Today I talked to my provider about hormone replacement...
- Kellie Anderson
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Perimenopause research and treatment is becoming more accessible for women- with a lot of growth yet to come.
I'm a 48 year old nurse and I didn't learn about this in nursing school.
When I started nursing school in 2001 we were "warned" about "extreme" risks of hormone replacement and taught that hot flashes happen during menopause.
At the time, that was the best information available.
Today we know the benefits of hormone replacement generally far outweigh the risks and previous research was grossly misrepresented; resulting in at least a decade of women suffering needlessly through the symptoms of perimenopause; which is actually when the hot flashes and all the other symptoms begin.
Menopause is merely the date 1 year from a woman's last period.
This video captures my experience with perimenopause so far and what I wish I'd known sooner.
Video Mentions:
Chalene Johnson website https://chalene.com/
Dr. Mariza Snyder website https://drmariza.com/
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon website https://drgabriellelyon.com/
Dr. Mindy Pelz website https://www.drmindypelz.com/
March 7th, 2026 update:
Many of my lab results are back, and I'm waiting on a few more.
The most surprising result is that my TSH is high at 7.52. 0.4-4.5 is the average range for someone my age.
I had labs in October 2025 that included a TSH, and my levels were normal.
The elevation now, pointing to a hypoactive thyroid, may have a lot to do with my experienced symptoms of weight creep mentioned in the video, as well as extreme tiredness, dry skin, and other changes I did not mention in the video.
Also surprising to me, my cholesterol is high, for the first time in my life.
Not surprising are, the results of elevated FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone), and LH (Luteinizing Hormone), indicating "postmenopausal", according to the lab values statement.
What does all this mean? It means I stay the course of integrating sustainable nutrition and body movement upgrades into my lifestyle while patiently waiting for the rest of the lab results and a discussion with my provider about the best steps for treatment options.
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