With over 30 years in healthcare under my belt, I thought I was so ready for menopause. I had the supplements, the knowledge, the smug sense of “I’ve got this.” Then menopause hit me like a freight train, no warning, no brakes, and definitely no seatbelt.

Suddenly, I was living in a fog so thick I’d forget what I was saying mid-sentence. I once walked into a room, stood there confidently… and had no clue why. And don’t even get me started on the UTIs. I was basically on a first-name basis with the pharmacist.

At one point, it genuinely felt like my life had been hijacked by some rogue hormone gang. I didn’t recognise myself, and worse, I didn’t know how to get her back.

It took nearly two years of stumbling, googling at 2am, and questioning my sanity before I finally started to feel human again (well, a new kind of human). And here’s the kicker, no one talks about this! It’s like there’s a secret menopause club, but no one hands you the rulebook.

Not in my house. We talk about everything. My daughters could probably write a dissertation on hot flashes by now. I believe in preparing the next generation with facts, laughs, and absolutely zero shame.

The truth is, I built this guide from the chaos and frustration I waded through. It started as a gift for my girls a way to hand them the torch without letting them burn. Then I realised: there are millions of women like me, spinning in circles, wishing someone had just told them what to expect (preferably with fewer side effects than Google). I mean its all very well talking about it. Great, but I wanted solutions, real ones. I thought I might as well put my experience and skills to use.

So, here it is. My messy, honest, slightly sweary labor of love. It’s what I wish I’d had when I needed it most. May it help you feel less alone, more empowered and maybe even laugh while crying over nothing at all.

I use two of these tools myself every day. And, have to say if ‘PeriPal’ was a man I am seriously in love with it! 

Thankyou so much for reading this. F*** menopause.  If we’re going through this, we might as well do it together.

Carole x