Thriving Through Menopause: My Journey to Health Despite Hashimoto’s and Chronic Pain
Have you ever looked back on your life and wondered how you got to where you are today? If you’re anything like most people I talk to, you have stories of resilience, strength, and survival that define your character.
Here’s the thing: your story matters. It doesn’t have to feel earth-shattering or compare to anyone else’s to be meaningful. What seems insurmountable to you is relevant to you, and that’s enough. Yet, so many of us—myself included—hesitate to share our stories because they feel small or irrelevant. We get caught in the comparison trap, where even well-meaning friends and family unintentionally minimize our experiences with responses like, “Oh, that’s nothing compared to what I went through!”
Your story is yours. It’s valid. It’s important. And it’s worth sharing, especially when it can inspire others to see what’s possible.
I can say with conviction that I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve accomplished in many areas of my life. Where I started and where I am today are vastly different—especially when it comes to my health. My hope is that my story can help inspire other women who feel hopeless, lost, and like strangers in their own bodies. Because I firmly believe that you can become exactly the person you want to be with the right support and clarity about why it matters to you.
The Struggles That Shaped Me
Let me take you back to my late 30s. I had been dealing with chronic pain since age 19, and through less than optimal lifestyle choices in my 20s and early 30s, I had become unhealthy, unhappy, and honestly, I didn’t think things could get worse.
And then they did.
For well over 6 years I battled with my doctor, seeing her pretty frequently with a variety of complaints that had me feel like I was losing my mind. I had done my own research and practically begged her to do additional bloodwork because I was convinced there was something wrong with my thyroid, but she waved me off, saying it wasn’t medically necessary.
I finally realized I’d had enough the day she handed me a prescription for an ADD medication and the number of a psychiatrist. I didn't have ADD, but she said the meds would help me with weight loss (a side effect), and the psychiatrist referral, according to her, was because my symptoms were all in my head.
Not sure what to do next, I decided to save up some money and go to a holistic MD in the area who I’d heard good things about. I hadn’t gone earlier because they didn’t take my insurance. But when I took a hard look, I realized that whatever cash I was saving by staying in my insurance network was costing me my health. My life.
When asked what brought me in to see the doctor, I told him I thought I had a thyroid problem, but that my doctor told me my blood work was normal, so I wasn’t sure. His response? “Juli, I can tell just by looking at you that you have a thyroid problem.”
That appointment changed the trajectory of my life.
He did extensive blood work, and discovered that I had Hashimoto’s, a thyroid condition that messes with everything from skin colour and texture to energy levels to weight management. I had been on 7 different medications, all of which stopped then and there. We went down a pathway of natural healing through diet and lifestyle changes, supplementing the many nutrient deficiencies I had developed over the years, and a naturally desiccated thyroid hormone to bring my TPO antibodies down as far as possible (they were off the charts), and some balance to my body systems.
It was a long road, I’m not going to lie. Sometimes it felt like one step forward followed by three steps back. But little by little, my health improved. My blood work looked better. My TPO antibodies got as close to remission as they’ll probably ever be. And I felt AMAZING.
Just before my 50th birthday we moved to Italy for my husband’s job. I made the decision to leave my corporate HR career behind, and inspired by my doctor, decided to pursue my true passion of health and nutrition.What could be better? Living in Italy, getting to start fresh and pursue something I felt so passionate about…it was like living in a dream.
And then came menopause.
I had no idea what was coming. This was just over 10 years ago, and there simply weren’t many resources available to prepare women for this phase of life. Doctors had the attitude that it's just normal and you’ll have to deal with it. (The alternative was going straight onto antidepressants, which help nothing.)
Not being a person who will take pills unless it’s almost a life-threatening situation, I wasn’t buying into all the crap about “there’s nothing we can do.” There’s almost always something you can do. Women in other cultures don’t suffer the way we do in Western societies; in some places, menopause is actually considered an important rite of passage!
During this time - new country, new language, new culture, new life stage - my health suffered. My pain levels skyrocketed, and my body felt like it was betraying me as my Hashimoto’s flared. Menopause became the ultimate cherry on top of this health crisis sundae.
The combination was overwhelming. Hot flushes, brain fog, weight fluctuations, and sheer exhaustion left me feeling stuck in a body I didn’t recognise. I’d tried diets, intense workout plans, supplements—everything promising to “fix” me—but none of it worked.
What was even harder than the physical symptoms was the emotional toll. I felt defeated, frustrated, and, at times, hopeless. Every setback felt like more proof that I was broken. All my hard work from prior years felt like it had been completely erased.
The Turning Point
I wish I could tell you there was a single moment that changed everything. But the truth? It was a series of small, almost imperceptible decisions that added up over time.
Thanks to the help of a health coach, I realized that I was going to have to change things in a way that felt doable in the overall context of my life
The first step was letting go of the idea that I needed to be “fixed.” My body wasn’t the enemy; it was just out of balance. The next step was learning to work with it instead of against it.
This meant abandoning the all-or-nothing mentality that diet culture had ingrained in me. Instead of restrictive meal plans, I focused on eating in a way that nourished me. Instead of punishing workouts, I found movement that energised me and felt good. And instead of trying to do everything perfectly, I started embracing progress over perfection.
These weren’t massive changes—just small, sustainable shifts—but they began to make a difference. And the more I leaned into what my body needed instead of what I thought it “should” be doing, the better I felt.
The Lessons I Learned
Looking back now, here’s what I know to be true:
Your Body Is Talking to You—Listen. Cravings, fatigue, even pain—these aren’t signs of failure. They’re your body’s way of asking for help. Learning to interpret these signals is a game-changer.
Perfection Isn’t the Goal—Consistency Is. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life in a day. Small, steady changes create lasting results.
Progress Never Happens in a Straight Line. There are going to be setbacks. Life throws us a lot of curveballs, so being flexible and giving ourselves grace when we don’t do “all the things” is going help us stay focused on the outcome we want, even when life gets challenging.
You’re Not Alone. So many women feel lost during menopause, thinking they’re the only ones struggling. But the truth is, this journey is more common than we talk about.
Thriving Is Possible — Even During Menopause
As a master health coach and menopause coaching specialist, I hear a lot of stories from women who feel like they’re completely losing their minds… and themselves. Their bodies are doing strange things they don’t understand, and when they turn to “Doctor Google” for answers, they’re met with either terrifying information or nothing useful at all. Add to that the self-proclaimed “coaches,” charlatans, and snake oil salespeople peddling the “perfect” cure-all product for all your symptoms, and it’s no wonder so many women feel hopeless.
Then there’s the medical gaslighting. Too often, doctors’ first solutions are to prescribe antidepressants or ADHD meds and send women on their way with the implication that this is all in their heads. It’s exhausting and demoralising, and I’ve been there, too. I’ve walked out of appointments feeling unheard and dismissed.
Today, I’m healthier, stronger, and more energised than I’ve been in decades. I’m not just surviving menopause—I’m thriving through it. And here’s what I want every woman reading this to know: this level of health and vibrancy is possible for you, too.
You don’t have to accept feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or out of control. You don’t have to navigate this phase of life alone or rely on solutions that don’t work for you. There’s a better way—one that honours your body, your needs, and your goals.
That’s why I’m passionate about sharing what I’ve learned. If you’ve been feeling stuck or unsure where to begin, I invite you to take the first step and join our FREE workshop: 4 Simple Secrets to Help You Reclaim Your Energy, Drive, & Confidence.
You’ll leave with practical, actionable steps you can use to start feeling better in your body, boosting your energy, and creating a lifestyle that finally feels sustainable.
Your health, your happiness, and your life are worth this 90-minute investment in yourself. Because you deserve to feel vibrant, strong, and unstoppable—at every stage of life.
