Endometriosis & Surgical Menopause Interview with Victoria Hardy
It is important to remember that it is not just women of a “certain age” that will go through the menopause. There are many women who experience it in their 20’s or 30’s due to having a medical condition, which could result in the menopause. One such condition is Endometritis - last year Fay sat down with Victoria Hardy, otherwise known as Ginge Unhinged on instagram for a chat on how it affected her health, treatments she went through, being forced to make some life decisions, advice and how she is now dealing with being menopausal.
Victoria Hardy is a Menopause Mentor, speaker and advocate. A 30 something, who has been in Medical & now Surgical Menopause since age 33 is shouting loud for those who are outside, the societal Menopause box.
With 22 years corporate banking experience, she disrupted the norm at work to bring Mental health & Menopause to the conversation of senior Execs; impacting how this affects all & creating change for colleagues across the UK & beyond.
Victoria releases her book My Menopause My Journey My Rules. in spring 2023. Now Millennials & Gen Z’s can truly own their individual Menopause - in a world that feels like it doesn’t recognise them yet.
How did you find out you had Endometritis?
I officially got diagnosed through a Laparoscopy as it's very difficult to pick up via a scan or ultrasound. After years of debilitating heavy periods and rupturing ovarian cysts, I managed to find a consultant that understood what they we're looking for. At that point I was told it was the lining of my womb growing outside and would only affect my Uterus!
How old were you?
I officially got diagnosed through a Laparoscopy as it's very difficult to pick up via a scan or ultrasound. After years of debilitating heavy periods and rupturing ovarian cysts, I managed to find a consultant that understood what they we're looking for. At that point I was told it was the lining of my womb growing outside and would only affect my Uterus!
Can it be cured?
Nope! Because it's whole body and cells can lie dormant there is no cure at this moment. ANything done is about improving quality of life rather than cure. Pain relief becomes you're quest...anything to reduce the debilitating eruption that can hit.
There are hormonal treatments that can help with symptoms such as the Mirena coil, or forcing the body into a medical Menopause with drugs. Laparoscopic treatment that lasers out the tissue. Sometimes treatment is more complex, if it affects organs like the bowel or liver. In severe cases (like mine) they may choose to remove ovaries or opt for a full hysterectomy. I also believe flare ups were linked to diet and stress, so this is something I would try to manage.
What medication were you given?
I think I had every painkiller and anti-inflammatory going over the years, Little worked when it was at its worst...not even morphine! I had the Mirena coil for a while, which added extra time in between surgeries.
Before my hysterectomy, I was put onto Zoladex for 6 months. This was a monthly implant that is used to treat prostate cancer. This forced my body into a medical menopause, to try and control the bleeding and building mass - helping to make the Hysterectomy slightly cleaner, as my surgeon said!
How did it affect you mentally and also your life / relationship?
Wow in so many ways, some I'm only just realising looking back.
I had a total of 19 operations inc. my hysterectomy and 33 smear tests between the ages of 15 and 34. That's a lot of trauma for a girl to take!
When I was living it...I was doing just that, getting through. Sometimes I can’t quite believe how resilient I must have been. We're not called Endo warriors for nothing. The mental drain it takes from being in so much pain, or managing such heavy bleeding whilst trying to work, wife it up and eventually a Mum was tough.
At 19 I was told If I wanted kids I had 4 years wtf!!! By 22 I had been given 6 months! The plans were on hold as me and the man had to decide what we wanted!
I'm pretty lucky with thim, we're childhood sweethearts so my journey is his too! It was a strain on us both, from times where our sex life was as dry as the Sahara and we had to get inventive to make huge life decisions when essentially we were just kids ourselves.
I held a lot in for so long, I suffered anxiety, PTSD and I really believe our body holds the trauma unless we learn to let it go...so yeah at 39, I'm still working on being a bit less fucked up!
How did it make you feel?
I honestly just didn’t know any other way! I'd never had normal periods, a normal sex-life or anything more than 6 months without pain. I mean I felt shit and tired and like ffs, when is this going to end, but I also felt incredibly in tune with my body, empowered that I could grind down and hold this pain for so long, I think it made me pretty badass!
Over the years I learnt that I had to advocate for myself in a healthcare system and at work too. It taught me to be open with my kids. I was extremely fortunate amongst all of it to capture and control things just on the brink and still manage to have my two babies.
What is Endometritis?
Endometriosis is a whole body chronic condition that historically was only associated with the Uterus or Ovaries.
Cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb can be found anywhere in the body. They react like those in the womb during menstruation, so they build up, break down and bleed. Instead of leaving the body during our period, the blood is trapped, forming sticky masses and scar tissue - inflaming the areas affected, leaving you with some nasty symptoms. It currently affects 1-10 people assigned female at birth.
How did having endometritis make you menopausal / how old were you?
At the age of 33 my body was done! My uterus was touching my spine, I was at huge risk of 3 cancers and I'd already had an ovary removed. It was decided that a full hysterectomy was the only way. This removed my uterus, my cervix and the remaining ovary. Essentially it's the removal of the ovary, therefore the oestrogen that threw me into surgical menopause like a howling monkey!
Was it all explained to you at the hospital, what would happen after your surgery?
Pah!!! no...I received a box of HRT and a leaflet on how to take a poo! Wonderful right?!
How have you been since your surgery?
How long have you got?! Let's go with up and down. The Endo is under control, I'm out of physical pain and I can feel my legs again. I also kept my bowel intact which was a bonus! What I wasn’t prepared for was the Menopause part.
The symptoms hit me hard, I had a mental breakdown in 2019, where I almost signed out. I don't absorb HRT, so it's been a rocky ride of self discovery, balancing my shizzle together and advocating to this day for my health and the quest for a HRT implant. However I've learnt so much about myself, menopause and it's been a driver to use my creativity and writing to help others...so that's pretty awesome. I do also love that along with my Uterus, my 'giving a fuck' seemed to also go!
What is the HRT Implant?
There are two types. Oestrogen and Testosterone. Essentially they are pellets, implanted every 4-6 months that deliver a slow release of HRT directly into your body. They are effective for surgical menopause because they are a constant replenishment. However they are also expensive and controversial as they're not widely used. I need the Oestrogen one. I have been referred to a hospital 2 hours away as my local NHS doesn't provide the service!
I'm in my 6th month of waiting, with zero Oestrogen in my body...marvellous!
What is the benefit of you having it?
Not only does it deliver a continuous dose of hormones, it's also less of a faff of putting on daily gels, tablets or patches. So in a way I can get on with my life until the next one is needed. For me they are hoping that this will be absorbed better where other HRT’s have failed.
What do you want people to know / be aware of?
I'd love people to understand that menopause is not defined by age or gender and there isn't just one type - natural! No experience is the same, so it's important to look at the person before the type of menopause.
Understanding what might happen physically and mentally will help both the person experiencing and those supporting them, really lean into all the messy parts for a true connection to themselves and each other.
My personal quest is to help people own it and feel aligned even in the harder parts and step up into what is quite a badass phase of your life! Get in tune with your body, mind and soul and energy...yes learn about HRT, yes learn about symptoms, but don't forget how you want to feel? Be curious to ask questions, challenge where needed, reduce the expectation of what should be an amazing supportive healthcare system until the miracle happens. It's your body so advocate and try a package of things to help your whole self...it's your body, listen to it, you know it best!