Menopause, But Make It Sudden: When Surgery Changes Everything -- with Fliss Hoyle

Today’s episode is an important one — and an honest one.Fliss Hoyle is back for her second conversation with me, and this time she’s sharing a story that far too many women are living quietly: surgical menopause.Fliss is the founder of Lived Experience Inspires, a company dedicated to bringing the patient voice and lived experience into the heart of healthcare, education, and workplace culture. Her mission is simple yet powerful: to break the stigma, build compassion, and empower people — from students to senior leaders — to create environments rooted in understanding, well-being, and genuine human connection.In this episode, Fliss opens up about her hysterectomy and the sudden hormonal crash that followed. While the world is finally starting to talk about menopause — often framed as “natural menopause” — very few conversations address what happens when a woman is thrust overnight into surgical menopause.There is no “peri.”There is no gradual transition.There is just a crash. A crash of estrogen.A crash of progesterone.A crash of identity, well-being, and stability — often without adequate education, support, or hormone replacement offered.Fliss speaks candidly about what it feels like when hormones are abruptly removed, the impact on mental health, physical health, relationships, and self-trust, and how historically, women in this situation were expected to cope — silently.This conversation matters. Because surgical menopause is menopause. Because hormone loss is not benign. And because lived experience deserves to be heard, believed, and acted on.If you’ve ever felt dismissed, confused, or blindsided by your body — or if you care about creating safer, more compassionate systems for women — this episode is for you.This is Sharing Out Loud.And this is a conversation every woman deserves to hear.Please follow Fliss @fliss_livedexperienceinspiresAnd visit her brand new website! https://www.livedexperienceinspires.com/And let's keep the conversation going by SHARING THIS EPISODE!xoxo,Heather