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Signs Perimenopause Has Started (and Why You’re Not Crazy)
Why hormonal changes can make autoimmune symptoms flare — and what to do first.
Recently, I shared about our camping trip — the dust, the chaos, and the reminder that sometimes resilience means making things work with less-than-ideal tools.
Midlife can feel a lot like that.
You think you know your body — what foods work, how to keep your energy steady, how to keep autoimmune symptoms calm — and then the hormonal wiring shifts. Suddenly, the strategies you’ve trusted for years don’t work the same way.
For many women, this is perimenopause. And if you already have an autoimmune condition, hormone fluctuations can act like pulling the immune system’s coach off the field mid-game. Inflammation spikes, symptoms flare, and you’re left wondering if you’ve lost the rulebook entirely.
The Estrogen–Immune System Connection
For decades, estrogen has been your immune system’s diplomatic coach — keeping inflammation in check and helping immune cells play nice.
When estrogen starts fluctuating during perimenopause, that “coach” shows up sporadically. The immune system doesn’t know how to respond, and “inflammatory confusion” sets in. This can:
- Intensify joint pain and fatigue
- Trigger brain fog
- Disrupt sleep
- Worsen digestive symptoms
- Increase frequency or severity of autoimmune flares
And here’s the tricky part: not all autoimmune conditions respond the same way. Some may flare more (like Hashimoto’s or lupus), while others temporarily improve before swinging the other direction.
Your Symptoms Are Not the Enemy
Those frustrating changes aren’t signs you’re broken. They’re your body’s way of asking for specific support:
🩸 Blood sugar regulation
🦠 Digestive healing
🌱 Nutrient replenishment
😴 Restorative sleep
🧘♀️ Stress relief
⚡ Mineral balance
My Story: Mold, Midlife, and a Miracle
After moving from our farm during COVID, we discovered black mold in our new home — and my perimenopause symptoms hit hard. Hot flashes, brain fog, exhaustion… even my ten year old son had hot flashes from the mycotoxins. But by supporting my body’s foundational needs… plus a whole lot of sauna with binders style detox, I not only recovered, I got pregnant with our surprise fourth child in my 40’s.
Quick Nutrition Wins for Perimenopause & Autoimmune Health
🥩 Prioritize protein — Aim for high-quality, clean animal protein at each meal to keep blood sugar steady and support muscle + hormone balance.
🥑 Include healthy fats — Grass-fed butter, ghee, olive oil, coconut, and avocado help regulate inflammation and stabilize mood.
🥬 Eat colorful veggies — Rotate colors to boost antioxidants and micronutrients that calm your immune system.
💧 Hydrate + remineralize — Use electrolytes like Seeking Health Optimal Electrolyte or Needed Hydration to restore mineral balance.
🌞 Get morning light — Supports your circadian rhythm, improves sleep, and helps hormone signaling.
Foundational Support for Perimenopause
Every woman’s needs are different, but here are practitioner-grade options I often use to support hormone balance in perimenopause — and how to know which might be right for you:
- Ancestral Supplements Grass-Fed Beef Liver — whole-food vitamin A, B12, folate, iron, and more.
If you feel run-down, bruise easily, or have low iron/B12 on labs.
- Ancestral Supplements Female Enhancement Formula — female-focused support alongside nutrient-dense organ meats.
If you need gentle whole-food support for hormone health and reproductive tissues.
- Biotics Research EquiFem® — a broad-spectrum female multi with adrenal/hormone support.
If you want a one-stop daily formula to cover common perimenopausal nutrient gaps.
- EndoAxis Formula® 4 — targeted endocrine and adrenal support for women navigating hormonal transitions.
If fatigue, low stress tolerance, or hormone transition symptoms are front and center.
- Biotics Research Receptor Detox — supports healthy estrogen receptor activity and clearance of hormone-disrupting compounds.
If you have estrogen dominance signs like breast tenderness, heavy cycles, or stubborn weight gain.
- FemmenessencePRO — clinically studied maca for hormone balance, energy, and mood.
If mood swings, energy dips, or libido changes are your main concern.
Tip: Start with 1–2 of the options that match your top symptoms, then layer in others as needed. These are practitioner-grade formulas I’ve personally used or recommended in my clinical work, and they’re designed to work alongside foundational nutrition and lifestyle support.
Next Steps
Your body is designed to heal and thrive. Even in the midst of autoimmune challenges and hormonal chaos, when you provide the right support, your body knows how to rebalance itself.
This is Part of my Perimenopause Power Series — designed to help women with autoimmune conditions navigate hormonal changes with more energy, balance, and peace.
Next week: The Blood Sugar Rollercoaster — Why Perimenopause Makes Weight Loss Feel Impossible (and What Actually Works).
Your midlife health journey can be strong, peaceful, and fully supported — and you don’t have to walk it alone.
Warmly,
Brenna