Lorraine Kelly reveals the menopause left her ‘joyless’ and that HRT ‘saved her life’ in very honest interview

LORRAINE Kelly told today how felt "joyless" as she went through the menopause.

The 57-year-old presenter made the revelation on her show show as she had a frank and honest chat with Dr Hilary.

Lorraine explained how a recent chat with Carol Vorderman about the menopause on her show had inspired her to speak openly about her own experience.

She said: "We got such a huge reaction to that, and we were talking afterwards and said 'isn't it crazy that so many women clam up about it and don't talk about it?'

"For me, it's just another stage of life, that's all it is."

Lorraine revealed the process had started for her five years ago, saying: "I remember thinking 'I can't be sitting here talking to Hugh Jackman all sweaty and hot.'

"I was getting a little bit narky, just not feeling myself. I knew what it was and you [Dr Hilary] prescribed HRT which actually worked so well for me.

"It's just two patches on your bottom and that's it. You put patches on twice a week and that's it, dead easy."

While Lorraine had her symptoms under control for a while, last year, she noticed another change in how she felt, particularly while on holiday in Spain with her husband Steve Smith.

She said: "It was the most beautiful day and everything was fantastic.

"[Daughter] Rosie was sailing through exams at university, life was really good, love my job and all of that... and there was no joy in my life.

"I felt absolutely down, and I couldn't put my finger on it. I didn't think it was that [the menopause] as I had the patches.

"It was that horrible thing where you feel flat, no joy in your life."

Dr. Hilary then explained how at the time, they both wondered if the star had depression, or if it was her menopause, adding that women can feel those kind of symptoms two-10 years before the menopause actually kicks in.

Lorraine had a blood test which revealed it was the menopause and they changed her dosage of HRT.

When he asked how she felt about HRT, Lorraine didn't hold back in praising the treatment.

She said: "It was remarkable, it kicked in very quickly, I got my equilibrium back, I felt better, I felt lighter.

"It was weeks, not overnight, a gradual thing, like coming out of the tunnel into the light.

"All it was was changing the dosage."

Elaborating on how she felt before she got her medication right, she added: "I was just tired, I thought it was because I don't sleep as much as I should.

"I put it down to that, but it was bone tired, I was actually exhausted.

"It's been a saviour for me, I don't really see any reason for me to stop taking it."

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