Dr. Taz Bhatia, a doctor who experienced medical gaslighting, discusses advocating for your well-being, understanding hormone shifts, finding collaborative doctors, sneaky health culprits, the limitations of lab tests, and embracing menopause as a time of empowerment.
Perimenopause is marked by hormone decline, and women should focus on improving diet and nutrition to alleviate symptoms.
Women in the commanders phase should reject negative narratives around aging and prioritize self-care for optimal well-being.
Deep dives
The Well Beyond 40 Podcast: Understanding Perimenopause and Menopause
Perimenopause, the phase before menopause, is marked by a decline in hormone levels, including estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol. Women in this phase often experience symptoms such as belly fat, sleep disturbances, shorter or heavier menstrual cycles, and increased stress. It is important to focus on improving diet and nutrition during this phase, ensuring adequate intake of proteins, fats, and essential nutrients. Getting labs done, monitoring hormonal levels, and working with a collaborative healthcare provider can help address specific hormone imbalances. On the other hand, menopause is an empowering phase where women can embrace their wisdom and lead the way as commanders. Hormone replacement therapy, along with a balanced diet and lifestyle, can help manage symptoms like memory loss, muscle loss, and other age-related changes. Women should reject negative narratives around aging and prioritize their well-being during this phase of life.
The Importance of Collaborative Healthcare and Self-Awareness
When seeking healthcare during perimenopause and menopause, it is crucial to find a collaborative healthcare provider who is open to listening, understanding your symptoms, and working with you to find the best solutions. Self-awareness is key in this journey, and women should pay attention to changes in mood, sleep patterns, weight, pain, and menstrual cycles. By effectively articulating these changes to healthcare providers and understanding their own bodies, women can play an active role in their health and make informed decisions about their well-being.
Reframing Perceptions: Embracing the Commanders Phase
The commanders phase, which typically begins around age 52 or older, is often seen as a time when women are considered less important or relevant. However, this is a misperception that needs to change. In ancient medicines like Chinese medicine or Ayurveda, this phase was revered as the peak of wisdom and leadership. Women should embody this mindset and realize that they have the power to shape their lives and the lives of others during this time. While hormone levels decline during this phase, it is essential to focus on self-care, including proper nutrition, supplements, and hormone therapies if necessary, to ensure optimal physical and mental well-being.
Rejecting Limiting Beliefs and Embracing Powerful Aging
Women should reject the idea that aging is synonymous with decline. Instead, they should embrace powerful aging and see this phase as an opportunity for personal growth, reinvention, and making a positive impact. With increased life expectancy, women have decades ahead to live their best lives. By prioritizing health, challenging limiting beliefs, and seeking the necessary support and treatments, women can overcome age-related challenges, contribute to society, and live their lives to the fullest.
Have you ever told your doctor you’re struggling to feel well, only to hear, “Well, you’re getting older…”? You’re not alone.
This is such a common experience—and it happens to doctors, too, including my guest, Dr. Taz Bhatia. In this episode, she reveals her own experience with medical gaslighting, how it changed her approach to practicing medicine, and what you can do if it happens to you.
We discuss how you can advocate for yourself and your well-being, from understanding how your hormones are shifting and the effects that has on your life to finding a doctor who will collaborate with you and work to optimize your physiology. We also cover sneaky culprits that could be taking a toll on your health, what your labs aren’t telling you, and how to make menopause a time to rise into your power.