Lori Wendell APRN - Optimize Your Health

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Lori Wendell APRN - Optimize Your Health

Hi, I’m Lori Wendell, APRN! I’m thrilled to launch this page as part of my journey into functional medicine. Hormones, thyroid, we will address it all.

My goal is to help you take control of your health with personalized, root-cause-focused care.

11/21/2025

Why You Feel More Tired When the Weather Changes 🍂🌧️

If you’ve been feeling extra tired lately, you’re not alone — and no, you’re not just “lazy” or “getting old.”
Weather changes truly impact your body more than you think.

Here’s what might be happening ⤵️

▪️ Barometric pressure drops
This can make your body work harder to stabilize blood flow and oxygen levels, leaving you feeling heavy, sluggish, or headachy.

▪️ Less sunlight = less serotonin
Shorter, darker days lower mood-boosting hormones, which can sap your energy.

▪️ Temperature swings stress the adrenals
Your cortisol has to adjust quickly — and if you’re already stressed or inflamed, this can drain your energy fast.

▪️ Your immune system ramps up
Sudden shifts in weather trigger immune activity, even if you don’t get sick. That extra work = extra fatigue.

▪️ Poor sleep patterns
Cooler temps or earlier sunsets can throw off your circadian rhythm without you realizing it.

✨ Bottom line: If the weather is up and down, your energy will be too. Give your body some grace — hydration, steady sleep, nourishing meals, and gentle movement make a big difference.

11/19/2025

🎄 Holiday Stress Is More Than Just “Feeling Stressed” — It Shows Up in Your Hormones

This time of year can be magical… but it also puts your body under pressure.
And when stress rises ⬆️, cortisol rises ⬆️ … which affects much more than your mood.

Here’s what elevated cortisol can trigger:

✨ Trouble losing weight
😴 Poor sleep
🔥 Increased inflammation
🧠 Anxiety or irritability
🌀 Blood sugar swings
🦋 Thyroid slowdowns
💧 Worsening PMS or perimenopause symptoms

Your body isn’t “failing” — it’s responding to stress.

If you’ve been feeling off lately, your hormones may be asking for support.

Small steps like better sleep, 😴 balanced meals, 🍽️ breath work, or reducing sugar and caffeine can make a huge difference.

Check the COMMENTS for a HOLIDAY STRESS CHECKLIST 🦃🎄⬇️⬇️

11/18/2025

❓How Often Should You Check Your Thyroid Labs if You’re on Medication❓

If you take thyroid medication, keeping an eye on your levels is essential for feeling your best.

🕒 After starting medication or adjusting your dose:

➡️ Recheck labs in 6–8 weeks.
Your body needs this time to reach a new steady state.

✨ Once your thyroid levels are stable:

➡️ Testing every 3-6 Months

🔎 You may need more frequent labs if:

• You’re pregnant or trying to conceive
• You’ve had weight changes, illness, or new medications
• You’re experiencing symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, anxiety, or palpitations

🧪 Most common labs checked:

TSH • Free T4 • Free T3 — Annually your TPO and Thyroid Antibodies.

If you have Hashimotos - All of the ABOVE - every 3 months ✅

✅ If you are taking T4 in any form, Reverse T3 needs to be checked to make sure you are CONVERTING T4 to T3.

Functional medicine aims to optimize thyroid function by looking at the whole picture — not just one number.

When your labs and your symptoms align, that’s when you truly feel well. 💛

11/14/2025

Today on World 🌎 Diabetes Day- we highlight something often overlooked:

Diabetes isn’t just a blood 🩸sugar issue — it’s a metabolic communication problem rooted in inflammation, hormone imbalance, nutrient deficiencies, gut health, and lifestyle stressors.

Functional Medicine looks deeper than glucose levels to understand why the body is losing metabolic flexibility… and what we can do to restore it.

💙 Functional Medicine Approaches That Create Real Change

• Prioritizing whole-food, lower-glycemic nutrition
• Identifying food sensitivities that may worsen inflammation
• Repairing the gut barrier and supporting microbiome diversity
• Optimizing sleep and stress pathways for better insulin sensitivity
• Incorporating movement that improves glucose: strength training, walking, intervals
• Personalized supplementation (magnesium, omega-3s, berberine, alpha-lipoic acid, inositol — depending on the root cause)

Diabetes and prediabetes are not inevitable.
With a root-cause approach, we can reduce inflammation, restore metabolic health, and support the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar naturally.

Awareness is the first step. Root-cause healing is the next.
💙

11/14/2025

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 (And What You Can Do About It!) 🔬

𝙳𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚓𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗?

In Functional Medicine, we look beyond symptoms to explore how toxins, chemicals l, and environmental exposures can disrupt your endocrine system—often without you realizing it.

👩‍🔬 What Are Endocrine Disruptors?

They’re chemicals that interfere with your body’s natural hormone signaling.
They can:

• Mimic estrogen
• Block normal hormone receptor function
• Interrupt thyroid hormone production
• Influence cortisol and stress response
• Alter metabolism and weight regulation

📍 Where They Come From…

You may encounter these daily through:

• Plastics (BPA, phthalates)
• Personal care products (fragrance, parabens)
• Household cleaners
• Pesticides on food
• Non-stick cookware
• Synthetic air fresheners

⚠️ How They Impact Your Health…

Exposure over time may contribute to:

• Hormone imbalance (estrogen dominance, low testosterone, thyroid dysfunction)
• PMS or irregular cycles
• Fertility challenges
• Weight loss resistance
• Fatigue and mood swings
• Inflammation + gut disruption

🌱 Functional Medicine Solutions…

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s reducing total toxic load. Here’s how:

• Choose fragrance-free or natural products
• Use glass or stainless steel instead of plastic
• Wash produce well or buy organic when possible
• Switch to non-toxic cleaners
• Open windows for fresh air
• Support detox pathways: hydration, sweat, fiber, minerals, quality sleep

✨ Small swaps create big change.

Your hormones are always listening to your environment—give them what they need to thrive!

11/13/2025

In Functional Medicine 🩺💊 we don’t just ask “How do we treat inflammation?” — we ask “Why is it there in the first place?” 🔍

Inflammation isn’t always the enemy — it’s your body’s signal that something deeper is out of balance. While conventional medicine often focuses on managing symptoms, Functional Medicine takes an out-of-the-box, root-cause approach to uncover what’s driving it.

🧬 Common Root Triggers of Chronic Inflammation:

• Gut imbalances (like leaky gut or microbiome disruption)
• Hidden food sensitivities
• Blood sugar and insulin resistance
• Hormone imbalances
• Environmental toxins or mold exposure
• Chronic stress and poor sleep

Instead of masking the signal, Functional Medicine aims to calm the source — through advanced testing, nutrition, lifestyle shifts, targeted supplementation, and personalized care.

✨ The result? A plan built around your biology 🧬 not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

Because true healing happens when we stop chasing symptoms and start solving the puzzle underneath them.

We don’t provide cookie cutter treatments we FIND the ROOT of the CAUSE 🩺✅

11/11/2025

Happy Nurse Practitioner Week to the BEST ❤️

We’re so grateful for our amazing LEADER Lori Hudnall Wendell whose compassion, expertise, and dedication make such a difference every single day. 💉💪

Thank you for the countless ways you care for our patients, support our team, and go above and beyond to help others live healthier lives.

You are helping make our community a HEALTHIER PLACE ! 💙👩‍⚕️

11/10/2025

It’s a GREAT DAY to be a FEMALE 💥🙌🏼

Warnings being removed or updated for ESTROGEN 🙌🏼

🫀 Cardiovascular disease:

The warning about an increased risk of cardiovascular disease is being removed.

❤️ Breast cancer:

The warning about increased risk of breast cancer is being removed, as OUTDATED analysis of data led to the initial warning.

🧠 Probable dementia:

The warning regarding probable dementia is being removed.

We remain consistent in the tailored approach to treat everyone individually. Hormone therapy is the REFUELING of your body with the same exact hormones your body used to naturally produce.

11/07/2025

Did you know your thyroid controls nearly every system in your body?

Located at the base of your neck, this small butterfly-shaped gland produces hormones that regulate:

11/06/2025

✨ Nausea after eating — when to investigate further ✨

Occasional nausea after a heavy meal is common — but if it’s happening often, your body might be trying to tell you something.

Persistent nausea after eating can signal:
🥴 Gallbladder issues
🔥 Gastritis or acid reflux
🦠 H. pylori infection
🧠 Gut-brain imbalance
💊 Medication side effects
🩸 Hormone or thyroid changes
🍞 Food sensitivities or delayed digestion

👉 When to get checked:
• Nausea happens after most meals
• You feel full after just a few bites
• You have bloating, abdominal pain, or unintentional weight loss
• You notice changes in stool or appetite

Don’t ignore your symptoms — consistent nausea deserves evaluation. Identifying the root cause can make a huge difference in your comfort and long-term health.

11/04/2025

Your gut and brain 🧠 are in constant communication through something called the gut-brain axis — basically a built-in messaging system that connects your digestive system to your mood, energy, and mental clarity.

Think of it like a two-way highway 🚦
What happens in your gut doesn’t stay in your gut — it can influence how you feel emotionally and mentally.

When the gut becomes inflamed, imbalanced, or overloaded with harmful bacteria, it can send distress signals to the brain. This can show up as:

💭 Increased anxiety
🌧️ Low mood or depression
😴 Low energy + fatigue
🤕 Brain fog + trouble focusing

That’s because nearly 90% of your serotonin — your “feel-good” neurotransmitter — is actually made in your gut, not your brain. So when your gut is struggling, your mood often follows.

🧠✨ Healing your gut = Healing your mind

Simple ways to support your gut-brain connection:

🥕 Eat fiber-rich, whole foods
🥛 Include fermented foods (or high-quality probiotics)
✨ Manage stress + prioritize sleep
🚶‍♀️ Move your body daily
💧 Stay hydrated

When you take care of your gut, you may notice improvements in digestion, mood, energy, and mental clarity.

Support your gut → Support your mind.

Come see us to learn more about what YOUR gut is telling you.

Lori Wendell APRN - Optimize Your Health

11/04/2025

🚫 When NOT to Increase Yet

Delay dose escalation if you are:

❌ Having moderate to severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain
❌ Having difficulty meeting protein or calorie needs
❌ Having difficulty meeting hydration goals
❌ Still adjusting well at your current dose and losing weight steadily

Some patients stay longer at a dose if they’re doing well — slow titration is OK.

⭐ Clinical tips many prescribers use

• If GI symptoms occur: stay at the current dose longer or step back down

• If nausea/emesis: try ginger, smaller meals, peppermint tea, electrolytes, anti-nause meds as needed

• Hydration + protein intake MATTER BIG TIME with GLP-1/GIP meds

• Lifestyle habits still matter — protein + resistance training protects muscle

Address

510 C Street
South Charleston, WV
25303

Website

http://www.optimizeyourhealthwithlori.com/, https://linktr.ee/ljcardiologynp

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