A mother from Basildon has told how she feared she had dementia before a television documentary by Davina McCall helped her realise she was experiencing menopause symptoms. Lorraine Sharvin, 46, began suffering from severe exhaustion and memory lapses in 2017, which she initially attributed to the demands of work and raising three children alone.
By 2018, she developed anxiety and joint pain, and her memory problems worsened. She struggled to find words during conversations and eventually became unable to speak during a work meeting, leading her to resign from her role as a pre-school manager. Lorraine became increasingly convinced she had dementia.
Everything changed in 2023 when she watched Davina McCall discussing menopause symptoms on television. The presenter had shared her own perimenopause experience to raise awareness about symptoms and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Lorraine recognised her own struggles and requested HRT from her GP.
Within a week, her symptoms began to improve. 'HRT was like a miracle. It's an absolute lifeline,' she said. 'I felt different by the third day. I saw Davina on TV and I thought, "that's what I'm like". I'm so grateful to her for sharing her experience, it really saved me.'
Lorraine, who now works as a learning support assistant, said her joint pain vanished within days and her energy levels returned. She now documents her journey on TikTok under MissMenopauseSupport and hosts a podcast called Hot Flushes and Homework. 'If you're experiencing symptoms of menopause, you're not alone,' she said. 'Even if you're under 50, it's more common than you think. Nothing is wrong with you, you're not broken, you're just changing.'
