Blog: October 2025

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.