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Thoughts are rushing through your mind wondering; Why are you soaking wet? Why are you burning up? Are you sick? Do you have a fever? Did you wet the bed? What is going on?

The next day, you're standing in the kitchen having a regular conversation, and all of a sudden what feels like heat from a blazing hot pizza brick oven, washes over your face and chest. In less than 60 seconds later you're standing there stripped down to your bra in front of the refrigerator not able to get your top back on fast enough. Just as lightning fast as the heat arrived, it has now gone.

What is going on?! I'll tell you.

If you are finding me for the first time, let me welcome you to the Hormone Hottie Community. I'm Dr. LaKeischa, an Integrative Gynecologist, Hormone Specialist, and BEST SELLING AUTHOR. I help ambitious women who are struggling with depleting hormones in perimenopause and menopause get their hormones balanced, regain mental sharpness and have the energy to last the entire day!

Have you experienced the scene that I described above yet?

No? Don't worry, you could be among the 25% of women who don't have to experience hot flashes to be inducted into perimenopause and menopause.

But ladies, it's more than just hot flashes.

I watched episode 11 of season 8 of the TV show Black-ish and saw Dr. Rainbow Johnson just about lose her sh*t as she tore off her top and stuck her head in the refrigerator as she proclaimed, "I'm perimenopausing"! I don't know about you but I laughed and then clutched my proverbial pearls.

I'm not too far behind her in age AND I'm a doctor. I can just imagine myself treating a patient and experiencing heat from the pit of my belly engulfing me all the way up to the crown of my head.

Or being caught off guard like Mrs. Charlotte York Goldenblatt, in episode 9 of "And Just Like That?" Where she thinks she's scot-free because for 4 months she hasn't seen her period and then BAM!, she has a "flash period" in her PRISTINE WHITE JUMPSUIT while trying to guide her teenage daughter on how to remove her own tampon through a porta-potty door! Uggg!

I know, I heard the collective sigh. So let's see if we can talk about some other symptoms of perimenopause so you won't be caught off guard like Charlotte in her white jumpsuit or shaken like Dr. Rainbow when you go stripping through the house to get to the freezer.

The main reason you even have these annoying, (at times) embarrassing symptoms is because the roller coaster doesn't go up to the big loop anymore. What do I mean by that? Well to have a cycle in the first place estrogen and progesterone have to rise and fall every 28-30 days. Thus, you got it, a period (you liked that double pun LOL). Because of the predictability of this cycle, you knew what clothes you could wear a week before or during your period. You knew how many pads, and/or tampons to use or how long you could leave in your period cup. You knew how to schedule your social commitments and vacations were always planned around your very demanding Aunt FLO.

But now! Now, you have uncertainty and a whole heap of other symptoms that you may experience but you are told,

• Oh you're just getting older.

• Oh, and by the way, I know I said 7 but you can find 34 symptoms and counting.

Yeah, isn't that just special! Here is a shortlist of 21 symptoms that I could think of that I see on a regular basis when I talk to women.

One thing I want to point out. Not all of these symptoms are caused by the dysfunction of the roller coaster ride of estrogen and progesterone. There is a third accomplice. It's testosterone. I know, you're squinting your eyes saying an elongated WHAAAT under your breath as you read this. Yes, ladies, we do make testosterone and it is important in mood, motivation, focus, and making lean muscle mass. Testosterone also has anti-inflammatory properties. Sooooo, those achy joints that you start feeling are not just you getting older and feeling Uncle Author (arthritis) knocking on your door but it could be Testosterone deficiency.

1. Night Sweats

2. Flash periods

3. Heart palpitations

4. Personal summers

5. You woke up in a body you don't recognize

6. Mood Swings

7. Burning mouth syndrome

8. Vaginal dryness

9. Urinary incontinence

10. No sex drive

11. Brain fog

12. Anxiety

13. Depression

14. Thinning hair

15. Facial hair growth

16. Joint pain

17. Fatigue

18. Digestive issues

19. Weight gain

20. New-onset or worsening insomnia

21. Itchy skin

Bonus: Perimenopause and Puberty Do NOT Go Together (If you have a teen in your household who is in the throes of puberty, you KNOW, puberty and perimenopause DON'T MIX!)

I know this just doesn't seem fair. It can feel as if you woke up one day and your body decided to betray you and you didn't get the memo the day before. So what do you do? You start with understanding that you're not crazy!

Whatever changes your body is experiencing are real physiological changes in response to a chemical dysfunction. The next thing you do is start forming your healthcare team that is going to hear and partner with you so you can get to the REAL you. Once you start building up your arsenal of tools you can use during this next phase of life; you can start appreciating what the character Ruby in Black-ish said to Rainbow. She leaned across the counter and lovingly connected with her by placing her hand on hers. She reminded Dr. Rainbow Johnson, "all of this is yours again". Your body is no longer an incubator or a source of food. Your body is no longer in the awkward stages of adolescence and feeling uncertain about stepping into the world. Your body is now yours!

So Hormone Hottie, don't wait another minute longer, snag your FREE STRATEGY SESSION with me, and let's get you back to the REAL you.