It felt like my head was on fire.
How I'm dealing with my perimenopause symptoms
It felt like my head was on fire.
It was 2 a.m., and I just remember being overwhelmingly hot in what I thought was a weird dream. Then I couldn't catch my breath.
I woke up and was having an asthma attack.
This was a nightmare come to life for me as this has been a private fear since I was diagnosed with asthma. However, I tried to brush it off, thinking maybe I was just keeping the house too hot - a no-no for someone living in the South! I was wrong. It became a consistent thing. Hot flashes during the day, night sweats while I slept, and abruptly waking up in the middle of the night.
I spoke with a primary care doctor who said, "Oh, its probably perimenopause," and then offered me nothing. I was on my own.
Fortunately, I was working with a trainer at the time, and she suggested some natural alternatives while I found a doctor who could actually help—and, of course, some dietary changes.
Non-medicated ways I dealt with perimenopause:
Diet change: I made sure I drank 64 ounces of water a day, cut carbs, increased vegetable intake, started my day with green juice, and incorporated more protein.
Supplements: Ashwagandha, iron, and turmeric. The ashwagandha helped with the mood swings because the tears were coming out of nowhere! The turmeric helped with my digestion and joints. I would take both as shots (mixed with water as directed) or add them to my green juice in the morning. My menstrual cycles were now heavier and longer, and my iron levels were low. The iron supplements helped with this.
Exercise: At my best, I had a monthly goal of walking 100 miles. This goal improved my mental and physical health. I need to get back to it.
Self-care: Massages, infrared sauna, and yoga because my joints were in shambles! The infrared sauna surprised me, but upon doing a little research, I found that its benefits include better immune health and several muscle benefits. I tried to do this every other month.
It got to a point where I'm sure stress (or just life) ramped up the symptoms. Walking up the stairs in my home was a struggle as my legs felt like lead; I could barely do a quick 15-minute walk around my neighborhood, and both legs went numb to the point of collapse. That's when I found a new primary care doctor and OBGYN that put me on HRT, which is what is helping me now.
I will say that HRT is not a savior in itself.
Those things I outlined before, can still benefit you while taking HRT. After speaking with my OBGYN and current primary care doctor, I’m convinced you need to do it all for optimal health during this period. I’m recognizing that I’m clearly at a time where my lifestyle must shift for my quality of life. I am pressing myself to get my physical health back together and may even begin working with my trainer again.
My health is my priority.
What are you utilizing to get through this stage of life? Leave a comment and let me know so we can help each other.
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PM Kester is the creator of How To Take A Break. Follow her for intentional living content around all things money, career, and relationships.