Penny Lancaster recently opened up about her experience with menopause, sharing how her husband, Rod Stewart, supported her during a challenging misdiagnosis.
In an interview with The Times published on June 20, Lancaster, 53, recounted the onset of her menopause symptoms at age 49. She initially thought she had COVID-19 when, just before the pandemic hit in March 2020, she started waking up drenched in sweat.
"It wasn’t just a little discomfort in the night. I felt like I was standing in a pit of fire," Lancaster explained. "The heat started in my feet, rose up my legs, and it felt like my blood was boiling, rising closer and closer to my heart and head." Despite having air conditioning, she experienced a vicious cycle of intense heat followed by freezing cold as her body temperature fluctuated.
Lancaster's symptoms were severe, but it wasn't until she returned to the UK with Stewart and their two sons, Alastair, 18, and Aiden, 13, that things worsened. Misdiagnosed with depression, Lancaster was prescribed antidepressants that left her feeling numb.
Her symptoms included what she described as "mental breakdowns." She recalled one particularly intense episode where she threw plates across the kitchen in frustration. "I couldn’t contain it anymore. I didn’t want to hurt anyone or myself, but I felt like I was going mad," she shared. Stewart, recognizing her distress, insisted they seek medical help.
A turning point came when Lancaster's fellow panelists on the UK talk show "Loose Women" suggested she consult Dr. Louise Newson, a menopause specialist. This intervention led to a proper diagnosis and treatment with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
“I burst into tears because of the good news," Lancaster said. "I wasn’t going mad. I could save my marriage and keep my family together.” With the correct treatment, she felt better almost immediately. "Within a week or two, I slept through the night and my bedsheets weren’t wet. I had more energy, more confidence, and I wanted to start exercising again."
Lancaster's story highlights the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment for menopause, which marks the end of menstrual cycles and can cause a range of symptoms such as mood changes, hot flashes, sleep problems, weight gain, and thinning hair, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Reflecting on her journey, Lancaster emphasized the importance of sharing her experience to help others going through similar challenges.
The Quran - Chapter Al-Waqi'ah : 37 - 38
loving and of equal age,
for the people of the right,
