Hot Flashes & High Hopes: Laughing, Learning, and Living Through Perimenopause
Hot Flashes & High Hopes: Laughing, Learning, and Living Through Perimenopause
If you’ve been finding yourself suddenly sweating through your favorite blouse at a stoplight, losing your train of thought mid-sentence, or mixing up marshmallows for mushrooms in your family’s stir-fry… welcome, my friend. You might just be in perimenopause.
And before you panic—no, this isn’t the beginning of the end. It’s a rite of passage. One that comes with its own cast of characters, plot twists, and laugh-out-loud moments.
Today we’re pulling back the curtain on Hot Flashes & High Hopes, the season of life where your body’s internal thermostat, mood, and memory all start behaving like unsupervised toddlers.
The Symptom Circus (a.k.a. Why Am I Like This?)
Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause where your estrogen and progesterone levels begin shifting. It can start in your late 30s or 40s and last several years. And while the classic symptoms are legendary—hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings—the weird ones deserve their own comedy special.
Here are just a few I’ve personally experienced or heard from other women in the trenches:
The Brain Fog Blackout Walked into the pantry, stood there staring, and had absolutely no idea why I came in. Left. Came back. Still nothing. Ended up eating a cracker just to feel productive.
The Surprise Itch One minute I’m fine, the next my ears are itchy like I’ve been in a hay field for six hours. Spoiler: I have not been in a hay field.
The Glow Stick Joints That satisfying pop and crack when you stand up? Yeah, now my knees and hips sound like I’m prepping for a glow stick rave.
Burning Tongue Syndrome Feels like I licked a curling iron. No, I did not.
The Hot Flash Hijack Happened in the grocery store last month—one minute comparing yogurt labels, the next fanning myself with the store flyer while seriously considering sticking my head in the freezer aisle. If you’ve been there, you know: your body is hosting its own reality show and forgot to give you the script.
Your Gut: The Hormone Boss You Didn’t Know You Had
One thing most doctors don’t tell you is that your gut and your hormones are best friends—and when one is unhappy, the other usually is too. Your gut microbiome helps regulate estrogen, manage inflammation, and even create serotonin (the happy chemical).
During perimenopause, the shifting hormones can throw your gut bacteria out of balance, and a cranky gut means cranky hormones.
This is why supporting gut health can be a game-changer:
Eat plenty of fiber from fruits, veggies, and legumes.
Add fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut.
Limit processed foods and sugar.
Stay hydrated so things ahem keep moving.
Natural Ways to Tame the Madness
While there’s no magic button to skip this phase, there are natural remedies that can help smooth the ride:
Hot Flashes/Night Sweats: black cohosh, sage tea, evening primrose oil, breathable bedding.
Mood Swings: magnesium glycinate, omega-3s, daily movement.
Sleep Troubles: chamomile tea, valerian root, no screens an hour before bed.
Gut Support: probiotics, high-fiber foods, lower sugar intake.
Liver Support: cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts to help your body process hormones effectively.
Blood Tests You Can Request
Knowledge is power, and a few key labs can help your doctor (and you) know exactly what’s going on:
Hormone panel (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone)
FSH & LH
Thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, antibodies)
Vitamin D & B12
Fasting glucose & A1C
Cortisol If your provider dismisses your concerns, find one who listens. Your health matters.
PSA for Husbands: Read This and Live
Gentlemen, here’s your perimenopause survival guide:
Never say “Calm down.” It’s not calming—it’s a dare.
Temperature control is sacred. If she throws open windows in January, put on a sweater and hush.
Learn her signals. That eyebrow raise means don’t. ask. questions.
Keep snacks nearby. Hangry + hormonal = dangerous.
Affirm her. Tell her she’s beautiful, capable, and doing a great job. And mean it.
Follow these steps and you may just become her MVP. Ignore them… well, let’s just say she has access to true crime podcasts.
Finding the Hope in Hot Flashes
Here’s the truth: perimenopause is not a punishment. It’s a privilege not everyone gets. It’s a marker of a life lived, lessons learned, and strength built over time. Yes, it’s unpredictable.
Yes, it can be frustrating. But it’s also an invitation to slow down, laugh more, and care for your body in deeper ways. And on the days you put marshmallows in the stir-fry?
Just laugh, call it dessert, and move on.Free Resource
To help you navigate this spicy little season, I’ve created the Hot Flashes & High Hopes Survival Kit—full of symptom tips, natural remedies, my “Husband’s Playbook,” and even a few easy recipes for those brain-fog days. Grab it now at WomenAroundTheWell.com and let’s walk this road together—one hot flash at a time.
