As you’ve surely seen, Wendy Williams, 53, fainted during a live broadcast of her show on Halloween. She stumbled and looked scared and confused, falling backwards and losing consciousness. The show then cut to an extra long commercial break and when it came back after six minutes, Wendy was staying and holding a podium, explaining that she was overheated in her Statue of Liberty outfit but that she was feeling better and is a champ. She is a champ! Wendy’s people later explained that she had been dehydrated from the lights and her heavy costume and that she was resting at home.
In a follow-up appearance after her scary episode, Wendy said she’s going through menopause, without actually using the word, which makes a lot of sense. I could relate to this. She cried a bit too, it must have been so upsetting to have to go through that, especially on live television.
That was not a joke. I’m a tall woman and it’s a long way down… I was being briefed by one of our producers and I felt it as she was talking to me. All I heard was ba-ba-ba… we were about to do our Halloween costume contest. I’m feeling like a wave like hot and like something is about to happen. Hot and a little dizzy. So we come back from the break. I immediately go to the teleprompter… it was scary [breaks down] People commenting online ‘she had a stroke or a heart attack.’ No I had neither.
I’m a 53-year-old middle-aged woman going through what middle-aged women go through. If you know what I mean. The costume got hot. All the sudden right before passing out, I felt like I was in the middle of a campfire.
[From Wendy Williams’s show via Dlisted]
Wendy said that she planned to go down with her crown intact and that she wanted to look cute while doing it and not pull the plexiglass podium down with her. She was glad she didn’t hurt her head or body from the fall. Backstage she ran into Jerry O’Connell, who was in his underwear for some reason, which was reassuring to her. Paramedics attended to her, giving her fluids and electrolytes. Plus the paparazzi were waiting for her outside and she seemed pretty happy about that.
I’m 44 and this just started happening to me. It feels like you are going crazy when you get a hot flash and now I completely understand why women fan themselves and rip off their sweaters when this happens. The anxiety I feel at the time, and the anxiety I’m getting in general, makes me feel out of control. I’m on birth control for the hormones, I exercise and I am trying to meditate daily too. All of that does help somewhat but overall it’s no picnic. I’ve been talking to other women about menopause now and I guess it’s something you can’t grasp until you go through it. I really wish I had more warning, but if seeing women freak out when they have hot flashes didn’t help me get it I guess nothing would have.
Anyway I’m glad that Wendy is ok and I’m grateful for her for opening up about this. It’s something we don’t often talk about that needs to have more understanding and awareness.
Here’s Wendy discussing her fainting incident and you can watch the video of her fainting here.
Photos credit: WENN and screenshots from YouTube
You and me both, CB.
I have PMS related migraines for 2 years now, every month, debilitating ones. I had an episode of vertigo, PMS related, that took me out of commission for a few days. Scary, indeed.
I can’t take BC or hormone replacements, due to the prevalence of breast cancer (and cancer in general) in my family history. So every month, for 7 or so days, I’m like another person. I plan for it, but it’s still very distressing.
I had a total hysterectomy after breast cancer in my 30s, so instant full menopause and no hormones allowed.
I describe it as “my thermostat is broken” and I don’t think anyone can accurately describe how the hotness feels. I haven’t worn sweaters or a winter coat ever since. Even on the coldest days, all I can handle is my beloved trench coat.
@DiamondGirl, have you had your thyroid levels checked? When I was hyperthyroid, one of my symptoms was being unbearably hot all the time — you could literally feel the heat radiating off me. What you’re experiencing doesn’t quite sound like hot flashes to me, but ymmv.
I saw people on other sites calling her a liar and stating that menopause doesn’t do that to you. I got so mad. Sometimes I really can’t stand people. Menopause did this to me. I fainted several times, one time it was serious because I hit my head on cement and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. I was fine, but it was really horrible. The worst of it seems to have passed, but I still get terrible hot flashes. I haven’t fainted in about a year though.
Anyway, menopause may not do this to YOU. That doesn’t make you a doctor. And it doesn’t mean it doesn’t do this to other women. It does.
I was annoyed by the armchair doctors on this site. There was a lot of speculation that I felt was out of bounds. I believe her. Like I said on another post about this, syncope and collapse is scary, but common.
Why would anyone not believe her? Those heavy clothes alone and bright lights on her plus menopause symptoms would send anyone to the ground.
I had hot flashes up the back. Just laying on the sofa could bring one on. They’ve finally subsided but it took years.
Darla! Yes, just because it’s not someone’s own experience does not make them a doctor or expert. This applies to health issues and beyond. I’ve tried countering remarks like this from the women in my family, especially my mother. You’ve given me words to say, which I hope will stem my upset (which, after a lifetime of judgment has become an internalized rage) at the invalidation of such statements. I’m in the process of disconnecting from a family so dysfunctional one therapist termed it “pathological”. This will help me as I continue letting go.
It’s happened to me too. Terrifying. You don’t even have to be overheated – just experience a sudden hormone fluctuation to distresses your vagus nerve.
Menopause sucks. I started in my mid fourties as well. I worry about women who take the pill. Two of my sisters took the pill for hormones and both of them got cancer. My older sister got breast cancer and my younger sister got ovarian cancer. Both of their oncologists blamed the pill.
I know it’s hard to deal with the hot flashes and mood swings. I experienced them for about 5 years. But alas, I’m past it for the most part. Good thing is that it doesn’t last forever.
Yes I said above that I can’t take BC or replacements for this reason.
It is hard- I am not at all regular, so migraines come fast, and boom! I can’t see and then the pain comes. I’m only 45 so I have a long way to go, but thank you for giving me hope it gets better.
Me, too, ladies. I have been in full on perimenopause for about a year now and it hasn’t been too bad (I am so happy not to deal with my period anymore!) but the hot flashes are the craziest sensation. I had them for a few months and they stopped for a few months…so I thought I was in the clear. But then they came back. I have just learned to let them wash over me and not think about it too much.
The hot flashes are the worst, right? I found something that helped me. During the worst of it I started putting Vicks vapor rub with some peppermint in it on the back of my neck and my chest. Try it. Hopefully it helps.
Great idea, I will try that. Thanks!
I’m only 35 so not going through menopause but I’ve been going through IVF and many of you may be aware that one of the drugs that some of us have to take for health related struggles that cause infertility is Lupron. Lupron puts the body into chemically induced menopause. I was at the theater a few months ago in the middle of a Lupron cycle and this happened to me. All of a sudden I got incredibly overheated and panic stricken and claustrophobic and nearly passed out. My friend had to pull my hair off my neck and fan me with the playbill. A kind woman behind me took her daughter’s ponytail holder and got my hair up on top of my head and started fanning me from behind. It was terrifying. I’m so glad that Wendy is ok and wasn’t hurt. We all need to be kinder to each other.
Menopause can be horrible.
I can never look at Wendy Williams without cringing at her nose job. It’s too extreme, her nostrils are too exposed and her nose isn’t in proportion to her face at all.
I can never understand that (the too small nose with exposed nostrils). How is that a good look. Tajari Henson is starting to get that look, too.
Kris Jenner is another one…she doesn’t have the nostril problem so much, but her nose is too small for her face. It makes the bottom of her face, her jawline, look larger.
That Jerry O’Connell in his underwear part….LOL!
I feel for Wendy. Menopause is awful. She may have to start planning (to the extent she can) for hot flashes. One way may be not to wear wigs anymore. It’s like wearing a hat, which will definitely overheat her.
I began perimenopause in my 40s and though I’ve always suffered from migraines, things began to escalate. Now that I’m in full blown menopause, I’m forever apologetic about ever making fun of mom’s friends when they stuck their heads in the freezer. It’s not just a hot flash, for me, it’s akin to walking along a volcanic beach for about five minutes 20 plus times a day. It’s a total body intense sear from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. Then dump a migraine on top of that, roller coaster emotions, and eveything else, it’s a bloody nightmare. I can’t imagine having to ‘perform’ for anyone for any reason.
I agree with you, Mabs.
Four months ago I had a hysterectomy, and briefly went into menopause until my hormones stabilized. It was a nightmare. My migraines doubled, I gained weight and the hot flashes?!? The hysterectomy was done for medical reasons but I really wish I had had another option. Even though I’m 50, I still got my period and wasn’t in menopause until the surgery. My mom had a hysterectomy in her 30s and didn’t go on hormone replacement. I don’t know how she survived. Lol.
I’m seriously considering going on HRT. I’m going to talk about it with my doctor today as I have a follow-up appointment. I wish they would cover this in health class along with menstration and sex education. Cuz menopause is no joke.
Yep, I concur with all of that. I had a partial hysterectomy in my early 40s which went fine until peri set in with double the migraines and the beginnings of ‘the hot flash era.’ Now I’m in full blown menopause horror with all the debilitating symptoms. Mom had a hysterectomy in her mid 20s which is when her doctor put her on hormones, and that was in the early 70s. She passed away at age 52. I’m trudging along without therapy but it’s a freak show. If it were legal, I’d be high right now lol.
Oh, boy, I could write a book on this subject!! I was somewhat fortunate in that I started menopause at the average age (51) and not in my 40s like some of you ladies. Anyway, my hot flashes were so severe – I felt like train of lava hit me. Like, the hot flashes would literally take my breath away. And to top it all off, I’d turn red as a beet and sweat profusely. And this happened EVERY HOUR on the hour!! I’m not kidding – I would time them! It was so embarrassing. Oh, but wait – there’s more! My anti-depressant, which I had been on for around 15 years stopped working. And like that, I woke up feeling like I didn’t want to live anymore.
The whole situation was soul-crushing. I went to doctor after doctor (and I’m talking specialists) and no one could do anything for me. They couldn’t put me on HRT because I have a history of breast cancer in my family. I was given an anti-depressant that made me feel like I was having an out-of-body experience throughout my entire day.
Thankfully, I found a doctor who put me on a good anti-depressant and I was given Gabapentin, which stops me from having hot flashes in the evening so that I can sleep. I can now say that the worst is pretty much over, especially now that it is cooler, but those crazy hot flashes lasted for 2 years!
We must have been writing at the same time… LAVA… YES. Red as a lobster. My sons go, “Whoa mom, you just turned bright red!” while I’m gasping for air. Nobody’s been able to help me either. I lost mom to breast cancer (she took hormones for twenty years). I’m hoping to find something that helps soon. This has been going on for more than four years so far. I need it to end like yesterday.
My mom, too, Mabs. She had taken hormones after a hysterectomy for I don’t know how many years. And this was back in the 70s when the hormones were a lot more potent. My mom must have felt like a twenty-year-old – but it was most likely why she developed the cancer which eventually killed her.
I watched my mother go red from her chest then up her neck to her head like it was a cartoon and her head was going to explode. You could see a line of demarcation – it was scary! I’m 45 and waiting my turn, not looking forward to it!
I had extreme night sweats and a roller coaster of emotions on IVF so I fully believe in menopause as described. I think women’s health issues are so undervalued that not enough research ever goes into treatment.
Totally agree, AngieB. That’s what I found after going to all the doctors (and these were female doctors, too) for my severe symptoms. After all these years and medical strides and we still don’t know exactly why women have hot flashes -there are a few reasons floating around out there, but nothing definitive yet.
Mind you, if men went through menopause like women do, there would be a cure to relieve the symptoms already!
I escaped with only mild-mannered hot flashes, but maybe they were compensated by my internal thermostat being broken in the other direction all my life. I do eat soy products, maybe that helped also.
I actually blamed Ronald Reagan when my periods became very irregular. Well, he was stressing me out by being a Trump Lite.
A friend was having severe world-class night sweats for an unknown reason. I casually suggested it could be menopause. He was not at all amused.
I’m on the other side of menopause. Here’s my experience. Of course, YMMV.
On the plus side, migraines are few and far between now.
Sadly, this is countered by vaginal atrophy, two words that should never go together. Women don’t talk about vaginal atrophy but a lot of us have it. Burning, itching, UTIs (medical science doesn’t fully understand how the two are linked).Without Premarin I would go out in a blaze of hideous UTI.
@Mrs. WelenMelon – vaginal atrophy -yep the unspoken menopausal problem. People are more open about hot flashes and migraines now as they should be. But vaginal atrophy is a horror. Whenever I hear some woman say she is looking forward to not having to worry about birth control, I wonder if I should warn her that she might find herself with something worse. I don’t thoughj because not everyone gets it. But when you do – ugh. And yeah, UTIs are a major and horrific side effect. I actually have antibiotics from my doctor that I can start up when I feel one beginning.
Yes, the vaginal atrophy 10,000% is the worst. I am still going through menopause. I thought the anxiety attacks were bad. I am a trauma survivor so I already have anxiety and PTSD. It went full scale when I hit menopause. I have vertigo and now that is worse. Never would have thought. Heart palpitations, tummy troubles, hot flashes so bad I throw up. The vaginal atrophy had to be the scariest. I thought I had a simple infection. Used the evil Monistat and ended up with a chemical burn. I haven’t used Monistart since I was a young twenty-something. I didn’t know the formula changed. Chemical burn and vaginal atrophy is horrifying. Took weeks to heal. Coconut oil is my best friend now.
After reading these comments, I’m scared of menopause! Lol.
Death, taxes and menopause is how I put it.
Menopause was NOT the cause of her “fainting”.The truth will come out.The crew is not worried sick because of menopause.
Yes she is menopausal,she talks about it every week on the show.She talks about the hot flashes all the time.
It’s awful! I go bright red & sweat profusely as well. While everyone else is in their winter coats, i look like deranged person in a t-shirt, wiping my face & neck with wet wipes. Women always get the raw deal. Periods for first part of our lives & then menopause to look forward to later.
Plus, either trying to prevent pregnancy or get pregnant. Grrr
I carry a bottle of cold water and a hand towel from the gym with me at all times, lol.
I’m 41 and have started perimenopause. No hot flashes yet, but my PMS is out of controk and I have the worst adult acne! I have never had acne in my life and now I look like a teenager, it’s awful (and so painful!). My mood swings are ridiculous. I just know I’m going to get ridiculous hot flashes in a few years because I’m getting everything else. Damn hormones!
From the beginning I said it’s menopause when they released the statement that she got hot in her costume. My mom had severe hot flashes and dizziness during her menopause.
I’m nearly through menopause. I feel like I’m sort of lucky because although I get hot flashes, they are mostly at night. For me the worst part is the sleep interruption and the anxiety. When I was younger, if I woke up once during the night, I’d consider it a bad night’s sleep. Now I’m up 3 or 4 times a night. My anxiety has also gotten worse, but Im not sure if it’s menopause or other things. Maybe both.
My 4AM Facebook feed is full of menopausal women awake, unable to get back to sleep, and talking about hot flashes. Makes for a nice community feeling 😉
I was ‘lucky’ you n that my hot flashes only happened in the evening, never at work or when I was out & about doing other things. Hang in there, everyone, it doesn’t last forever. 🕵🏻♀️👩🏻⚕️👩🏻🏫👩🏻🔬👩🏻🔧👩🏻🎨
My people! I was on BC for 30 years because I have something akin to PCOS. I’ve been off them for about 5 years now, though (doctor took me off them when I was 41, because usual age-related stroke risk). As a result, my periods come like clockwork to this day. But things got weird this year (I turned 47 this summer). In June, I had 3 periods in one month, but that was it–all back to normal now (still not skipping any, dammit). That’s when I clued in! Ridiculous mood swings (first 6 months of intense rage, now 6 months of crying all the time), heart palps that started in January, insomnia, and my first cravings for steak in 30 years! (I’ve had about 5 steaks in 3 months, after not eating any since forever). So yes, all signs point to a predictable hormonal shift, big time.
Weirdly, no hot flashes yet. I’ve gotten mini-ones all my life for a few days every time the seasons change in spring and fall (explain that one to me, because I can’t). I got my normal one this fall. I’m not looking forward to getting legit hot flashes, from what you are all describing.
I can’t WAIT for my debilitating periods to end. Bring it.
Just wanted to chime in here, to the commenters who have talked about their menopause and/or migraines. I’ve been a migraine sufferer for years, so please go have your Vit B12 levels checked. It sounds weird, but even if your levels are at the low end of normal, it can affect moods, and bring on migraines. It took YEARS to figure this out, but I have a patient, open-minded doctor. I went on a B12 supplement a few months ago, and have had one mild migraine since. And since aging and hormone fluctuations can affect B12 absorption, it’s worth looking into.
Menopause can be terrifying in how your body handles it. That said I’m glad she’s ok. And people really went to extremes saying that didn’t look like fainting. It was.
Poor woman. Another thing to worry about when menopause comes!
I’m a fainter. Always have been. Her description of what happened is so much like how it is for me before I faint–the extreme hot feeling. I used to try to go outside or somewhere cooler and would pass out en route. I’ve learned that once you feel that, sit and put your head between your legs (which was something to see when it happened in March on a plane and I was 30 weeks pregnant).
Menopause is bad enough without adding additional stress. In Wendy’s case, she has a demanding show and a cheating husband who appears to be publicly humiliating her. It has to be hard as hell to function with all of that going on during this time in her life.
A long time ago, I heard that 400IU Vitamin E can be good for hot flashes but never had the chance to test it out myself. It’s cheap and safe enough, if other methods haven’t been working well. Apparently Evening Primrose Oil can help also.
Don’t know the mechanism in dealing with hot flashes, but Vitamin E definitely has a good effect on intermittent claudication (my mother testified to that) and on lung capacity. I took a chewable Vitamin E 15 minutes into a recorder practice session and another 15 minutes later (about how long it takes a chewable to reach the bloodstream) – suddenly I could actually hold the note for my alto part that spanned several measures (it had had me gasping for breath all week). I looked it up and found research on athletes confirming that lung capacity was measurably improved by doses of Vitamin E. I wasn’t taking it regularly, but had recently purchased the chewable to try for some reason since I don’t like swallowing pills too much. Judging from my experience with chewable vs non-chewable calcium for leg pain, I would say that an hour would be needed for a swallowed type of Vitamin E.
I started full menopause early (42) & I’m 47 now. Those hot flashes are no joke. I had some that I would swear I was going to pass out & it was awful. I wish with all the efforts to discuss more women’s issues we would make this one of them.
I went into menopause at age 30 due to chemo. I’ve spent the past 27 years going in and out of menopause because my body is still dealing with the ravages of all of the breast cancer related surgeries, chemo, radiation, etc. I can’t have HRT after two bouts of breast cancer. There are times that the hot flashes and light headedness are so bad that I won’t drive or go in public. If I was wearing a heavy, rubber looking costume like Wendy was wearing, there is no way that I wouldn’t have fainted. Hell, I am in a tee shirt at the moment, and pouring sweat from yet another hot flash.