Anastacia has opened up about going through menopause, explaining that she initially feared she had a brain tumor.
The I’m Outta Love singer has been vocal about her health in the past, and previously underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with an intense form of breast cancer.
Appearing on the White Wine Question Time podcast, the 55-year-old shed light on her symptoms, revealing that she had no idea that her exhaustion and brain fog stemmed from hormones.
‘I didn’t even realize I was going through such hell that it was caused by menopause,’ she told host Kate Thornton.
‘I didn’t know my exhaustion; I didn’t know my brain fog. I didn’t know all the things – I just thought I was tired.
‘I was diagnosing myself, but had no idea any of this was hormone-related.’
Through self-diagnosing, Anastacia was convinced that she had a brain tumor – it wasn’t until she got checked out that it emerged her issues were to do with menopause.
‘I guess I was waiting for that ball to drop,’ the music icon continued. ‘My ball was, I thought I had a brain tumor and life was going horrible, and I was really, really scared.
‘When I got all of these other things checked out, this guy in Switzerland was like, I think you’re going through some hormone stuff.
‘I told him, “It doesn’t feel anything like that, I have hot flashes and I’m okay with that”.
‘In my head, I had no idea the things I was going through were actually in the list (of symptoms of menopause) because it’s a long list.’
The Mayo Clinic states that women can be affected by menopause in their 40s and 50s, but the average age in the US is 51.
Symptoms can include irregular periods, hot flashes, chills, sleep problems and weight gain.
Anastacia has had a tough time in the spotlight and battled cancer twice over the years – using her platform to spread awareness for breast cancer awareness.
She was also diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a teenager.
62 signs of the menopause:
- Palpitations
- Chest pain
- Breast tenderness
- Itchy skin
- Dry skin
- Rosacea
- Acne
- Thin skin
- Collagen loss
- Crying
- Brain fog
- Memory loss
- Poor concentration
- Word finding difficulty
- Anxiety
- Low mood
- Worsening PMS
- Anger/rage
- Irritability
- Headache
- Migraines
- Joint pain
- Joint stiffness
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal discharge
- Vulval itch
- Perineal itch
- Vulval/vaginal electric shocks
- Increase in thrush
- Increase in BV
- Poor libido
- High libido
- Weight gain
- Scalp hair loss
- Unwanted hair growth
- Urinary infections
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary urgency
- Nocturia (getting up at night)
- Sexual dysfunction
- Chest tightness
- Constipation
- Gastric reflux
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Hot flushes
- Cold flushes
- Period increased frequency
- Periods decreased frequency
- Heavier periods
- Muscle loss
- Tinnitus
- Dry eyes
- Watery eyes
- Burning mouth
- Gum disease
- Foot pain
- Frozen shoulder
- Insomnia
- Histamine sensitivity
- New allergy
- Body odour change
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, the Left Outside Alone musician quipped that she is ‘probably more famous’ for her health issues than her music career.
When asked if she still gets messages of thanks for her honesty, she told us: ‘I get fans appreciating my honesty and candor. I don’t know that I thought about the repercussions of doing stuff like that, I just did it.
‘I thought there was so much I didn’t know about certain things, about health or Crohn’s. If I don’t know, do you know? That’s why I wanted to talk about it.
‘I’m probably more famous for having breast cancer [laughs], just about equal as singing. If that has changed people and saved their lives and found stuff early and made them become way more hypervigilant about their health then I think by talking I’ve helped.
‘I’m very grateful. If my honesty helped another person I’d do it again and again.’
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