Details of Peri/Menopause Appointments at 45 - HRT, Mammogram, Colonoscopy, Pelvic Floor Therapy!

Welcome Hey hey, Menobody!I’m so glad you’re here. Before we dive in, I want to give a gentle heads-up:Today’s episode includes medical discussions about perimenopause and the female body. I’ll be sharing personal experiences from recent appointments, procedures, and follow-ups. If medical content feels triggering or unsafe for you right now, please know it’s completely okay to skip this episode. Take care of yourself first. 💛My Gynecology Appointment & Starting HRT About a month ago, I had my annual gynecology appointment — and I waited to talk about it here because it led to many follow-ups. At that appointment, I asked about HRT because my perimenopause symptoms were stacking up:FatigueBelly weight gainLow energyConstipation and bloatingBecause I was also experiencing heavy bleeding and cramping, my provider ordered a vaginal ultrasound during my next period (yes… during 😵‍💫). The goal was to rule out anything else going on. Good news: nothing concerning showed up. That cleared me to start HRT:Progesterone birth control pill (daily)Estradiol (estrogen) patch, 0.25 mg, changed twice a weekI wear it on my lower belly, off to the sideWhat I’ve noticed so far:At first, not muchAfter a few months:Much lighter bleedingMinimal cramping 🙌Right now, I’m still dealing with:SpottingLight, unpredictable periodsAnnoying? Yes.But I’m giving my body more time to adjust before making changes. I’ll keep you posted. Mammograms, Dense Breasts & Feeling Truly Cared ForBecause of my family history — my mom had breast cancer (first diagnosed at 42, with two recurrences) — I’ve been getting mammograms since age 35.This year, I went to a new facility, located right inside my gynecologist’s office. I changed providers because my perimenopause concerns weren’t being taken seriously before — very “midlife happens, good luck” energy. 🙄My new NP and the owner of the practice both have menopause certifications, and wow… the difference was real.The space felt:BoutiqueCalmIntentionally designedEven fun (yes, ta-tah shaped coat hooks and cartoons)My mammogram technician was female — which I personally feel most comfortable with — and she was incredible. She explained everything as she worked and actually educated me.She told me something no one has ever told me in 10 years of mammograms:Because I have dense breast tissue, I should also be getting a breast MRI every 6 months. She walked me through:Insurance considerationsWhere to goEven placed the referral herselfMy mammogram came back clear 🎉The MRI is scheduled for June, and I’ll report back after.Pelvic Floor Changes & Getting Help If you’ve listened to previous episodes, you already know I’ve talked about urinary incontinence (yes, peeing my pants).Lately, I’ve noticed more changes:Weaker pelvic floor musclesDifficulty doing KegelsTrouble resisting the urge to go #2Difficulty fully emptying when I do goI’m not ready for adult diapers, friends.All signs pointed to pelvic floor dysfunction, and I was referred to pelvic floor physical therapy.Getting it scheduled, though? A mess.Two referrals didn’t take insuranceThe third might, but insurance portals are… unhelpfulEven calling insurance (shout-out to Paul, who tried his best) wasn’t reassuringI can absolutely see why people give up on getting care.That said — I did pelvic floor PT after my first daughter and it helped tremendously. I’m hopeful it will again once I finally get started.Turning 45 & The Colonoscopy Experience Since I turned 45 last August, it was time for a routine colonoscopy.Scheduling was easy.Everyone told me: “The prep is the worst part, but it’s not that bad.”Y’all… that was not my experience.Prep symptoms I was not warned about:Constant nauseaZero energyFeeling like I had the fluRaw, painful wiping (why does no one suggest Vaseline or gentle wipes??)I thought I had planned well by clearing my schedule the day before. I should have cleared 36 hours.Instead:Kids home (last day of winter break)HVAC repair happeningDogs losing their mindsHeadache from hellI tried to work (bad idea)On top of that, I wasn’t prepared for how food restriction would trigger emotions tied to past disordered eating.Then came the procedure.As I was waking up from sedation, they told me: “You weren’t fully emptied. You’ll need to come back in 6 months.”I wanted to scream.To ask a 45-year-old perimenopausal woman if she’s “often constipated” after the fact — without asking beforehand about:AgeConstipationEating disorder history…felt careless at best.Later, I received a letter saying they removed a precancerous polyp, which means — yes — another colonoscopy in 6 months. Just in case I hadn’t heard.Recovery was also rough:“Peeing out my butt” for daysThen no bowel movements or gas for over a weekMultiple laxatives just to get moving againMy digestion felt off for weeks afterwardWhy is none of this talked about?!Looking Deeper: Gut Health & What’s Next All of this made me wonder if something deeper was going on. I started questioning whether what I blamed on menopause might actually be long-standing GI dysfunction.Thank goodness I found Bev Rella, a nutritionist who truly gets it.I’m now beginning testing to understand my gut health and see if we can finally get things working better.Wish me luck — and I’ll absolutely keep you updated.Final ThoughtsI share all of this — the poop, the ta-tahs, the awkward, the frustrating — because I know I’m not alone. And neither are you.If my willingness to talk about this helps even one of you feel seen or better prepared, it’s worth it.Please feel free to share your experiences. I’m happy to share them anonymously through social media, the newsletter, or even another episode — unless you want your name included.You are not alone, Menobodies.And remember: this is not medical advice, just my personal story.Until next time —May you have great bowel movements and strong pelvic floors. 💪✨Connect with Beth:💌 Email: [email protected] 📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies🌐 Website: www.menobodies.com/home🗞️Newsletter:www.menobodies.com/newsletter