Lisa Snowdon has revealed she was prescribed antidepressants while battling low moods and anxiety as a result of early menopause, but ‘recognises herself again’ after four years on HRT.
The Essex based presenter, 49, who suffers with endometriosis started experiencing depression around seven years ago – but had no idea her symptoms were a result of the perimenopause.
Appearing on Lorraine today, she explained that her 2016 appearance on I’m A Celeb was worsened by ‘debilitating’ periods, low energy and ‘brain fog’, revealing she relied on the pill to stop her irregular cycle.
It wasn’t until being prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) that Lisa was able to ‘take ownership’ of her health, hailing the treatment as a ‘game-changer’ and insisting she ‘wouldn’t be without it’.
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Lisa Snowdon said on Lorraine this morning she was prescribed antidepressants while battling low moods and anxiety as a result of early menopause, but ‘recognises herself again’ after four years on HRT
The 49-year-old presenter, (pictured in London last month) who suffers with endometriosis started experiencing depression around seven years ago – but had no idea her symptoms were a result of the perimenopause
‘When I look back it did creep up on me, it wasn’t a definiate pin point the actual day I knew I was going into perimenopause,’ Lisa explained.
‘When I look back it was about seven years ago when I started experiencing low mood, depression, anxiety and I was managing it because I just thought that was what was wrong with me, maybe I was just a bit unhappy.
‘I got prescribed antidepressants and that wasn’t what I needed but I thought I did. The symptoms started evolving and it was painful periods, awful cycles, really irregular, all these other symptoms started coming up and it was a juggling act. It was really hard to work out what was going on.’
After signing up as a contestant on ITV reality show I’m A Celeb, Lisa began having periods so painful she struggled to leave the house – but still had no idea that she was exhibiting signs of the menopause.
Lisa said that her 2016 appearance on I’m A Celeb was worsened by ‘debilitating’ periods, low energy and ‘brain fog’, revealing she relied on the pill to stop her irregular cycle
‘It was such a shame,’ she said. ‘I said yes to going into the jungle and I was really excited about it and in the months leading up to it I had debilitating cycles and really irregular, almost where I couldn’t leave the house and I didn’t know what to do.
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‘I already suffer from endometriosis, so I’m used to having very painful cycles but I thought “What am I going to do? This is going to be awful”.
‘I went to see my gynecologist and we had scans and test never discussed once it could be my hormones or perimenopause, or the menopause.
‘We did a short fix which, looking back, I was able to go into the jungle. I was on the pill which stopped cycle, which isn’t ideal but I wanted to experience [the jungle].
‘When I look back I didn’t have the experience I wanted. I didn’t have the energy, I did have brain fog, I did have the anxiety and feeling low and lonely and out of sorts and not recognising your body.’
Now Lisa takes HRT for her symptoms, and says that she no longer has ‘rages’ or ‘screams at her partner.
The presenter spoke candidly about her early menopause earlier this month, saying she has ‘made peace’ with the fact she will never have biological children with her fiancé George Smart
‘I am on HRT I’ve been on it for about four years and I wouldn’t be without it, she said. It’s changed everything. It’s been a game changer.
‘I feel like myself again, I’m not screaming at my partner, I don’t have rages, I feel like I recognise myself again and I’ve been able to take ownership of looking after my health.’
The presenter spoke candidly about her early menopause earlier this month, saying she has ‘made peace’ with the fact she will never have biological children with her fiancé George Smart.
Speaking to The Sun, Lisa said: ‘We’d discussed it in the past, but hadn’t started trying, so I knew we’d have to explore other options in the future if we did want to become parents.
‘George was brilliant about it and told me we could look into alternative ways in the future. It was a lot to come to terms with.’
Lisa also revealed that her early menopause saw her pile on ‘around three stone in a year’ and also caused ‘brain fog, anxiety and fits of rage’.
She said: ‘In 2018, I went to the doctor for blood tests, which was when I got the bombshell that I was perimenopausal. It all finally made sense, but it was hard to process.’
Source: Daily Mail
