‘There’s freedom in a new life stage’
Queen of daytime TV Lorraine Kelly, 61, says we should all be more open about “the change” and stresses that a little bit of wee or weight gain don’t matter
What were your first symptoms of menopause? I didn’t have hot sweats but from my late forties I had sleepless nights and was getting lower in mood. I was tired, easily annoyed. I had crippling anxiety. I didn’t recognise myself. My husband Steve eventually said, “You need help.” So I listed my symptoms to Dr Hilary Jones at work, who diagnosed menopause.
How did that feel?
I wasn’t prepared for it. No one talked about it. My mum, now
80, never spoke about it. It was hidden and shameful. Thankfully, we’re changing that now. We’ve got to talk to our daughters – and our sons and husbands – as it affects everyone. Some women feel sad about “closing the chapter” on childbearing years. I was lucky to have my daughter Rosie [now 27]. We wanted more children but it didn’t work out. So I didn’t feel that loss of fertility so strongly. I tried to see it positively – it’s natural to enter another stage of life. There’s freedom in that.
What has worked for you?
HRT is brilliant. I put a patch on my bum twice a week. Within two weeks of starting it, I felt better. Steve said, “I’ve got you back again.” I was lucky. Many women are misdiagnosed and packed off with antidepressants.
Were you worried about any longer-term health risks?
After talking to doctors I felt like the benefits outweighed the small risks. You have to take control of your body and make informed decisions. I decided HRT would stop me from feeling so bad and offer some protection against heart disease and osteoporosis.
People say their sex drive drops off after menopause…
That doesn’t necessarily have to happen and you shouldn’t
accept that it will. For me, HRT helped everything toddle along nicely in that department. Even if you decide against HRT, there are alternative remedies. You lose your waist as you get older, but HRT helped with this. During lockdown I ate too much and
I’ve gone up a dress size. But I’m not beating myself up over a few pounds. I was never hired for my looks, but I feel I’ve grown into them. Back in the 80s and 90s I looked a right shocker!
Can “leakage” become a problem at this time of life?
Luckily, it didn’t happen to me. But it could happen to any one of us so, for goodness sake, what’s a bit of wee? You pop an Always Discreet in your pants and you’re fine. It shouldn’t be something we’re embarrassed about.
You’ve been married to Steve for almost 30 years. What’s your secret?
We don’t take each other for granted. We go out independently as well as together, we give each other space. We don’t fight much but as Mum always says, “Don’t go to bed on an argument.”
For our 30th anniversary we’re hoping to go on an adventure, somewhere like Mongolia or Greenland. We’re not “showbiz” types, so instead of attending the fancy Bond premiere, we went to a small screening so we could wear tracksuits and drink coffee.
MENOPAUSE AWARENESS
MONTH OCTOBER