In the 40s, Karianne Bertine Bråthen began to forget more. Diffuse symptoms came, and she had hot flashes here and there. – Last spring I thought: My God, have I started to get Alzheimer’s? Bråthen is a former mayor of Øksnes in Nordland, and at this time sat in the Storting for the Labor Party. A committed politician with children, a husband and 12 hours of commuting a week. She was actually well prepared for what could happen during menopause. But when it happened, she still didn’t recognize the symptoms. Karianne has found out what works for her. Now she wants to help other women understand menopause better. Photo: Privat Bleeding in the chief’s chair One episode in particular has burned itself into the memory: Bråthen was mayor and chaired a council meeting. – Then I felt that: Oh, now I’m about to bleed everything out. I almost didn’t dare get up from the chair, and just had to carry it out. Because it can be a symptom for many women that you get heavy bleeding when you enter menopause. If it were today, she would have asked for a break. But her focus was on whether she dared to get up at all. – It was very uncomfortable. Gradually, she began to use humor in the situations so as not to be tipped off the stick. Before an aquaculture debate in Lofoten in June last year, Bråthen felt that she was tired. But this debate had to go on anyway. Karianne Bråthen in dialogue with Jan Christian Vestre (Ap), current Minister of Health. Photo: Private – Then I had to say to my fellow debater that I must have this book here, because I’ve started to forget like that. “So they won’t be allowed to pick on me in the debate, that I can’t remember words!” Now she is preoccupied with how women can better cope with the stress of menopause. That is why she has developed courses to teach women more about themselves and gives lectures. “The menopause doctor”: – Far more than hot flashes, Merethe Kumle can confirm that there are many women who need help with menopause. She is a trained doctor and epidemiologist. This applies to both her private clinic and those who continue to do the same in Oslo. – The very, very most of them can get a lot better, says Kumle. She started the company “Menopauselegen” where she helps and informs women in menopause, but also younger women who come with hormone challenges. – But you can say that it is no worse than trying. And if you don’t have any effect, then you stop, says Kumle. Photo: Private – I have patients who are well over 70 years old and still have hot flushes so often that they hate going to social clubs because they sweat so badly. Others have gone from being active, social and sociable to being afraid of everything, and do not recognize themselves. The sick leave number is high for women with musculoskeletal problems, often in connection with menopause, says Kumle. During menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone and subsequently also testosterone. The women who come to Kumle receive guidance in the use of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. In addition, they talk a lot about lifestyle. – It is well documented that a combination of HRT, diet and physical activity helps with the ailments, she says and adds: – Weight gain is a problem during menopause and for many the hormone treatments enable them to make lifestyle changes that contribute to better health . And it is with good reason that many people are confused about their own bodies. Because during menopause one can experience over 30 different, often diffuse, symptoms. A mantra of the menopause doctor is therefore: Menopause is not just hot flashes. These are the symptoms of menopause Most people experience one or more symptoms, which can vary from mild to severe. Some ailments, such as hot flashes, are a direct consequence of hormonal changes. Irregular periods can be an early sign of impending menopause. These are the most common symptoms of menopause: Hot flashes where you suddenly feel hot, sweat and your face turns red. These can be so mild or strong that they wake you up at night. Some people find that these are triggered by caffeine, spicy food, hot drinks or alcohol. Night sweats. The lining of the vagina becomes drier and thinner during menopause. This can cause itching and make intercourse painful. Less sex drive. Difficulty sleeping. You may have difficulty falling asleep, wake up at night or wake up earlier than normal. Weight gain, less muscle strength and fat around the waist. It is difficult to know whether this is due to aging or hormonal changes. Being sad, depression and mood swings. Some people feel more anxious and forget more easily. Usually, the doctor can confirm that you are going through menopause based on your symptoms and age. If you are younger than 40, you can take a blood test called FSH to be completely sure. Source: Helsenorge.no Kumle says that a lot has happened in the field in recent years. – I think it will happen a lot. And I am very optimistic. Overlooked several positive findings The use of hormone therapy has been debated. Much because of the results published in the Women’s Health Initiative in 2002, which stated that the hormone treatment was dangerous, and increased the risk of breast cancer and blood clots. The saddle fell to the bottom and since then there has been general skepticism about its use. But subsequently there has been more research, and critical objections to the study that was carried out. The Women’s Health Initiative has also changed its position and found some faults. Helena Enger is a specialist in women’s health and obstetric diseases and works at Volvat. She has good knowledge of the WHI study and the reanalysis of the findings. Already in 20002, when they released information that women who go on hormone therapy get blood clots and breast cancer, they could have seen that this did not apply to the youngest women. – In other words, the women who were under 60 or who had started hormone therapy within ten years of their own menopause, says Enger. Helena Enger has written the well-known book “Hot flashes and cold facts” and is one of the country’s foremost experts on menopause and women’s diseases. Photo: Privat – So what they scared us with in 2002 was the discovery of the start of hormone therapy in women between 60 and 79 years of age. There is a group of patients on whom you would never have started hormone therapy today, because you have realized in retrospect that there is a “window of opportunity”. One overlooked the positive effects that the therapy had on the younger women, according to her. According to the findings, the treatment can prevent several things if you start at the right time. Among other things: Atherosclerosis, heart/vascular disease, osteoporosis Colon cancer, diabetes, dementia and joint problems – There is a particularly large consensus on this internationally among gynaecologists, says Enger. Will use it to an advantage Karianne B. Bråten is now passionate about helping other women to understand the menopause better. Because it works, even without hormone treatment. – We don’t think about the fact that the cycle affects the choices we make and how we see ourselves and others, so it affects us in everyday life. Karianne Bertine Bråthen gives many lectures about the menopause. Photo: Privat She calls it a silent battle for every woman. – You pray for it quietly, come to the doctor with diffuse symptoms, and think that there is something wrong with you. She will have that “pressure” lifted off the shoulders of every single woman. The psychologist’s tips Psychologist specialist Eva Tryti has previously told news that many patients tell of a sense of loss in connection with early menopause. – When it happens unexpectedly at an early stage, the problems can lead to people having a lot of doubts about what is wrong, says Tryti. A common feature for these people is that they feel lonely about it, because most people reach menopause at a later time when their peers also do it. – Then it becomes very heavy when the problems go beyond self-confidence and sexual self-confidence. It can lead to both anxiety and depression. Eva Tryti gives this advice for those who want to feel better during menopause: Get good medical treatment and clarification of the issues. Work psychologically to boost self-confidence. It is just nonsense that menopausal women are “deregistered”, according to Tryti. Get help achieving better automatic thoughts about yourself. Continue to have sex with an aid that gives you pleasure. Be out in nature and take care of yourself. Not to work out the extra kilos you see in the mirror, but because it gives you energy and helps your health. Remember that menopause also passes. – We are getting fewer people to carry out the work gifts we need. Then we need women to stay at work longer and not be called in sick and burned out. It mostly happens after the age of 45. Therefore, she wants to have an increased focus and more measures for women in menopause. Wants more facilitation Among possible measures, Bråthen suggests developing pilots that test cooperation with occupational health services and organisations. – Because what happens is that women go to the doctor and then they get sick or burn out. For example, conversations with women and the management in the companies will help to facilitate to a greater extent. Bråthen compares it with the focus that many companies have on facilitating diversity. – This is actually part of it. Some have major problems during menopause, and that it is not necessarily an illness, but that we need to start talking about it and educate each other. Gynecologist Helena Enger believes that employers can also contribute to lightening the burden. For example, by facilitating flexible working hours, a home office and the possibility to withdraw from an open office landscape. – Employers can also provide information about menopause on the company’s website, and inform about what options are available if you have ailments, so that there is a positive focus around this. At the same time, not everyone is afflicted, so one should not stigmatize. This is how Bråthen compares the cycle with the seasons. Karianne B. Bråten believes that there are several positive aspects of menopause that we talk too little about. Here she shares part of her mindset. Bråthen is not a trained professional. But to explain the positive aspects of menopause, Bråthen takes the seasons as a point of departure, which she believes can also reflect “the inner seasons”. Winter = menstruation. A time when you get in good contact with your intuition and are good at thinking ahead. Spring = after menstruation, when you build up the level of the hormone estrogen. She also calls it the kick ass phase, when you are really screwed. Summer = When estrogen levels are at their peak. It is good to schedule meetings during this period. Autumn = There is a dip in the estrogen level, and we are approaching the premenstrual phase (PMS). That’s when the brain fog comes, and you go into a room to wonder why you were there. – Autumn is also the phase when we are most creative. We like to create order in chaos and are actually good at creating systems and cleaning. And not work so casually, says Bråthen. Published 27.08.2024, at 14.10
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Karianne thought she had Alzheimer’s, but was in menopause – news Nordland
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