In this piece, I’m telling you how adding 40+ to your daily regime really feels (for me anyway)!
I was perimenopausal
At the time of writing, I was in my late 40s and just beginning my menopause journey. And I’d been taking 40+ daily for over two years. In the beginning I mainly took it to help me sleep and, for me, 40+ started working in two days. Subsequently, I went from being unable to go to sleep to falling asleep within minutes in just two days.
Therefore, I’d wake up feeling fresh. At the time I was training for crazy swimming, running and cycling events. So I was able to train, run my business and look after my young family.
Photo: My family – three boys and hubby out fishing on a lovely South Taranaki (New Zealand) day.
Bumps on the road
After a year of taking 40+, I had a couple of weeks where I didn’t sleep as well. However, I quickly came right again. Two years later the same thing happened. But after a week or two I settled down and slept well again. The common denominator in both instances was the middle of summer.
After 2.5 years, in the middle of May 2017, I started experiencing night sweats. My temperature regulation was all over the place during the day – I guess it’s what is often called hot flushes. This lasted two to three weeks.
During this time I continued taking 40+ and these experiences passed as well. I came back to normal again.
Actually, I quite enjoyed this time, as it cemented for me that I’m at this life stage. It got me thinking about an article my colleague Leigh wrote on the Gift of Menopause.
Expectations
In my role at MenoMe®, I talk to a lot of women about their menopause journey and our product.
From those conversations, I suspect some women may be expecting 40+ to ‘cure’ their menopause or flat line their signs.
But firstly, let’s remember that menopause can’t be cured because it’s not a disease. In fact, it’s a natural life stage all women go through. And secondly, our hormones have a cyclical nature of peaks and troughs.
Results
I’ve noticed that for some women who are taking 40+ the results can be quite profound and immediate.
And for others, the effects are more subtle – they may not have had too much trouble in the first place.
Indeed, they report feeling better overall and experiencing a sense of calmness. One customer emailed me recently after her latest order saying:
“I was just thinking how pleased I am to have these little things (40+) in my life…!! Lol”.
Some women experience wonderful results for the first three to six months and then write to us saying they’re getting hot flushes again.
This is an example (like my own experience), of hormones fluctuating. I’ve discovered that continued use of 40+ will see things settle down again.
Other women don’t see results until they’ve been taking 40+ for two to three months. But for those who persevere, the results are worth it.
Apart from getting great sleep, no night sweats and no hot flushes – I realised the other day how great I’m feeling. I’m happy, energetic, and healthy. And loving life!
My message
If you’re trying 40+, give it at least three months to reap the rewards.
And if you’ve been taking it for a while, and you feel menopause effects come back, keep calm – it’s just a fluctuation. As such, it’s temporary. Keep taking those little babies, they will bring you back to hormonal balance.
By the way, in case you’re wondering, 40+ has no estrogen in it. What does it contain and how does it work? I’ll let you read all about that here.
Part 2: my journey through surgery
Update: I’ve stopped taking 40+
I always said I’d never stop taking 40+ and that’s true. Unless something better came along that is.
And then we brought out 55+. It contains the same hormone-balancing effects of EstroG-100™. But it also offers the added benefits of magnesium, vitamin D3 and Enzogenol® pine bark extract.
I’ll bring you an update on that soon!
Cheers from this happy, healthy corner 😊