The Shed Diaries

Because sometimes, it’s not a “second spring”… it’s a long, dark winter with a power cut.

When It All Began

Perimenopause started for me at around the age of 39. The symptoms were subtle to begin with, so they went unnoticed.

We’d just adopted our newborn baby girl, so my emotions were running high and life as I knew it changed overnight — in the best way possible.

Fast forward a few years and whoa — perimenopause hit me like a freight train!!!

They call it a second spring, well I call bullshit — for me it’s been a long-ass, dreary dark winter with a power cut!

Not Taken Seriously

But I knew I wasn’t depressed. I had nothing to be depressed about.
I had a loving husband, a beautiful baby girl I’d waited over 9 years for, and a business that was doing well. I was content and happy with my life — or at least I should have been.

The way I was feeling made me think I was going crazy. I didn’t recognise myself anymore. I couldn’t retain information or remember the simplest of tasks. I’d be snappy and full of rage one minute, crying my eyes out the next.

And the brain fog? Oh my god, the brain fog.
The sweats were horrific too.

When It Finally Clicked

After stumbling across Davina McCall’s Menopausing audiobook, things finally started to make sense.

So, I went back to the GP and asked for HRT. He was reluctant — still convinced I was too young — but it made sense to me. I had low egg reserves and had been through multiple failed rounds of IVF, so I kind of expected an earlier menopause.

Eventually, he agreed to HRT and put me on a combined oestrogen and progesterone pill. After a month or two, I started to feel better… but it didn’t last. My dose was increased, but the improvements were short-lived.

Then I was allocated a new GP who wanted me off the tablets (due to risk factors) and switched me to patches and progesterone pills — almost body identical this time.

They worked okay… but the progesterone tablets gave me awful side effects — horrendous dizzy spells and really bad moods.

When I explained this, I was told, “Take them at night so you won’t notice the dizziness.”
There was no answer for the moods though.

By this point, I was at least four years into perimenopause, and it was literally ruining my life.

When My Symptoms Took Over

Every day felt like another battle.
The moods. The emotions. The dry skin. The hair growth. The hot flushes. The forgetfulness.

It was like the HRT was doing nothing.

Back to the doctor I went — again — and this time a Mirena coil was suggested.

I was reluctant (because let’s face it, they’re not pleasant), but I agreed. I’d try anything at this point.

I also decided to book a private consultation with a menopause specialist — and honestly, it was the best decision I made.

For the first time, I felt heard.
She listened, reassured me, and explained everything so clearly. She made it clear it would be trial and error, but I finally felt supported.

My Symptoms Were Off the Chart

Low mood
Rage
Anxiety and panic attacks
Weight gain
Sensitivity to noise (trying to navigate this with a very energetic 4-year-old has been hell)
Increased hair growth
Dry vagina
Zero sex drive
Dry and itchy skin
Hot sweats
Brain fog (OMG the brain fog!!!)
Aching muscles and joints
Fatigue
Random allergies to things I’d used for years
Oh, and lightning fanny! (That’s a weird one 😳)

Basically, I felt like a worthless sack of exhaustion, and I genuinely don’t know how I got through each day.

There were moments when I felt like I just couldn’t do it anymore — but I have a beautiful little girl who watches my every move, and I have to find a way to show her strength and resilience.

The Private Plan

My consultant put together a plan that included:

• A big increase in oestrogen
• Changing my progesterone from oral to vaginal
• Adding testosterone to lift my mood, bring back mental clarity, and hopefully restore libido

Once the coil was fitted, I was to stop the progesterone and allow the coil to do its thing.

And for a few weeks leading up to the coil fit, I actually started to feel like me again. The fog began to lift. I was hopeful that this combination would finally bring balance.

How wrong could I be…

The Mirena Experience (aka Torture)

Holy. Shit.

If you’ve ever had a coil fitted, you’ll understand this.

I was also terrified I’d fart! 😳
The nurse found me hilarious, and I’m one of those people who has to laugh through tense moments just to stop myself from crying.

When It All Went Wrong

The days following the fit were awful.

I bled every single day for a month. I had cramps, my mood plummeted, and I’ve never felt so low, so depressed, or so miserable.

Every day I either cried or shouted with rage. I felt like I was destroying not only myself but also my relationships with my husband and daughter.

Then came the joint and severe muscle pain.

To get off the sofa felt like working my way through the evolution chart — one stiff movement at a time. I was in agony.

And that’s when I decided: enough was enough.
The coil had to go.

The Aftermath & What I’ve Learned

As soon as that coil came out, I felt an instant wave of relief — physically and emotionally.

It’s early days, but for the first time in months, I feel a tiny flicker of me again.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this whole messy, exhausting journey, it’s that you have to trust your body and your instincts.

If something feels wrong, it probably is.
If a doctor dismisses you, go back, go private if you can, or just keep shouting until someone listens.

We know our own bodies better than anyone else.

Perimenopause is unpredictable, unfair, and absolutely brutal at times — but it’s also a reminder of how strong we are.

I’m still finding my way, still figuring out what balance looks like, but for now, I’m celebrating this tiny win: the coil is out, the storm is easing, and hope is creeping back in.

If you’re going through this too — please know you’re not alone. You’re not crazy, weak, or broken. You’re hormonal, human, and doing your best. And that’s more than enough. 💚