Life with the menopause
Fabulous five celebrate middle age with calendar
The Macmillan calendar was the brainchild of Emma Skeates, 51, who says HRT works for her – as does humour and positivity.
Emma had her womb removed at 43 and went straight into menopause. She started suffering from anxiety and describes HRT as her saving grace.
Emma refuses to be miserable and runs a Facebook page called Menopausal Mayhem Mothers to share funny stories. She got the idea for the calendar after friend Lucy (bottom) posted a shot of herself in an old-fashioned bathing suit as an “alternative” Love Island entrant. Emma said: “We can sit and cry or have a giggle about it all.”
The mum of three said: “I was very achy and bleeding a lot. The doctor said my oestrogen levels had really dropped off but I didn’t have
Gardener Lucy started symptoms around the same time she lost her partner of 19 years, John, who died of kidney cancer in 2016.
The couple wed nine days before he passed away. It was her story that inspired pal Emma to put the charity major symptoms. I exercise a lot, working out three times a week and have a personal trainer – and I also eat really well.
“I have porridge for breakfast and cous cous or feta salad for lunch and maybe salmon with spinach and new potatoes for tea.
“I’ve kept the symptoms at bay – but I might just have fortunate genes.” calendar together. Mum-of-one Lucy said: “I have hot flushes, can’t sleep, a poor memory and anxiety. I take 15 drops of CBD oil in water or juice every day. I’ve managed to avoid HRT so far.
“I’m fed up with the idea that women think they have to be ultra slim and gorgeous and should be invisible when we hit 50. I’ve even taken up burlesque dancing.”