happening for me as well as how the 62 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 2: book kept evolving. But the original thought around it all 63 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 2: was I felt so alone. I felt like I was 64 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 2: on my own and didn't know what anyone else was feeling. 65 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: No one was talking to me about menopause or had 66 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 2: ever talked to me about menopause. I just thought, this 67 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 2: is insane and like, there's no way I could be 68 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: the only one experience in this, the fact that half 69 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 2: the population are women. So I just really wanted to 70 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 2: sort of give. And the more I spoke to people 71 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 2: and spoke to people postmenopause as well, I thought, we 72 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 2: need to find a way after everything that women go 73 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: through physically with their gynological system, and you know, it's 74 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 2: like enough, like hang on a minute. You know, we've 75 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 2: gone that we've dealt with as you would know from 76 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 2: what you're saying, We've dealt with the painful periods for 77 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 2: so many years, the pcos, the endometriosis, you know, women 78 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: got women going through labor and you know, tearing up 79 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 2: peraneums and like just so much. And I thought, and 80 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,679 Speaker 2: this is what happens when we get into this stage 81 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 2: our life, that this is this is how it ends. 82 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 2: I'm like, this is not okay. And the fact that 83 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 2: so many women were keeping silent about it because we're 84 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 2: kind of trained too, And I thought, and the more 85 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 2: I found out about women leaving the workforce because of it, 86 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 2: relationships breaking down. You know, that the way we view 87 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 2: ourselves as a woman feeling so ugly and broken and 88 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 2: gross because we've put on all this weight and our 89 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 2: skins change. And I thought, this is not the way 90 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 2: we can finish this our cycle like this, This is 91 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 2: not okay. So I really wanted to find is there 92 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 2: any silver lining in this? Is there anything that we 93 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 2: can sort of catch a hold up that's going to 94 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: actually feel like, okay, we might not look forward to menopause, 95 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 2: maybe you know, hopefully we could get there eventually, but 96 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: we can sort of, you know, look at it in 97 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 2: a way that it's simply going to change us and 98 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 2: hopefully change us for the better. 99 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: In some ways, I find it so so confusing really 100 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: sort of going into perimenopause and menopause, because on one regard, 101 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: you're feeling, you know, I feel when I turned fifty, 102 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: I felt this great sense of self and self assurance 103 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: that I hadn't sort of felt before, like, you know, 104 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: comfortable in my own skin and probably more confident that 105 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: I've than I've ever been. And yet on the other hand, 106 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: it was like a jackal Hyde situation for me. And 107 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: then on the other hand, I was starting to go 108 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: through this horrible perimenopausal situation which gives you, as a 109 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: media presenter self, you know, imposter syndrome. 110 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 2: Oh look, I mean I think it was so I 111 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 2: just found the whole experience really confronting. It was confronting 112 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 2: the fact that by how my body had changed so dramatically, 113 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 2: the mate gain was was quite a lot for me. 114 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 2: How I just had no ability at some days to 115 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: get out of bed. But yeah, I know what you're 116 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: talking about, because but I feel like those physical changes 117 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: almost forced me into that place of you know what, 118 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: You're still alive, you're not broken, you don't have cancer, 119 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: You've got a great life for your kids and your husband. 120 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 2: What are you going to focus on? Like, you can't 121 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 2: just focus on the fact that you've got fat sighs 122 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 2: and cellulate to your ankles anymore like that. There's so 123 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 2: much more to life than that. And it's stripped away 124 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 2: a lot of that sort of self reflection in the 125 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 2: mirror type thing and made me just go so much 126 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 2: more internalized to go, Okay, look, what is it that 127 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: you want them? Is what it's going to make you 128 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 2: feel good, not like look good, but feel good about 129 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 2: who you are. So it really flipped that for me, 130 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 2: and I get caught in all the like the reflection 131 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 2: in the mirror, going oh boy, okay, I still look 132 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 2: like I'm carrying a baby at six months. Okay, I 133 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 2: still get asked that. I got asked at first the 134 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 2: other day, Yeah, by this, by this man. He goes, oh, 135 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: when did you do? And I was like, I'm fifty. 136 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: Three, are you cool? How did you respond? 137 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 2: I just said, well, it was the weirdest thing about 138 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 2: it was I was sort of under the water, kind 139 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 2: of like up to stop of my chest, and I 140 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 2: think he was actually flirting with me, which. 141 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 3: I have not had a man human. 142 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: It's been a long time back between anyone's learned. Because 143 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 2: he said, I said, oh, do you come here often? 144 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 2: And I was like, oh, yeah, Cepy, is this your 145 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 2: favorite beat? And I'm like, I think something happening here 146 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 2: that's weird. And then I kind of I stood up 147 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 2: to go in and he looked and he goes, oh, oh, 148 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 2: when do you do? And I said, oh, fat, and 149 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 2: he goes, that's okay, i'n't fat too. 150 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: Oh No, what an unusual encounter. 151 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 2: I was like, And then Cam was on the beach 152 00:08:57,520 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 2: and he came up to me ears, hey, honey. I 153 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 2: was like, Hi, my husband, Hello, thank you for saving me. 154 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 1: Oh no, I love that. There's a chapter in the book, 155 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:13,439 Speaker 1: Allison where you do touch on partners and how hormonal 156 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: change impacts them and how they can help support you, 157 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: which is really refreshing. There's a lot of books around 158 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: that don't touch on that subject. Obviously, you've got a 159 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: long marriage, You've been together a very long time. I 160 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: would say you are soul mates. How has his support 161 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: played a role in this time of life for you? 162 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, there's been a lot of changes in our relationship, 163 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 2: you know, due to menopause, and I think Cam's had 164 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 2: to be well why not? I think I know Cam 165 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 2: has had to be really patient and really understanding, and 166 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 2: you know, there are times that it's been really frustrating 167 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 2: for him. And I've had this sort of ben explain 168 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 2: more about what I'm feeling and have my own patience 169 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 2: with his frustration. But he's been once, you know, and 170 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 2: I mentioned this in the book, Once we sort of 171 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 2: really understood more about about perimenopause, and many metopause and 172 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: the changes I was going through that it had nothing 173 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 2: to actually do with him. It was the hormonal changes 174 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 2: in my body that was making me hot and frustrated 175 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 2: and angry and sad. It was like, Okay, now we 176 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 2: can be on the same team. And that was where 177 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 2: it was really challenging. So I felt like I was 178 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 2: fighting him about going to understand, and he was he 179 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 2: couldn't understand what was going on because I didn't understand 180 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 2: what was going on. So there was arguments about that, 181 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 2: and he was trying to fix me the whole time 182 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 2: because he wanted me to feel better. So once we 183 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 2: sort of understood really what was going on chemically, hormonally, emotionally, 184 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 2: it was like, oh, now we get it, and now 185 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 2: we can sort of look at it together and see 186 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 2: how we can both support me going through it. 187 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: It was a light bulb moment. And that's why books 188 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: like yours are so pivotal. As we start talking and 189 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 1: opening the conversation, let's talk about menopause. I just you know, 190 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: there's so many books on conception and pregnancy that we 191 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: touched on earlier, but you know, the conversation it's not 192 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: out there open enough. Women. You know, we need to 193 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:31,479 Speaker 1: have a raw, frank discussion as women as a society, 194 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: also as men supporting their wives and partners. It can't 195 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: be a dirty word any longer. The more we talk 196 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: about it, the more we educate ourselves and better outcomes, 197 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: don't you think. 198 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 2: Absolutely? And as you said, we're talking about infertility. Now 199 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 2: we're talking about endometriosis. We're talking about you know, IBF, 200 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 2: and likee, it's something that's just it just happens, and 201 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,559 Speaker 2: this is the same this is the same thing. It is, 202 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 2: it will happen. It's going to happen to every woman, 203 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 2: and whether they get symptoms or not, but it does 204 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 2: need to be normalized. And I was, I was to 205 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 2: see there was an article in the City Morning Herald 206 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 2: written by a woman saying women need to shut up 207 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 2: about menopause work. That was the title of the article. 208 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,719 Speaker 2: And I was like, no, no, there's been too much 209 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 2: talk about it already. And I'm like, are you kidding me? 210 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 2: We've just started, we just started already. That kind of 211 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 2: that influence is coming to sort of shut women's voices down. 212 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 2: I was like, no, no, no, no, no, hang on, let 213 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 2: us speak, let us understand, let us talk with each other, 214 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 2: let us talk with our bosses and have some understanding 215 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 2: around the workplace and how it affects his air. And 216 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 2: you know, I was so disappointed to read that. 217 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a common theme minopause and the workplace and 218 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: the devastating impacts that it has. I do shift work. 219 00:12:57,679 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 1: I get up at three in the morning, but I 220 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: have and it's not ideal as a radio presenter, but 221 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: these moments where the brain fog and I've had oh 222 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: my god, Allison, where I've been on a spiel on 223 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 1: air and then I just completely forget what I was 224 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: talking about. Yeah, completely forget, and luckily my co hosts 225 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: can pick up and we have a bit of a 226 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: joke about it. But I was telling a girlfriend actually 227 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: the other day, I said, it's so humiliating, and she goes, 228 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: why is it? And I said, well, you know, I've 229 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:29,599 Speaker 1: been in radio over thirty years. I'm meant talking is 230 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 1: my living. I'm meant to be good at it. And 231 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: she said, yeah, but why don't you take advantage of 232 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: the situation and admit that, hey, I've actually got brain fog? 233 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: And I said, because that would make me feel like 234 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: I wasn't good at my job, and she said, you're crazy. 235 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: You've got this powerful position to be able to spread 236 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: the message you're doing this podcast, like, just admit brain fuging, 237 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: you know. I thought she's absolutely right. It starts with 238 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,959 Speaker 1: us in opening the conversation and being raw and being 239 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: honest and just telling it how it is. 240 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 2: And I understand that there is unfortunately, there is that 241 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 2: you know, and again it's referencing that article. You know. 242 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 2: What she did say, which I do agree with in 243 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 2: this sense, is that women have worked so hard as 244 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 2: you have. You've worked thirty years to get to the 245 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 2: place that you're at, and that you know, for some 246 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 2: women it's like I've worked that hard and I don't 247 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 2: want another reason for my male boss or male coworkers 248 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 2: to think, oh, she can't do her job. So I'm 249 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 2: not going to mention anything about metaphors. I'm just going 250 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 2: to stuff it down, deal with it, walk out of 251 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 2: the room moment when I'm having a hot flush, and 252 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 2: I just and even that alone just breaks my heart 253 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 2: that you can't just be open about that without sort 254 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 2: of some repercussions. But I understand that some women feel 255 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 2: like they cannot say anything about it because they've they've 256 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 2: fought so hard to be in the position that they're 257 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 2: at that they have, and you know that I would 258 00:14:57,280 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 2: love to see that change. I was talking to a 259 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 2: female surgeon and she was saying, can you imagine as 260 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 2: I'm going in there in surgery and I am covered 261 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 2: head to toe, mask, hat, everything, gloves and I get 262 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 2: a hot flash. I just thought, holy crap, holy crap, 263 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 2: like horrible, sweat that out. Yeah, keep going like you 264 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 2: can't walk out of no git an operating room at 265 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 2: that point. You know, there's so many places where it's the. 266 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: Challenge can I touch on a subject with my experience 267 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: that's really sort of hit me for six And I 268 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: know you do mention it in the book as well, 269 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 1: And that is the impact on your sex life. The 270 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: one thing that I really wasn't prepared for is the 271 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: lack of sex drive. And honestly, Allison, it's like someone's 272 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: just turned the tap off, and I fear that for 273 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 1: my poor husband. I feel like it's never going to 274 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: come back. It's honestly has been like that, like a 275 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: dramatic change, and that's really hit me for six. 276 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 3: Yeah. 277 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 2: Absolutely absolutely. But you know there was also the impacts 278 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 2: were there was so much. Not only was the you know, 279 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 2: hormonally that was happening, but because I wasn't sleeping. I mean, 280 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 2: you know, lack of sleep is always going to impact 281 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 2: your sex drive usually I shouldn't say always, but that 282 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: you know, being absolutely exhausted is never going to make 283 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 2: you feel like you want to jump into bed. You 284 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 2: know you're emotional, like or I was really emotional. That's 285 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 2: never going to make me want to feel that way. 286 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 2: I was in mourning because of what was going on 287 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 2: with my body and what was my intility now was 288 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 2: like gone. So there was all of that, and those 289 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 2: hot flushes was just like at night those nights plates were. 290 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: Just was that really bad for you? Yeah? 291 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 2: And I didn't you know, to have another body besides 292 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 2: you was like, oh god. So it was you know, 293 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 2: going to another bed to sort of sleep with the 294 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 2: covers off and the fan on and thegnifting down to 295 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 2: zero and yes, to get some peace that way. So 296 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,880 Speaker 2: all of those things, you know, are going to impact 297 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 2: the sex drive anyway. Let alone the fact that estrogen 298 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 2: and progesterones dropped and you know that lovey dovey feeling 299 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 2: has chemically been reduced as well. 300 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:27,120 Speaker 1: I really think this has been probably one of, if 301 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: not the most challenging sort of periods of my life. 302 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 1: Even then, when you know, we went through five years 303 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: of infertility and treatment and finally getting our daughter that 304 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: that obviously was a difficult time, and when she was three, 305 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 1: I was diagnosed with cancer. 306 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 2: Oh wow. 307 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 1: But I find this is really exhausting because I think 308 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: as a woman in your fifties, I have two elderly 309 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: parents in their eighties, so you're stepping up to support them. 310 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 1: It's like all these outside not pressure is probably isn't 311 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: the right word to describe it, but these other influences 312 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: in your life, and now I'm grappling with not feeling 313 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 1: myself and not being on top of everything. 314 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it was because it's similar thing. 315 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 2: You know, my two parents are in their late eighties, 316 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 2: so dealing with their health issues with the kids, and 317 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 2: then you know, that's that's enough on its own, but yeah, 318 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 2: adds like that whole other extra challenge of trying to 319 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 2: deal with what your body's going through and not really 320 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 2: knowing as well. That's what I found. I'm like, I 321 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 2: don't know, I don't know when it's going to stop. No, 322 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 2: when that's tomorrow. 323 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: They don't know how far. That's really frustrating, Like it's 324 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,880 Speaker 1: not okay. So at the end of the twelve months, 325 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: this it's just like such a great area. Everyone is different, 326 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 1: isn't it Like if you knew that you had a 327 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: finish line, you could cross the days off. 328 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, that's and that's part of the problem in 329 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,119 Speaker 2: the sense of going to you know, and I really 330 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 2: really recommend women to go to their GPS, find a 331 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 2: good GP to A is going to understand you hormonally 332 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 2: and give you some help, or your natural path, whoever 333 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 2: you go to. But that's often the challenge that we're 334 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 2: in as well, because Okay, we're like, oh, well, my 335 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 2: parents are not feeling well. You know, I'm dealing with that. 336 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: It's stressful at work. I've got a teenager. I feel 337 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 2: that great. I'm putting on this weight. It's stress and 338 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 2: we go this way and we carry it and we 339 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 2: carry it until a wha sort of well now I'm 340 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 2: really hot, now I can't sleep. When we need to 341 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 2: know those symptoms early enough to be able to go 342 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 2: and seek help early, so we're already on top of 343 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 2: it or at the very least know about it even 344 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 2: before we even have our first perimenopausal symptoms. So we 345 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:59,880 Speaker 2: go into perimenopause healthier, knowing more about the information, knowing 346 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 2: what we're looking at, what we need to do for 347 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 2: our bodies in order to prepare ourselves in some ways 348 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 2: for what the changes are ahead. And I don't I 349 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 2: think so many women I know I did. I had 350 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 2: no clue. I went into perimenopause very unfit and unhealthy, 351 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 2: and you know, made everything twenty times worse. 352 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: Yes, I think we're all in that same boat. And 353 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,119 Speaker 1: knowledge is power, isn't it. Yeah, you know, which is 354 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,400 Speaker 1: why we need to open the conversation and help one 355 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 1: another as a sisterhood. Mental health is a big thing. 356 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: And anxiety. I know one of my girlfriends is really 357 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: grappling with anxiety and normally a really confident, vivacious woman, 358 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: and it's just crippled her some days. She has some 359 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 1: really bad days. Anxiety is so common, isn't it? In menopause. 360 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 2: That was for me the hardest symptom of all was 361 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 2: my mental health and way. 362 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 3: I'm sorry that took me where I just was absolutely 363 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 3: at a loss and days of not wanting to interact 364 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 3: with anyone to get out of bed, felt like, you know, 365 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:05,640 Speaker 3: my kids and my. 366 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 2: Husband would be better off if they if I wasn't 367 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 2: around anymore, like things that I've never ever, ever had 368 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 2: had experienced in my life. And it was it was 369 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 2: also in the flip side, it was that was one 370 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 2: of the biggest wake up calls to go, you need help. 371 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,640 Speaker 2: You've actually got to really do something about this. You've 372 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 2: never had thoughts like this, So what do you need 373 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 2: to do now for yourself to get yourself through this, 374 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: get yourself out of this and feel better. And that's 375 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 2: where I you can honestly say, I've been grateful for 376 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 2: menopause because it's put me on this road of self 377 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 2: care and self love I have never been on in 378 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 2: my entire life. So that's where it's really been a 379 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,160 Speaker 2: big shift and a big change for me, which I'm 380 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 2: grateful for. 381 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: On the broader sort of term of of treatments and 382 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: helped to get you through that through metopause. What did 383 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: you do? Was it accupuncture or was it patches? 384 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 2: Yeah? Look, I because I had always first and foremost 385 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 2: my for my whole life, I've always on the naturopathic 386 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 2: way and the therapy way. So Cam and I started 387 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 2: doing couple therapy again just to sort of talk about 388 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 2: what was happening in the marriage. But that was our 389 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:33,120 Speaker 2: first thing that really helped. I also had one on 390 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:36,159 Speaker 2: one therapy, so that was sort of helping my mental 391 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:40,359 Speaker 2: health a lot. And I went and saw I actually 392 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 2: did go through two doctors. I saw a GP who 393 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 2: was a hormone specialist, and I saw my naturopath. And 394 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 2: she's someone who had known me for quite a few years, 395 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 2: so she immediately had me on hormone balances. There's stuff 396 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 2: in mental health that's naturopathic as well, but I do antidepressants, 397 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 2: but she had me on this natural pathic stuff that 398 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 2: was really impactful and really helped. She was working with 399 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,439 Speaker 2: my dream or system that was absolutely shot TOHP, so 400 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:15,959 Speaker 2: she was helping impact that. And then I just started 401 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 2: looking at what else can I do for my mental health, 402 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 2: you know, which meant going for little walks, getting extra 403 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 2: hugs and watching funny movies and turning off the news. 404 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 2: I have to turn off the news, and you could 405 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 2: not watch any news that was too talent help you. Yep, no, no, 406 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 2: So it really became for the first time, you know, 407 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 2: like what do I need? What do I need to do? 408 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 2: Not like what do my kids need? Where's my husband need? 409 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 2: What are my parents need? What do I need to 410 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 2: do for myself? First? And then I can see if 411 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 2: I have something left to care for other people. 412 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 1: But right now you're so inspirational. Ellison's seriously helping you proactive, 413 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 1: You've been and positive and turning what is a really 414 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: daunting period your life into so many positives and helping 415 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:05,679 Speaker 1: so many other women. I've got to say, I just 416 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: love your books. It's beside my bed and I will 417 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 1: pick it up and read sections when I'm feeling like 418 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,360 Speaker 1: I need that support. It Really, when I say it's 419 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: a self help book, it really has been. It's been 420 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 1: like a lifeline to me. So thank you so so much. 421 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: I think you're the poster girl of menopause. 422 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 2: Oh, thank you, thank you. I mean just just even 423 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 2: you know, my intention was I thought about fourteen people 424 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 2: would buy my book. No one's going to want to 425 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:37,959 Speaker 2: read this book about menopause. But just hearing you say that, like, 426 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 2: that's everything for me. Like to think that that my 427 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,880 Speaker 2: words helped you is that's like gold in the bank 428 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 2: any day. So thank you for sharing that. 429 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 1: Allison Daddo, author of Queen menopause, finding your majesty in 430 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: the Mayhem, through Allan and Unwin. Come with me to 431 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,920 Speaker 1: episode three, where I acknowledge and bow at the feet 432 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 1: of a true menopause Trailblazer, ABC presenter and editor of 433 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: the University of Melbourne's Research news website, Imagen Crump, who 434 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: was one of the first Ossie women in media to 435 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 1: bravely admit live on national TV she was having a 436 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: hot flush. It's the start of the revolution, sisters, and 437 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: it starts with us.