Sybille (age 47): “Listening to my body has made a huge difference”

Menopause affects different women in different ways. However, many women share common insecurities and have the similar issues and questions. Last year, 47-year-old Sybille noticed that her body was entering a new phase. With an open mind and closely attuned to her body's needs, she embarked on a journey to find solutions for her menopause issues. She hopes her story will help break the taboo surrounding menopause and improve other women's health and well-being. Sybille follows SeeMe-nopause on social media for real-time support and recognition.

A hectic lifestyle and sudden changes

Sybille is 47 years old and works at a dry cleaners. She lives with her partner, has a 26-year-old daughter who lives on her own and a 23-year-old son who is still at home, but spends most of his time at his girlfriend’s. In her spare time, she enjoys being active and spending quality time with her daughter, her daughter-in-law and her friends.The changes to her periods have made this more difficult. “I never know when my periods will come so I always need to be prepared,” she says. “Doing something last-minute, like going on trips or hiking, is not as easy as it used to be.”

A year ago, Sybille noticed a change in her usual menstrual cycle. “My periods used to be like clockwork, but things aren't as consistent as they once were,” she continues. “I also started having symptoms like breast tenderness and heavy bleeding, and recently I've been getting extreme cramps during the first two days of my periods. My periods are shorter than they used to be, but they are much more intense.”

What is your body telling you?

Sybille has always been attuned to her body, so she picked up on the signs right away. “I had bad cramps, my periods were heavier and sometimes I felt like I was about to faint. I also struggled with crippling headaches and sleepless nights,” she says. “It was starting to affect my performance at work as well as my personal life. My periods were irregular to the point of being unpredictable, so I always had to have pads and tampons on me just in case. I have always been a good sleeper but I was starting to notice more and more that I was waking during the night or very early in the morning.”

The moment Sybille realised things had to change was when she found herself clutching the arms of the sofa, desperately trying not to pass out. This and her chronic sleep issues were her rock bottom moments.

I felt so lightheaded that I thought I was going to faint.

Searching for answers

Sybille started looking for information. “I read various books on perimenopause and menopause, and the Internet and social media were also great resources,” she says. “I started using a supplement with herbs, vitamins and minerals like zinc, Vitamin D3 and sage, and I take a painkiller for my headaches or cramps.”

Breaking the taboo

Menopause is not a taboo subject for Sybille. “I'm very open about my experiences and feel no shame in openly discussing menopause. Work has been very understanding, and so have my friends and family,” she continues. However, she is aware of the fact that there are also women whose experience is less positive. 

Menopause has only just begun

For Sybille, menopause has only just begun so it’s too early to be looking back. “I think I may be on the brink of perimenopause,” she says. “I welcome all tips and tricks, whether it’s books, podcasts, herbal remedies or medication. Do you know of any steps I can take to make menopause a smoother ride? Let me know!”

Even though Sybille is still trying to find out what works for her, she does have a tip for other women: “Listen to your body and be open about your experiences with menopause. It can help the people around you to empathise and understand what you're going through.”

Tips and advice