Life in the Weeds: My Health and Hormone Journey: November 2025
Life in the Weeds: My Health and Hormone Journey
For over a decade, I thought I knew the 'weeds' of my own health. Living with Hashimoto’s and thyroid disease taught me how to navigate bone-deep fatigue and advocate for my own recovery.
But then, the game changed.
I’ve had to confront a new layer of complexity: perimenopause. I quickly realized that many of my symptoms—the joint pain, the brain fog, and the crushing crashes—were being blamed on my thyroid when they were actually hormonal shifts. Managing an autoimmune condition while hormones are in flux requires a completely different map.
I’m sharing the raw reality of this shift because no one should have to navigate the overlap of thyroid and perimenopause alone.
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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.Posted: 24/11/2025 -
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.Posted: 17/11/2025 -
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.Posted: 10/11/2025 -
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.Posted: 3/11/2025