Night Sweats and Soggy Bottoms: 11 Women on Perimenopause’s Worst Hits
Perimenopause symptoms can hit fast and furious,frequently enough at the worst possible moments. Like the time I was pitching a major television series over Zoom – my biggest career chance yet – and suddenly erupted in a flash of heat. It was so intense I had to rip off my sweater (accidentally flashing my bra) while trying to stay composed. As then, my symptoms have only gotten wilder and scarier, like forgetting common words or experiencing intense brain fog.
But knowing I’m not alone has been a lifesaver. I can’t imagine going through perimenopause without discussing these new realities openly. Here are 11 women’s unsettlingly relatable tales of perimenopausal symptoms taking center stage at the absolute worst times:
Dating Difficulties and Ditching Tampons
Ellen’s dating game was delightfully disrupted when her daughter’s innocent observation about her vaginal dryness,a common perimenopausal symptom,embarrassed her in front of a potential love interest.
“I had five nights straight of no sleep – the fatigue was atrocious. by day five, I was almost psychotic.”
Abby’s experience with perimenopausal insomnia went beyond restless nights. It was so severe that she felt driven to the brink, while battling feverish symptoms.
“I had ten miles to go and I was a bloody mess.It was not good. My doctor said, ‘It’s not cancer, it’s just perimenopause!’ Okay, really?”
Andrea’s periods turned into a torrential downpour, soaking through clothing, ruining dates, and leaving her feeling drained and bewildered by her own body.
From Brain Fog to wardrobe Malfunctions
Imagine giving a lecture to 120 students when suddenly, a hot flash strikes. Not just a flush, but a full-blown stripping experience, leaving Shay wrestling with her mic-entangled blazer while the room watches in stunned silence.
Tracy’s perimenopausal “hot sweats” turned a romantic getaway at her fiancé’s family cabin into a mortifying experience, leaving her soaking through her clothes and facing an unexpected audience.
Sarah’s perimenopause journey included an unexpected enlargement, forcing her to ditch her carefully chosen dress just before her daughter’s bat mitzvah and facing an unwelcome conversion of her body.
From Forgotten Faces to Family Matters
Forgetting the names of colleagues,a sudden symptom of perimenopause,hit Bex during a crucial business meeting,leaving her panic-stricken and wondering about her sanity.
For Ellen, a new relationship met an unforeseen detour when her daughter’s loud honesty about her mother’s constant itching (a perimenopausal symptom) became unavoidable in the presence of her new boyfriend.
Angie’s perimenopausal rage made her lash out at her children, a memory she now regrets. Her mood swings where unpredictable and unwavering, making her feel estranged from her usual loving, kind self.
These personal stories show the wide range of perimenopausal symptoms, which ofen hit without warning and impact every aspect of life.