EPISODE 63: How GLP-1s Changed Her Life After Early Menopause & Breast Cancer with Lois Essenfeld

<p>Welcome back to <em>Peptides for Women</em> podcast!</p><p>In this episode, I’m joined by <strong>Lois Essenfeld</strong>, a certified Institute for Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition trainee, to talk about her long health journey through severe endometriosis, medically induced menopause, hormone-positive breast cancer, difficult menopause symptoms, and eventually discovering GLP-1 and peptide therapy.</p><p>Lois was diagnosed with severe endometriosis in her 20s and went through surgery that removed most of one ovary. She was then placed into medical menopause with Lupron and spent more than 20 years on birth control. Years later, at age 48, she was diagnosed with hormone-positive breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.</p><p>Her experience with Tamoxifen was extremely difficult, and although switching medications helped mentally and emotionally, she continued to struggle with hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain, inflammation, weight gain, and feeling disconnected from her body. Because of her history, hormone replacement therapy wasn&#39;t an option for her.</p><p>Then she discovered functional health, FDN, and eventually GLP-1 therapy. After starting a low dose of tirzepatide, Lois noticed a dramatic improvement in her joint pain and inflammation within days, followed by improvements in her hot flashes, night sweats, and overall quality of life.</p><p>Now, Lois is passionate about learning more about peptides and helping other women navigate their own health journeys through midlife.</p><p><strong>In this episode, we cover:</strong></p><ul><li>Lois&#39;s experience with severe endometriosis and why it took years to get the right diagnosis</li><li>Being put into medical menopause at just 26</li><li>Her fertility journey and becoming a mom after losing most of one ovary</li><li>Her experience with hormone-positive breast cancer at 48</li><li>Why Tamoxifen was so difficult for her</li><li>Switching from Tamoxifen to anastrozole</li><li>Hot flashes, night sweats, joint pain, inflammation, and weight gain during menopause</li><li>Why hormone replacement therapy wasn&#39;t an option for Lois</li><li>Her journey into health coaching and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition</li><li>How she discovered peptides and GLP-1 therapy</li><li>What changed for her after starting tirzepatide</li><li>The importance of understanding your options instead of making health decisions from fear</li><li>Her interest in learning more a