The Symptoms No One Warned Me About: My Perimenopause Wake-Up Call
Heart palpitations. Vertigo. Joint pain. I had absolutely no idea these were all connected.
All I knew about perimenopause was that it meant changes in my period—more frequent, heavier, unpredictable. My doctor confirmed it casually during appointments: "Yep, that's perimenopause." And that was the end of the conversation. No questions about what else I might be experiencing. Not because he didn't care, but because he likely didn't know about the dozens of other ways perimenopause can show up.
When Symptoms Started Piling Up
Looking back, I now know that my perimenopause symptoms started in my early 40s. Over the next 10 years, my body was sending signals I couldn't decode. New food sensitivities. Stress incontinence. Migraines. Hand pain. Vertigo. Facial twitching. Hip pain that wouldn't quit. One by one, these symptoms pulled me away from tennis, gardening, and the activities I loved most.
The Medical Chase That Led Nowhere
The medical chase began. I saw a cardiologist, a rheumatologist, and a neurologist. I had a brain scan. My gynecologist even suggested surgery for my leaky bladder. Every test came back negative—which was a relief, but also maddening. The testing was completely unnecessary, and my "perfect" labs only deepened my frustration. I felt terrible, and I felt completely alone.
These symptoms weren't just inconvenient—they dictated my daily life, from what foods I could eat to what activities I could do.
The Connection I Finally Made
It took years to finally connect the dots. All of these "random" symptoms were linked to one thing—perimenopause. My hormones were changing, and my body had been desperately trying to tell me all along.
By the time I finally understood what was happening, I was frustrated. Frustrated that it took so long to get answers. Frustrated by the needless and expensive specialist referrals. Most of all, frustrated that I'd lost years feeling awful when I could have been getting the right help.
That's why I created MenoHello
You Shouldn't Have to Figure This Out Alone
No woman should have to spend years wondering what's wrong with her body. No woman should have to sift through pages of confusing medical jargon or wade through sponsored content just to find reliable answers. And absolutely no woman should feel alone in this process.
If any part of my story sounds familiar—if you’ve been told “everything looks normal” while your body feels anything but—I see you. Your symptoms are real. And there are answers.
I hope MenoHello becomes the resource I wished I had. And I hope you'll share your story too—because the more we talk about this, the less time other women will spend suffering in silence.
— Theresa
Founder of MenoHello
What to Do Next
If my story resonates with you:
Find evidence-based information about what you're experiencing—from mental health changes to the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) and everything in between.
Downloadable diaries and symptom trackers built for you. From mood shifts and hot flashes to sleep, nutrition, and headaches, each tool helps you identify patterns to understand your changing body.
The Complete Guide for Menopause & Perimenopause. A comprehensive, evidence-based resource to help you make informed decisions about hormone replacement therapy during menopause and perimenopause.
Help other women feel less alone. Your experience—messy, funny, or frustrating—could be exactly what someone else needs to hear. Help us build a menopause space that’s actually helpful.
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