Life in the Weeds: My Health and Hormone Journey: December 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, I’ve finally hit the "sweet spot" with my health. By balancing my thyroid medication and dropping my HRT to three pumps, the "on-edge" feeling is gone and the pain hasn't returned. But as the physical fog clears, the mental work begins. I’m navigating the "imposter syndrome" that comes with building on land I don't own and the "wake-up call" perimenopause gave me regarding self-respect. I'm also looking ahead to 2026 with exciting plans, including a level 3 course in Māori Food Sovereignty and a new direction for my chick business.Posted: 22/12/2025 -
What a difference a week (and a T4 increase) makes! I've had a truly good week, celebrating a huge energy boost, the return of my appetite, and better digestion. The pain is now mild and bearable. I share the progress on my two-year relaxation area (finally using it!), the fun of the Peking chickens, and the surprisingly validating experience of having my doctor listen to, and approve of, the self-adjustments I made to my thyroid medication.Posted: 15/12/2025 -
Summer is here, and so is the holiday struggle: I'm driving the beautiful Far North, but dealing with an extreme TSH crash that makes climbing stairs and breathing a struggle. I share the reality of my travel coping mechanisms—relying on ibuprofen just to manage the searing hip pain while sitting, and the simple food choices necessary to fuel me. My biggest win this year remains the hard-won voice I found after my perimenopause diagnosis.Posted: 8/12/2025 -
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.Posted: 1/12/2025