Marie-Louise Connolly

Early morning walk - peri/menopause. Let’s talk about loss of libido-sex drive. Don’t be embarrassed to ask/talk abt it. Ask yr GP abt testosterone/lubricants. Frequent UTI’s aren’t normal! Read up on Vulva health. Address it - don’t avoid it. It’s not too late. @menomandate

Early morning run - peri/menopause. Let’s talk about sleep or lack of it! It’s my worst symptom. Don’t fight it. Get up for ten mins.. Sleep is medicine & not enough of it makes coping with all the other symptoms much harder. Try supplements. Less caffeine, alcohol & more🏃‍♀️🏋️‍♀️🚶‍♀️‍➡️

Early morning run.. in midlife we keep moving.. Endorphins come with exercise and like a natural medicine can lift our mood. @menomandate @alicesmellie @MenopauseNI 🌈🏃‍♀️ #menopause

Glengormley MMA gym offers young people free training for life Head coach Danny Corr says the aim is to give young people structure, opportunity and a sense of belonging.

Positive story coming up by @benlonsdale Imagine if more gyms did this to support young people.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The view. #Malinhead #Inishowen #Donegal #Bankholidayweekend

It’s difficult to get appnt with a menopause specialist GP.
NHS menopause waiting lists are 9 months.. +
private appnts are expensive..
NI doesn’t have women’s health hubs
So where does that leave women ?

Menopause - awake since after 3 30am! I thought I was over the worst of symptoms but after 5 years it feels like I’m starting over. All symptoms back with a vengeance. You shld not mess abt with HRT changing doses/patches.. it must be sorted by GP. It’s crap! Work soon 🫩

Menopause affects so many parts of women’s bodies - ovaries, muscles, skin and our brain. Brain fog is debilitating. Exercise becomes hard. And Every day another woman will find herself in peri/menopause. List your symptoms and look/ask for help. @BrMenopauseSoc @MenoScandal

Words,Wisdom & Women - #ThedictionaryofLostWords documents the importance of language especially around women’s health and the important role women played compiling the Oxford English Dictionary. “Mothers have a vocabulary all their own..” Thanks Pip Williams for Esme. #words

If life is feeling a little heavy - I recommend you pick this up. It’s a reminder to see the good in people and not to be too hard on ourselves. This is beautiful. @NiallL90377 thank you for Noel.
“By the grace of new chapters, it was morning”.

Some day of public awareness around #ovariancancer
Imagine these two on billboards,posters & public health campaigns. Two sides of the cancer story - on a plate. Leading the way @CCampbell162 & @SJA_McC Thank you. 🌈🏃‍♀️

Maternal mental health: Calls for specialist unit in Northern Ireland Mothers with serious mental health problems are separated from their babies in Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK.

Powerful stories from brave women - This is @BBCSpotlightNI I will be talking about this programme across TV & Radio. View tonight BBC1 @10 40 pm. Or catch it now on the BBC iplayer

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Enlarged prostate: Robotic technology treatment brings hope The technology uses image-guided, high-velocity water jets to precisely remove excess prostate tissue.

Men + Prostate + Robot = HOPE. From @Ailser99

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Royal Victoria Belfast: Heart surgeons threw instruments and bullied nurses - report BBC News NI has seen a leaked report into the culture at the Royal Victoria Hospital's cardiac surgery unit.

Staff told me they just kept their head down hoping they would not be picked on..a leaked copy of the cardiology inspection report lays bare bullying allegations & claims of a lack of trust among staff. This is a shocking read
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

There’s a tremendous air of expectation.. the pair are quietly happy but not visibly showing any emotions. The tone is neither raised nor muted. There’s the odd laugh & trip to fridge…They’re sitting in their usual seats & wearing their @LFC scarves & pins. Father & Son. ❤️

Dentists remove over 50,000 NHS patients from practice lists Out of the 360 dental practices in Northern Ireland, only two are now fully NHS.

Are you affected by this dental story? Out of the 360 dental practices in Northern Ireland, only two are now fully NHS. An investigation by @bbcnewsni health unit www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Cardiac rehabilitation: 'I feel fitter than ever after my heart attack' Our health correspondent shares a very personal story about the work of a cardiac rehabilitation team.

Life after a heart attack: Meet my Dad - Joe Connolly www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Inishowen this evening in all her natural beauty. ☘️

Important public information: @healthdpt opens public consultation on redesign of Serious Adverse Incident Procedure in NI - it says there’s evidence that aspects of the SAI procedure need to be “refreshed and redesigned”. The consultation will close on 6 June 2025.

Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman and sometimes it’s brilliant. Today we’ll be told how we should be feeling .. Just Be yourself and it’s ok not to be ok. Ask friends how they are & listen. #InternationalWomensDay2025 🌈🏃‍♀️

Public service reform: First part financial package to be released Six projects in health, education, justice and infrastructure will share the money.

A significant announcement for GP’s

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Woman praises 'hero' surgeons who saved her smile Suzy Spence was diagnosed with a tumour in her salivary gland and the surgery could cause facial paralysis.

Have you read Suzy’s story? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

“I liked a drink, trifle and the tender moment between a parent and child.” Blue Road tells the extraordinary life story of Irish writer Edna O’Brien. It’s superb. Applauds to filmmaker Sinéad O’Shea’s doc which features a final testimony from OBrien before she died in ‘24. #BlueRoad

A workplace #menopause policy allows women to feel confident to approach their employer to comfortably explain why she can’t come to work - or that she requires support. Menopause symptoms can be debilitating.

Imagine heading off to work or beginning a shift caring for a family member &you’ve been up & awake for several hours. Sofa surfing since 3am. Throw in night sweats and you might be feeling wrung out. This is how some women who’re navigating the #menopause are feeling.. as they start the day.

Another wee nudge about this fab free service. @librariesni.bsky.social #saturdaytreat

Corridor care - I witnessed this in the RVH ED this week. Trolleys with very sick people feeling a freezing cold blast every time the ambulance bay opened to wheel in another trolley.

Some backdrop last night for our walk home:

National Care Service plans in pipeline for 2028, say ministers The government announces first steps to creating a National Care Service - but the final report is several years away.

England - but this delay is likely to have consequences for the rest of tge UK www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

NI health review: Pay and politics dominate the news in 2024 The year began with strike action but ended on a more stable note, while public inquiries also loomed large.

A sprint back over some of the health headlines in 2024 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...