The Hangout: Am I on fire?

Holy smokes! Is it called perimenopause coz you feel as hot as peri peri? This new little situation is for the birds and I don’t want it, thanks. One minute I’m boiling hot right smack bang in the middle of winter and then I get the chills. And I don’t mean chillin’ like a villain. It also looks like I’ve gone swimming in my clothes fifteen times a day. So what can we do to try to minimise these wild things from happening to us?

First up, apparently our bodies would quite like us to look after them while they’re busy changing the rules without asking permission. Regular exercise can help with sleep, mood and maintaining strong bones and muscles, and strength training becomes especially important as we get older. Eating well matters too, with plenty of protein, fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and calcium rich foods. Alcohol, caffeine and spicy food can also make hot flushes worse for some women, which seems particularly unfair because surely if I’m going to be awake at 3am sweating through my pyjamas like a fountain I should at least be allowed a little glass (read bottle) of wine.

Then there are the little practical tricks. Wear layers so you can start removing clothing before you spontaneously combust in the supermarket. Keep the bedroom cool, try lighter bedding, carry a fan and drink plenty of water. Sleep can become a whole new adventure during perimenopause too, so keeping fairly regular sleeping hours and winding down before bed may help. Stress can also make symptoms harder to deal with, so walking, yoga, breathing exercises, meditation or whatever helps you switch your brain off for five minutes is worth trying.

Personally, I’d also like to suggest lying dramatically on the couch and announcing that nobody is allowed to speak to you, but I’m not sure that one has been medically tested.

There are also loads of supplements and natural remedies marketed at women going through perimenopause, but natural doesn’t automatically mean harmless or effective. Some women try things like black cohosh or herbal products containing phytoestrogens, while others swear by magnesium for sleep, but the evidence varies and supplements can interact with medicines or be unsuitable for certain health conditions. So before buying half the health shop because a woman on the internet promised it would change your life, have a chat with your doctor or pharmacist.

And then there’s HRT, or hormone replacement therapy, which can be very effective for symptoms including hot flushes and night sweats. It isn’t one size fits all and there are different types and ways of taking it, so this is definitely a conversation to have with a healthcare professional who knows your medical history. There are also non hormonal prescription treatments that may help certain symptoms if HRT isn’t suitable or isn’t something you want to use. Basically, we have options, ladies. We do not have to silently (or not so silently) melt into the furniture.

Perimenopause can bring along quite the collection of surprises. Hot flushes, night sweats, wonky periods, trouble sleeping, mood changes, brain fog and a body that suddenly seems to be operating according to its own mysterious timetable. Symptoms can vary enormously from woman to woman, so what works brilliantly for your friend might do absolutely nothing for you. And if symptoms are severe, unusual or interfering with everyday life, it’s worth speaking to your doctor rather than assuming you just have to put up with them.

So here we are, navigating another bizarre chapter nobody really explained properly. I’m going to try the sensible stuff, keep asking questions and figure out what works for me. I’m also going to keep a fan within grabbing distance at all times. If you see me standing outside in the middle of winter looking very happy while everyone else is wearing six layers, please don’t worry. I’m not losing the plot. I’m just having my own private summer.