Why I Didn’t Stop at 'It’s Just Menopause
- Joanne Gaddes
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
The first time I ever raised the possibility of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with my GP, I was quickly shut down. She was a middle-aged female doctor, and I approached the conversation tentatively, describing my symptoms: night sweats that kept me awake for hours, pounding headaches, heavy periods, relentless fatigue, and brain fog that clouded my days.
Her response? My symptoms "weren’t bad enough" for HRT, and besides, at 44 I was "too young" to be in menopause.
That was it. No explanation of what HRT was, when it might be appropriate, or even what my symptoms could mean. I left that appointment feeling dismissed, disheartened, and still stuck in a body that felt like it was betraying me. There was no guidance, no roadmap, just a quiet acceptance that I’d have to keep going as I was.
Four Years, Countless Challenges
Fast forward 4 years and a slew of big life events, a marriage breakdown, my dad being diagnosed with cancer and a career change, which ultimately led to a repeat visit to the GP. On top of it all, I needed answers, because winging it through menopause felt like a terrible plan.
So, I turned to my regular male GP. The one who genuinely listens, who trusts that I know my body, I asked him about HRT. I laid it all out: achy joints, irregular periods, locked shoulder, brain fog, memory loss, extreme fatigue, night sweats, and hot flushes.
When I asked him if HRT could help, his response was a resigned, "Jo, you know all women go through this.”
To which I firmly replied: "Yes, but we shouldn’t have to suffer through it”
That’s when I asked him a question that I truly believe changed the course of our conversation: "What if HRT could take me from 60% functioning normally to even 85%? Wouldn’t that be worth it?"
He agreed, thankfully, and asked me to prioritise my worst symptoms. I left the appointment with a prescription for oestrogen and progesterone, cautiously hopeful.
The HRT Rollercoaster
Over the next six months, I trialled HRT. Some symptoms improved slightly, but it wasn’t the magic fix I’d hoped for. HRT can be a fantastic solution for a lot of women, but sadly, it wasn't the case for me. My periods remained erratic, my mood swings were unpredictable, I gained weight in places I’d never carried it before, and my fatigue was still debilitating.
Eventually, I decided to stop taking it. I even went back on the pill, hoping my hormones had shifted enough to make it effective again. They hadn’t.
When I stopped everything, my symptoms came roaring back like a toddler on red cordial, and no matter what I did, they weren’t calming down. I felt stuck. Worse, I blamed myself for it all.
A Different Approach: Holistic Health
One morning, while listening to a podcast, I heard a mention of menopause clinics.
Why hadn’t I thought of this before?
That night, I dived headfirst into research. I found one that stood out: a holistic clinic offering comprehensive testing across nine thyroid markers, stress hormones, food intolerances, sex hormones, and more. It wasn’t cheap, but it was thorough.
When my 15-page health report arrived, I cried. Apparently, my body had been holding a full-on festival of chaos, and I finally got the program.
Thyroid imbalances
Low vitamin D and cortisol
Excess oestrogen (no surprise there)
Low melatonin.
Finally, I understood why I felt so exhausted — and it wasn’t my fault.
A Personalised Path to Wellness
The clinic worked with me, adjusting my protocol to suit my body's reactions, and I felt genuinely supported.
Two months in, while not perfect, I felt better. Some things didn’t agree with me, but I was on the right path. I’d dropped a few kilos (without even crying over salad), my joints weren’t screaming as much, the brain fog started to lift (I remembered what I walked into the room for), and my energy slowly crawled back. Hot flashes and night sweats mostly packed their bags, my periods got their act together, and PMS wasn’t trying to ruin my life every month
Most importantly, I realised that peri menopause is rarely just one thing, so it makes sense that the solution isn’t one thing either. It’s a journey, and it often takes a village of practitioners to guide us through.
The Journey Continues
I’m still figuring it out. No doubt, my body will continue to change, and I’ll need to adapt again. But for now, I feel more in control than I have in years.
My biggest lesson? The more we talk openly about this stage of life, the more we empower each other to explore our options and advocate for our health. Sharing our experiences helps us realise we’re not alone and that there are answers out there, and this is why I'm so excited about GLO. Searching can be overwhelming and lonely; I love that there is an organisation that helps elevate these conversations and provides a community of support.
If this story feels familiar to you but you don’t know where to start, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why GLO has developed the Be Your Own Project Journal, to help you track your symptoms, explore your options, rediscover yourself and feel more in control of your journey.
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