Hi, I’m Melissa, and welcome to my journey through perimenopause.

I wanted to start this vlog because when perimenopause first hit me, I honestly had no idea what was happening to my body. My journey started about four years ago, on my birthday. I was sitting in a car when suddenly I had what felt like a panic attack. My heart was racing, I was scared, and I truly thought something was seriously wrong.

A few months later came the hot flashes—and then one symptom after another. That’s when I started realizing that this was more than just stress. My body was changing, and I was entering perimenopause.

One of the hardest parts was realizing how little we talk about this. Especially in many Latino families, perimenopause and menopause aren't conversations we grow up having. I didn't really know what to expect or what was considered "normal."

So, I decided to start talking about it.

I'm not here because I have all the answers. I'm here as a woman going through it right alongside you. I want to share my experiences—the good days, the difficult days, the crazy symptoms, and the things I'm learning along the way.

And hopefully, we can laugh a little too, because sometimes you have to!

So if you're in your 40s and wondering, "What in the world is happening to me?"—welcome. You're in the right place.

This is my perimenopause journey. Let's talk about it.