A mother feared she was developing dementia before television presenter Davina McCall helped her discover the true cause of her symptoms. Lorraine Sharvin, now 46, initially dismissed her severe exhaustion and memory lapses, which began in 2017, as simply the result of juggling work and raising three children alone.

A year later, she developed anxiety and joint pain - then became increasingly worried about dementia when she struggled to find words. Her concerns intensified after finding herself unable to speak during a work meeting, ultimately leading her to resign from her position as a pre-school manager.

However, everything changed when Lorraine watched Davina McCall discussing menopause symptoms on television in 2023. The presenter had shared her own perimenopause experience to raise awareness about menopause symptoms and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Lorraine requested HRT from her GP and noticed her symptoms improving within a week. The Basildon resident has now returned to work as a learning support assistant.

She said: "HRT was like a miracle. It's an absolute lifeline," she said. "I felt different by the third day. I had been extremely tired all the time, so it did seem odd, but I thought it was just part of being a mum to three teens.

"I hadn't been anxious before but suddenly I couldn't go to new places on my own. I was running round doing things all the time so I kept telling myself the forgetfulness was mental load.

"But deep down I was convinced something was very wrong. 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."

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The mum of Evan, now 20, and twins Keira and Keaton, now 17, found herself unable to keep her eyes open beyond 8pm each evening from the age of 38. Despite sleeping right through until her 6am alarm, Lorraine woke up feeling utterly drained.

Returning to work after time off left her feeling like she desperately needed another holiday. She pressed on regardless, burying her worries about dementia and convincing herself she was simply overwhelmed and stretched too thin.

During a management meeting at her previous workplace, the room went completely quiet when Lorraine suddenly couldn't get her words out. "It was really embarrassing," she recalled. "I knew what I wanted to say but I just didn't have the words.

"Everyone was asking if I was okay. I knew I hadn't been okay for a long time. I had lost myself and I didn't know if I'd ever get me back."

Slumped exhausted on the sofa, Lorraine caught Davina McCall discussing menopause symptoms and available treatments. She compiled a full list of what she was experiencing and visited her GP, who prescribed HRT patches.

Within days, Lorraine's joint discomfort had vanished. She explained: "I had blood tests, a test for an autoimmune disease, a scan for my liver, an ECG, and even wore a monitor to test for sleep apnea, but I felt so much better within 10 days of starting the patches. Honestly, it was amazing.

"Now I just feel like an older version of a younger me. I feel refreshed after sleep and I'm on everything, home life, work, I feel so much more confident."

Lorraine documents her experience on TikTok under MissMenopauseSupport and through her podcast Hot Flushes and Homework. She explained: "If you're experiencing symptoms of menopause you're not alone.

"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. Talk to someone, get some advice, it will make all the difference."