One night, I woke up around 2 a.m. with the nape of my neck hot and wet with sweat.
Like… wet wet.
My first thought was not, “Oh, this is a medical moment.”
It was, “What the hell is going on? I have to be up in an hour and a half to get ready for the gym, and if I don’t go back to sleep RIGHT NOW that’s probably not happening.”
Was I having a nightmare? Did I pile on too many blankets? No time to investigate. I rolled over and tried to fall back asleep.
Then it happened again the next night.
And the night after that.
I clocked it, but I didn’t panic. Something felt off, sure—but I kept it moving. A couple of weeks passed, and the symptoms started stacking.
I was tired even after getting a full eight hours of sleep.
My moodiness intensified.
I felt oddly apathetic toward things I genuinely care about.
Less patient. More irritable. Just… not myself.
That’s when the thought finally surfaced:
Could this be the beginning of perimenopause?
Social Media for good? Say it ain’t so!
Once that thought crossed my mind, a lightbulb went off.
I remembered a video from the internet’s favorite auntie, Tabitha Brown, where she talked about her own perimenopause symptoms. At the time, it was funny and relatable in a “not me yet” way.
But suddenly, it was very me.
She described perimenopause coming like a thief in the night. Being perpetually hot. Tired but unable to sleep. A sex drive that came and went like it had places to be.
I was still chuckling at the jokes, but I was also connecting the dots.
Doing “All the Right Things”
With my symptoms in mind, I scheduled an appointment with my gynecologist. I showed up prepared, Notes App in tow. I laid everything out. She listened carefully and recommended running labs and suggested I try an over-the-counter supplement that could help with my symptoms.
I listened to the good doc. I got my blood drawn. I went straight to the drugstore, purchased and swallowed down that supplement before I even left the parking lot because I needed relief immediately. I did not like feeling disconnected from myself.
As many women can probably predict, my labs came back “normal.”
No follow-up requested. No urgency. No real conversation about next steps.
Use Your Free Will and Get a Second Opinion.
Fast forward to me, being a true millennial, doom scrolling social media and an ad popped up for Midi Health, a telemedicine company specializing in perimenopause and menopause care. I watched testimonials from women describing experiences that sounded a little too familiar. I also noticed something important: most insurance plans cover visits with $0 patient responsibility.
For context, my gynecologist visit had cost me a $65 copay.
Still, I didn’t jump immediately. I wanted to give the supplement a fair shot before moving on to “the hard stuff.” After about two months, my supplement stack was growing and my symptoms… were not shrinking. I added in Ashwaganda, B12, and D3+K2 in addition to the Magnesium supplement I was already taking to help me sleep.
That’s when I thought:
If booking a visit with Midi won’t cost me anything, what’s the harm in a second opinion? What if it’s not too early for hormone replacement therapy?
So I booked the appointment.
Finally, Someone Put the Puzzle Together
I was nervous waiting for the doc to get on the call – for some reason I felt like I was cheating on my gynecologist! To my surprise, the doctor I met with through Midi Health was lovely. She listened to my laundry list of symptoms—again—and then got straight to the point. She immediately recommended starting me on a low dose of estrogen and progesterone and explained exactly why.
She talked me through how estrogen levels drop throughout the day and why that could explain why I felt increasingly intolerable in the evenings. (Which, yes, I had definitely noticed.)
Now listen. I love my regular gynecologist. Love her down. But she felt hesitant. Careful. Less direct. And if I’m being honest, dismissive.
My Midi doctor didn’t waste time. She had an actual conversation with me. She helped me connect the dots I’d already been tracking and validated what I was experiencing. I believe in science and medical advancements, and I fully plan to take advantage of them.
I refuse to suffer if there is a path to feeling better.
I’ll try the medication. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, that’s okay. At least I tried.
The Plot Twist: It Worked. Immediately.
The prescription was sent in, and I picked it up the same day. It cost me about $60.
I took my first dose—and within a few hours, literal hours – I felt the shift.
I looked at my husband with heart eyes instead of daggers.
I had more patience with my daughter at bedtime than I’d had in weeks.
My heart rate slowed.
I slept peacefully for the first time in WEEKS!
The next morning, I woke up refreshed and significantly less crunchy.
And here’s the kicker: my Oura ring backed it up. Better sleep. Lower resting heart rate. Tangible improvement. It wasn’t in my head.
Eleven days into low-dose HRT, I felt like a changed woman. My sex drive is back with enthusiasm. I am calmer. Kinder. More focused at work. I showed up to the gym without dread. And my body temperature is regulated!
All of this—from getting a second opinion and starting medication that has unfortunately been demonized for decades making women feel like they have no other options than to suffer and endure with no relief.
Building My Dream Team
HRT wasn’t the only piece.
I also started working with a registered dietitian through another telemedicine company called Nourish. My conversations with her have helped me to take the pressure off food and provided the accountability I’ve needed to stay on track with my nutritional needs. Did you know that some women who are entering into perimenopause begin to gain weight, specifically in their abdominal area? It’s not because you are a failure, but there is a biological shift happening in your body. That matters. Getting personalized care is not a luxury. It’s how you get to continue living your best life at any age!
I’ve also restarted a GLP-1 through Mochi Health to help manage my weight.
Let me be clear: I’m still doing the work. I lift weights. I get my steps. I hydrate. I manage my diet. GLP-1s are not a magic bullet—they’re a tool. And tools are allowed to help you reach your goals.
Most importantly, a lot of this care is covered by insurance at no cost to you. Help exists.
If You Take Nothing Else From This
If something feels off, listen to your body.
Talk to a doctor.
And if they don’t listen—get a second opinion.
There is nothing shameful about needing help. There is no prize for suffering quietly. This next phase of life does not have to be dreadful.
If you made it this far, thank you for coming to my TED Talk. I’m just a girl in this world trying to figure it out, and the entire mission of Thirty Now What is to help women feel less alone as we navigate life after 30.
Get the help. Build your team. Use the science.
And let’s keep Gen Z guessing why we still look so damn good. 💁🏽♀️✨
Resources That Helped Me
- Tabitha Brown on perimenopause
- Midi Health – check your insurance coverage
- Nourish – dietitian support
- Mochi Health – GLP-1 care
