Jackie Murrin | Menopause Management
"I feel like I am back to being me"
When Jackie Murrin was in her late forties, life seemed good on paper, yet she began to experience a series of symptoms that didn’t fit neatly into any diagnosis she was given. For years, she collected prescriptions and referrals from her GP but never got a clear explanation. It was only when she visited the Menopause Management service at The McIndoe Centre that she learned the real cause of her struggles: perimenopause.
Jackie explains: “At about 48, I would come home from work and cry for half an hour. My life was great, I wasn’t depressed, but the GP prescribed a low dose of antidepressants to help me sleep, which worked at first.
“The following year, I felt extremely low, didn’t want to work, and took time off. I had no spatial awareness, started walking into things, and couldn’t sleep because of restless leg syndrome.
“For three months, every day at 7pm, my body broke out in hives for three hours. After blood tests, dermatologist referrals, and high-dose antihistamines, the rash vanished as suddenly as it came. I developed tinnitus, muscle aches, and had no motivation. I stopped hosting dinners, going out, and seeing friends.
“You always hear about hot flushes with menopause, but I didn’t have that. No GP mentioned menopause; they just increased my antidepressants. It was only when a colleague suggested I might be in perimenopause that I began researching HRT.
“My boss at work was amazing, particularly when I started to suffer from brain fog. But one day in 2021, I’d had enough. I phoned the GP and had a short consultation over the phone due to lockdown. It was less than five minutes. They prescribed a progesterone tablet to take once a day, and an oestrogen gel to apply one pump’s worth. And while I started to feel better and my mind became clearer, I was not back to myself 100%.
“Then I heard about the Menopause Management service at The McIndoe Centre, so I booked a consultation with Dr Emma Sloan. The appointment was 40 minutes, and she just listened. She wanted to know if there was anything going on in my life before jumping straight into a perimenopause diagnosis. I really felt like she gave a rounded approach.
“She explained I was taking my HRT wrong. I was applying the gel, which is supposed to give you energy, at night, which is why I wasn’t sleeping. On her recommendation, I switched to taking it in the morning and increased the dose to two pumps.
“My blood test results showed I required testosterone, so she prescribed cream, advised on the dose and explained how it works, while answering any questions I had, like would I grow a beard, to which she reassured me that the amount used is minimal compared to what men have in their bodies. I returned for more blood tests, which revealed the dose was too high, so this was reduced. I felt reassured I was being monitored. I felt safe using it and never felt rushed with Dr Sloan.
“After years of having so many things wrong with you, endless scans and blood tests with every result coming back as nothing is wrong, it felt priceless to finally know that it was the effects of perimenopause.
“Within weeks, I noticed a change; I was more focused, could concentrate at work, and I was sleeping more. Two months in, I started wanting to go out. Three months in, my husband said it’s like I lost my wife for ten years, and now I have her back. I started going to concerts and hanging out with friends. I sleep soundly for eight hours every night, and my legs no longer ache. I have a happy, full life and feel like I am back to being me.”
Jackie Murrin
Dr Sloan added: “Jackie, thank you for sharing your experience so openly. Your story reflects what so many women go through, years of unexplained symptoms and feeling overlooked. It was truly lovely to consult with you, and I’m so glad you finally felt heard and supported.
“Helping you tailor your HRT and seeing the difference it’s made to your energy, confidence, and quality of life has been incredibly rewarding. I hope your story encourages others to seek the support they deserve.”
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