TEDx Talks - Atropelada pela menopausa: do caos ao autoconhecimento | Andrea Zamorano | TEDxLisboaSalon
The speaker recounts her unexpected journey through menopause, initially mistaking her symptoms for other issues due to a lack of awareness and societal misconceptions. She describes experiencing symptoms like sleep disturbances, irritability, and memory lapses, which were initially dismissed by medical professionals as stress-related. It wasn't until she experienced irregular menstrual cycles and consulted a gynecologist that she was diagnosed with menopause. Despite expecting hormone replacement therapy, she received little guidance, leading to emotional distress and further health issues like anxiety and weight gain. The speaker emphasizes the societal taboo around menopause, noting that women are often unprepared for it compared to other life stages like puberty and pregnancy. She argues that menopause is not a disease and should not be treated as such, highlighting the need for women to share information and support each other to navigate this life stage more comfortably.
Key Points:
- Menopause symptoms can be mistaken for stress or aging, leading to misdiagnosis.
- Medical professionals often lack awareness of menopause symptoms, resulting in inadequate treatment.
- Menopause affects multiple body systems, not just reproductive organs.
- Societal taboos and lack of information leave women unprepared for menopause.
- Sharing knowledge and experiences can help women manage menopause better.
Details:
1. 🚚 Personal Metaphor of a Life-Changing Event
- Approximately 10 years ago, the speaker experienced a life-changing event metaphorically described as being hit by an out-of-control truck, symbolizing a significant and unexpected personal impact.
- The metaphor indicates that the event was sudden and unforeseen, causing a profound realization of physical and emotional consequences.
- The speaker emphasizes the lasting impact of the event, suggesting that it led to a reevaluation of personal priorities and life direction.
- This metaphorical truck incident serves as a pivotal moment, prompting changes in lifestyle and mindset, reflecting the deep and lasting changes that followed.
2. 🧩 Early Symptoms and Denial
- At age 46, the speaker experienced early menopause symptoms like difficulty sleeping, night sweats, and increasing irritability, which she initially denied were related to menopause.
- The speaker associated menopause with an older age, around 55, and thus did not recognize her symptoms as menopausal despite their prevalence.
- She managed multiple businesses and a complex family life, contributing to her stress and possibly exacerbating her symptoms.
- Despite reducing business commitments, she attempted to balance new professional writing activities with personal and family responsibilities, adding to her stress levels.
3. 🧠 Memory Issues and Misunderstandings
- The individual experienced memory lapses, such as forgetting simple words, which caused significant anxiety, especially given her aspirations of becoming a writer. She felt these issues were overlooked by medical professionals who attributed them to fatigue and a busy schedule, rather than considering 'Brainfog'.
- Despite not experiencing typical menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, which are often used to stigmatize women, her concerns about memory issues were dismissed or misunderstood. This highlights a gap in understanding and addressing non-traditional symptoms in women.
4. 👩⚕️ Doctor's Diagnosis and Emotional Response
- Initially, the individual did not experience typical menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, leading to disbelief about entering menopause. However, menstrual cycles became irregular, characterized by episodes of heavy and intense flows followed by months without menstruation, indicating underlying changes.
- Despite not feeling a personal connection to the gynecologist, the individual sought a professional opinion due to irregularities. The gynecologist diagnosed menopause definitively, bypassing the stages of pre-menopause or perimenopause. This diagnosis was delivered in a manner perceived as absolute, impacting the individual emotionally.
- The definitive nature of the diagnosis, perceived as a 'sentence,' led to a significant emotional response. The individual's journey through disbelief, diagnosis, and the emotional aftermath highlights the unexpected psychological impact of entering menopause without prior symptoms.
5. 💊 Treatment Decisions and Persistent Symptoms
- A patient anticipated receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause-related symptoms, yet no treatment was initially prescribed, leading to a year of untreated symptoms.
- Upon reaching a year without menstruation, the patient was informed she was post-menopausal, causing emotional distress due to a lack of treatment and support.
- The patient's persistent symptoms, including sleep disturbances, irritability, and brain fog, were not recognized by her family doctor as menopause-related.
- Instead of prescribing estrogen, the doctor chose Prozac, an antidepressant, which significantly improved the patient's mood and overall well-being, highlighting a treatment decision that deviated from traditional hormone therapy.
6. 🔄 Ongoing Challenges and Lifestyle Changes
- Menopause symptoms were mistakenly thought to be isolated to specific areas like the ovaries, but they affect multiple systems, including skin and eyes, due to estrogen deficiency.
- The individual only recognized the connection to menopause after experiencing symptoms like vaginal dryness, highlighting a gap in understanding that menopause impacts various bodily systems simultaneously.
- Medical practice often compartmentalizes the body, leading to a fragmented approach to conditions like menopause, which requires a more integrated understanding and treatment strategy.
- Personal life changes, such as starting a business and handling family events, led to neglecting self-care, worsening menopause symptoms, and underscoring the need for balancing personal well-being with lifestyle demands.
7. 🚺 Societal Perceptions and Stigma
- The individual experienced significant anxiety leading to a compulsive eating disorder and a weight gain of 45 kg, of which 20 kg have been lost since August.
- There is a profound lack of information about menopause, unlike puberty and pregnancy where more information is available.
- Historically, society has valued women primarily for their reproductive capabilities, diminishing the perceived value of women post-menopause.
- The societal and medical systems are not structured to adequately support women experiencing menopause, and this issue is prevalent in Western societies.
- There is a need for women to actively seek and share information about menopause to find solutions and support.
8. 🔍 The Need for Awareness and Education
- Menopause carries additional stigmas beyond sexism and ageism, including perceptions of women as 'hysterical' or 'out of control' due to neuroendocrine transitions.
- The female biological system undergoes significant changes during menopause, with connections between the uterus and brain affecting various body systems.
- All women with or who have had a uterus will experience menopause, but increased knowledge and sharing of information can significantly ease this transition.
- Educational efforts should focus on dispelling myths and providing accurate information on the biological changes during menopause.
- Strategies for increasing awareness include community workshops, support groups, and educational campaigns targeting both men and women.