Day 1–5 on HRT: What Actually Happened (So Far)

I promised myself I would document this honestly — not the brochure version, not the “miracle cure” version, and not the doom-and-gloom version either. Just the real, unfiltered experience of starting hormone replacement therapy.

So here it is.
My first five days on HRT — pellets and nightly progesterone — exactly as they unfolded.

No hype. No panic. Just observations.

What You’ll Learn in This HRT Journey

• What happened on Days 1–5
• Symptoms that changed (quick list)
• How I felt physically and emotionally
• What actually worked and what didn’t

Jump to:

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5
• Final Thoughts (For Now)

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Day 1 – January 14, 2026

Pellet Day

I got my pellets inserted around 10:00 AM, and I started progesterone pills that night.

The insertion itself?
Not terrible — but yes, my ass hurt. That part is real and deserves honesty.

What surprised me most came later.

By 4:30 PM, when I got off work, I realized something felt… off.
I wasn’t exhausted.

And that was not my normal.

Usually, by the end of the workday, I’m running on fumes, forcing myself through the evening. That didn’t happen. I still felt human.

Physically, my frozen shoulder decided to be chaotic and jumped from my right shoulder to my left. I’ve had both shoulders frozen at the same time before, so this wasn’t shocking — just annoying.

Other notes:

• Tinnitus still present
• Insertion site sore
• Took progesterone around 9:00 PM and went to bed

No fireworks. No instant magic. Just… different.

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Day 2 – January 15, 2026

Still Tired, Still Sweaty, Still Cold

I took progesterone the night before, but I still woke up with night sweats, doing the usual blanket on / blanket off routine.

Morning mood?
Tired. Unmotivated. Didn’t want to get up.

After work, I tried to work on my website for a bit, but I felt completely drained. Zero energy. Mentally and physically wiped.

I went to bed early — 8:30 PM — after taking my vitamins and progesterone.

It was also freezing cold outside, which definitely didn’t help how blah I felt. Cold weather seems to amplify everything when your hormones are already throwing tantrums.

This day felt discouraging — but I reminded myself:

I didn’t break overnight. I won’t fix overnight either.

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Day 3 – January 16, 2026

Subtle Shifts

This night was different.

I slept better.
And I dreamed.

That alone felt huge.

I’m still tired — but after years of poor sleep, I don’t expect my body to bounce back in three days. That kind of exhaustion has layers.

Emotionally, the day was mixed.

At lunch, I felt sad and despondent about some things. Then, when our food took forever at a new restaurant, I got really pissed off — internally. I recognized it for what it was and didn’t take it out on the staff (new restaurant, first week chaos happens).

That self-awareness mattered.

Physically:

• Incision felt better
• Planned to remove gauze that night
• Frozen shoulder still present, but manageable

Then something interesting clicked.

I realized the antibiotic I’d been taking for a tooth issue may have been affecting my hormones. I switched to garlic supplements instead.

And here’s the kicker:

My tinnitus wasn’t as loud.

Not gone.
But noticeably quieter.

That caught my attention.

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If you’re following this journey, read these next:

• Day 1 of HRT: The Pain in My Ass Is Finally Matching My Personality
• Menopause Sleep Problems and Separate Beds
• Menopause Rage Is Real — Here’s Why

Day 4 – January 17, 2026

Saturday Energy (Who Is She?)

I slept until 7:30 AM — not bad, considering I was up until 11 the night before.

I woke up with both ears ringing (rude), needed coffee immediately, but the day took an unexpected turn.

By the afternoon?

I had energy.

Enough energy that I was almost annoying my husband with my silliness.

He had poker night planned, so obviously I made him take me out for Mexican food and margaritas first.
Because science.
And because I needed to test my perimenopausal alcohol intolerance.

Results:

• Intelligence still intact (thankfully 😂)
• No immediate disaster

I took a nap after dinner — about an hour and a half — and here’s what shocked me:

I still wasn’t exhausted.

I stayed up watching movies until midnight, fully alert.

That hasn’t happened in a very long time.

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Day 5 – January 18, 2026

Rested. Actually Rested.

I slept until 7:00 AM.

And the biggest change so far?

I’m dreaming again.

The good kind of dreams — the ones where you wake up and want to fall back asleep to see what happens next.

I did have one night sweat / hot flash around 2:00 AM, but it was manageable.

Side note:
Trying to escape blankets during a hot flash while cats are sleeping on top of them is an Olympic-level struggle.

The real difference, though, is how I wake up.

I feel rested.
I have energy.

Not manic. Not wired. Just… functional.

That alone feels monumental.

Today, I’m writing this blog and filming a video update — because I want this documented while it’s fresh and honest.

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Final Thoughts (For Now)

This is just Days 1–5.
I’m sharing as I go — not because I have answers, but because I needed to see someone else be honest about it.

I don’t feel “fixed.”
I don’t feel magically cured.
And I don’t feel worse.

What I do feel is change.

Subtle. Gradual. Real.

And for the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful — cautiously, realistically hopeful.

If you’re reading this and considering HRT, here’s my biggest takeaway so far:

This is a process, not a switch.

I’ll keep sharing what happens next — the good, the annoying, the unexpected — because too many of us are walking this path without enough real-world stories.

And we deserve better than silence.

Stay tuned.
Mean & Menopausal 💜

Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health or well-being.