When Your Body Has Other Plans: Periods, Vertigo, and Birthday Blues

It’s Friday, the start of the weekend, and here I am, laying in bed with the AC blasting because my period has decided to kick my ass in more ways than one. This month, it’s not just the usual cramps and bloating—oh no, my body has thrown in vertigo for good measure. I feel weak, like I’m constantly falling, and I can’t shake this dizzy feeling. It’s hard to explain, but it’s like my body is working against me, making me feel drained and exhausted when all I want to do is enjoy my weekend.

Periods are always rough, but this one is really doing a number on me. The tiredness is hitting hard, and I’m getting drowsy fast. It’s like my body is telling me to sleep, but it’s frustrating when you have plans and things you want to do. Why does my period always make me so damn sleepy? 😩 And of course, it’s my birthday month, and while I’m glad this is happening now instead of during my birthday week, it’s still not how I wanted to start the month.

Speaking of my birthday, I’m turning 37 soon! I’m not one for big parties—never have been. I prefer to chill in the city, just taking in the sights and sounds, enjoying the day at my own pace. So, this period needs to be gone by then. I’ve got plans to relax and treat myself, and I refuse to let these symptoms get in the way of that.

To add to the fun, I’m also dealing with some vision drama. My eyes have changed, and I needed stronger lenses, so I sent off my favorite glasses—my Donna Karan New York with transitional lenses—to get the new prescription. Meanwhile, Visionworks is taking their sweet time sending me the eye pics I paid for to show my doctor. I get it, they want to upsell me on new frames, but I love my current ones and I’m not about to switch. They were perfect last year, and they’re perfect now—I just need the updated lenses. But until they come back, I’m stuck with these backup glasses that I’m not a fan of. My cousin says he likes them better, but let’s be real, he has no taste. 😂

And don’t even get me started on insurance. You’d think paying for it would mean they’d cover what you actually need, but no. Why cover half of the vision exam instead of covering the whole thing so the broke patient or customer, whatever, doesn’t come out of pocket? Thanks, American healthcare, for being the con artist you are. Greedy motherf***ers.

So, here I am, riding out this period, dealing with dizziness, fatigue, and the usual hormonal rollercoaster. Where the hell are these painful period sharp pains coming from? Jesus, take the wheel with this menstrual cycle. But you know what? I’m still here, still pushing through. My birthday is coming up, and I’m not letting anything ruin that. This period will pass, the glasses will come back, and I’ll be ready to enjoy my 37th year with all the chill vibes the city has to offer.