Davina McCall Opens Up About Her 'Nightmare' Perimenopause Symptoms | Loose Women

Kicking off our ‘Loose Women Menopause Week’, Andrea, Denise, Brenda and Kelle are joined by Davina McCall and menopause specialist, Dr Louise Newson. Davina opens up about her experience of early menopause, how going on the HRT drug saved her life and how she wants to help raise awareness.
From series 24, broadcast on 12/10/20
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[@boyandcatmum]

I am post menopause and I feel way better than I did in perimenopause.

[@nikkiwasher7235]

I’m 48 and I honestly thought I was losing my mind or dying for the past 3 years! The anxiety attacks and panic attacks along with heart palpitations, horrible headaches and migraines, body aches and low libido. It’s been awful! I haven’t wanted to leave my house. I started on HRT two months ago and it’s starting to help!

[@AdelaTR]

How you getting on? 🙏🏼 im on week 4 of patches

[@nikkiwasher7235]

@@AdelaTR I am like a different person! It’s been three months and most symptoms have been way better! Even the anxiety and heart palpitations have been better. I still get some headaches around my period but nothing like they were before. Body aches are pretty much gone. I’m starting to have more energy too! I did another hormone test yesterday so it will be interesting to see the difference between now and three months ago. I know those tests aren’t always accurate but curious if there’s a difference in results.

[@35delois]

I have been the same way I’m in misery

[@rosannaanisi4642]

Me too, just started 😢

[@hasinapatel1233]

nikkiwasher did you go to menopause specialist to prescribe your Hrt.

[@jennieoh8543]

I love Dr. Louise Newson!!! :*) My poor mother was placed in a mental hospital after having me with post-partum depression labeled as schizophrenic and was treated with shock treatments and heavy meds. She was there for 13 years!!!! If she would have been treated properly with hormones, which I believe there was early forms of hrt then she would have been able to have a normal life. She was in a zombie like state in coming out of hospital and unable to take care of herself. She passed at 62 :*( Thankfully my Grandmother and Grandfather helped raise me :*)

[@daniellemccollum5388]

To be a woman is really the scariest thing. Perimenopause has made me feel so alone and I feel so much anxiety and it’s debilitating. I’m so sorry for your mother.

[@jennieoh8543]

@@daniellemccollum5388 Oh thank you so much her life’s path was in the wrong hands that’s for sure.

[@hollyshaunts4081]

she just saved me life. Only the men in my life have been supportive. When I have told people they discredited me. Said I'm older then you... Noone believe me... I'm losing my mind amd I'm 44... waking up in sweats every night. I know it's perimenopause

[@SadPerson-gr6qh]

Its the hormones. I believe you. I had 6 IVF cycles in 2,5 years without estrogen and I lived in an uncontrollable psychosis during it all and done the most crazy things and than got diagnosed with schizophrenia (appaerently drop in estrogen triggers schizophrenia if you have a Disposition) requiring urgent hospitalization and medication which I couldnt because Im pregnant now. Hormones are VERY powerfull things and they can mess us up severely. I am So ashamed and depressed and scared now because of the things I did in hormone induced psychosis and I dont even remember the most. Dont feel bad. You have no control over it.

[@FYPNLP]

I believe you. In the nearly stages of what I now know was peri menopause my blood pressure was 210/120 (yes I know that's bad). I had every scan known to man over a 10 hour period in hospital (shout out to 20 something GP for spotting something was wrong). I asked the BP specialist why this happened he didn't know. Thankfully I am 100 healthy and that fact I had a healthy life style saved my life. It took a further 3 months to have my peri menopause diagnosed. Do your reading, get the right balance of medicine and herbal meds (I'm currently taking ashwaganda for my anxiety and its working like gangbusters) and you will be OK.

[@allylou5151]

It's awful 😞

[@jammyjay917]

No one talks about it.... i never even heard of the perimenopause!! My Mum never talked to me about it, no one tells you... and its more then hot flushes.... and its a shame that most friends are not supportive either, i was left to deal with it myself... thankfully hrt has helped so so much...

[@samanthanoellesmith]

I’m so sorry to hear your friends weren’t supportive. It’s amazing how many people aren’t emotionally mature enough to be supportive when a friend is struggling. Hope you’re doing well now 💕

[@lindajones4849]

To jammyjay: so sorry you went through this without support. I am 69 and I didn't know what perimenopause was either but I did my research and figured it out. Seems like we haven't advanced much in 30 years

[@jammyjay917]

@@samanthanoellesmith thank you very much.. yes I'm getting through it myself...the lack of support has been awful...but I appreciate your reply 💞

[@jammyjay917]

Aw thank you very much Linda...I have opened up to friends and family about it but they don't seem to understand....so I'm dealing with it myself... its sad that I have been there for them but its when I need support, it's not there unfortunately.. but I am getting through it now thankfully because I'm looking after myself...thank you for your reply 💞

[@Cristina-RoxanaCristinaR-mj4gm]

@jammy You are not alone here, you know it.We will get through.

[@LeilaLamb]

At 40, my hands started swelling up at night. This developed to joint pain and inflamed joints, a referral to a rheumatologist and no arthritis. I was to.d it couldn’t be perimenopause, I was too young. So I struggled on for 8 years. Then insanity struck and I became a paranoid, almost schizophrenic mess. At 48, I went on HRT. And I’m a changed woman. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done and I’d recommend it to anyone.

[@Rebecca-ys3cb]

Wow that is really interesting that your hormones caused schizophrenia. You should get that out there to all the mothers that have children suffering .. to force doctors to investigate hormones. They just don’t care .. they make out they do but they don’t and so the people who trust them to do their job and don’t research like we do don’t help them. Never have and they never will.

[@cutenobi]

This needs to be talked about more.

[@kimberlydavis4772]

I literally think I’m going crazy some days! I’m having sweats sometimes five or six times an hour!! I’m completely drenched. Then I’ll be fine. My family thinks I’m crazy’! I can’t take it anymore.

[@candy1971]

im 52 and thought ive been dying!!!!...ive been so scared....and ive thought ive some mental health issues...more than my anxiety and panic disorder that ive had most of my life...ive totally withdrawn from the outside world..hence im acrophobic now..for the past few years!...i feel like im serving time in my jail home ......my gp surgery is not sympathetic at all!!...and demand i get down to the surgery!!!....ive not left my home in like 4 years...find it hard to even take out me bin!!...thankyou for this loose woman and devina x

[@mariamckenna70]

I can so relate to you 🙏 ❤️

[@sbeth82sc]

you need HRT Asap!!

[@heidiperez1387]

I've been dealing with it for 10 years now! Good times!😢 When my son was in fourth grade, he had to write down what he was the most frightened of...he wrote down PMS!! It's amazing that a young man could see this and dr.s wouldn't listen. Grrrr!

[@jennyh8392]

Thank you ladies for having this conversation ❤ I've been angry and crying all day. I've also been experiencing heart palpitations and anxiety. I am thankful I have a wonderful husband whom I wanted to shank for being so great!

[@paulinebate9692]

Still suffering at 74,.. Had a hysterectomy 3 Years ago.. Operation was difficult. My organs were attached to an old cesarean scar. The op took 6 hours instead of 2 hours.. Since then my heath has plummeted and I'm so frightened 😢😢😢

[@tracyp8741]

​@@paulinebate9692❤😊

[@Pixellava]

Menopause is very serious. I just lost a good friend to suicide and in the writings she left behind she talked about gaining weight, withdrawing from everyone, feeling like she would never be intimate again - all menopause symptoms! I don’t think she understood that there was a physiological reason for them. She shot herself in the head, it’s so horrible I can’t even think about it. If you are suffering - see a doctor. Assume that depression is NOT normal and that you need help. If you can’t see a doctor, make yourself exercise…just going for a walk is a great start. Even small amounts of exercise does many beneficial things for counteracting menopause. Contact other people, don’t isolate. Know that this is a medical condition that messes with your head. Also know that some people are not seriously affected so if someone brushes it off, remember that YOU are the normal one.

[@TC-mf1cq]

I'm sorry for your loss and your friend's suffering. It makes me weep thinking about how women are suffering today and how their suffering has been ignored in the past.

[@adventureindoorfitness]

@@TC-mf1cq Thanks so much, you're very kind. I'm struggling with it still. I'm so sad about it.

[@allylou5151]

Sorry about your friend ❤❤❤

[@danyellejorgensen4970]

Unsupported perimenopause and menopause will also put you at risk for ligament and tendon rupture. I tried to get my gym to allow me to teach classes on this and it was taboo (oh, teaching pole-dancing to teenagers was ok, but menopause safety...OH NONONONO). Estrogen, as well as testosterone, is necessary for keeping your connective tissues well lubricated- so, a word of advice from a CPT, be very careful in the gym if you are going through this phase. You will NOT be able to out-exercise this.

[@Tech-Corner2023]

Dear women, according to ayurvedic believes, a woman's golden age is 46!!! They are braver, they are more confident and assertive, post menopouse they will become calmer and grounded if their health is good and balanced, and as they say, a lot of opportunities for women come at that stage.

[@lisafaser6031]

I’m 52 and have made it my mission to talk about perimenopause and menopause to any woman who expresses common symptoms to me. I’ve forged through this on my own research because we don’t talk about this issue. Keep talking ladies, and so will I.👍

[@matildamaher1505]

Same, I work in retail and tell my customers about.

[@dontassumemyfender9866]

I am 39 and my girlfriend is nearly 44. She has been showing symptoms for some time now. As I am her partner I am trying to find advise/tips on how to be supportive. Also, tips on how to remain centred, calm and supportive when she is shouting at me, rejecting me and feeling like she hates me. Any tips and advice would be helpful.

[@CascadeDuSel]

Thank you

[@sambailie4773]

So thankful for Louise and Davina....great education from these ladies.

[@matt_cummins28]

Extremely important video, thank you so much. This does need to be much more widely talked about in society as a whole, perhaps even more so that men understand it. Absolutely fantastic stuff and thank you for coming together to talk about it: it MUST be talked about. I shall be keeping this and watching it a few times; a lot of information crammed into a short video.

[@TheMonkiBrothers]

42 and have rang my doctors today for blood tests . I’ve started to take black coho and St John’s worts for now read good reviews about both

[@helenroscoe1124]

Excellent informative upload the nhs needs better funding and training to support women during this time ❤

[@tonyclack5901]

I have a dear friend of mine who at 46 has gone from someone very close to me, to someone who is distant and experiencing super lows followed by super highs and when we spoke about her mood swings and changing attitude, said it was nothing to do with me, she was just overloaded and suffering from hormones issues, she said it was her and nothing I had done. It is still very difficult to be pushed away and exiled but still behave as if nothing is going on.

[@matildamaher1505]

My friend is going through the same experience.

[@SimplyIntoMyNAILS]

Bear with her, she will reach out to you when she has the strength and clarity to do so. The best thing to do is try not to hold her accountable for your feelings and just carry on as best you can and not make a big deal out of it. Let her know you are there for her and understand that she needs to take time to adjust.

[@tonyclack5901]

@@SimplyIntoMyNAILS Thank you for your kind words, I have done exactly as you have suggested, always supportive, never criticising, telling her we can work through this but unfortunately we have had to part because her state of mind has turn to abuse against me and I am nobody's punch bag as I can see it escalating.

[@iu5429]

You should thank God you are not in her shoes

[@tonyclack5901]

@@iu5429 so it does not matter the trauma I am going through,through no fault of my own?

[@CLGlitter76]

I'm 47 and suffering really bad. I'm having severe bladder problems, weight gain, sleep issues etc...I tried bringing this up to my doctor when I finally got an appointment to do with my high blood pressure and he didn't acknowledge it 😢

[@allylou5151]

Oh I am too 🖐️it's just awful 😞

[@shoosh4602]

I'm so glad I'm going through menopause- I'm embracing it - taking the good with tbe bad -no more periods - freedom - leave the baby making to the young'ns. I'm happy - just go with the flow ladies - everything will settle down sooner rather than later.

[@GuidedByAngels]

🥰

[@annedm684]

Glad I've come across someone else like myself. Sick of listening to the HRT brigade

[@darthmaul408]

What a brilliant segment. It was so eye opening. After having our third child, I suspected my wife was depressed as she had low mood and energy levels, which was very different to how she was previously. She sent me this video and said this is how she feels. I think we have answers to questions now.

[@KellykellzGarrett]

Menopause is making me so lazy. I barely shower 3 times a month I don't clean my apt. Anymore. I used to be a beat freak. I'm in pain everyday. Everything hurts. And the mood swings ugggg I have diabetes and all that other stuff not to mention no thyroid. I'm turning mean.

[@tanyaaustin4123]

And I thought I was all alone in the not wanting to shower or clean. I know I have a lot of things to do but no energy to do them. My cycles are crazy all of a sudden. Always been normal until recently when I started skipping for a month or two, then when I do get it, it goes on for weeks or once 3 months. Just finished a 3 week cycle yesterday. Thanking God for the end of that, but now it's the lightheaded thing going on. This perimenopause stuff is horrible, and I've been dealing with it since I was 44, and I'm now 50. Praying for sweet relief or at least my hormones to hurry up and balance out to their new normal asap. My heart goes out to every woman dealing with perimenopause/menopause.

[@BixbyLBC]

You're not alone. My energy level is zapped. I literally have to will myself to do almost everything. I'd honestly stay in bed all day watching movies if I could. I'm a stay at home mom so I'm always overwhelmed with cleaning, laundry, cooking and running errands. Sometimes I don't know how I'm getting it all done. I also have fibromyalgia and lipedema. Now I'm also on the perimenopause train and it's getting harder 😐

[@allylou5151]

​@@tanyaaustin4123me too 😢

[@tuneintotarot]

Thank you

[@aeolia80]

I'm 43 and just started having the heavy irregular periods (nothing abnormal detected), still dealing with it currently and am on treatment (hormonal with low dose progestin) that hopefully works so I won't need surgery, but the initial start of this treatment has been a bit hellish and it's not completely finished yet. I started having the mental symptoms when I was about 39, I thought at first I was going mad or thinking I had ADHD, but now with the period problems I'm at least 80% sure that even that was peri-menopause. Thing is I have no friends my age that are dealing with it and when I talk to older friends they say their situation was much different. My mom has said that when I started really telling her about the mental and physical things going on she said it sounds a lot like what her mom went through, my grandmother didnt go on HRT because at the time they said there were too many negative side effects, and maybe there were, it was the 1960-70s, but my mom said she ended up needing an ablation because there were no other treatments to deal with her peri-menopause issues, and because she didn't do HRT after menopause she ended up with really bad osteoporosis.

[@mariedawn-]

I have been watching this stuff and only just the past week I realise this is me! Why is it so difficult to identify perimenopause for ourselves?! 😮

[@damarismeti3796]

Which HRT are you taking?

[@Willowy13]

I am 50 and I still have periods. Not many symptoms, save hair thinning/falling and some forgetfullness. However, I supplement with different things not related to perimenopause and recently started a carnivore diet, which has helped a lot.

[@user-bd4bo4tb8u]

She's so beautiful!

[@karensmith3997]

Menopause is being spoke about but not in the right way it has nearly taken my life, we are all different and HRT is estogen and that is one hormone I don’t need increasing because it affects my mental health.where is the help for the women who are at the severe end which isn’t spoke about

[@johannalean9076]

40 with terrible aniexty palpations and hot flashes its awful 😢

[@tanyaaustin4123]

You are not alone in this. Stay strong

[@AlmaMariaRinasz]

Leave it to the Brits to charge the way on talking about this when in the US we are just catching on 😊

[@you34324]

Iam 52 I have can't sleep properly I have 5 hours. Hot flush night sweats my head feet it was going on fire but it's not my menopuse started wen I was 48 .

[@jeanetteholland2457]

I have a question about menopause symptoms, for a year now I’ve had a light headedness, I can only explain it as a spaced out feeling. It’s taking it’s toll on me now I’ve asked the doctor about it and he’s said it’s just the menopause but yet I’m supposedly out of the menopause now so post menopause!! I’m desperate to now find out what’s wrong with me and to see it it is the actual menopause or is it something else sinister 😞 I’m begging of you to help me put my mind at peace ♥️

[@Cristina-RoxanaCristinaR-mj4gm]

It can be anxiety, if i understood correctly what you said.(Feeling like you are floating in space?)

[@alyssamiller9329]

I feel this everyday in perimenopause right now.. it's horrible. Almost like nothing is real. Just a complete fog I live in

[@ZsuzsaKarolySmith]

Maybe it’s depersonalisation you’re talking about - a well known psychological phenomenon brought on by anxiety - there’s nothing wrong with you - it will pass eventually.

[@carolwright9336]

Im also having that kind of headache but now i dont take it on anymore

[@justjules2216]

What is the new hrt called or is it what’s out now for everyone who goes on it?

[@gilliandowney5225]

Listen to Dr mary haver she explains everything. Look up body identical hrt it's made from yams

[@pepryan2183]

No comments?! Incredible. Proves what they are saying.

[@electropop1728]

Poision patchs try magnisium d3 and colligen

[@kelljA]

Time the medical industry stop gaslighting women and stopped the scare campaign on using HRt and giving women access to Testoterone... I'm 49 and I'm on HRT gel and tabs and my symptoms improved (anxiety, joint aches) but my body still feels like it has chronic fatigue.. muscle weakness, low energy (and as someone who was very active this is debilitating).. so I'm starting Testoterone cream in a few days.... hoping that the missing piece in the Hormone Dearth puzzle. Can't "balance" hormones when your body stops making them... Loss of Hormones is not unlike going through a detox of sorts.. your body has had MANY years relying onhormines to function and then you take them away and your body is thrown into trying to rely without them... so her saying ex-addict makes sense.... but in this case we NEED those hormones to function,.

[@chocolatesugar4434]

💕💕

[@lizwilson9727]

What’s the hrt she refers to? Brand name etc?

[@joannemckenzie8808]

I'm 45, I was told, until my periods stop. I'm not entitled to get😞

[@shannonhamill7165]

Would birth control when you're going through the beginning of menopause?

[@Quackerz2023]

My mam has been falsely accusing my dad of cheating as of recently. Its getting really bad. She thinks she sees my dad look at certain houses in a certain way, has social media apps etc (my parents are both not on social media and never have been) They argue so much and i can see its breaking my dads heart aswel as my mams. We all think its menopause, including my mother. Idk i hope someone might read this who could have a solution as ive tried everything. Also, My mam went to the doctors and nothing more came of it, but i hear menopause is commonly misdiagnosed. Please help 🙏

[@sambailie4773]

Take her to the GP and ask about hrt x

[@sushimaster652]

Perhaps she should have her hormonal levels checked? I don't mean to frighten you, but if she is acting a bit delusional, perhaps alzheimers/dementia is something that doctors should also rule out.

[@natalieohlsson7777]

It’s sexist misogynistic conditioning to not talk about it. We absolutely need to talk about it and have solutions!

[@Kellenlmt]

Why isn’t HRT covered by insurance????

[@crankledloner3383]

Uk

[@lrosmond]

It is. Just not pellets because they aren’t FDA approved. Oral and transdermal HRT are.

[@tanyaaustin4123]

I'm in the U.S and my insurance doesn't cover it but I can get free pills or patches on our military instalation

[@kimmoore2681]

I was reading up on bio identical hrt, I believe this is the type of hrt the ladies are talking about.. Unfortunately if there'sa history of blood clots, strokes or cardiovascular disease in your family you would not be suitable candidate.

[@user-zd3kj4cu6w]

I’m 40 I have hot flashes and mood swings!!

[@MLM111]

Hrt causes lots of problems

[@victoriakennedy4811]

they don't talk about the fact that men go through a type of maleopause too - they loose their erection and other problems too

[@TheConspiredOne]

I amongst most men deal with dating being a hard thing to do....cheating red flags all of that jazz....I find it humbling to know that menopause is a certain very early thing. It is the great karma of the world to see all the girls that rejected you is going through this right now hahahahahaha. They age like milk and expire way before we do. But they will never get that until it happens. That is the best part of all. I mean look at these skeletons.

[@TC-mf1cq]

Do you feel that way about your mother or other female loved ones too?

[@TheConspiredOne]

@@TC-mf1cq I have no more female loved ones. so yeah.

[@jacquelinewatt1241]

Is big pharma paying her to promote this?

[@sambailie4773]

I'm not being paid and I'd tell every woman to get on HRT...I love it x

[@KellykellzGarrett]

All this one woman got out of this was so you get a point belly. Well I'll take that if you get rid of all the other symptoms. Dang lady my marriage is getting rocky but please don't give me a poofy body. Please don't talk for the rest of the show!

[@chaoswitch1974]

The negatives of HRT is a higher risk of breast cancer.

[@SzazaM077]

Not if you take patches and before your 50's...

[@TB-dz2iv]

Can we talk about vaginal changes please. Im 45 and like over night it had all changed and yet no onecwill say anything at all. I feel alone.

[@sushimaster652]

You're not alone. I'm dealing with A LOT of dryness. Very uncomfortable.

[@micheller9941]

Think thats been debunked now

[@chaoswitch1974]

@@micheller9941 Seems to depend what country you're in. Debunked by the ACA, but Cancer Research UK still sees a correlation. It's a choose your own story life!

[@privacymatters4714]

"The menopause" it's menopause brits

[@kermitthefrog3632]

You know what’s worse than menopause…. ?Cancer which is what you’ll get with hrt.

[@jennieoh8543]

Please go to Dr. Louise Newsons website and her You Tube channel. The body identical estrogen available now is exactly the same molecular structure that we made pre-menopause. If it caused cancer we all would have it. It is synthesized from wild yams. That is both progesterone and estradiol.

[@SarahWells777]

Agreed!..

[@micheller9941]

That’s been debunked

[@tinygold772]

Debunked - ladies do your own research - benefits of HRT far outweigh risks

[@debbietaylor20]

Go educate yourself , do research, what a terrible thing to say . I bet you haven't been through it 🤬😠😡