“Menopause has been difficult for me. I now bleed so heavily and so suddenly that it’s impossible to be prepared. One time I was stuck alone on reception with a big queue of people in front of me and the cash register, so I couldn’t leave. I could feel myself flooding and knew I was leaking on the chair but had to sit there for a full three hours, glued to the seat until someone came down from upstairs and let me take a break. The pale blue chair was horribly stained and I was so embarrassed. When I told my best friend she just said ‘I hope they threw away the chair’ which made me feel dirty, and worse than ever. Now when I’m on reception I have to sit on a towel, and I can see people looking at me funny.

Meanwhile I have mouth ulcers that make it painful to eat, I’m constantly close to tears, and I’m so embarrassed this is happening to me. Apparently there’s a global shortage of HRT at the moment, which is why my GP won’t prescribe me any, and its difficult to go back and ask again because he’s my next door neighbour and I’m friends with his wife. I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining, but I’m really struggling to cope at the moment.”

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