If you read my last post, you know I talked a lot about the weight side of peri-menopause — what worked, what didn’t, what finally moved the needle. But weight was never the whole story. There’s a whole range of peri-menopause symptoms that have touched nearly every part of my daily life, and it felt important to talk about the rest of it too.
The Sleep Struggle Is Real
If there’s one thing peri-menopause has taken from me, it’s a decent night’s sleep. Between the night sweats, my shunt making it hard to sleep on my right side, and a painful left hip on top of that, my body seems to conspire against rest most nights.
A recent night summed it up perfectly. I went to bed past 11pm, and by 3am I was wide awake — the kind of awake where you just know sleep is done for the night. I picked up a book and read for about an hour until I finally drifted off again.
It worked, in the sense that I did fall back asleep. But that one hour of disrupted sleep left me dragging through the entire next morning.
Brain Fog — And My Unexpected Fix
After my surgery, I started actively training my brain — first by learning new languages, then narrowing my focus to one language, along with chess. I genuinely love both, and I’ve made real progress. But peri-menopause still finds a way to humble me: I’ll be mid-sentence and completely blank on the simplest word.
What helps? I just keep talking. I don’t stop and panic — I repeat myself, circle back, push through. It sounds small, but it works more often than not.
Energy: Small “Snacks” Instead of Big Workouts
I’m not doing too badly here, mostly because I’ve committed to moving daily — even on days I really don’t feel like it. Someone once told me about “workout snacks”: a few squats here, some stretching there, a short walk around the house.
That idea changed things for me. It’s low-pressure, it adds up, and it keeps my energy from completely tanking.
Mood: Mostly Steady, With the Occasional Wobble
Mood-wise, I’m holding up reasonably well. Every so often I’ll drop into a bad mood for no clear reason at all — no trigger, no explanation. When that happens, I reach for something funny to watch and shift my head-space quickly. It’s not a major issue for me right now, but it’s definitely part of the picture.
One thing that helps me keep my mood steady more than anything is getting out into nature. I love birds, and I’m part of a birding club.
Last month we went camping together, and being out there with my binoculars and the group was exactly the kind of reset I needed. It’s become one of my favorite ways to stay grounded through all of this.
Skin: The One Bright Spot
If peri-menopause has been rough on my sleep and memory, my skin has actually held up well — and I credit a pretty simple routine for that.
Every morning starts with warm lemon water on an empty stomach. Beyond that, my skincare is straightforward: a daily wash, followed by a day cream with sunscreen. At night, same cleansing routine, but I alternate between two different night moisturizers — one with Retinol, the other a Hexane-free Castor oil.
I also drink a lot of fluids throughout the day and keep my sugar intake low — no sweetened drinks at all. It’s not a complicated routine, but it’s consistent, and consistency seems to be what’s paying off.
Hot Flashes: My Unwelcome, Frequent Companion
Lately, hot flashes have become a regular part of my day — not just at night, but any time. Stress or a flicker of anxiety is often enough to set one off. Suddenly I’m flushed and overheated, seemingly out of nowhere.
My go-to response is simple: splash cool water on my face, get in front of a fan if one’s nearby. If I can, I’ll sit down right on the floor. It’s not glamorous, but it works, and it gets me through the moment.
Final Thoughts on My Peri-Menopause Symptoms
Weight loss might be the symptom people talk about most, but it’s far from the only thing peri-menopause brings with it. Between the sleep disruptions, the brain fog, the hot flashes, and everything in between, it’s a full-body, full-day experience — and most of it happens quietly, without anyone else noticing.
If you’re going through your own version of this, I hope seeing mine helps you feel a little less alone in it. What’s been the hardest part for you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.