Resolve IBS and IBD Naturally
This podcast is for you if you are struggling with symptoms of IBS and IBD and want to get to the root cause of your symptoms so you can take back your health through a holistic, whole-person approach.
Resolve IBS and IBD Naturally
Episode 56: Healing PCOS: Beyond the Diagnosis, with Lindsie Vizethann
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Lindsie Vizethann shares her journey from ER nurse to holistic health coach, revealing how her own health crisis led her to discover the power of nutrition and lifestyle for reversing chronic conditions like PCOS.
• Former healthcare professional who left nursing after 13 years to pursue holistic health coaching
• Personal experience with autoimmune issues that conventional medicine couldn't resolve
• PCOS symptoms often include chronic fatigue, abdominal weight gain, acne, facial hair, and irregular periods
• Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance that standard tests don't catch
• Normal blood glucose and A1C can mask underlying insulin problems
• Insulin levels should be tested directly but rarely are by conventional doctors
• PCOS frequently overlaps with thyroid conditions like Hashimoto's
• Roughly 30% of women over 18 may have PCOS, with many remaining undiagnosed
• Healing approach focuses on adding nutrients first before eliminating foods
• Sustainable results typically take 90 days, with non-scale victories appearing first
• Weight loss is a side effect of improved health, not the primary goal
• Self-advocacy is crucial when navigating the conventional healthcare system
Join Lindsie's free summit "Unwritten: Healing Beyond Your Diagnosis" on October 9th, 16th, and 23rd from 6:00-7:30pm EST to learn how to write the health story your doctor never told you was possible.
Link to join the summit: https://go.healthyeverafter.life/unwritten-first-step-event-page?am_id=courtney6802
Connect with Lindsie:
instagram @healthy_everafter15
Hunger Boss: The Mindful Eating Challenge
Link to a free 30 minute Gut Check Call
Disclaimer: None of the content discussed is meant to be taken as medical advice. All information presented is for educational purposes only and listeners and viewers assume all responsibility around implementing any changes to their health and medical regimen.
Introduction to PCOS and Holistic Health
Speaker 1Welcome to Resolve IBS and IBD. Naturally, I'm Courtney Cowie, a nutrition therapy and functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner. If you are struggling with the symptoms of IBS or IBD and want to get to the root cause of your symptoms so you can take back your health through a whole person approach, this podcast is for you. Just a disclaimer that the information I'm presenting in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. You should always consult a qualified practitioner before making any changes to your health or medical regimen. That being said, let's get on with the show. All right, lindsay Vitheson, I'm so happy to have you on today. We're going to be talking about PCOS in particular, which is a topic I have not gone into on this podcast, and your area of expertise. But before we go there, I'd love to have you tell me a little bit about you your background, how you got into the holistic health space.
Speaker 2Yeah, so I was in healthcare for years. I was a CNA and even even graduating high school, I knew like I was going to be a nurse and you know that whole track. And then, yeah, I was a nurse for like 13 years, so I mean almost 20 years. I was a CNA in high school. Even so, almost 20 years in the healthcare space, uh, and I think I just saw the changes that were happening. Um, it was a lot of do more with less, you know, but still make the patient feel, you know, like they should be here and they're cared for, and all this and I just I couldn't, I couldn't do that anymore.
Speaker 2And then the other side of that was also like for me, I was always the fitness person. I was not necessarily the nutrition person right now, but I was always like, why do people keep coming back, like if they just went home and like worked out or, you know, took better care of themselves, you know what are we doing? And so, yeah, and so I was a member of a gym at the time and like fell in love with that whole concept, made some amazing, met some amazing people there and one day just decided to take a leap of faith and rope my now husband into opening up a gym. I was like, let's just make a call and see what happens. And so, yeah, so we opened up a gym. I mean I walked away from all of it and I mean couldn't be happier, because I it definitely. It's like everything has just kind of led me to this point. But we had the gym for about five years and and yeah, I mean changed lives in a whole different way.
Speaker 2You know the way that I felt very passionate about, but along that during that time, I had my own health struggles.
Speaker 2Uh, everything kind of came to a head and, looking back, like all of those long nursing days and weird hours and just eating very, very poorly, cause I just didn't know Um, I think everything just kind of came to a head and I had my own wake up call with basically being diagnosed with lupus, and now I know that I probably had some celiac stuff going on at the time as well, and so I had to totally, you know, change my whole way of thinking. So, even though I always felt like fitness was the way to go, I started realizing how much nutrition played a role in all of that and healing and truly healing, and now that's what I get to do after we sold the gym. I've been a health and nutrition coach now for a few years and, yeah, it's been amazing. Like I said, everything just kind of like you know, you learn from one thing and you build and build, and it's just kind of led me to this point.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's so awesome. I feel like our journey's parallel a little bit. I didn't work as, like, say, like a nurse prior to getting into the holistic health space, but did work for the government, certainly worked kind of the day job, if you will right and then, like you, started out on a different track as well, just as a body work therapist still do that work to a point but like, eventually came into the nutrition space, kind of like you and I think for a lot of us it is that health breakdown situation that really plants the seed and you know, similar to you, having that, that interest in being a athlete, like as a teenager and into college as well, like I thought really fitness was the primary thing that would like, yeah, give you health and and even made the mistake for a long time eating a vegetarian diet and again, no judgment on that but for me that definitely was a foundational, like poor health sort of set factor that I did not realize at the time.
Speaker 2And so I think it's like you said you just sort of take that path and it opens up all these doors and you end up going different places with it Well, and I feel like too, you know, around that time too, it was like it was a lot about working out and all these new fitness concepts, kind of you know, coming out, but now I feel like, even just in general, there's a shift in momentum to focus on, you know, more nutrition and other you know alternative practices to truly heal as well.
Speaker 1So yeah, and I think we can. We can dive into the whole fitness aspect even as we go through this conversation, because I'd love to get your thoughts on. I think I've had maybe a few of my guests speak on the topic of like, even how, like, overzealousness with fitness and overdoing fitness right Detract from health. There's like that, that balance you want to find there, right. So so maybe we can tie that into the whole topic of PCOS as we go through this conversation. But before we go there, I think what everybody would be very curious to know I know I am is how did you end up working with PCOS in in specific right?
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah. So I mean I was an ER nurse and so I saw a lot of women with PCOS, um, and I saw just the struggles you know that they were going through, coming into the ER especially. You know they're in pain and they, a lot of them, had, you know kind of the classic. You know symptoms that we see a lot of the times being overweight, the acne, you know dealing with some body image issues, that type of thing, um, and so as I, as I have evolved in my health coaching practice, I really wanted to drill in and see, like you know, what's, what's the group that really needs me, and also my very first client ended up having that's not reason.
Speaker 2The reason that she started working with me was PCOS, but we did fix her her symptoms of PCOS along the way with everything we were doing, her symptoms of PCOS along the way with everything we were doing, and so, yeah, the more research I did, uh, I just think it's it's a very neglected community, um, I think there are a lot more women out there that have it, that aren't diagnosed, and you know at this point who cares if you have a diagnosis, really, I mean if you're having those symptoms. You know there's still things that can be done, but, um, yeah, I, I think it's just, it's a community that really needs, really needs, the holistic, you know, touch and just to be, to be more aware of what, uh, that they can reverse their symptoms and they, they can have better days. And just because they get this diagnosis, they're not limited, it's not, you know, a life sentence or a prison sentence.
Speaker 2And so yeah, and so I, just, like I said, I was just I don't know, I was just called to kind of that community, seeing from my nursing background and everything and the research I did.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's so interesting. That definitely is not something I would think would show up in the ER all that often, but like I guess, as you say, that I could see how, just like severe pain could be a big big loss for those folks.
Speaker 1So so that kind of leads to like tell us a little bit about, like what the typical PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome client would present with symptom wise, and then maybe even clients you've worked with that fall outside of that norm but have either been told they have PCOS or suspect that they do.
Speaker 2Yeah, I mean that's a really good question. I mean, I see the whole whole range of symptoms and the other thing is, too, a lot of the symptoms can overlap with other. You know conditions, thyroid conditions, for example, um, but I feel like energy, you know, just chronic fatigue, that's a huge one. Um, weight, especially around the abdomen, and feeling like you've tried everything, you know everything, exercise wise, maybe, nutrition wise, whatever to get it to go away or to just make some improvement and it won't go away. Acne, the facial hair, I think those are definitely some of the biggest, biggest ones.
Lindsay's Journey from Nursing to Coaching
Speaker 2But yeah, the more I've been like talking, I don't know, I feel like more lately I've been talking to people that have not had the weight issues but have been told that they've had cysts. And the other funny kind of part of that is they also said, yeah, I was told I had cysts in my ovaries, but I didn't get a diagnosis of PCOS, um, so, yeah, I mean irregular periods, that can be another, you know, either irregular, like I should say, and ovulation. So you know, not um getting their period, but maybe like nine times a year I should say, um, that could be another thing. Or just the heavy bleeding, the irregular symptoms you know, severe pain with menstruation, that type of thing can be another thing, and I feel like I see more of that in the women that don't have the weight issues maybe. Um, so, yeah, it can. Those are probably the most, the most common. The big thing is that I'm I've learned still, you know, always learning, but it is tied to insulin resistance a lot of the times. Yeah.
Speaker 1Talk about that a little bit, I think yeah.
Speaker 2Yeah, so I mean the more that we, uh, you know the sugars. I mean, there's so many sugars, I feel like and I was guilty of it. Like, looking back, apparently, when I first started working with um, with a functional medicine doctor myself, and started having my issues, I didn't really know about insulin, about like insulin levels, or I mean, yeah, like it wasn't something that we did, and especially in my issues, I didn't really know about insulin, about like insulin levels, or I mean, yeah, like it wasn't something that we did, and especially in the ER, of course, but I feel like it just wasn't really taught that much Um, and so she had done an insulin level on me and mine was elevated and I had some insulin resistance going on. And so, you know, looking back, as I made some changes, I was eating a lot of, I was eating out quite a bit, I was eating a lot of packaged foods, Um, and I feel like it just kind of becomes a vicious cycle. So, yes, you have a lot of the added sugars and everything in those, but then there's also a lot of the inflammatory ingredients in there and that just kind of feeds the whole cycle as well. And so, yeah, so the more we, you know, the more insulin that's needed to lower our blood sugar.
Speaker 2Um can lead to insulin resistance and the thing is our bodies compensate for quite a while. Right, that's, that's what's happening. So you're going to get a normal blood glucose, fasting glucose level. You're going to get a normal A1C. A lot of times doctors aren't testing for insulin, they're not testing an insulin level. And if they did, even with those normal, if you're having a lot of those symptoms, more than likely your insulin level could be elevated. And to me that's kind of the pre diabetes you know where a lot of times they go by, like a one C and stuff for pre diabetes. But I think testing an insulin level is even more important. Um, because, yeah you're, you're just flooding the body with more, you know, more insulin into the cells and everything to bring those levels, those uh sugar levels, down, those glucose levels down. So your numbers are fine there, but it's the insulin that is the one that should really be checked.
Speaker 1Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1I'm so glad you said that, cause I feel like kind of what we're talking about here in this this applies to even the IBS community, which is the community that's likely out there listening there could be potentially quite a bit of crossover with PCOS and IBS, right yeah, and I can even touch a little bit on my experience with a quasi-PCOS diagnosis, but there isn't necessarily within with, like type 2 diabetes.
Speaker 1We're kind of talking about this like spectrum that you could potentially be moving towards at any given moment and there isn't this. Like you know, there is like a critical threshold for like a regular doctor to be like yes, you meet the criteria, we're going to diagnose you with this. But I think some of these signs whether it's PCOS or IBS or insulin resistance, you could look quite normal or not really test over the threshold that a doctor might say you have X problem, but your body could very well be moving that direction and it's that process that happens over months and potentially years that you know, you and I, as health coaches, want to try to intervene as early as possible when the client's feeling you know the symptoms already.
Speaker 2Right, yeah, and that's one of the biggest things too. I talk about it a lot on my podcast. I feel like, too, is you know your bodies? And I used to tell the people this in the ER all the time Um, I'm like, you know your body, and the funny thing is I knew my body too, but I would ignore it. But that's the thing. Because we do, we kind of ignore it, and so we really have to start listening to what your body is trying to tell you. And so if you're going to the doctor and saying something is off and they're checking all your labs and everything's normal, you know, see it again in a few months, or if anything gets worse, let me know when, deep down there probably is something else going on there, and unfortunately, I don't think traditional healthcare is catching a lot of that. And so that's where you have to really, you know, be an advocate for yourself.
Speaker 1Right and the good news is like, even if you can't afford out-of-pocket testing or don't have access to that specific data, a lot of what obviously this approach of functional health approach, health coaching approach offers is the ability to just start with a solid foundation that has a methodology to it that's shown to just help support the body right like across multiple different areas.
Understanding PCOS Symptoms and Diagnosis
Speaker 1And I think that's where, going through that process, clients will often be able to have the light bulb go off or get this kind of aha moment where even ones who are, say, active and super fit, like I know. For me, one of the big things I didn't know until I came full circle years later and became a practitioner myself was, like part of what set the stage for me was over-exercising and under eating, and I believe that truly led to a PCOS like diagnosis I had for a period of time to the point where I was an ovulatory right, like I was not having a cycle for over a year. And you think about that in the context of just like nutrient absorption and blood sugar regulation. And it's exactly what you're saying, lindsay, like there's almost always going to be, even if you're active, potentially because of the malabsorption or the malnutrition piece of it that could be driving insulin resistance and or blood sugar crashes and, just like dysregulation, that could be then creating more background inflammation that switches on those genes of things like PCOS, right yeah.
Speaker 2Yeah, Like I said, like, even just looking back, I mean, I remember there was a period where I think I in high school, where I don't think I had a period for like a year or so, I mean, it was several, several months, probably close to a year, you know and so there was definitely some things like and I think that maybe that's part of why, you know, like I said, I do feel called you know to the PCOS community too, because I feel like I was headed down that road at some point. You know, I feel like I was headed down that road at some point, you know, but maybe because I was so active and, you know, did certain things, Um, but there were definitely some signs, big signs along the way that I missed.
Speaker 1Right, and it's, it's hard Cause I bet, like in your case in mind, for sure like you looked metabolically healthy, right.
Speaker 2But like.
Speaker 1I remember looking back at old photos of myself in my college years and like I'm like oh my God, my hair is thinning. I surely had a thyroid issue then too. You know kind of back to your point about the thyroid PCOS connection. So, it does. And this kind of brings up the next question like based on your experience working with this group of women, how many times do you think this does go missed by a doctor? Say they do go to the doctor.
Speaker 2I don't know. I mean that's that's kind of hard to quantify. I mean the numbers I've heard is like I think 12 to 20% that are diagnosed with it, um, and then even out of those, it's like 80 to 90% um are either overweight or obese as well. Okay, okay. But, like I said, I mean I would imagine it's probably closer to 30%, you know of women over the age of 18, at least you know that probably have it. Yeah, yeah, because I feel, like so many women that I talk to, there's a tie, there's kind of a clue at least somewhere in there.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah, that makes perfect sense. So tell me kind of what you think the biggest struggle these women have. It could even be a misconception, a root cause they think is playing a role, just things that kind of get in the way of them figuring out how to help the body heal.
Speaker 2I think it's all this from every which direction, you know.
Speaker 2I mean I'm in some PCOS groups on Facebook, for example, and it's like one person's trying this, another person's trying this, and the thing is everybody is so, so different.
Speaker 2I mean, I'm sure you see this a lot, you know, with your practice, just because what you did with one person is not going to work for the next person, um and so, yeah, I feel like just getting back to the basics is is the thing to do, and I mean that's that's what I help them do, because there's so many try this supplement, of course, take this medication, drink this tea. There's a lot out there about experiment tea with PCOS and yes, that stuff can compliment other things, but if you're not just getting back to the basics and flooding your body with nutrients because that's like probably one of the, that is one of the like foundational um concepts that I I teach in my 90 day program is actually adding more nutrients instead of just starting to subtract things, you know, because a lot of times we're lacking in those nutrients. But, yeah, just getting back to the basics, because stop listening to the noise, because everybody's so different and, uh, don't make it so complicated because everybody's so different and don't make it so complicated.
Speaker 1Yeah, I love that and I feel like you're not the first person I've had on the podcast. That's really emphasized that whole point and that's exactly where I stand too. It's like I think there's just this trend in the world of chronic ailments or chronic illness whether it's PCOS, ibs, you name it right when people are desperate, they're not feeling well and it's just so easy to latch on to whatever fad supplement is trending.
Speaker 1That's touted for you know, ibs, bloating relief or whatever it is for PCOS and and I think a lot of this just hooks into our commercial culture to just all of the drug advertising and stuff people are bombarded with. It's like they they don't want a bandaid drug solution anymore. We're seeing this shift away from that, but that thinking around this pill for an ill hasn't shifted from what I've seen so much.
Speaker 2Lindsay would you agree with that? Yeah, I mean, yeah, I think we live in a society where everybody just wants the quick fix. They want the easy way out. They want the quick fix. Yeah, You're going to get that, but it's not going to last very long. And you know what I really? I want my people to move on from me. I want them to have sustainable results. I want to teach them you know how to really truly heal, you know, or lose the weight and then move on and be able to keep that off and feel that way for ever. Yeah, but, um, yeah, we're just, I think, like I said, I think it's a lot of society, it's, it's a lot of the drug commercials, it's, I mean, and that's, and that's the thing too, seeing in the ER it was always like, I say, a bandaid and you can say that literally or figuratively, you know because it was.
Speaker 2it was just the pain pill or whatever, but they would still come back um over and over again for the same thing, and I just didn't want to be the one giving out the quick fix anymore.
Insulin Resistance and PCOS Connection
Speaker 1Yeah, 100%. And it's interesting Cause, like the supplement thing I think is so big for the majority of like health seekers out there. And not that I'm not a fan of supplements I use them, absolutely use them in my practice. But and I don't know if you see this there's so many people that are just so over inundated with them and so overly reliant on them to the exclusion of other things, especially diet and lifestyle, that need to be supporting their health. And I mean, even just today, lindsay, I was having a conversation with someone who isn't in the functional health space but is a big fan of supplements and was basically suggesting I incorporate an IBS supplement line into my practice and I was just like, no, like, philosophically that doesn't align. And if those things were going to fix people, there wouldn't be a need for what you and I do, there wouldn't be all these people struggling because they've tried all these solutions Right.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 2I mean you have to think what are you supplementing? Are you supplementing just more bad habits? And you know a poor diet and you know lack of movement? Yeah, like, supplements do serve their purpose. I know me, like with my clients. Like I said, we go back to the basics and then, yeah, then we can kind of talk about some supplement stuff along the way. But I mean, if you're not doing just the basic things and making those crucial changes to your you know, your health, your diet, your, the supplements aren't gonna do anything. Or again, maybe do something for a little bit, but they're not gonna be a long-term solution.
Speaker 1I couldn't even go for a walk without planning my bathroom breaks. If you have IBSD or IBD and feel trapped by your gut, you're not alone. I used to plan my life around bathroom breaks until I found a three-step solution that finally worked To get my free guide IBSD and IBD Relief a three-step solution to end bowel urgency and lose stool. Click the link in the show notes below yeah, 100%, and I've even heard it said over and over again that the diet, the food we eat, is what primarily affects the gut microbiome right, which is all of the bacteria that live in our systems. And, as you know, there's just so much mounting research pointing to how core that is to all kinds of conditions.
Speaker 1Right Like as a signaling, you know, community of organisms that can help modulate the immune system, signal different genes, all of that. And I think you know, once you realize, that you're like, well, gosh, if I have to put more money into eating a really high quality diet or buying another five supplements, and God knows what the quality of these things are, or if they're targeted for what I specifically need as an individual, like it's a no brainer which one I'm going to choose Exactly.
Speaker 2I mean, yeah, and I make that comparison, not necessarily that comparison but you have to also think too like do you want to invest in, yeah, some of these nutrient rich foods which, unfortunately, are more expensive these days. It's crazy, they have one ingredient, but you know. Do you want to invest in that? Or do you want to invest your time and energy and money in paying for prescriptions and spending your time in doctor's office and fighting with insurance companies and all that stuff? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1It's ultimately going to cost less, I would argue. You would argue this too, to like, yes, the root of it up front. And and also, it goes faster when you know what to do to get the results faster. Right, which, again there isn't a silver bullet, but there is a tried and true methodology that again having somebody who really knows how to guide you appropriately, that's really kind of what we're talking about.
Speaker 2Yeah, and it's, it's a process. I mean, like I said, looking back, you know there were years that I had stuff going on and so I had to realize it wasn't going to take, you know, a couple nights, it wasn't going to happen overnight, for me to feel better. I had to really embrace the process and, yeah, there were days where I felt worse before I did feel better. But you just kind of have to approach it slowly and celebrate all those little you know wins along the way too.
Speaker 1For sure and this is a question of curiosity, it just made me think of this as you're kind of talking here but, like, do you feel, like when you're counseling women on PCOS and how to think about it, that you ever find yourself sort of explaining to them that the PCOS is like more secondary to these other deeper root imbalances that we have to really, you know, focus on first, where?
Speaker 1it's kind of similar to weight loss. Like I feel like I don't do a lot of weight loss predominantly in my practice, but I do have it come up quite a bit and I'll tell people like, let's focus less on the weight loss and more on just getting your energy better, getting your your diet more nutrient dense, less inflammatory, and just trust that process and the weight loss will come as a result, and it almost always does. I don't know if that equates to like your population. Yes.
Speaker 2Yes. So my thing that I tell that I say this about halfway through my 90 day program, because they usually have a big eyeopening experience after the first half of the program and they start realizing that it's really about their health and weight loss is a side effect of that, and a lot of people sign up because of the weight loss aspect. You know it's kind about their health and weight loss is a side effect of that, and a lot of people sign up because of the weight loss aspect. You know it's kind of the, it's the fancy term, it's the fun term, it's what everybody talks about.
Speaker 2You know you can actually measure it right. Right, you can't, you can't necessarily put a number on. You know your energy and your mood and your, you know how you're sleeping and all that stuff. And so, yeah, it's definitely and even as I talk to women, like even before, whether they become a client or not, but the why behind it a lot of times has to do with their health. They wanna live to see their kids graduate or be able to play with their grandkids. That's the deep reason why I work with a lot of women and so, yeah, then along the way, sure they start really realizing this truly is about my health. And then, yes, weight loss just kind of comes along with that.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah, I love that In terms of just PCOS and thyroid. I'd be really curious just to have you touch on that for a second, because you kind of mentioned it in the beginning and I feel like thyroid is kind of a hot topic right. A lot of people are very interested. We're kind of talking weight loss actually right now. So, as you know, there is a thyroid weight loss connection there, and so it might be just interesting for people listening who might have gut symptoms, menstrual symptoms and suspect they have a thyroid thing going on, to hear kind of about that connection right.
Speaker 2Yeah, I mean, I'm definitely not like the expert in the I actually did a podcast with somebody about this Um but a lot of times we see Hashimoto's um with PCOS. And again going back to what we're talking about with the labs, this is where the doctor might check, like your TSH, you know your T3, t4, and those might be fine Um, so a thyroid antibody is a really good one um to to advocate for Um. I know there's some other like inflammatory markers and stuff as well, but yeah, the antibody, the thyroid antibody, is a good one, and a lot of the times that can be elevated, you know as well. Um, and yeah, partially it is because those symptoms do overlap and so one could get you know, pcos could get missed because they're focused on the thyroid issue or, you know, vice versa.
Speaker 1Yeah, absolutely, and I wonder if you would agree that. I mean, I don't know this for sure, but I'm just sort of suspecting. Pcos is kind of on a similar category spectrum as IBS, where it's probably not by conventional doctors considered technically autoimmune. But if you think about just how so many chronic illnesses more and more are being touted as having these autoimmune tendencies, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, all of those things right, like it would make sense that these secondary autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's, or other things would show up in the context of PCOS, or vice versa, right?
Speaker 2Yeah for sure, and that's where those those inflammatory, you know markers come in, like I mentioned, and it kind of just becomes a vicious cycle.
Thyroid Issues and Autoimmune Overlap
Speaker 2But yeah, I mean, I feel like I, I even feel like I was taught I mean that's been years and years ago but in nursing school but I feel like I was taught that PCOS was an autoimmune condition, and so I've done even like a few things, you know, a few like I'm saying, as far as research, kind of looking into that more, because I was like am I, you know, this is like when I was first starting off. And so, yeah, I mean there, when you do the research, there is some kind of questionable like autoimmune. Definitely there are ties to autoimmune, but ultimately it is saying it's more of a metabolic condition, um, you know, or a reproductive, you know, type condition, um, yeah, there's definitely a lot of overlap, like I said, even for you know, going back to myself, I feel like a lot of those things come in, uh, come in twos you know, I mean yeah, again, you probably see it and the more, the more that I advance in my practice, I am seeing more dual diagnosis with PCOS and something else.
Speaker 1Yeah, and I think that's also where people are just becoming more interested in a holistic approach because, yes, although these specialists have a place and they're needed for very specific things, the downside of that conventional approach to things is it's very compartmentalized.
Speaker 2Right downside of that, conventional approach to things is.
Speaker 1It's very compartmentalized right, like if you've got Hashimoto's and PCOS and let's say you were lucky enough to get a PCOS diagnosis, you can't really talk about the Hashis with the PCOS doctor, I mean you can and you can't you know what I mean, Lindsay?
Speaker 1Some of this is even just billability purposes within the insurance system, which you know very well. It's. You're so constrained in the medical system by what issues and treatments and aspects of a condition are on the table to even work with in any given moment, and it really hamstrings the client because, as you and I know, like everything is just so connected in the body and so, taking that foundational approach, you can actually impact everything, versus being slotted into just this one specific issue. You've got Right.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, I mean that's you hit it right there. I mean it's again going like I always say I don't like to like about bashing traditional healthcare because first off yeah, first off, there's a, there is a time and place for it.
Speaker 2You know, especially like in the ER, you know, true, true emergencies, right, but yeah, it is very specialized, I mean even hyper-specialized in some instances. And so I mean, yeah, you could have an endocrine, especially for, you know, pcos. You could have an endocrinologist, your OBGYN, your primary care, you know like that's just a few, but they're not talking to each other and I even remember seeing some of this in the ER, um, especially like I feel like an older, older people, but but you know, they would have a cardiologist and all this stuff and nobody was talking to each other and we always just were like can we just get on like one big phone call and have them talk to each other?
Speaker 2Um, but yeah, I mean, it is an an unfortunate part of the system and that's where advocating for yourself and really kind of understanding and also organized, um, you know whether you have your labs from one doctor and you have to take them with.
Speaker 2I know, like a lot of healthcare systems now have like a portal, but even so, that doctor may not know that the other doctor ordered labs or did these other tests or whatever. So you have to be the one to say you know I had this done with this doctor and maybe even just put the results right in front of them. Um, and then just kind of know what questions to ask too, because a lot of times the doctors just say, okay, you got this going on, here's your prescription, or you know we'll do this test and I'll see in a few few months. So you have to also understand like there's side effects to those drugs. There's, you know exactly why are we doing this test? Like what, what's? What's it going to tell us in the end? You know what's your, what's your end goal? Um, yeah, it is. It is unfortunate that the system works like that.
Speaker 1Exactly, and it and it's, it's definitely like your prerogative is the patient, which sometimes people need a reminder on that Right, like, and sometimes I'll even say to my clients, like, remember, the doctor works for you, not the other way around.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah I think there is something about that, that hierarchical, differential you feel like the doctor knows everything, you know nothing. It can be very intimidating to be in that type of situation, but I think if you think of it like a classroom and this is the teacher you're engaging with, and it's like there are no stupid questions and at the end of the day it's all impacting you anyhow.
Speaker 1So, worst case scenario the doctor gets angry because you're asking questions. But best case scenario, you're asking these questions. You could literally save yourself from having a major like reaction to a medication or secondary health issue pop up that you never expected to. So it is, and I think sometimes this too can be helpful, like working with a health coach that understands the system like you do, lindsay right.
Speaker 1Like being able to kind of coach or help guide clients a little bit as to how to approach some of these things and ask really good questions can also just be a lot of value, because I think people just feel very overwhelmed and like they're kind of trying to tread water and, you know, stay afloat without a lot and it's hard. There's so much knowledge and time that you could put into learning all this stuff.
Speaker 2And this is partly why having somebody to guide.
Speaker 1You is such a lifesaver right.
Speaker 2Exactly, yeah, yeah, I mean I think doctors are kind of put on a pedestal still, even though, again, I feel like maybe that is shifting a little bit. The one thing I've told people and I kind of hate to say this, but I'm like there are doctors that finished last in their class, it's true, yes, it's true, but you know, and again, not trying to bash, but just saying like, first of all, yeah, they don't know everything. If I can work with a physician, great, and hopefully that physician is open to, you know, to working with me to help their patient, right, I mean, unfortunately, even like my own OBGYN, when I first started telling her that, uh, I was working with, you know, women with PCOS, and she was just like, yeah, that can be managed well, as long as they just take their meds. And I was like, okay, she's, she's not open to a discussion, you know. But yeah, it is, it's unfortunate, um, but yeah, it is, it's unfortunate, um, it's uh.
Speaker 2Again, it's part of the breakdown in the system and you just have to, yeah, you have to know that they don't have all the answers. They're not taught, especially when it comes to nutrition. I think I heard like three days is what they were taught on nutrition out of, yeah, out of however many eight plus years, right, and even that I've heard is like, in those nutrition, you know, days it's they need to whatever, be on this diet or eat this for this rare condition. It's not, even it's not preventative, it's not, you know, any type of actual healing or maintenance for any condition. Um, it's more, yeah, if they have this rare thing, yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah, you're right, and I mean, I think this kind of goes hand in hand with this whole topic, but like, if you understand all this, you also then inherently get that there's limitations to that system and therefore go in with appropriate expectations and knowing that the doctor might not understand a holistic framework, might not even be supportive of that, because it's like speaking Greek and Latin right, like that's just not the training they come out of, and so that at least will empower you to, I guess, like leverage what you can for what you're getting from from that right, like, if, if not, to say like, don't choose to not go to a doctor, but go in with the understanding that they're going to get you to a point if you really want a holistic approach and, um, you know, get the good out of that. But also understand that, like, if the system doesn't test, run the tests you want to run, or your doctor's not understanding of those tests or whatever, you can't get upset there either.
Speaker 1Right, lindsay, because it's just not set up to do that, and so that's where having a more I think multifaceted perspective and approach to health is really where more and more people need to go if they want these kinds of answers.
Healthcare System Limitations and Self-Advocacy
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean, and if your doctor's not open to having that conversation, then maybe it is time to find another one. You know there are doctors that are out there that, yeah, they may not know about what we do, but they might be open to you. You know, going to, uh, you know other to see other people and work with other people to really to really help you on your journey. And not just you know they, they, they know that whatever they say isn't, isn't, uh, isn't all the. You know the be all, end, all um. They understand and they're open-minded to, to other alternatives that are out there.
Speaker 1Yeah, and it's interesting because even in the area I live, which is, you know, the Midwest, not necessarily the most progressive area of the US like there's more and more doctors or nurse practitioners that are now opting out of like hospital systems and going independent and doing their own cash pay practices whether they're like membership or pay per appointment type of thing and most of the time when I've engaged with those folks they have a lot more open-minded like. Part of the reason they left is because, even though they might not want to do like functional medicine and go all the way that direction, like they were having a lot of constraints and frustrations trying to work within that system and felt that even just doing the regular practicing they wanted to do it was becoming increasingly difficult. So even those options although, yes, they are out of pocket or tend to be, they can be a lot times more accessible and accommodating of supporting a holistic approach right.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, yeah, they might be. You know you can get into insurance issues and that type of thing, so that might be an option as well, but it really does. It takes. It takes a village, it takes a team If you're really truly wanting to heal, you know, or reverse the condition or at least just manage the symptoms better, you know, feel better. Maybe you can't reverse it completely, but you could feel better and have a better quality of life. It, yeah, I feel like a lot of times it is going to take a team, you know of different, different specialties and different modalities to make that happen.
Speaker 1Yeah, absolutely so. In your experience working with the PCOS crowd of folks, generally speaking, with the right foundational support, is it about 90 days? You see, it takes on average for people to make a pretty significant transformation.
Speaker 2Or does it vary for people? Well, it does. It varies, but 90 days, I feel like, is a good, a good gauge. A good, yeah. I mean you can definitely make a lot of progress in 90 days. You can also be able to kind of, you know, assess and reassess throughout the time. You know, it's not just 30 days, it's not just a couple weeks, um. So I feel like a good three months is is a good gauge.
Speaker 2And then, yeah, I have had people that continue beyond the 90 days because they still need work, especially if it comes to weight loss. Again, that's not happening overnight. So, depending on how much weight they have to lose, it could take close to a year, um, to really get the result that you want. It could take close to a year to really get the result that you want. But a lot of times, yes, 90 days is is a great, great timeframe to really make some some big changes and really, you know, I help them through the toughest part of it, probably, and then I could be there either to maintain that afterwards or still, you know, help them on their on their journey.
Speaker 1Yeah, that makes perfect sense and, like I know, my mind is kind of similar to yours, where it's about a four month process, and I always try to tell people like this is almost going to feel a little bit like drinking from a fire hose, because part of what I'm doing is teaching you the skills so that eventually you're going to graduate and not need me anymore, right Cause I mean, ultimately we get into this field to really help people become self-empowered and, you know, be able to go out eventually and live a life, you know, independent, knowing what they need to do to keep their health in order.
Speaker 1But, like you said, even something like weight loss, there can be a lot of things driving that and it can sometimes be more complex than it appears at the surface, and so I found, too, that that's a good amount of time 90 days, 120 days to start to feel like some significant symptom relief and improvements across different markers, but that's often when people get really, really reinvigorated and more determined to see it through to the end too, cause they're like this is actually working, like what happens if I stick with it another six months, for example.
Speaker 1Right, yeah.
Speaker 2Yeah, like I said, that halfway mark, I see I don't see much weight loss in the first, you know, 45 days or so, but they, oh my gosh, so many other changes, especially even like inches, lots of inches lost in 45 days. The scale might not be moving, which I always tell people. I'm like that's the last thing we should be looking at. You know, how do your clothes fit? What's your energy, how's your? You know how's your sleep? Yeah, are you losing inches? Um, you know all those things are your. Do your rings even fit better? Can you walk up a couple of flights of stairs without being out of breath? You know that type of thing. There's so, so much in those, even just, like I said, the first half, and then usually the weight loss on the scale comes more during the second half, because we're we've focused so, so much on their health the first half and of course, then, yes, we continue that, but then that's where a lot of the corrections are made, and then we see the weight loss during the second half of the program.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's awesome. I love that. Yeah, and that is a very sound approach for the people listening right Like weight loss should not be like a. If you're seeing things advertised like lose seven pounds in seven days, like no, not a good idea. It should be a gradual. You know what we're talking about is more of a realistic approach to regaining health that isn't going to be a false promise that's giving you this extreme result in a very short period of time.
Speaker 2Such a thing doesn't exist, right? Yeah, it's a process and I mean I think even like that's probably the biggest like feedback that I get from I think every single one of my clients has been yeah, there's a little apprehension at first, but once they start like seeing the process to it, they love it. Like that's that. They're like. Without that, you know it's week by week. We're not looking to the end right away, we're not looking two weeks out, we're working, working even day by day, week by week, and focusing on just you know, the next meal in front of us really. And they said that like, yeah, they just love that process as we add. And then, yeah, start subtracting some things.
Speaker 1I love it. No, that's a really really awesome approach. So you have a summit coming up here very shortly, so I'd love for you to talk about that Cause I think people are going to be super interested in this.
Sustainable Healing Process vs Quick Fixes
Speaker 2Yes, yes, um. So, yeah, it's called unwritten healing beyond your diagnosis, so ties in nicely. And, uh, it's about writing the story that the doctor never told you was possible. Um, I even get chills as I say that. Um, because, yeah, for me, you know, as I mentioned, that was definitely for me. I mean, I can only imagine if I would have gone to a traditional, you know, doctor, like what the rabbit hole we could have gone down that way and the medications I probably would have ended up on. Um, but, yeah, so for me and all of the speakers that are are going to be part of it. They've all been through a diagnosis and now they are coaching and helping others heal, you know, learning from their own journey, um, yourself included, I will be featured on the speakers panels.
Speaker 2I'm excited for that. So, yeah, it's going to be. It's a three nights and it's over three weeks, so it's they're all Thursdays, it's October 9th, the 16th and the 23rd and it's from 6 PM to 7 30 PM Eastern time. We'll have two speakers each of those nights, with some Q and a as well with uh with each of the speakers, so you also get to ask some questions and interact with them and and uh, we'll have some fun.
Speaker 1Yeah, and so this would be for people who are really interested in a holistic approach, suspect that diagnoses or things have gone missed by their doctor and really just want to take that next step and figure out what tools can empower them to get that the answer they're looking for, right?
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, definitely. They're going to be able to walk away with some very tangible, actionable things from all of the speakers tangible, actionable things from all of the speakers and just also know that there's hope out there. You know, like myself, you know you, the other speakers, and there's many, many more people out there, of course, that are doing stuff like us, that have healed beyond a diagnosis, and so, whether it doesn't even matter whether you've had a diagnosis or you're just like, hey, something's off, like we were talking about, you know, in the beginning, something just feels off. Doctor says everything's fine, you know I have these symptoms. Then, yeah, join us, because I think it could still be very empowering, empowering and very helpful for somebody like that. So if you're, if you're looking to move beyond the quick fixes, then definitely this is for you.
Speaker 1Perfect, and I'm going to put the link for people to register in the show notes. I don't know if you mentioned this, but it is a free summit, correct, lindsay? Yes, it is, yeah sorry.
Speaker 2Yeah, it is free. We do have a VIP option, which will include some exclusive bonuses that you'll receive from each of the speakers as well, so all those details will be in that link, yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, perfect, good. So if this interests you, please click the link and get on there because get some spots before I mean I don't think it'll fill up, but still we want you in the summit and engaged, and we love questions, so that it'll be a really fun event. I'm super excited to support you around that.
Speaker 2Well, good, yeah well is there.
Speaker 1We should actually share how people can reach you too. Before we close out today, what's the best way to reach?
Speaker 2yeah, oh my gosh. Um, well, I do have. I do have a podcast as well, um, and that is called, uh, pcos unfiltered nourish, heal, thrive. So if you just search for pcus unfiltered on all of the major platforms apple, spotify, youtube, amazon, all those um then you'll find me there. Um, otherwise, on facebook, yeah, facebook, just I have my personal is lindsey under or lindsey vizethan. We'll put that in there because we'll put that in there too.
Speaker 2And then Instagram is healthy underscore ever after 15. If you want to connect with me there as well, Perfect, perfect.
Speaker 1We'll link your socials in the show notes so people can click on that and then connect with you. Well, awesome. I have so enjoyed this conversation. I think it was fun just to even dive in a little bit and distinguish between the conventional and holistic side of things for people that might not be aware of some of those things. Yeah, this is gonna be a blast. I'm looking forward to the summit and thank you again for coming on, lindsay.
Speaker 2Thank you. Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1Did you find this episode informative and helpful? I'd love to have you leave me a five-star rating and helpful? I'd love to have you leave me a five-star rating. Do you have questions about holistic approaches to optimizing gut health that you'd like to ask? Please leave your question or comment below and I will be sure to address it personally or cover it in a future episode. Be sure to check the show notes for any resources mentioned in today's episode. See you next time.