Episode 122: What is Perimenopause?

In this replay from December 2021, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Toni discuss all things perimenopause…what it is, what’s happening and how to test for it. Not sure if you’re in perimenopause or what is happening with your hormones? Experiencing hot flashes, irregular periods, mood swings and insomnia? Listen in!

What is the difference between menopause and perimenopause?

Menopause is when you have not had a menstrual period for 12 months.

Perimenopause is the transition period before you reach menopause and can last for 4 years, 8 years or longer. 

What is happening with your hormones in perimenopause?

Perimenopausal symptoms, as well as your hormones, can be unpredictable and might fluctuate throughout perimenopause:

  • You may get PMS symptoms some months, not others
  • You may get other menopausal symptoms some months and not others
  • Changes that can happen around perimenopause and menopause includes bone loss and osteoporosis, shifts in weight and metabolism, brain and mood changes
  • The most common symptoms you may experience include:
    • Insomnia
      • 30-60% of women experience in perimenopause
      • Research show correlations between plastic exposure and body care products and self-report insomnia (testing urinary phthalate levels – Hatcher 2020)
    • Fatigue
      • See more info about fatigue:
    • Depression and Anxiety
      • Up to 40% of women face depression or mood changes in perimenopause
    • Hot flashes
      • You can experience one of four patterns of hot flashes
        • Early onset, late onset, high frequency, low frequency
      • See more info about hot flashes: Episode 32
    • Irregular menstrual cycles and heavy bleeding

Your body’s normally predictable hormone cycle that happens over the month changes during perimenopause:

  • You might not ovulate every month or you might ovulate early
  • You have changes in your menstrual cycle length of 7 days or more (shorter or longer cycles) then have longer cycles and more skipped periods until you reach menopause 
  • Your estrogen levels can go up and down more than usual
  • Your progesterone levels tend to decrease overall
  • Your FSH level may elevate or fluctuate
  • Your stress hormone cortisol and thyroid hormones can be impacted 

Does every woman experience the transition from perimenopause to menopause the same way?

No!

You can have one of 4 different patterns of estrogen and 3 different patterns FSH levels, as well as different combinations of other symptoms at different stages of perimenopause. 

How can you tell if you are ovulating?

  • Monitor your basal body temperature (BBT)
  • Check your cervical fluid and cervical position

Perimenopausal Journal to track your symptoms and your menstrual cycle: https://www.cemcor.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/Daily_Perimenopause_Diary_with_treatments.pdf

Today’s Mama Must Have:

Dr. Lisa is a big fan of this paleo crepe recipe that Stuart also loves:

Dr. Toni loves seeing Frankie play with simple wooden blocks and hand-me-down Lego blocks

Thank you for joining us today!

Email us or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.

Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!

You can also support us by visiting our Patreon page.

Stay safe and healthy everyone!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this presentation is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.

Episode 105: What is Perimenopause? Is it Me or My Hormones?

In today’s episode, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Toni discuss all things perimenopause…what it is, what’s happening and how to test for it. Not sure if you’re in perimenopause or what is happening with your hormones? Experiencing hot flashes, irregular periods, mood swings and insomnia? Listen in!

What is the difference between menopause and perimenopause?

Menopause is when you have not had a menstrual period for 12 months.

Perimenopause is the transition period before you reach menopause and can last for 4 years, 8 years or longer. 

What is happening with your hormones in perimenopause?

Perimenopausal symptoms, as well as your hormones, can be unpredictable and might fluctuate throughout perimenopause:

  • You may get PMS symptoms some months, not others
  • You may get other menopausal symptoms some months and not others
  • Changes that can happen around perimenopause and menopause includes bone loss and osteoporosis, shifts in weight and metabolism, brain and mood changes
  • The most common symptoms you may experience include:
    • Insomnia
      • 30-60% of women experience in perimenopause
      • Research show correlations between plastic exposure and body care products and self-report insomnia (testing urinary phthalate levels – Hatcher 2020)
    • Fatigue
      • See more info about fatigue:
    • Depression and Anxiety
      • Up to 40% of women face depression or mood changes in perimenopause
    • Hot flashes
      • You can experience one of four patterns of hot flashes
        • Early onset, late onset, high frequency, low frequency
      • See more info about hot flashes: Episode 32
    • Irregular menstrual cycles and heavy bleeding

Your body’s normally predictable hormone cycle that happens over the month changes during perimenopause:

  • You might not ovulate every month or you might ovulate early
  • You have changes in your menstrual cycle length of 7 days or more (shorter or longer cycles) then have longer cycles and more skipped periods until you reach menopause 
  • Your estrogen levels can go up and down more than usual
  • Your progesterone levels tend to decrease overall
  • Your FSH level may elevate or fluctuate
  • Your stress hormone cortisol and thyroid hormones can be impacted 

Does every woman experience the transition from perimenopause to menopause the same way?

No!

You can have one of 4 different patterns of estrogen and 3 different patterns FSH levels, as well as different combinations of other symptoms at different stages of perimenopause. 

How can you tell if you are ovulating?

  • Monitor your basal body temperature (BBT)
  • Check your cervical fluid and cervical position

Perimenopausal Journal to track your symptoms and your menstrual cycle.

Today’s Mama Must Have:

Dr. Lisa is a big fan of this paleo crepe recipe that Stuart also loves:

Dr. Toni loves seeing Frankie play with simple wooden blocks and hand-me-down Lego blocks

Thank you for joining us today!

Email us or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.

Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!

You can also support us by visiting our Patreon page where you can find out how you can join us for our monthly patron webinar where we do a deeper dive discussion about all things perimenopause,

Stay safe and healthy everyone!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this presentation is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.

Episode 80: Cannabis 101 with Jeananne Laing

In this episode, Dr. Toni is joined by registered herbalist and cannabis educator Jeananne Laing. More and more women are becoming interested in cannabis use, and yet there still is a stigma when it comes to using cannabis, especially when compared with other legal drugs.

Jeananne Laing is a registered herbalist, cannabis educator and integrative nutrition health coach. Jeananne is a founding member and past President of the Alberta Herbalists Association, as well as a past board member with the Canadian Council of Herbal Associations. Jeananne’s interest in the medicinal use of cannabis and other plants began at an early age. After being involved in the herbal industry for over 15 years, the time was right for Jeananne to focus on helping people understand and utilize cannabis as part of their health care protocol.  

In this episode, we cover:

  • The importance of the right time, place and dosage for cannabis products, like all things we consume
  • How cannabis is not just one product; it’s a category of products
  • The cannabinoid molecules found within the cannabis plant
    • CBD is psychoactive with no potential for impairment like how coffee impacts your brain, can sharpen your senses, can be calming
    • THC is psychoactive with the potential for impairment
  • The factors involved in how your body reacts to THC and CBD
    • Method of intake
    • Potency of product
    • Your individual genetics
  • The importance of experimenting with different cannabis products and timing to figure out the best product for you, since there is no one size fits all
  • The 3 main intake methods for cannabis products
    • Inhalation – breathing in cannabinoids released from plant through heat, quick acting with full effects felt within minutes, great for quick results for pain, anxiety, sleep, nausea vomiting or appetite stimulation, lasts for 2-4 hours
      • Smoking – least desirable due to negative impact of breathing in smoke
      • Dried herb vaporizing – easier on the lungs to breathe in vapor
    • Ingestion – your liver transforms cannabinoids and increases potency, lasts 4-12 hours for sustained results
      • Edible products include liquid with dropper, drinks, chocolates, gummy bears, popsicles
    • Topical – can be used on specific areas for local relief of menstrual cramps, digestive discomfort, joint and muscle pain
      • Includes creams, gel, patches
  • The regulation and testing of legal cannabis products market in Canada
    • Retail stores – provide pre-packaged products, unable to give you recommendations based on your health concerns 
      • Cannabis educators – can advise you on best products for your health concerns
    • Cannabis clinics – run by cannabis aware physicians to obtain medical authorization, often get supported by cannabis educator in addition to doctor, cannabis products ordered online and received by mail only
    • Grow your own for personal use
  • The potential for more scientific research on cannabis products
  • The safety concerns around products with THC for children and teens
    • Some children’s brains are more susceptible to damaging effects of THC when under the age of 25 
  • The use of products with CBD for children and teens to manage medical conditions like seizures, anxiety and appetite stimulation
  • Possible side effects you need to be aware of:
    • THC – Racing heart (tachycardia), sedation, confusion, short term memory issues, anxiety, increased hunger, slowed reflexes and impairment, lowered blood pressure
    • CBD – Lowered blood pressure, reduced appetite, blood sugar imbalance, wakefulness
  • The desire for the normalization of cannabis use especially for women

You can find and connect with Jeananne at http://www.jeanannelaing.com/

For more cannabis education, visit https://www.cannu.ca/ and  https://elevatedlearningacademy.com/

Today’s Mama Must Have: 

Jeananne is a big fan of using 10-25mg of CBD first thing in the morning with some fatty food to think more clearly, manage stress and reduce any aches and pains from inflammation. 

Dr. Toni loves documentaries, especially a new documentary called the Wisdom of Trauma featuring Dr. Gabor Mate online as I’m recording, go to wisdomoftrauma.com to see how you can view this fantastic film about trauma and addiction.

Dr. Toni’s next HypnoBirthing info session for expecting parents looking to decrease fear and anxiety around labour and birth is happening this summer. Join her at https://www.hypnobirthingcalgary.com/register

Dr. Lisa’s Wild Collective in Fall 2021: get on the waitlist: wildcollectivetoronto.com

Email us or connect with us on  Facebook  and  Instagram

We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.

Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!

Stay safe and healthy everyone!

Disclaimer: The information provided is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.

Episode 19 – Interview: How to Stay Motivated During the Pandemic, Have Better Productivity, and Use Technology to Download Your Brain (and Sleep Better!)

In today’s episode, Dr. Lisa talks with Valeri Hall-Little, Efficiency Business Coach and Tech Guru, about how busy mamas can leverage routines, mindfulness and technology to maximize productivity, efficiency and energy while minimizing overwhelm and mental exhaustion.

Valeri discusses how to use simple tech tools (such as apps for: meditation, note-taking, task-management and streamlining to-do lists) to help you step back from the daily grind and improve the flow of your day (even if you are working from home right now and are trying to care for your kids at the same time!). She also emphasizes the importance of taking breaks from work and technology, when needed, to recharge and refocus.

In today’s episode, we cover:

  • The importance of sticking to a routine, juggling your schedule with your partner according to the times each of you are the most productive and harnessing the times when you can focus on work
  • Different morning routines to set the tone for a productive day, even if you only have 2 minutes
  • How combining movement and mindfulness can jump start your focus and attention during the day
  • The importance of using technology that serves you and makes your life easier (and avoiding technology that drains and overwhelms you)
  • How to easily compile and access all your online resources using tagging with Pocket
  • Why now is a good time to play with your technology and increase your mastery with tech tools that help you like Evernote
  • How taking the time to “sharpen your saw” and plan is key so that you’re working on the right things and doing it as effectively and efficiently, and not getting stuck in busy work
  • The need to recognize that the most productive thing you could be doing right now is to stop working and take a break
  • The importance of the ergonomics of your workspace at home
  • How noise-cancelling headphones can Increase your focus and decrease interruptions while working from home

Get Valeri’s FREE Ultimate Guide to Untangle Your Tech

Today’s Mama Must Have:

Dr. Lisa is using the Insight Timer app and Tapping Solution app to calm her brain and not get into overwhelm.

Valeri is using the Calm app as a sanity saver – not only to meditate, but also to fall asleep to the ocean soundscape function. She is also listening to Calm’s sleep stories and masterclasses, starting and ending her day with it.

She is also loving Zoom to connect with family and friends, especially for special birthday celebrations.

Thank you for joining us today! 

Email us or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.

Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!

Stay safe everyone!