“I just don’t feel like myself anymore.”
It’s something I hear regularly from women who have consultations with me
Often they are in their 40s or 50s and experiencing perimenopause or menopause.
Their energy has changed. Weight is becoming harder to manage, particularly around the middle. They may not be sleeping well, their digestion has changed, they’re more anxious or their brain simply doesn’t feel as sharp as it once did.
Sometimes they’ve already spoken to their doctor and been told that their blood tests are normal.
Or the symptoms have simply been attributed to menopause.
But what if there is more than one piece to the puzzle?
Looking beyond menopause symptoms
Menopause can certainly affect your energy, body composition, sleep, mood and metabolism.
But as a naturopath with over 26 years of experience, I assume that every symptom a woman develops in midlife is caused by her changing hormones.
I want to know what else is happening.
Depending on the woman sitting in front of me, I may consider areas such as:
• Thyroid & Adrenal function
• Blood sugar and insulin regulation
• Magnesium, Iron and other nutrient levels
• Gut health and digestion
• Liver and gallbladder health
• Stress and the nervous system
• Sleep
• Diet and lifestyle
• Perimenopausal and menopausal hormonal changes
The areas we investigate will depend on your individual symptoms, health history and circumstances.
Thyroid symptoms and menopause can overlap
Thyroid health is one area I have a particular interest in, partly because I’ve experienced thyroid problems myself.
An underactive thyroid can be associated with symptoms such as fatigue, feeling cold, constipation, dry skin, hair changes, low mood and weight gain.
The difficulty is that several of these symptoms can also occur around perimenopause and menopause.
That overlap can make it difficult to know where one ends and the other begins.
Already taking thyroid medication but still don’t feel any better?
I also see women who already have a diagnosed thyroid condition and take thyroid medication, but still don’t feel the way they expected to.
Their thyroid may have been declared “treated”, yet they’re still tired, struggling with their weight or experiencing other symptoms.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the thyroid medication isn’t working.
It means we shouldn’t automatically assume the thyroid diagnosis explains everything else that’s happening in the body.
Blood sugar regulation, insulin resistance, nutrient status, gut health, sleep, stress and the hormonal changes of midlife may all deserve consideration.
What does a naturopathic consultation involve?
This is where my Midlife Health Detective approach comes in. 🔎
When I see a woman, I want to understand what may be contributing to her symptoms rather than looking at one symptom on its own.
We go through your health history, current symptoms, diet, digestion, sleep, stress, medications, supplements and any recent blood test results.
For women seeing me in person at my Glenelg South clinic, I can also use Live & Dried Blood Analysis and iridology as additional assessment tools where appropriate.
If you’re seeing me online, we can still go through your symptoms, health history and existing pathology results in detail. Where appropriate, I may also suggest blood tests to discuss with your GP or other healthcare practitioner.
My aim is to help you understand what may be contributing to the way you’re feeling and put together a practical, individualised plan to support your health.
Naturopathic consultations in Glenelg South, Adelaide
I see women face-to-face from my clinic at The Organik Living, 37 Broadway, Glenelg South, as well as offering online consultations.
My particular focus is supporting women through perimenopause, menopause and beyond, especially when they’re tired of being told that how they feel is simply part of getting older.
If you’ve been experiencing unexplained fatigue, weight changes, thyroid concerns or simply know that you don’t feel like yourself, you’re welcome to come and see me.
BOOK A FACE-TO-FACE CONSULTATION IN GLENELG SOUTH
Prefer to start by learning more?
I’m also running a FREE online masterclass:
It’s Not Just Menopause: What’s Really Behind Your Weight & Energy Changes in Midlife?
📅 Monday 12 October at 7.30 pm ACDT
I’ll be talking about menopause, thyroid function, insulin resistance and metabolism, useful blood tests to consider and some practical first steps.
REGISTER FOR THE FREE MASTERCLASS
Kate Driver
Naturopath | The Midlife Health Detective
Over 26 years of experience
