One minute I was at work, seeing a patient. The next, the left side of my face started going numb and tingly.
The sensation began spreading up my arm, and then my speech became slurred.
I knew something wasn’t right.
I was eventually taken to hospital by ambulance, where the doctors suspected I was experiencing a hemiplegic migraine. But before I could get back to normal life, I needed an MRI scan to investigate what had happened.
I wasn’t allowed to drive until I’d had the scan, which meant four weeks without being able to get behind the wheel.
What I didn’t realise at the time was that my experience would highlight something much bigger: how little we sometimes understand about perimenopause, even within healthcare.
And it all started with a conversation with a research nurse.
I was at work, sitting with a patient, when I suddenly noticed that the left side of my face was going tingly and numb.
Then the sensation started travelling up my arm.
Despite what was happening, I managed to compose myself internally long enough to finish with the patient. Once I had done that, I went to be assessed.
My speech was slurred, too.
An ambulance was called, and I was taken to hospital.
It’s frightening when something like this happens unexpectedly. You’re going about your normal day, doing your job, and suddenly you’re faced with symptoms that could indicate something seriously wrong.
Because facial numbness, weakness and slurred speech can be signs of a stroke, it’s essential to seek emergency medical attention rather than assume the symptoms are caused by migraine.
At the hospital, the doctors felt that I was likely experiencing a hemiplegic migraine. However, I needed further investigation, including an MRI scan, before I could move forward with any certainty.
I was told I couldn’t drive until I had undergone the scan.
And so began four weeks of waiting.
A hemiplegic migraine is a rare type of migraine that can cause temporary weakness on one side of the body. It can also involve other neurological symptoms, such as numbness, visual disturbances and difficulty speaking.
Some of these symptoms can look very similar to those of a stroke, which is why urgent medical assessment is so important.
Migraine can affect people in different ways, and neurological symptoms can be particularly alarming if you’ve never experienced them before.
In my case, the hospital team suspected hemiplegic migraine, but I still needed an MRI scan to investigate the episode.
Thankfully, my scan came back fine.
However, the experience had already had a significant impact on my life.
I don’t think you fully appreciate how much you rely on being able to drive until you suddenly can’t.
For four weeks, I couldn’t get behind the wheel while I waited for my MRI scan.
It affected my everyday life, my routine and my independence. Things that would normally have been straightforward needed more thought and planning.
It was a reminder of how quickly life can change when something unexpected happens to your health.
But there was another part of this experience that really stayed with me.
It happened when I went for my MRI scan.
When I went for my scan, a research nurse asked me whether I would be willing to take part in some research.
She explained that episodes like the one I’d experienced were something they were seeing in a lot of women, and she asked whether I was in perimenopause.
Now, because of the work I’d already been doing around perimenopause and menopause, I knew that I was.
But it made me stop and think.
I’m not sure I would have.
We hear about hot flushes and night sweats, but perimenopause can involve so many other changes. And because the symptoms can vary considerably from person to person, it’s not always obvious what’s happening.
I also found myself having a really good conversation with the research nurse about perimenopause and menopause.
As we talked, she said something along the lines of, “Oh God, I think I’m in perimenopause.”
It struck me that even as healthcare professionals, we can have gaps in our understanding of this stage of life.
And if healthcare professionals themselves are questioning whether they recognise the signs, what does that mean for the women who are trying to make sense of their own symptoms?
I’m a nurse prescriber, and I know how important it is to keep learning. But this experience reinforced just how much more awareness and understanding we need around perimenopause.
We can’t recognise something we haven’t been taught to look for.
And we can’t always join the dots if we don’t know which dots to connect.
Hormonal changes during perimenopause can influence migraine patterns.
Oestrogen levels fluctuate during this stage of life, and some people find that their migraines become more frequent, more severe or less predictable.
Others may experience headaches or migraines for the first time, or notice changes to a pattern they’ve lived with for years.
However, it’s important to distinguish between the general relationship between hormones and migraine and the cause of an individual episode.
Although hormonal changes can influence migraine, this doesn’t mean that perimenopause definitely caused my hemiplegic migraine.
The doctors suspected hemiplegic migraine in my case, and my experience prompted me to think more deeply about the potential relationship between women’s health and hormonal changes.
Perimenopause is the transitional stage leading up to menopause. During this time, fluctuating hormone levels can contribute to a range of physical and psychological symptoms.
These can include:
Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, and not every symptom is necessarily caused by perimenopause.
This is one of the reasons awareness matters so much. Symptoms can last for years. The menopause lasts one day, when you have gone 12 consecutive months without a period.
If you notice new or unusual symptoms, it’s important to discuss them with a healthcare professional rather than automatically attributing them to hormonal changes.
And if you experience sudden facial numbness, weakness, slurred speech or other possible stroke symptoms, call 999 immediately.
One of the things I’ve become increasingly passionate about is helping people understand the changes that can happen during perimenopause.
It’s not simply about periods becoming irregular or experiencing hot flushes.
For some people, the changes can affect their sleep, mood, confidence, relationships, concentration and ability to manage everyday life.
And when you don’t understand what’s happening, it can be difficult to know where to turn or what questions to ask.
You might think you’re just stressed.
You might wonder why you’re suddenly feeling anxious or struggling to sleep.
You might notice changes in your body that don’t seem to make sense.
Or you might, like me, find yourself in a situation you never expected.
The more we talk about perimenopause, the more opportunities we create for people to recognise symptoms, seek appropriate advice and feel better informed.
We also need to keep educating ourselves as healthcare professionals so that we can have better conversations with the people who come to us for help.
My conversation with the research nurse was a reminder that there is always more to learn.
And sometimes, a conversation can open up an entirely different perspective.
Looking back, I’m grateful that I already had some understanding of perimenopause because of the work I’d been doing.
Without that knowledge, I might not have recognised that I was in this stage of life.
But I also know that understanding perimenopause doesn’t mean we should assume every new symptom is hormonal.
My symptoms were serious enough to require an ambulance, hospital assessment and an MRI scan. They needed to be investigated properly.
Thankfully, my scan came back fine.
But the experience affected my life for four weeks and gave me a real-life reminder of why awareness and education matter.
We need to feel comfortable asking questions about our health. We need to know that our symptoms deserve to be taken seriously. And we need better conversations about the changes that can happen during perimenopause.
Most importantly, we need to remember that we don’t have to simply put up with symptoms because they’re happening at this stage of life.
There is support available, and there are healthcare professionals who can help us explore what’s happening and what might help.
If you’re going through perimenopause and something doesn’t feel right, please don’t ignore it. Speak to your healthcare professional and get the advice you need.
And if you experience sudden symptoms that could indicate a stroke, call 999.
My experience reinforced why I wanted to help people understand more about perimenopause.
It’s one of the reasons I wrote my book, Perimenopause & Me.
The book explores the different ways perimenopause can affect us, from anxiety and mood changes to hot flushes, irregular periods, sleep and other aspects of our wellbeing.
It also brings together contributions from other professionals, offering a range of perspectives and practical information to help readers better understand this stage of life.
My hope is that the book helps you feel more informed, gives you questions to consider and encourages you to seek the right support for your individual needs.
Because the more we understand about what’s happening to our bodies and minds, the better equipped we are to look after ourselves.
I’d love you to discover Perimenopause & Me.
Find out more about my book, Perimenopause & Me.
This article shares my personal experience alongside general educational information. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hemiplegic migraine can cause symptoms that resemble a stroke. Sudden facial numbness, weakness, slurred speech or other possible stroke symptoms require emergency assessment. Call 999 if you suspect a stroke.
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