Doret (54) on joint pain, mood swings, and the power of supplements

Doret (54) from North Holland leads an active family life with her husband, four children, and two dogs. She enjoys cooking and spending time with others. When her body began to change, it took her a while to recognise the extent to which menopause was impacting her daily happiness. By sharing her story, she hopes to inspire other women to take charge of their own wellbeing – even if they choose not to use hormones.

I looked everything up online – from hot flushes to supplements. There really is a lot of information available.- Doret (aged 54)

Hot flushes, mood swings, and joint pain: it suddenly hit me

Doret experienced her first significant 'menopause moment' at the age of 51. "It began with hot flushes and irregular periods. I thought: could this be it? Because, well, you don't really know for certain – it’s not as though you receive a clear signal."

Although the hot flushes were familiar to her and still manageable, other symptoms emerged that affected her more profoundly. "I began experiencing increasing pain in my joints. My hips, my wrists... everything seemed to become stiffer."

At the same time, she noticed a change in her mood. “Looking back, I can now clearly see how much of an impact it had at home. I experienced more mood swings, became more short-tempered, and didn’t always feel like myself. At times, I withdrew or reacted differently to how I wanted to – it felt as though I had lost a part of myself.”

Most of my discomfort now stems from my joints. It truly gets in the way – quite literally.

From complaints to knowledge: a journey from home

Doret decided not to wait. “I’m really a bit of a home doctor – Google is my best friend,” she says, laughing. “I immediately started looking for information. What happens to your body during menopause? And most importantly: what can you do about it yourself?”

She began with a broad approach, seeking general knowledge about menopause. However, she quickly shifted to more specific searches, such as "joint pain menopause" or "natural remedies for mood swings." Her preference leaned towards supplements. "Hormones are not for me. I believe in the power of nature and nutrition," she stated.

Based on what she read online, she decided to begin taking supplements. Turmeric for inflammation, magnesium for muscles, ginger extract, vitamin C with rosehip, green-lipped mussel, boswellia, and red clover. “I use a variety of supplements, and I genuinely feel better because of them. It’s my way of taking control of my own health.”

I worked everything out on my own. There is so much that is possible – you just need to have the courage to see it.

Living with change: cooking, reading, and small victories

For Doret, menopause does not mean putting her life on hold. “I love cooking. It’s my way to unwind. However, when my knees play up or my energy is drained, I notice that I approach cooking differently. In those moments, Then I tend to opt for something simple more quickly, even though I truly enjoy cooking more elaborate meals.”

Still, she tries to make space for the things that energise her. “I keep reading, learning, and adjusting supplements. It gives me the sense that I can take action. And I speak about it openly—with friends, with my husband. It helps not to keep it all bottled up.”

You don’t simply have to put up with it

Doret is now 54. Her menstruation has completely ceased, and although menopause is not yet complete, she feels more assured in her decisions. “I now know what works for me. It doesn’t entirely eliminate my symptoms, but I notice significant relief. And that brings peace of mind.”

Her message to other women is clear: "Do not wait until it becomes too overwhelming. Search, read, try things out. Listen to your body – it tells you more than you might think."

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