Perimenopause Potpourri: Hormones, Gut Health, and Real Stories

Welcome ☕Hello, Menobodies!Do you have your favorite coffee or beverage ready?Today’s episode is a classic coffee chitty chat — the kind where best friends sit down together and bounce from topic to topic. You know the kind: we follow each other easily, but someone listening from the next table might be completely lost.That’s the vibe today.We’re talking about health updates, hormones, physical therapy, nutrition therapy, and some stories I’ve heard recently from other women navigating perimenopause and menopause.So grab your drink and let’s chat.Hormone UpdateOne quick health update I wanted to share…I’ve been having bleeding twice a month, which definitely raised some questions for me. It’s on my list to discuss with my provider because, as many of us know, hormones during perimenopause can do some wild things.Stay tuned — I’ll share what I learn.Physical Therapy WinsI also want to give a huge shoutout to Rachel, my physical therapist.She explained something interesting about pelvic floor therapy — that there is external work and internal work involved.Each session honestly feels like a workout.One thing we discovered is that I have extreme weakness on my left side, from my hip and glute all the way down to my ankle.Doing the exercises at home consistently can be tough (life is busy!), but the therapy is helping.Some wins so far:Less leaking when I sneezeBetter control when holding itImprovement while runningAnd one big victory…I was late at work, rushing to the bathroom, and I actually held it without leaking!Small wins are big wins.I still have several sessions left, and I’m excited to see how much stronger things can get.A Quick Side Tangent: Physical Therapy People WatchingLet me tell you about this therapy facility for a second.It is amazing for people watching.The place is busy — usually about 15 therapists working at once, and they often see two clients at a time.I tend to go during hours when many geriatric clients are there, and honestly it’s a great reminder of why we should keep moving our bodies and taking care of ourselves now.Some of my favorite moments:Watching translators help patients through screen translation and sign languageA woman who plays Jesus music loudly from her phone so we can all hear it over the overhead musicAnother woman who walks laps and gives compliments to everyone she passesTruly a delightful slice of humanity.Okay… back on topic.Nutrition Therapy JourneyI recently started nutrition therapy, and wow…It has been eye-opening and HARD.First came the testing.I had to go to two different labs and get four vials of blood drawn twice.Then came the GI test.If you know… you know.And if you don’t — let’s just say you collect a stool specimen and send it to a lab.Not glamorous, but totally worth it.The Reset DietMy practitioner started me on a reset diet, similar to an elimination diet.At first it included removing:DairyGrainsSugarAlcoholAnd what felt like a thousand other foodsI won’t go deep into this here because it deserves its own full episode.After more test results came in, we adjusted things again.Right now my diet is mostly protein and vegetables.Not forever — just temporarily while we work on decreasing what my practitioner calls the “bad bugs.”Basically my bad gut bacteria have overrun the good bacteria, so we’re using food (and soon supplements) to rebalance things.And let me tell you…I’m learning why this imbalance is so common during menopause, and I cannot wait to share that information with you.But not today — this is our topic potpourri episode.Speaking of Potpourri…Do you love the word potpourri?Do you even know what potpourri is?If not… go Google it.Total 1980s household staple.One Early Nutrition WinEven though I haven’t started the supplements yet, I’ve already noticed something surprising:More energyLess fatigueWhoa.Nutrition really does impact how we feel.Things Women Have Been Sharing With MeLately I’ve been hearing so many stories from women about perimenopause and menopause.Their experiences have made me feel incredibly validated — and I want to pass some of that validation on to you.Here are a few things that came up recently.The “What’s That Word?” MomentSeveral women told me they are forgetting common words.The other day I couldn’t think of the phrase laundry detergent, so I called it:“the liquid that washes our clothes.”If this happens to you, you’re not alone.Hormone shifts during perimenopause can absolutely affect memory and word recall, and the good news is that it can improve with treatment and support.“Women in the Pause”Last week I attended a really cool presentation called Women in the Pause — which is also the name of the organization.The founders are local, and the event featured healthcare professionals speaking about menopause.I felt so validated hearing what they shared, especially knowing that I’ve been heading in the right direction with some of my own health decisions.But one thing that really stood out to me was how many women in the room had no idea what was happening to their bodies.They didn’t know:what symptoms meantwhat support existedhow to advocate for themselves medicallyIt was eye-opening.We also talked about a growing movement toward integrated women’s health care, where providers bring together:hormonesmedical carenutritionlifestyle supportBecause all of these systems are connected.The “You’ll Figure It Out” ProblemJust yesterday a client told me something that honestly made me cringe.Their doctor said:“Oh, that’s just what happens. You’ll figure it out.”Thankfully, that person is now working with a functional medicine doctor as well.But this kind of dismissal is still far too common.Night Sweats Are RealAnother woman recently confirmed something I’ve heard many times before.She woke up during a night sweat so intense that she had to:wring out her shirtand take a shower in the middle of the nightYes, menopause symptoms can be that dramatic.Late DiagnosesOne more story really stuck with me.A woman in her 50s was just diagnosed with celiac disease.So many of us brush past symptoms for years — or they get dismissed — and then perimenopause makes everything worse, finally pushing us toward answers.We’re also seeing this pattern with:autoimmune conditionsADHDgastrointestinal disordersThis phase of life can reveal things that were under the surface for years.Gut Microbiome + HormonesThe last thing I want to share today is something I’m just beginning to explore.I’m learning about the connection between:gut microbiomes (the bacteria in our gut)and hormonesThe relationship between these two systems is fascinating.I’m going to keep researching and will share what I learn through:this podcastthe Menobodies newslettersocial mediaStay ConnectedIf you want to keep up with these conversations, make sure you’re:Subscribed to the podcastFollowing Menobodies on Facebook and InstagramSigned up for the newsletterYou can join the newsletter here:www.menobodies.com/newsletterUntil Next TimeWell… my coffee cup is empty.And that means our chitty chat is over for today.Thanks for sitting with me.See you in the next episode.Connect with Beth:💌 Email: [email protected] 📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies🌐 Website: www.menobodies.com/home🗞️Newsletter:www.menobodies.com/newsletter