Blog

It's the last week of spring, and despite achieving stability in pain, a new crisis is emerging. My latest blood tests revealed a shocking T3 plummet and high TSH—a direct side effect of HRT impacting my thyroid. I use this moment to share my full, painful 10-year Hashimoto's journey: the early dismissal by doctors, the necessity of having my husband speak for me, and the eventual self-rescue through community groups that taught me about optimal ferritin and B12 levels. This post is a powerful reminder that our chronic health journey is rarely linear.

This week has been another success story thanks to the 4 pumps of Estrogen Gel, bringing sustained energy and pain relief. However, this stability has allowed me to look back at the early, unspoken signs of perimenopause that doctors dismissed and I wrongly attributed to my Hashimoto's. I detail the bizarre symptoms that cleared up with HRT—like a persistent itchy ear, heart palpitations, and chronic nighttime leg twitching—and share the current frustration of the bronze beetles eating my trees, proving the learning curve never ends.

This week, the high-stakes adjustments truly paid off. I detail how increasing my HRT (4 pumps Estrogen Gel) zapped 90% of the pain and how adding T4 banished the freezing cold. I share my biggest learning: the power of "small tweaks." By cutting one food item (coconut), my appetite returned, proving every wellness journey is unique. I also recount the "Brazil Nut Lesson" on why testing selenium and trusting your gut—not generalised advice—is vital for Hashimoto's and perimenopause management.

This week was defined by the impossible task of working out which symptom belongs to which condition. I share my hard-won trick for distinguishing Perimenopause fatigue (tiredness with dry, "bogly" eyes) from Thyroid fatigue (bone-deep exhaustion). After hitting a wall of joint pain and extreme cold, I had to take bold action, self-adjusting both Estrogen Gel (4 pumps) and T4 medication. I detail the immediate, surprising recovery, the small victories, and the reality of sometimes missing medication—because life doesn't stop, even when you do.

This week was a whirlwind of time loss and physical recovery. After a nerve flare-up, progesterone provided welcome relief, despite the short-term side effects. While the 3 pumps of Estrogel have me feeling about 50/50, I'm still battling afternoon fatigue and hip pain, indicating I need more support for inflammation. Big wins include a better diet, embracing my dog Rocky's chaos, and celebrating the deep understanding and support from my family. I am on the right path, moving past the guilt and getting closer to balance.

My busy schedule caused a full-blown crash as intense Hashimoto's fatigue met returning perimenopause joint pain. This week, I detail the price of pushing my limits, the inevitable retreat, and the strange side effect of zero appetite and weight gain on HRT. I share the reality of how little energy is left for chores, the battle to plant the killer pumpkins, and the necessary steps I'm taking to protect my fragile energy balance.

After my perimenopause joint pain returned dramatically, my HRT balance shattered. Faced with six-week doctor wait times and high specialist costs, I made the difficult decision to increase my Estrogen Gel to three pumps without medical approval. This post details the intense return of joint pain and emotional chaos, and why I chose self-advocacy over weeks of suffering. I also share how I'm handling the energy drain from the new external commitments and the unique difficulty of slow food digestion caused by my condition.

In this candid follow-up, I share the messy reality of life after the HRT breakthrough. While the first few days felt like a total cure (even allowing me to weed the garden!), my symptoms quickly returned, proving that recovery is non-linear. I detail the strategies I now use to manage my limited energy—including a strict midday rest rule—and the specific, daily struggles of balancing housework with the mental toll of Hashimoto's fatigue and perimenopause joint pain. Most importantly, I open up about the debilitating guilt of capability that comes with relying on my hard-working husband.

Like the perfect reflection on Lake Matheson, this post is about finally finding clarity after 18 months of medical confusion. Despite having great blood work and being told my severe joint, bone, and muscle pain was a "mystery" (since I didn't have hot flashes!), I was completely derailed. My clean diet and supplements failed me, but I refused to give up. I finally found a menopause specialist doctor and started Estrogen Gel and Progesterone HRT. The relief was immediate and life-changing, alleviating the severe pain and confirming that HRT for perimenopause joint pain was the answer. This is a story about listening to your body, fiercely advocating for your true reflection of health, and finding peace beyond the conventional checklist.

Some recipes are all about fuss. This isn't one of them. The "With the Weeds" Choc Cake is our answer to simple, honest baking. Named for its no-frills, rustic charm, this cake is made with fresh-milled goodness from our homestead kitchen. Using freshly milled flour gives it a hearty depth of flavour that store-bought flour just can’t match. It’s the kind of reliable recipe you can whip up on a weekday, yet it's rich and special enough for any family gathering. This is our go-to chocolate cake—a little bit rustic, and a whole lot of delicious.