In this second part of my story, I share the physical and mental hurdles I faced after my hysterectomy. For years, I carried a literal weight around my neck that caused chronic pain in my neck, back, and shoulders. I used to believe that a breast reduction was just about vanity or that I lacked the financial resources for it, but I eventually realized it was about my ability to live my life.

My path to healing was not simple. My surgery was paused when my bloodwork showed an A1C of 6.7, placing me in the pre-diabetic category. As a former health coach, I struggled with the internal stigma of using medications like GLP-1s because it felt like "cheating".

However, balancing my body chemistry through Metformin and Tirzepatide finally silenced the "food noise" that had dominated my internal monologue for decades.I also examine the missing pieces of the menopause puzzle, including the progesterone supplement my doctor jokingly called "I hate my husband medicine".

This episode is about the relief that comes when you find providers who affirm your complaints and help you return to being your whole self.

Video Chapters:

01:00:00 A personal trainer's suggestion: Considering breast reduction 01:02:34 The A1C shock: Why my surgery was postponed

01:04:30 Finding a menopause specialist who truly listens 01:06:14 "Is this cheating?": My struggle with the GLP-1 stigma

01:12:10 10 Pounds Lighter: The reality of my surgery results 01:13:42 The day the food noise finally went silent

01:21:49 Switching medications: My experience with Zepbound

01:31:52 "You're Not Crazy": The power of medical validation

Join Our Community: Women of WonderIf you are experiencing serious symptoms and your doctor is not listening, it is time to find a new provider. You know your body better than anyone else. Join our community for a safe place to return to yourself.

I WANT TO BE A WOMAN OF WONDER:

https://thewonder.life/wow/Keywords:

Women's Health, Breast Reduction Surgery, A1C Levels, GLP-1 Medications, Food Noise, Menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Progesterone, Metformin, Medical Advocacy, Health Coach.

Welcome to Wonder in the Weeds. In this episode, I am opening up about a deeply personal, ten-year battle with the medical system. Starting in my late thirties, I dealt with severe pain, heavy bleeding, and extreme swelling. Despite staying highly active with spin classes and yoga teacher training, multiple doctors repeatedly dismissed my concerns.

They often blamed my weight and told me to simply eat less and move more.Because of my background in health coaching, I internalized this dismissal and blamed myself.

My health continued to decline, leading to such severe anemia that I craved nothing but ice chips and pickles. The breaking point finally arrived when my general practitioner noticed my dangerously low hemoglobin levels, which pushed my care team to take my situation seriously.

This crisis ultimately led me to agree to a partial hysterectomy.

After the procedure, my surgeon validated everything I had been experiencing: I had a massive fibroid and excessive tissue causing my severe symptoms. Tune in to hear why you must always advocate for yourself when the medical system stops listening.

Key Takeaways:

The danger of medical dismissal: Doctors ignored my severe symptoms and blamed my weight, which severely delayed vital treatment.Overcoming self-blame: The mental toll of internalizing medical gaslighting left me thinking I was failing my own body.The reality of a hysterectomy: I experienced immediate physical relief from finally receiving the right surgical intervention.Advocating for yourself:

You know your body best and must push back until you find a doctor who listens.

Join Our Community:

Women of WonderAn online community with no algorithms, no ads, no arguments, and no red-faced emojis driving the content.

A SAFE PLACE FOR WOMEN TO COME BACK TO THEMSELVES....while being lifted up and held in love.I WANT TO BE A WOMAN OF WONDER: https://thewonder.life/wow/

Welcome to "Wonder in the Weeds" with trauma therapist Cristie Ritz-King.

This is the show where we talk about how to live, love, and grow right alongside grief, change, and the "wild messiness of this human life".

Moving beyond the role of the "blank slate" therapist , Cristie combines her professional experience with her personal stories of challenge and reinvention. We're not about toxic positivity or influencer-style advice. Instead, this is a space for authentic connection, community , and understanding that we don't have to wait for life to be perfect to feel good.

Each week, we'll talk about:

Finding "wonder" even when you feel like you're "walking through the weeds".

Navigating personal change, from parenting to finding your authentic self.

The "Weeds of the Week," where we discuss everything from small daily annoyances to the big things that bother us.

Sharing stories to feel less alone in our experiences.

Join us to get through the weeds together.

Let's connect:

➡️ Website: https://thewonder.life/

Welcome back to the Wonder in the Weeds podcast! I am Cristie, your Gen X representative, and I am here with Faith, your Gen Z representative. In this episode, we are discussing a major life event: buying a new car. After Faith's old car completely died in the driveway, she had to find a reliable replacement fast.

We talk about the entire experience from our two different generational perspectives. Faith explains her intense online research strategy to find a dependable Toyota within her budget, and how she used funds from a playwriting grant for her down payment. She also shares her experience navigating the high-pressure environment of the dealership as a young woman.

From the parent perspective, I share the mental work it took to support Faith in making this large purchase without taking over the process. We also talk about how Dad handled the stress of the situation; he ultimately stepped up to be the perfect, positive cheerleader for Faith's new car.

Finally, we wrap up with our weekly wonders. Faith shares her current favorite tracks from Noah Kahan and Bruce Springsteen, and I talk about the absolute joy of the recent Bad Bunny halftime show.