“I’m a hot mess.”  That’s what a recent Patient said to me when I asked about her perimenopausal symptoms. She continued,  “I even have a whole stack of t-shirts beside my bed.  That way I can take off my soaked t-shirt and put on a fresh one during the night!  I’m waking up every hour on the hour- 1:00, 2:00, 3:00….This is crazy!  I can’t live like this anymore!”

Sound familiar?  Many women are experiencing these same aggravating symptoms but don’t know where to turn for help or guidance.  Fortunately, this patient “googled” me and made an appointment for a consultation.  She had many more complaints including:

•       Weight gain
•       Irritability
•       Mood swings
•       Loss of libido
•       Brain Fog
•       And night sweats…

Yes, I would agree with her – she was a hot mess! 

The good news is these symptoms can be lessened and even completely eradicated with the right combination of hormones and lifestyle changes.  You don’t have to suffer with endless nights of interrupted sleep, soaked t-shirts scattered on the ground, or feeling completely fatigued.

My patient had already invested in a cooling mattress, an overhead fan, and a new air-conditioning system. This still was not enough to stop those night sweats.  We talked about different options, including placing a bag of frozen peas underneath her pillow to cool off her neck and face during the night.  I’ve found this to really help my patients turn down the heat.

After a discussion about the pros and cons of each, we found the right hormonal treatment for her. This involves: dosage, delivery method, and working with a Compounding Pharmacy. Sometimes, I use a progesterone cream which is rubbed on the skin at night but with this patient, she needed a higher dose in a capsule form. That’s one of the great benefits of working with a Compounding Pharmacy – they can tailor the dose to whatever my patient needs.

 Over the next few weeks, she should hopefully see improvement in lessening these night sweats and start sleeping soundly again.

As we all know, you are unique!  Especially when it comes to Hormone Therapy and dosing.  What might work for your friend or neighbor may not necessarily be what works for you.  Understanding these differences as well as other factors that affect hormonal balance can make you feel more confident.  In addition, when you partner up with a qualified physician trained in hormone therapy you will know that there is hope and a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

I am passionate about helping women through the perimenopause-menopause transition and beyond.  

Rather than dreading the alarm clock in the morning, you’ll wake up refreshed, rested and ready to take on the world.  Yes, you’ve got your badass life back!

In health and happiness,

Dr. Diana

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