She’s mum to two of the most successful reality stars in the UK, a grandmother of five with another on the way, and lives a glamorous life peppered with showbiz events and idyllic sunny holidays - but Suzie Wells admits that going through menopause has at some times left her bereft, and feeling like she ‘has got nothing’.
But rather than hide away from such uncomfortable feelings, the proud Essex matriarch, whose daughters Sam and Billie Faiers found fame on TOWIE before launching their own spin-off shows, has bravely decided to speak up about her struggles over the past few years and how she is tackling them head-on.
Speaking exclusively to Women’s Health, she said: ‘I think a lot of women feel embarrassed, and I first of all, I thought, “oh is that it, is that my life now as a menopausal older woman?”
‘But I decided I had to embrace it. You've got to. because otherwise you'll just feel down and go round all miserable. I'm in the menopause let's deal with it. Let's be positive. Let’s get all the different treatments which can help you, whether they be medical, homoeopathic, diets.’
Suzie, 53, approached her doctor to prescribe some different treatments to see what works for her. She is currently taking progesterone and Linzetto transdermal spray, which has helped with hot flushes. Sleep deprivation is still a cause of concern, although she has found lavender pillow spray has helped. ‘My granddaughter Nelly asks me to put some on her pillows too,’ she laughed. She’s also made a conscious effort to further bulk up her healthy balanced diet with more oily fish.
However, brain fog and memory loss caused her to fear she was succumbing to dementia.
Suzie said: ‘It’s been quite a difficult thing for me. When you walk into a room and forget what you were doing in there, and after a few minutes it comes back to you. You think, “oh my God, am I going crazy? Am I getting the onset of dementia?” But the more I speak to other women, I see that they get this brain fog, too.’
The increasingly visible discourse around menopause is a common theme that runs through Suzie’s story. Recently she was praised by viewers and fans for having a frank and open conversation with her eldest daughter Billie about her struggles with ‘the change’. In emotional scenes aired on the ITVBe reality show Billie and Greg: The Family Diaries, an upset Suzie was seen being encouraged to speak to a menopause specialist.
Speaking about her decision to film those scenes, she explained: ‘I just thought, you know, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. You hear so many people even hide it from their partners. I just think the more it’s spoken about, the more people have an understanding of all these different emotions that unfortunately, you have to go through. They won’t just think, “you're going mad, or you're miserable, or why are you crying all the time?”’
The rollercoaster of emotions is another element that Suzie has found hard, struggling with low moods that seem to come out of nowhere.
‘You want to have a smile on your face. I'd say to the girls, “I should be the happiest person around. I've got you nearly six beautiful grandchildren.” My daughters are amazing. They're supportive, kind, generous, everything. But I’ve had days where I feel like I've got nothing. I know it sounds terrible, doesn't it? I don't feel like walking out the door. It can be a struggle and it all comes in spasms.
‘One day you feel on top of the world, the next day I don't want to get out of bed. A doctor has tried to prescribe me antidepressants before, but it’s not depression. It’s just an occasional time where you think, “oh, I can't face doing all that today. I don't want to work..” but then the next day, I’m like “right I’m ready to go and do whatever is going on”.’
Suzie’s decision to share her menopause journey has sparked a huge wave of gratitude from women across the UK who are thankful that a light is being shed on what they’ve experienced, or what might be coming up for them.
She said: ‘I've had so much amazing feedback on Instagram you know just people direct messaging and asking this or giving me advice on things they've tried and diets and different herbal remedies, and it's all been so positive.
‘One woman even asked that we film a whole series of The Family Diaries just about the menopause!’
Billie & Greg: The Family Diaries airs Wednesdays at 9pm on ITVBe, or watch the whole series on ITV Player
Emma Gritt is the Multiplatform Director of Women's Health UK.
I am passionate about all things "woo", beauty gadgets and treatments; cooking; travel; spa visits; gardening; lusting over homeware; animals and nature. I'm also a huge bookworm, and always have at least two books on the go!
When I'm not working, I enjoy playing tennis, swimming, cycling, pilates, and looking for new treasures to sell in my antiques cabinet.
Prior to joining WH in 2022, I worked as a digital journalist and senior editor at national newspapers, radio stations and at international content agencies.
