Team Gut Girls

You wake up feeling comfortable, but by afternoon your waistband has other plans. Is it something you ate—or could your hormones be part of the story? In this episode of Team Gut Girls, Dr. Whitney Baxter, Dr. Christina Carew, and Dr. Dominique Vanier welcome Toronto naturopathic doctor and author of My PCOS Pregnancy, Dr. Laura von Hagen, ND to explore the connections between endometriosis, PCOS, and persistent bloating. We unpack “endo belly,” why digestive symptoms can change throughout your menstrual cycle, and how endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can overlap. We also discuss PCOS—referred to as PMOS in this conversation—and the relationships between gut health, constipation, insulin resistance, and hormones. If you’ve been cutting out foods, doing “all the right things,” or wondering why your symptoms keep getting dismissed, this conversation offers a clearer picture of what to discuss with your healthcare provider. IN THIS EPISODE: • What endo belly is and how it can differ from ordinary period bloating. • Why gut sensitivity can contribute to bloating—even without excess gas. • Clues that digestive symptoms deserve a closer look at endometriosis. • How insulin resistance and elevated androgens connect in PCOS. • Why taking medication is not a failure. • Mediterranean-style eating, fibre, and the myths around automatically cutting gluten and dairy. • How ultrasound and hormonal birth control fit into the diagnostic conversation. • Why IUDs, medications, and surgery can help some symptoms while others persist. • What perimenopause and menopause may mean for symptoms. • How to track your symptoms, prepare for appointments, and advocate for further investigation. Your symptoms deserve attention. Understanding the pattern can help you ask better questions and find the right support. CONNECT WITH DR. LAURA VON HAGEN Website: https://www.lauravonhagen.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvonhagen.nd/ Book: My PCOS Pregnancy RESOURCES MENTIONED • My Fertility Podcast • As a Woman with Dr. Natalie Crawford • SUGO Clinic and Dr. Mathew Leonardi: endometriosis ultrasound and mapping MORE FROM TEAM GUT GIRLS Visit https://teamgutgirls.com for transcripts and more information. Follow or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube, and share this episode with someone who’s trying to connect the dots between their gut and hormones. This podcast is for education and information only and does not replace individualized medical advice. Speak with your healthcare provider before changing medications, supplements, or treatment.

Living with autoimmune disease and still struggling with bloating, constipation, gas, or unpredictable bowels—even when your condition is considered under control? Your diagnosis may explain part of the story, but there could be more worth investigating. In this episode of Team Gut Girls, naturopathic doctors Dr. Christina Carew, Dr. Whitney Baxter, and Dr. Dominique Vanier explore the connection between autoimmune disease and digestive symptoms. From Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and rheumatoid arthritis to celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and scleroderma, we connect the dots between immune activity and an uncomfortable gut. We unpack why bloating can persist during IBD remission, how low thyroid function and slow gut motility can contribute to constipation and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and why overlapping conditions deserve a closer look. Plus, we explore what your history of food poisoning or a stomach bug might reveal about ongoing digestive symptoms—and why “I’ve never felt the same since” is useful information to bring to your clinician. In this episode: • Why autoimmune disease and IBS-type symptoms can overlap • Bloating in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: remission versus a possible flare • Hashimoto’s, hypothyroidism, constipation, and slow gut motility • SIBO, autoimmune gastritis, and questions about iron and vitamin B12 • Gut sensitivity, the gut-brain connection, and intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) • Food poisoning, post-infectious IBS, and the importance of your health timeline • When to ask about celiac screening, thyroid testing, and a medication review If you’ve been told your condition is controlled but your belly hasn’t received the memo, this conversation will help you prepare more focused questions for your next appointment. Found this helpful? Follow Team Gut Girls and share this episode with someone navigating autoimmune disease and digestive symptoms. This episode is for education and does not replace individualized medical advice. Speak with your healthcare provider before changing treatment. Team Gut Girls—because better gut health changes everything.

You’ve changed your food, tried probiotics, and added more fibre—but you’re still bloated. What if there’s another piece of the puzzle: how well your gut is moving? In this episode of Team Gut Girls, naturopathic doctors Dr. Christina Carew, Dr. Whitney Baxter, and Dr. Dominique Vanier explore gut motility—the coordinated movement that helps food, gas, and stool travel through your digestive tract. From feeling full after a few bites to feeling like you’re never quite finished on the toilet, we unpack the symptoms that deserve a closer look. And yes, you can poop every day and still have more to investigate. We discuss why bloating doesn’t automatically mean SIBO, why more fibre isn’t always the answer, and how your nervous system, medications, thyroid, medical history, and daily routines can fit into the picture. Whether you’re watching or listening, you’ll leave with clearer language to describe your symptoms, practical patterns to track, and questions to bring to your next appointment. Because “I’m bloated” deserves a conversation—not just another food restriction. In this episode: What gut motility means—and why speed is only part of the story. The migrating motor complex and its role in gut movement. How gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, constipation, IBS, and pelvic floor coordination can overlap. Why stress, under-fuelling, past infections, surgery, medications, and supplements matter. How to track symptoms without turning your life into a spreadsheet. Why treatment should match the problem—and what to ask when the first approach isn’t helping. Connect with Team Gut Girls Have a question or a topic you’d like us to explore? Visit teamgutgirls.com to get in touch and share your suggestions. (and check out the resources for this episode) Follow or subscribe wherever you watch or listen, and share this episode with someone who’s tired of being told to “just eat more fibre.” This episode is for education and does not replace individual medical advice. Discuss changes to medications, supplements, fibre intake, or meal timing with your healthcare provider. Seek urgent medical care for severe or worsening abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, inability to pass stool or gas, black or bloody stools, or signs of dehydration. Unintentional weight loss also warrants prompt medical assessment.

Could your bloating, constipation, fatigue, or stubbornly low iron be a clue to celiac disease—even if you’ve never had diarrhea? And if you’ve already gone gluten-free, can you trust a negative celiac blood test? In this episode of Team Gut Girls, Dr. Whitney Baxter, ND and Dr. Dominique Vanier, ND unpack three common celiac disease myths that can delay diagnosis and make gluten-free living more confusing than it needs to be. We explore why what you eat before testing matters, why celiac symptoms can extend well beyond the bathroom, and where gluten cross-contact deserves your attention. Shared toasters and crumb-filled peanut butter jars? Let’s talk. Your shampoo? A different conversation. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why going gluten-free before testing can lead to a false-negative result • How celiac disease can show up as constipation, bloating, fatigue, iron deficiency, or symptoms outside the gut • What tTG-IgA and total IgA blood tests measure—and where an intestinal biopsy fits in • What to discuss with your healthcare provider if you’re already gluten-free • How family history and other autoimmune conditions can influence screening decisions • Which kitchen habits help reduce gluten cross-contact • Why ongoing symptoms after going gluten-free deserve another look You’ll also leave with practical questions to bring to your next appointment, so you can move from “Could gluten be the problem?” toward a clearer plan. RESOURCES Celiac Canada: https://www.celiac.ca More episodes and transcripts: https://www.teamgutgirls.com If this episode helped connect a few dots, follow or subscribe to Team Gut Girls and share it with someone navigating unexplained gut symptoms. Because better gut health changes everything. This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not replace individualized medical advice. Speak with your healthcare provider before changing your diet or starting a gluten challenge. If celiac disease is suspected, discuss testing before removing gluten.

Bloating, constipation, and that “I went, but I’m still not empty” feeling—could your pelvic floor be part of the puzzle? In this episode of Team Gut Girls, pelvic floor physiotherapist Susannah Stewart joins Dr. Whitney Baxter, Dr. Christina Carew, and Dr. Dominique Vanier to explore an often-overlooked connection in gut health: how your pelvic floor, diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and nervous system work together to help you poop—and what happens when that coordination gets disrupted. If you’re dealing with persistent bloating, straining, trapped gas, or incomplete bowel movements, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what might deserve a closer look. And yes, you can poop every day and still have constipation. We unpack: How pelvic floor tension and difficulty relaxing can contribute to constipation and abdominal discomfort. Why stress, anxiety, and pain can influence bowel function. Toileting posture and habits that can make emptying easier. Pelvic organ prolapse and its potential role in incomplete evacuation. Dyssynergic defecation—when the muscles involved in pooping aren’t coordinating—and where biofeedback fits. Why “just do Kegels” isn’t helpful advice for every pelvic floor. What to expect from pelvic floor physiotherapy, including consent, comfort, and options beyond an internal exam. Postpartum body image, core recovery, and moving beyond pressure to “bounce back.” Expect practical insights, myth-busting, and an honest conversation about the things we don’t talk about nearly enough. Because understanding your bloating sometimes means looking a little farther south. Learn more and find episode transcripts at https://www.teamgutgirls.com. Follow Team Gut Girls for more conversations about gut health, hormones, and women’s health—and share this episode with someone who knows the frustration of a bathroom trip that feels unfinished. This episode is for education and does not replace individualized medical advice.