My Remedies for Menopause Brain Fog

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A few year's ago (I was around 45 years old) I was getting seriously worried that my new inability to get through a sentence would completely derail my career development. Now, it happens rarely, lasts less time, and is easily navigated. 

So what's helped me?

Recent huge improvements in awareness of menopause and it's symptoms means that many more women are not just watching out for the traditional hot flushes.  For me, reading Davina McCall's Menopausing, and watching her documentaries on the subject were hugely eye-opening.  No-one had every warned me about 'any' of this stuff!  I became more acutely aware of  symptoms, one of which is generally called 'brain fog'.  

For me, it manifests less of a fog, and more of a void.  I lead a large team at work, and need to train others, lead others, and essentially talk a lot.  I had experienced occurrences of not being able to remember someone's name before, something that felt really normal.  But suddenly, I'd get half way through a sentence and need to refer to a 'table' for example, but, even though I was looking at the table I was talking about, my brain wouldn't give me the word 'table'.  It was like there was a sudden void in my thinking.  A pothole in the road of my thoughts, that the word simply fell through.  And I couldn't get it back fast enough for it to not be noticeable.  Not least because of the look of panic on my face!  Needless to say it was scary. 

This happened a few times, and I didn't, of course, really know whether it was menopause or something else.  I'd been on the pill for many years, and I don't have periods as a result, so I couldn't tell if my periods were altering.  I'd heard about brain fog, and wasn't sure if this is what this was. I had no other menopause symptoms.

So I went to see the doctor, got lucky with a fabulous locum who didn't appear remotely bothered about the usual 10 minute 'slot' you're supposed to keep your consultations to.  She asked me lots of questions, immediately did a base memory test, calmed my fears and suggested a few diet changes, and provided information and options for hormone replacement therapy if that was a route I wanted to go down.  

Now that my fears were calmed, I went away, did some reading, and started taking a specific multivitamin and botanical every day.  (various brands do them.  I've used Seven Seas and Boots own brand.. both as good)  I also started drinking Green tea. 

Very quickly I saw improvement.  But it was still happening a lot, and, after more research, I opted to start Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).  I've been using Estrogen gel every day for around 3 years, combined with the Mirena Coil, and I still take the multivitamins and botanicals. I drink green tea as a preference now, and find Soya milk additionally helps.  

All of these things combined, brought me back to my old self.  And it's definitely not just the HRT on it's own.  If I don't take the tablets, my kids notice... as I'm not quite as 'fast' in my thinking. 

For me, I'm convinced that the green tea and the botanicals tablet specifically are making a huge difference.  It's to do with their ingredients.  They have within them; Flaxseed lignans, green tea and soya beans, which (and I can't pretend to understand the science) appear to help manage estrogen levels in the body and/or mimic the effect of estrogen.  Either way, my brain works better with them, than without.  

You're groan at the next bit... Exercise helps massively.  It shouldn't be a surprise, but when I've not exercised for a few weeks (when I was injured, or ill), then the symptoms slowly worsen.  Not nearly as bad as they were before I started HRT, but they definitely creep back a little.

So my tips are:

• Green Tea  (There are so many flavours to try.  Find a couple and swop out your coffee.  I tend to have Mint Green Tea with breakfast, and one with Lemon and Ginger after my main meal as that also helps me feel less bloated)
• Soya milk (Great with cereal.  Not so good in a traditional cuppa - but you're on green tea now, so it doesn't matter!)
• Exercise (Don't try and pretend it doesn't make a difference to all kinds of health issues.  This is no exception!  Get moving.)
• Multivitamins and botanicals designed for Menopause.  In my experience very effective.
• HRT where appropriate.  See your doctor to discuss options and what's right for you.  This isn't right for everyone. 

How have you experienced menopause so far?  Going through it yourself?  Have friends or family that are?  What's helping? Any other advice?