Bendy Menopause

Bendy Menopause Vanessa Weiland, NP, HT, MSCP (she/her). Founder of Phases Clinic in Washington State (Telehealth, Shoreline, North Bend). Click the bio for free quiz & more!

We specialize in menopause and hypermobility care where science meets compassion.

02/16/2026

Estrogen plays a role in the brain in more ways than most people realize. It helps modulate dopamine, which impacts executive function like focus, planning, and decision-making. For people with ADHD, that system may already work differently, so estrogen fluctuations can feel even more disruptive.

Estrogen also affects blood flow patterns in the brain and can impact the cortisol system, which influences stress response. It may not mean higher stress overall, but it can mean less resilience to changes in stress and environment.

👉 Read the full blog: “ADHD, Neurodiversity, and Menopause: When Coping Skills Stop Working” — link in bio!

We’re so grateful to be trusted with your care — and even more grateful that you feel heard, supported, and believed.✨ R...
02/13/2026

We’re so grateful to be trusted with your care — and even more grateful that you feel heard, supported, and believed.

✨ Ready for clarity in your symptoms and next steps? Book a consult today. Link in bio!

02/13/2026

If your symptoms come in waves, you’re not imagining it. Many people notice histamine-type flares like flushing, heat intolerance, itching, and stomach upset around ovulation, and tracking can be incredibly helpful, especially if you don’t bleed due to an IUD or hysterectomy.

If your flares line up with ovulation, that can be a clue that high estrogen is a trigger, and it may mean you need a slower, more thoughtful approach to adding estrogen to a hormone therapy regimen. Response to menopause and response to treatment are both highly individualized.

👉 Read the full blog: “Why Everything Feels Inflamed in Perimenopause (It’s Not Just Hormones)” — link in bio!

Yes, it can. Mast cells are immune cells that release histamine and other inflammatory agents when provoked. They're des...
02/11/2026

Yes, it can. Mast cells are immune cells that release histamine and other inflammatory agents when provoked. They're designed to fight off foreign invaders, but when they're too reactive they can cause havoc. It turns out that mast cells carry receptors for hormones like estrogen and progesterone, so the chaotic changes in hormone levels that occur during perimenopause can lead to unpredictable flares in mast cell activity. Many people notice high histamine symptoms like allergies, food intolerance, and hives.

Have you noticed more histamine symptoms in this phase of life?
👇 Let me know in the comments!

02/11/2026

Last time we talked about POTS and dysautonomia, and today we’re going one step further into the cluster that so many people are starting to recognize: mast cell activation. Mast cells are immune cells that live in connective tissue and line the skin, digestive tract, and airways. When they’re activated, they can release inflammatory markers that show up as flushing, rashes, heat intolerance, digestive upset, pelvic sensitivity, fatigue, brain fog, headaches, and more.

This can also get worse in perimenopause, and the symptoms don’t look the same for everyone. If you’re wondering where you fit, I made a free quiz in my link in bio.

✨ 5,000 followers! ✨We’re officially a 5K community, and we just want to say thank you. ❤️We’re so grateful you’re part ...
02/10/2026

✨ 5,000 followers! ✨

We’re officially a 5K community, and we just want to say thank you. ❤️

We’re so grateful you’re part of this space!

02/08/2026

The B and T cell response is based on memory; sophisticated and targeted. Meanwhile, mast cells are ancient immune cells that respond to perceived threats by releasing histamine and other inflammatory mediators.

Why does this matter for bendy folks? Our mast cells tend to be more trigger happy, responding to benign things like scents (cough), stress (hives), and foods (intolerance).

Mast cells live within connective tissue, and mast cell activation syndrome is much more common in those with connective tissue diseases like Ehlers Danlos syndrome.

02/06/2026

Salt, fluids, and compression are some of the mainstay supports for POTS and other forms of dysautonomia. Even if you’re not “dehydrated,” fluid can have a harder time staying inside the blood vessels, especially when connective tissue issues are part of the picture.

Salt and fluids help support blood volume, and compression helps keep blood from pooling in the legs so it’s easier to get blood back to the heart and brain. For many people, this can mean less brain fog, fewer palpitations, and less of that “I’m going to pass out” feeling when changing positions.

👉 Read the full blog: “Dysautonomia, POTS, and Menopause: When Your Nervous System Becomes the Bottleneck” — link in bio!

It's very common for folks who menstruate to report that their orthostatic symptoms get better or worse throughout the c...
02/05/2026

It's very common for folks who menstruate to report that their orthostatic symptoms get better or worse throughout the cycle. Typically, symptoms improve around ovulation when estrogen is high, and worsen before and during the period when hormones are low.

Perimenopause can intensify these hormonal swings, but oftentimes POTS symptoms improve when hormone levels become stable after menopause. Prior to menopause, one way to stabilize hormones is to use the birth control pill continuously.

Do you notice changes in dizziness and water retention throughout your cycle?

👇 Let me know in the comments!

02/04/2026

Teasing out the difference between anxiety and dysautonomia is often a "chicken and the egg" situation. Does the anxious feeling start first, or do you feel a chest flutter followed by a heart rate spike?

Measuring your heart rate—via a watch, ring, or a simple pulse check at the wrist—provides the data needed to identify the "initiator." This is crucial because a high heart rate paired with low blood pressure requires a very different treatment pathway than when both are elevated. Identifying these signals helps you and your provider move toward evidence-based care rather than guesswork.

👉 Read the full blog: “Dysautonomia, POTS, and Menopause: When Your Nervous System Becomes the Bottleneck” — link in bio!

"I feel so much better." ✨ Those are the words we love to hear!Finding balance in your hormones can feel like solving a ...
02/04/2026

"I feel so much better." ✨ Those are the words we love to hear!

Finding balance in your hormones can feel like solving a puzzle, but you don't have to do it alone.

👉Ready to feel better? Book a clarity consultation. Link in bio!

02/03/2026

Dysautonomia isn’t just POTS. While POTS is one specific type, many people experience milder or different forms of autonomic dysfunction that affect heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, or digestion.

These symptoms can feel unrelated to perimenopause or menopause—but there’s actually a strong connection. Understanding how the autonomic nervous system works can help explain why so many people feel “off” during this transition.

👉 Read the full blog: “Dysautonomia, POTS, and Menopause: When Your Nervous System Becomes the Bottleneck” — link in bio!

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16300 Aurora Avenue N, Suite A
Shoreline, WA
98133

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm

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