Listen below for the entire episode on The Systemize Your Life Podcast

Navigating My Health Journey

My own health journey began with chronic strep throat, from the age of 14 to 21. I would get it three to five times a year. Unfortunately, insurance wouldn’t cover the removal of my tonsils unless I had documented cases four times a year, and it always seemed to occur at the wrong time of the calendar year. In retrospect, this was a blessing, but at the time, I desperately wanted them removed. 

After that, the severe strep throat stopped, but then I received a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. One of my doctors wanted to put me on antidepressants, which made no sense to me because I wasn’t experiencing depression. My primary issue was the physical pain I was enduring. The doctor’s rationale was that antidepressants could help numb the pain, but I didn’t want to be numbed —I wanted to lead a fulfilling life.

Embracing Holistic Wellness: From Trauma and IBS to Naturopathic Care

It was during this time that someone introduced me to our naturopathic medical doctor who we still see. Throughout that whole journey, I endured a traumatic experience for about five or six years. On the other side of that challenging period, through my recovery and healing, I developed horrible IBS. I worked with our naturopathic doctor to heal it naturally. While I can say it’s in remission, I must still manage and pay attention to it; it remains a constant presence in my life.

Both of my kids  were born under his medical guidance and care. They have never experienced mainstream medical care. I believe it’s important for everyone to understand the difference. I’m so glad that Dr. Meg possesses the experience of both worlds.

Meet Dr. Meg and Her Holistic Approach to Wellness

Dr. Meg is particularly passionate about helping people overcome headaches and migraines, increase energy, and restore mental clarity without the use of drugs or overwhelming protocols, thanks to her proven E.A.T. Method.

Her practice primarily serves women, and her main focus is on uncovering the root causes of health issues. She aims to identify the connections within your health by looking at the symptoms you’re experiencing and then putting them all together to help you feel your best and heal naturally.

Medication Survival Dilemma: Dr. Meg’s Eye-Opening Experience

Dr. Meg’s background lies in pharmacology and ambulatory care, where she spent considerable time working in various clinics and hospitals. She worked closely with physicians on medication and medication management.

During her practice, she observed that doctors were prescribing multiple medications to an increasing number of patients. While she understood the research behind these drugs and the protocols, she couldn’t help but notice that people weren’t getting better. Instead, they were merely surviving. While survival is possible with these medications, they often come with side effects and consequences. People were merely surviving, far from the thriving state she believed in.

Discovering Functional Medicine: Dr. Meg’s Journey to Healing and Holistic Wellness

Dr Meg happened to be experiencing some of her own health issues, including symptoms of IBS. She visited various gastroenterologists and began to feel anxious. Despite her struggles and persistent symptoms, everyone kept reassuring her, saying, ‘You’re fine, you’re young, and your blood work looks great.’ However, she felt far from fine. She experienced exhaustion and couldn’t eat anything, leaving her unable to fully enjoy life.

This led her to start on this quest of finding another way. She did a lot of holistic things and tried different avenues. It  wasn’t until she found functional medicine that she realized this was the bridge she was looking for. Functional medicine involves a lot of in depth testing. The data undergoes analysis, following a highly individualized process. You get to experience agile healing. 

The Shift from Mainstream Medicine to Holistic Wellness: A Desire to Truly Help People

One of the main reasons why mainstream medical doctors often make the switch to alternative practices is that they see people aren’t getting better.  Most doctors grow up with this passion and this desire to actually help people and then they realize that it’s not actually helping. In my case, I saw my kids receiving actual help. As a mom I really want my kids to get better.  I don’t want them to suffer in silence and rely solely on medication. Unfortunately, many people don’t know that there are many alternative solutions out there.

Embracing Personalized Medical Attention

In 2001, Dr. Meg transitioned to offering virtual consultations alongside her local practice, allowing her to serve clients worldwide. She provides personalized, results-focused care and offers free consultations to understand each individual’s unique health challenges and goals. A personalized medical approach is such a hard thing for people to wrap their brain around when they’ve never had that personalized medical attention before. And I don’t know how I would function without it, honestly. 

She tailors her methods to address specific issues such as headaches, hormonal imbalances, and gut problems, aiming to improve each person’s quality of life through individualized care.

Exploring Root Causes: Holistic Wellness for Women’s Health

Women often experience a variety of symptoms that people commonly consider normal or expected. By addressing the root causes and delving deeper into these issues, we can break free from a cycle of reliance on medication and chronic illness. Exhaustion and hormonal imbalances serve as two illustrative examples of such symptoms.

“By addressing the root causes and delving deeper into these issues, we can break free from a cycle of reliance on medication and chronic illness.”

Revitalizing Energy Levels Through Nutrient Optimization

We tend to assume that feeling exhausted is a normal part of being a mom. However, being so tired that you can’t keep your eyes open after seven o’clock is not actually normal; it’s typically a symptom or side effect of an underlying issue.  People might go to Dr. Meg for hormone balance or relief from conditions like IBS or something like that.  When they address their nutrient intake and their body’s ability to digest and absorb these nutrients, they can’t believe the energy they have. 

Empowering Hormonal Balance Beyond Conventional Approaches

Hormones are an area where many women are underserved. They are typically only offered conventional medicine options. Dr Meg shared an interview with a doctor who had formerly practiced as a gynecologist but transitioned to a more functional approach. She pointed out that gynecologists are primarily trained for delivering babies and doing surgery. Their expertise in managing hormones is limited.  Yet, that’s our go to for hormone health! They’re trained to put you on a birth control pill and then what if that doesn’t work? She’s had people tell her they were actually just given a list and told to pick a different one.  

Navigating the Unintended Consequences of Birth Control

What many of us, as women, fail to realize when presented with these options is that birth control often comes with  a lot of side effects. Even young girls are prescribed birth control pills when they begin experiencing breakouts, menstrual cramps, or irregular periods. However, this approach merely masks the symptoms; it doesn’t address the underlying issues. Additionally, it can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients such as vitamin B6.  

Vitamin B6 plays a crucial role as a precursor to serotonin, our ‘happy hormone.’ It contributes to our overall sense of well-being, mood stability, and alleviation of anxiety and depression. Unintentionally depleting vitamin B6 can also impact the gut lining, potentially resulting in conditions like leaky gut. This, in turn, can trigger autoimmune diseases, skin problems, and a range of other health issues.

We’re missing the mark by just going on medication. A different approach is needed. We need to start by examining our symptoms and understanding what’s happening in our bodies. We need to balance the hormones. With hormones it’s beneficial to do the testing and not just guess symptom-wise because you really want to make sure you’re getting the right balance. Things get balanced through the testing and many symptoms naturally go away on their own.

Embracing Perimenopause: Understanding the Transition and Finding Balance

The perimenopause phase of life is an inevitable journey for us women. It’s a transitional period that spans about ten years, during which progesterone levels can start to decline roughly a decade before estrogen actually decreases. You’re not officially in menopause until one year after your last period but the transition can last for approximately a decade. While this time of life brings numerous changes, it doesn’t have to be miserable. All we need to do is understand what’s happening within our bodies and get things balanced. Luckily, more women are becoming empowered to know there are things we can do. 

It doesn’t have to be this way; it all comes down to hormone balance. So if you’re looking at it, is your progesterone low or is your estrogen high? Are you just not excreting? When you think of estrogen, you want to use it and then lose it. The goal is to utilize it for bone health and vitality while ensuring efficient excretion to prevent experiencing symptoms of estrogen dominance.

Unlocking Hormonal Balance

The biggest question I believe most women have is if achieving hormonal balance is possible and, if so, what steps can be taken to attain it. . Once you’ve undergone hormone testing, such as the Dutch test, you’ll receive results for various hormones, including cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and other hormone metabolites (breakdown products of hormones). 

You’re going to want to see your estrogen and progesterone balanced out with each other. Look for the little dials on your results, and ideally, you want them all pointing in the same direction rather than pointing toward each other. The specific adjustments needed for balance vary from person to person. For instance, some may need to increase progesterone, while others may have elevated overall estradiol levels. 

Understanding the Complex Relationship Between Migraines and Estrogen Metabolism

Many people who experience headaches and migraines may have an overactive CYP3A4 pathway, which is responsible for metabolizing estrogen in the liver. In some cases, the metabolites produced in this pathway can be even more estrogenic than estradiol itself. As a result, you may exhibit symptoms related to excessive estrogen, even though a standard blood test for estrogen levels might appear normal. This discrepancy arises from the heightened activity in this particular metabolic pathway, leading to an increase in estrogen metabolites in your system. So it’s really learning all of that and being able to manipulate them in a way that creates balance for them

Navigating the Ever-Changing Landscape of Hormonal Balance

When it comes to balanced hormones, we have to remember that hormones are fluid. We will have different hormones throughout our whole life. For example, your hormonal levels during puberty will be different from those during perimenopause or menopause. However, it’s essential to look at your symptoms.

Recognizing Hormonal Imbalances: Is Your Menstrual Cycle Running Your Life?

Do you find that you live your life according to your menstrual cycle? Do you notice distinct changes in your mood and physical symptoms each week? For instance, do you experience anger and mood swings, followed by bouts of crying? Perhaps you’re constantly teary-eyed. Are you dealing with cramps that are so severe they disrupt your daily routine? Do you struggle with heavy bleeding? Are your breasts tender and painful? Do you find it difficult to sleep, experiencing insomnia? If you’re nodding in agreement to any of these questions and feel like your life is dictated by your menstrual cycle, it might be time to consider whether your hormones are out of balance.

It’s natural not to look forward to your period, but if it becomes a significant source of discomfort and disruption, it’s worth exploring the possibility of hormonal imbalances.

Balancing Wellness and Lifestyle: Achieving Holistic Wellness Goals Without Sacrifice