There’s little research on links between Long Covid, menopause. But I know they’re there | Opinion

This is a call to arms for my fellow Long Covid heroines! It’s time we stand together and demand research funding on the exacerbation of menopause in women still battling the devastation of Long Covid.

Ladies, we are not crazy. Our symptoms are not “in our heads.” We have not voluntarily chosen to lose thriving careers, endure debilitating symptoms and withdraw from society to suffer in silence due to nonbelievers amongst our closest family and friends. We deserve better, and our quality of life is dependent upon adequate support and a comprehensive treatment plan.

I’ve never been the smartest person in the room, however, I was born curious and have been known to go down a rabbit hole or twelve when it comes to understanding the unknown (hence this article). My Long Covid story is a familiar one given that I am the poster child for the affected majority; female, white, middle-aged and from Kentucky.

In January of 2022, I acquired COVID-19 with primarily flu-like symptoms minus respiratory distress. It lasted 10 days and I recovered. A month later, I began experiencing debilitating migraines and nerve pain after having lived 46 years with little more than a tension headache. From there, it was all downhill; chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, brain fog, joint pain, depression, anxiety, etc. The Epstein Bar Virus (mono) I had when I was 15 reactivated along with some super fun breakouts of shingles (5 times in 12 months).

I lost all faith in modern medicine, interest existed solely in treating symptoms versus determining root causes. Treatment options available included long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics (useless) and a controlled substance stimulant. I’m no quitter (and I actually like my husband and kids). In desperation, I looked to homeopathic remedies focusing on gut health; known food sensitivities were stripped from my diet and a daily plethora of natural supplements were taken to assist my broken immune system.

Last summer, my cognitive skills began deteriorating which impacted my short-term memory, concentration and ability to follow through on daily tasks. My insomnia worsened and I started experiencing terrible hot flashes, night sweats, heat intolerance, heart palpitations, dizzy spells, clouded vision, mood swings, and panic attacks. The grand finale was severe “I don’t want to wake up tomorrow” depression.

My self-proclaimed, “not bossy, just aggressively helpful” bestie who’s had my back throughout this nightmare, immediately noticed the changes. She sent me a text saying “Humor me and watch this one” with a link to an Instagram video on menopause posted by Dr. Mary Claire Haver, MD, FACOG, CMP, a board-certified Obstetrics and Gynecologist, menopause guru and best-selling author on women’s health. The video truly opened my eyes. Ladies, do yourself a solid and get educated by visiting thepauselife.com.

After bloodwork, my friend’s diagnosis was confirmed. I am in the late stages of menopause with a vitamin D deficiency, low TSH (thyroid hormone) and a newly discovered heart murmur requiring additional tests. I’ll likely never know if these things are related to Long Covid or a lack of estrogen but I’m grateful to have medical care from a tenacious young doctor who HEARS me. I’ve started Hormone Replacement Therapy and intensive treatment for my mental health and I’m feeling my first glimmer of hope in a long while.

All that being said, I find the correlation between Long Covid and Menopause alarming. Both predominately impact women so it’s no coincidence that each lacks educational resources, community/family support networks and funding. Dr. Haver shared recently that of the $45 billion dollars the National Institutes of Health spend on medical research, a mere 10% is earmarked for women’s health and only 0.03% (15 million dollars) towards menopause. Considering women comprise 49% of our country’s population, a gross imbalance clearly exists in funding. This is not a man-blasting rant, I’m simply asking that a concerted effort be made to reduce the funding disparity between the two.

The past few years have been incredibly defeating but as my mind attempts to clear the cobwebs, I’m beginning to remember the woman I used to be. Long Covid and Menopause beware, you’ve awoken a sleeping giant and I’m coming for you.

Laura Sewell Timberlake, a pre-Long Covid corporate executive, is the Owner/Managing Partner of Stella James, LLC and most importantly, a mother and wife who learned a lesson in work life balance the hard way.