Reclaiming Her Spark

By Sarah Miles

Lynette Gee of Conway, South Carolina, began to feel unwell. It wasn’t alarming or sudden, but she sensed that something was amiss with her body and mind. 

She started having trouble sleeping, experienced night sweats, and struggled with daytime exhaustion and brain fog. Having recently recovered from Covid, she wondered if the lingering symptoms were a result of the virus. 

“I thought it might have intensified the symptoms. I was confused, I would feel cold yet sweaty, unable to regulate my body temperature. I kept asking myself, ‘What is triggering this? What is happening?’”

Lynette described how she would wake at night completely soaked, needing to place towels on her bed to get back to sleep. It was embarrassing, especially with her husband, Jayson, right beside her. 

She felt exhausted, gained weight and developed a negative outlook, which persisted for years. 

“I became very health conscious. My weight fluctuated, and I didn’t feel like myself. I decided to invite God on this journey. My pastor asked me to lead a Bible study, and I chose to focus on my overall health,” recalled Lynette. 

After exploring various programs focused on addressing her total health, nothing seemed to be working.

Then came her annual OB/GYN appointment with Dr. Tracy Nelson at McLeod Women’s Care at Magnolia. Lynette had just turned 50.

Lynette opened up about her concerns and frustrations, saying, “In my mind, I felt negative. I was battling exhaustion and didn’t want to take on anything more.” 

Dr. Nelson listened attentively and recognized that Lynette was experiencing menopause.

Every day, around 6,000 women in the United States enter menopause. With the increasing number of menopausal women and rising life expectancy, there is growing awareness of how this condition affects women's lives. 

Generation X is navigating menopause in ways that differ from previous generations. 

“Peri- and post-menopausal Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are in the spotlight now,” Dr. Nelson noted. “Thanks to influencers, celebrities and social media, there is much more understanding and awareness of treatment options. Women’s health is complex and fascinating.” 

Menopause typically occurs around age 51, but the transition can start earlier or later, influenced by genetics, lifestyle and health factors.

About 80 to 90 percent of women experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, irritability, crying spells, decreased sex drive, painful intercourse, brain fog and weight gain.

Dr. Nelson suggested hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for Lynette to replace estrogen and progesterone, compensating for the body’s declining hormone production during menopause. 

However, Lynette was hesitant. 

“I struggled at first. I wanted to embrace holistic living and wasn’t keen on taking medications. It felt like a failure to not go through this naturally.” 

After a month of hormone replacement therapy, Lynette felt better and stopped her treatment, believing exercise and a healthy diet could now replace HRT.  

She quickly realized this was a mistake. 

“I had to trust God. This is what’s available to me. I wanted to live fully, not just exist. It helped me reconnect with who I was.”

Lynette expresses gratitude for having a supportive doctor where she felt comfortable sharing her experience.

Dr. Nelson reflects, “I’ve enjoyed aging with my patients. It’s crucial to discuss emotional, physical and sexual health during that time in their lives. OB/GYNs are experts on hormone replacement therapy and its benefits in helping women feel like themselves again.”

 Lynette is also thankful for her understanding husband during uncertain times. 

“Jayson noticed my weight gain, hot flashes and reduced desire for intimacy, but he was so supportive, making me laugh through it all.”

Lynette's next chapter is about raising awareness and encouraging conversations about menopause and treatment options for women. She wants to eliminate any guilt or shame associated with seeking help outside of holistic living. 

“It’s a natural and normal process. Find a doctor you feel comfortable with. If you’re still breathing, God is calling you to do something in your community. 

“We can’t fulfill that purpose if we’re not well. You owe it to yourself to live your best life. It’s okay to seek support –don’t go through it alone.”