Hormone Challenges: Breaking the Silence. Continuing the Conversation.

October is Menopause Awareness Month, so I have to share at least one story about this journey we’re all navigating together.

If you’ve been with me for any length of time or read my first book, Come Back Strong, you know that I was thrust into surgical menopause at age 43. At that time, I was in the best shape of my life: an elite athlete, competing bodybuilder, road cyclist, and alongside Jim, leading Cycle Club Kingston.

But beneath that strong exterior, I was suffering in silence.

The Struggle Before the Storm

For most of my life, I had been battling hormonal challenges: severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding that lasted 10+ days each month (sometimes 2-3 weeks), emotional distress, and overwhelming anxiety. I thought this was just my reality, something I had to endure quietly.

Some routine tests revealed a uterine fibroid and ovarian cyst. I opted for surgery to remove both, thinking I’d finally get relief. Instead, I woke up from what became a full hysterectomy and oophorectomy due to undiagnosed endometriosis.

Overnight, I was dropped into surgical menopause.

If I thought I was struggling before, this was a whole new ball game.

Finding My Voice Through the Journey

What followed became the catalyst for my writing. Ten years of navigating healthcare systems, hormone replacement options, and the daily reality of feeling like a stranger in my own body. Writing became my lifeline; a way to process the experience and eventually help others feel less alone.

That journey led me to author Come Back Strong: Balanced Wellness after Surgical Menopause, contribute to Mature Sexual Intimacy: Making Menopause a Turning Point not an Ending, and share my story in magazines, on radio shows, and podcasts. I even had the honor of presenting at the Dignified Menopause Summit as a US representative.

But here’s what I really want you to know: even after ten years and all this advocacy work, I’m still learning. I don’t always get it right.

The Art and Science of Feeling Good

For a decade, I’ve used bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) rather than synthetic hormones. I’ve tried pills, creams, patches, and eventually settled on pellets. I’ve explored nutrition, exercise, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy. I’ve worked to keep stress low, thoughts positive, and my passions and purpose at the forefront.

And sometimes, I still falter.

Most recently, I switched medical teams after three years with a provider who consistently lowered my dosage and extended the time between treatments. Looking back, those years were rough. Were they difficult because of life circumstances? Absolutely. Did my hormone challenges make everything worse? Without a doubt.

My new doctor reminded me of something crucial: BHRT and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are both an art and a science.

The science involves blood work, testing hormone levels, and prescriptions based on optimal ranges.

The art means listening to symptoms, understanding your life situation, and prioritizing quality of life. As I told my new team, “My levels may be ‘normal,’ but I don’t want normal. I want to feel GOOD.”

They helped me understand that athletic output impacts how quickly you metabolize hormones. Stress plays a huge role, too. The higher our stress levels, the faster we burn through our hormone support.

So while I was going through one of the more stressful periods of my life, my hormones and previous medical team were working against me instead of with me.

A New Plan, A Renewed Hope

My new team has a different approach: increase pellet treatments to every 90 days to keep me more stable, avoiding the dips and peaks that make you feel like you’re on a roller coaster or losing your mind. They’re also increasing my dosage. Here’s what struck me most: they reminded me that my body craves higher hormone levels to optimize my life, athletic performance, and ability to feel good.

I had heard this before from other practitioners. But somewhere along the way, I had stopped trusting my own intuition and started deferring completely to one medical team’s approach.

I’m not saying doctors or medical professionals are wrong. But sometimes their approach might be wrong for you.

You’re allowed to question.
You’re allowed to seek a second opinion.
You’re allowed to advocate for feeling good, not just “normal.”

What I Want You to Know

I’m not a doctor or hormone specialist. I’m just a woman living in her truth and sharing her experience. But if you’re reading this and struggling, please know you’re not alone.

I encourage you to:

Live in your curiosity about your own body and symptoms
Play detective with your health journey
Break the silence around your struggles
Surround yourself with medical professionals and a support system who listen
Trust your intuition about what feels right for your body
Know yourself, especially your beliefs and fears about menopause and hormone therapy

BHRT isn’t for everyone, but it works for me. If hormone therapy isn’t an option for you, explore other avenues: complementary medicine, lifestyle changes, nutrition, and exercise modifications. Remember that cardio might drain you and work against weight loss goals. Consider strength training instead. Be open to yoga, Pilates, and meditation. If hot flashes and night sweats are bothering you, cooling pillows, sheets, or clothing can provide relief.

The most important thing? You deserve to feel good. You deserve support. And you deserve to have your symptoms taken seriously.

Join the Conversation

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Here are some resources that have supported me and countless other women:

Menopause Cafe Connecticut Community: Free monthly gatherings (perfect timing during October’s Menopause Awareness Month)

Over the Bloody Moon: International menopause support and advocacy

My book: Come Back Strong: Balanced Wellness after Surgical Menopause

More from my blog:

Let’s keep breaking the silence together. Your story matters, your struggles are valid, and your journey to feeling good is worth every effort.

What’s your experience been like? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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