The Time-Warp, Nerves, and Hitting 50/50 The Great Two-Week Misplacement
I’m slightly rattled, honestly. I was looking through my diary the other day and had a truly bizarre moment of confusion: my baby chicks are coming up on six weeks, but in my head, I thought they were still only three! How I have misplaced two entire weeks is completely lost on me. It feels like a symptom of the last few years—just trying to keep all the plates spinning while navigating this health journey.
Nerves, Hormones, and the Hangover
My week started with a serious physical challenge. I visited the chiropractor last Friday, and while I usually feel great afterward, my neck nerves must have gotten irritated. By Sunday, my right arm was numb and tingly, making the homeschool surfing drive to the mount less than fun on Monday.
The good news? I started my cycle of progesterone that night. I woke up Tuesday feeling completely relaxed, and my arm felt great—a huge relief. The only real problem is that first-night effect: it still makes me feel a bit drunk the following day. Thankfully, that feeling now only lasts a day, not the whole week like it did when I first started!
The HRT Balancing Act
While the 3 pumps of Estrogel are doing an okay job, I know there’s still room for improvement.
The biggest hurdles this week were:
• Afternoon Fatigue: It's still kicking my butt. Hitting that wall every afternoon is so frustrating.
• Dull Hip Ache and Recovery: Finishing the weeding for my pumpkins took me an extra few days to recover from. My hips and muscles just aren't bouncing back like they should.
It feels like a fine-tuning process, where I’m close, but my body is clearly telling me it needs a little more support to tackle inflammation and recovery.
Rocky, My Mischievous Helper
I’ve been using my small window of afternoon energy to catch up on brushing Rocky, my border collie. He’s my shadow—great with the sheep, but a menace in the garden! He genuinely thinks he’s helping, but he has single-handedly pulled out my roses, eaten my tulips, and peed on my lemon tree and blueberries. It’s why we are finally getting a better garden area built—to save my new vegetable plants from his hungry enthusiasm! Even though he’s chaos in a furry package, he gives the best, most soulful hugs.
The Mental Struggle vs. The Grateful Heart
I’ve been using my small window of afternoon energy to catch up on brushing Rocky, my border collie. He’s my shadow—great with the sheep, but a menace in the garden! He genuinely thinks he’s helping, but he has single-handedly pulled out my roses, eaten my tulips, and peed on my lemon tree and blueberries. It’s why we are finally getting a better garden area built—to save my new vegetable plants from his hungry enthusiasm! Even though he’s chaos in a furry package, he gives the best, most soulful hugs.
The Mental Struggle vs. The Grateful Heart
I am hardest on myself for the things I can’t do anymore. Going from being able to do it all, to struggling to get out of bed or off the couch some days, is a heavy mental battle. I felt like I let myself and my kids down by not having the energy when they were younger, especially because I just thought it was how the doctors told me it was, and if they could help, they would. By the time perimenopause hit, I had more knowledge about how to support myself, but no one seemed to listen to me.
Thankfully, my kids have grown up to be so understanding, and my husband has truly taken the time to listen and understand what's actually happening over the past few years. In the early days, when I couldn't do anything, the guilt was immense. Now, I manage that guilt by prepping meals on my good days so they only need to be defrosted and cooked. Since starting HRT, the pressure is easing. We've had a few moments where I've been caught off guard and he's had to cook from scratch, but overall, life is feeling easier. I would say we are hitting about 50/50 now, which tells me I am definitely on the right path!
Small Wins: Diet Progress
I'm celebrating the small wins this week, especially with my diet.
• Breakfast: Berries are back in the supermarket, so I've been enjoying berries and yogurt.
• Lunch/Dinner: While cold chicken on shop-bought buns isn't the most nutritionally perfect choice, I see eating as a huge win. Small, basic dinners and making sure I eat regularly is a big step forward. I’m hoping to keep this up.
If you've also been on a hormonal balancing journey, I'd love to know: what was the first small win you celebrated that made you feel like you were finally turning a corner? Share your story in the comments below!