The Change :: My Adventures with Perimenopause
Growing up I remember watching 80’s sitcoms where they always joked about women going through ‘The Change.’ This stage in life was portrayed as the time when women just went nuts. Menopause is defined as a natural physiological process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years by the absence of a cycle for twelve consecutive months. What these 80’s sitcoms did not discuss was perimenopause. As a matter of fact, no one discusses this phase of life. Of all the things older women tell us about to prepare us for being a wife, motherhood, and life in general, it boggles my mind that no one thought to warn us about the hell that is perimenopause.
Perimenopause is the transition period between a woman’s reproductive years and menopause, when the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone. It lasts several years before menopause. What this definition does not mention are the symptoms of perimenopause and the way it turns your world upside down.
But I am here to break that cycle and be honest about what I have been going through.
Hot Flashes
This may be the most common symptom of all. But it is also one of the worst. Hot flashes are like an annoying uninvited guest. They show up whenever they want and wreak havoc. It starts off slow, and before you know it, you feel like the inside of your body is on fire. There is absolutely no way to cool off. Before you know it, you are drenched in sweat and fanning yourself like a mad woman. For me, they always pop up at the worst moment, like the time I was in the middle of a presentation at work, and I had to do my best to ignore it while I was visibly melting. By the time I finished the presentation, I had pit stains, and my back was drenched. So embarrassing!
Night Sweats
Now these are the annoying little sister of hot flashes. Sleep during this phase of life is challenging, and this is one reason why. So those hot flashes that I just told you about, they love to come at night, while you are attempting to sleep. You wake up and you are drenched, pajamas and sheets soaked. Your hair is a wet, sweaty mess, and you are just MAD. I have friends who have told me that they have to wake up in the middle of the night to change clothes and sometimes shower. Thankfully my night sweats are not that bad. For now, at least.
Sleep Patterns
As I mentioned sleep is challenging. There are very few nights when my eyes don’t just pop open between the hours of 12:30 and 2:00. Sometimes I have to potty, other times it’s just a random thought that pops in my head that wakes me up. Most of the time, I go back to sleep within 15 minutes. But my sleep is definitely interrupted.
Brain Fog
So, remember pregnancy brain? Multiply that by 10. With pregnancy brain and mommy brain, I forgot things. With brain fog, I forget things. I randomly have moments of confusion. It’s hard to focus, and sometimes I just feel like I have way too many tabs open in my brain.
Frozen Shoulder
Now this one took me by surprise. I originally thought I hurt my shoulder while working out. I just assumed I pulled something or slept the wrong way on my shoulder. But something about the pain was different than a bad night of sleep or muscle soreness. I was not able to lift my arm above my head. Taking off my shirt and bra were unbearable. The pain went from my clavicle to my shoulder. I was talking to a friend about it, and she told me that it sounded like frozen shoulder. I researched it and it turns out it was. Since my initial bout with frozen shoulder, I have dealt with it two other times. Each time I took a break from upper body workouts, and I used a heating pad. It did not last long for me, but I do know that it can be chronic for some and requires physical therapy.
Change in Taste Buds
For me, this is the absolute worst symptom. Imagine craving something and you finally get it. And it tastes like you are sucking on a nickel, air, or just plain disgusting. This is caused by hormonal fluctuations. You can also have sensitivity to certain flavors or odors. Dry mouth can also occur. Some even suffer from pain or a burning sensation in the mouth, tongue, lips, or gums.
As I stated, these are just the symptoms that I deal with. There are still several more including urinary incontinence, fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, breast tenderness, vaginal dryness, altered sexual function, and heart palpitations to name a few. I know, that’s more than a few. But that gives you a clear idea of how difficult this stage of life is. I suggest seeing your doctor or a specialist when you get to this point to help you cope. I recently did and now I am going through hormone therapy. I am in the early stages and will share my journey at a later date. In the meantime, let’s keep this conversation going so we can warn others of what’s on the horizon for them.
