Help! I am too hot
Why am I always HOT?
My Personal Journey Into Perimenopause
It all started unexpectedly one afternoon while I was waiting to pick up my youngest daughter from school. I was standing in the sweet bliss of an air-conditioned space in Dubai when suddenly, out of nowhere, I was overwhelmed by an inferno radiating from within. It hit me so hard that I had to sit down. Desperately, I fanned myself with any papers I could find nearby, trying to cool down. I noticed a few women glancing my way. Their expressions were supportive and full of knowing. I had no idea what was happening to me. For all I knew, I was spontaneously combusting.
A few days later, the heat returned with the intensity of a raging bonfire. Something was shifting inside my body, but I stubbornly refused to believe that it could be the dreaded “change” my mother had warned me about. Soon, other symptoms followed. My muscles ached as if I’d gone 12 rounds the a heavyweight boxer. Headaches became a daily struggle, and my concentration faltered. Simple tasks, like recalling names I’d known for years or telling stories I used to nail, suddenly became Olympic level mental gymnastics. Sleep eluded me, and when I did manage to drift off, I’d wake up drenched in sweat with painful leg cramps. My body was clearly on a mission to make every night feel like a triathlon.
Then, conveniently, in the middle of an interior design project, my fingertips went completely numb. No amount of shaking or stretching helped. It was as if my body was holding me hostage—first the relentless hot flashes and those unbearable midnight leg cramps and now my hands! My quality of life was slipping right through my fingers, and I felt powerless. After enduring six months of this nonsense, I knew it was time to call in the professionals and see my OBGYN.
Finding Relief
When I finally met with my savior, I mean doctor, she explained that if I’d recognized the signs of perimenopause earlier, a low-dose of bio-identical hormones could have eased the transition. But by this point, we needed to run an all fluids test to fully understand where my hormone levels stood. After waiting another month for results, I was finally prescribed a combination of progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone creams applied to the pulse points. I also started taking a DHEA supplement.
Within two weeks, I felt a significant shift. The night sweats that had plagued me for months were nearly gone, and the hot flashes were rare. Thanks to the DHEA, my mood stabilized, and I felt more grounded and calm. The anxiety that had crept into my life began to melt away, and I was able to maintain my exercise routine, which helped preserve my muscle tone. I did notice some weight gain around my abdomen—apparently a natural response as my body tried to compensate for the declining estrogen levels. But my headaches vanished, and the numbness in my hands disappeared entirely.
Embracing the New Me
As my body adjusted, I started to feel like myself again. My energy returned, and I began losing some of the weight I’d gained. My sexual health also improved—desire increased, and I no longer struggled with dryness. It was as though I was rediscovering the best version of myself, piece by piece.
I can’t go back to the woman I was before this journey. I feel different now about myself and how I view my body. I’ve become a warrior, fighting to stay afloat through this turbulent time. The more I open up about my experience with other women, the stronger we become as a collective force. I’ve learned to appreciate the woman I see in the mirror now—flaws and all—with a sense of pride and joy. This new version of me is a testament to resilience, and I’ve learned to love her.