Emerald Key Wellness Blog.....
Emerald Key Wellness Blog.....
An ongoing series of my random thoughts:
BLOG #5- 10/2/23
Every single person that walks through my door has a different story. A different issue. A different concern. Each patient also has a different budget, timeline, and goal. And it is my job to make an individualized plan for that patient. I always emphasize the importance of consistency in their plan. There is no quick fix. There is no magic pill or shot. This is a wellness clinic where you are learning lifestyle changes, with support- and that can come in many forms. It took me a long time to learn what worked for me and my goal is to help you find what works for you. And I assure you, I am still working every day to make it work- because consistency is the answer.
It took me multiple tests, 5 surgeries, and a whole lifetime of ups and downs to get where I am, and to do the things that I do. I did have a huge setback after having COVID in Sept of 2021- it wasn’t that I was so sick from COVID, but the long-term effects were detrimental to my health. It triggered a HUGE INFLAMMATORY reaction in my body… and it has taken almost 2 years to get back to myself. The beginning of 2022 I started seeing my new GYN/Surgeon that looked at me and told me I was inflamed. I had no idea what she meant, but I decided to figure it out. I was miserable- in pain, I had gained almost 20 pounds in the blink of an eye, I couldn’t sleep, I was not in a good mindset. From the day I met her, to my (final) endometriosis surgery in May 2022 I discovered quite a few things that changed my life. I lost 16 pounds by my surgery date and I started looking into and learning about different things that have drastically improved my life.
In that same time, I had also started the process of opening my own office. The first 6 months of 2022 were a blur, and by June I opened the doors. It’s been a learning experience and I now know why many businesses fail; it is not for the faint of heart. But I have taken the same things I learned about my health and have implemented them into my office, through what and how I treat my patients, to the grace I try to give myself when it gets overwhelming and disheartening. Of all things, I know that consistency is the key. Starting some supplements, addressing my hormones and inflammation, making some diet modifications (not a diet! - a way of eating differently) and sticking to daily movement has given me a whole new lease on life. I am down to a healthy weight again. I have more energy and I feel better overall. I am much more motivated to now be able to motivate others… but it is a daily effort and one that requires CONSISTENCY.
If you are ready to identify your triggers, look at the root cause of your issues, and find an individualized, realistic, sustainable plan for your life, come see me. I don’t guarantee quick, magical results, but I do guarantee effort on my part with the hopes of finding answers and results that you deserve.
-Janis
BLOG #4-
May 18, 2023
It's been one year since my last, and final, endometriosis surgery. It's been the first year I can remember being pain & symptom free. It has also been about 17 months since I initially met my new doctor, an endometriosis specialist, that truly changed my life. At my first appointment she actually listened to me, reviewed my four previous surgery reports, my EGD and colonoscopy, all my CT and bloodwork results and she acknowledged my frustration and fears. She told me to get on an anti-inflammatory diet to prepare for the surgery, so I began researching what that was and learned so much about the detrimental effects inflammation can have on the body. I had COVID a few months before that appointment and had quickly gained almost 20 pounds, all while making huge efforts to lose weight. I was miserable. Once I addressed the root cause of the issue, everything changed. The inflammation in my body was overwhelming. With diet changes, adding some supplements, and changing my workout regimen the weight started to come off, and I was down 15 pounds by my surgery. The surgery was extensive, but my recovery was quick and my life has only gotten better. I still battle the inflammation, but I know my triggers now and finding a regimen of medication, hormone replacement & supplements has truly changed my life. I've lost the weight, I actually sleep at night, I have energy and I feel completely different.
My point to all this, is to listen to your body, find the root cause of the issue and don't accept the fact that you feel awful. I understand the feeling of frustration, of feeling like no one is listening, or acknowledging concerns. I know the feeling of defeat when it feels like there is just no answer or some sort of solution. Whether its low energy, weight gain, pain, a sleep issue or any concern, you should never accept that you just have to "live with it"... You owe it to yourself to at least explore options beyond traditional medication (though there is absolutely a need for that as well). My office is a place where you can be heard. I'd love to have the opportunity to help you address the things that you are struggling with, or even help you to become and feel the best version of yourself.
- Janis
Blog #3
April 8, 2023
“I’m Tired.”
I hear it not only from patients (every day) , but from friends, family, and even strangers…. People are TIRED. Exhausted, sleepy, drained, worn out… I have heard them all (and personally complained of all of them as well.) Sleep deprivation is just one part of the equation. The truth is, you can be rested, but you can still feel like you are just not able to keep up with daily life, still feel that you need to give more, do more, and really feel like you just can’t. Many things can factor into this, and can be anything from a vitamin deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, hormone imbalance, or it could be a life -altering health condition. It may be the lifestyle you are leading that is making you feel like you just can’t keep up. You may have no inspiration or drive or carry many burdens and stressors. This affects not only our professional life, but more importantly, our personal life, relationships, and family. It’s eye-opening, though, if you are able to identify the root cause.
“I have nothing left to give.”
We are all busy. Days are full, to-do lists are never ending, and expectations are high. Everyone has goals, things they need and want to accomplish, but sometimes it seems that our daily grind doesn’t quite equate with our expectations. I have learned that routine does not equal improvement. Yes, consistency matters, but getting outside the comfort zone is where true growth begins. If we spend every day doing the same thing over and over again, we aren’t really moving forward. We’re making efforts but we are often not seeing our hopes, dreams or goals come to fruition. It takes something extra to make that happen. But that can seem exhausting and overwhelming. When you are truly working hard, giving your all, and still at the end of the day you feel you are let down, or you are letting your family down, this is where you have to determine where the deficiency lies. If you feel like you have nothing left to give, nothing more to offer and no motivation, you have to figure out why…. Is it because you have a vitamin deficiency or a significant health issue, and you are truly unable to function at a sufficient level? Is it because the things you are working for aren’t really providing you with gratification? Is it that your poor sleep is causing you to truly struggle in all aspects of your life? Your changing hormones? If you feel you can’t provide love, attention, or effort to those who deserve it in your life, or for yourself, it’s time to figure out why.
I hear these concerns, and I have expressed these concerns. But if you are giving your all, and you feel you truly have nothing left to give at the end of the day, it’s important to look for answers. What can be corrected? What needs to change? Whether it involves a supplement, a medication, or a major lifestyle change, life is too short to spend every day complaining about being tired. Things changed for me when I realized my thyroid wasn’t functioning and my Vitamin D level was awful… and, along with my depleted hormone levels it was no wonder I felt like I was hanging on by a thread. I felt lazy, and unmotivated. Correcting these things has changed my life, let me help you change yours. It’s time to make yourself a priority. Let’s find some answers and make a plan to help you feel your best.
Janis Oenbrink, FNP-C
Blog Post #2
January 1, 2023
New Year, New You! (Or not…) Let’s be realistic. Not much changed between 11:59pm and 12:00am… same me, new year, right?
New year, same dreams, fresh start? Maybe, but why do we always have to start something new?
How about New Year, Just Stop. Stop waiting. Stop complaining. Stop making excuses.
Many people hate the idea of a new year’s resolution. It’s a reminder of a soon-to-be forgotten goal, an uncomfortable habit you hate to admit, or just an unrealistic expectation. My goal for this year is to slow down a bit and make some mindful choices instead of mindless choices. Sure, I have high expectations and would love to eliminate some bad choices and habits, or start a new routine, but I know too well the feeling of disappointment with falling short.
So, this year my plan is to consciously make an effort to stop a few things instead of start something new.
I spent 2022 scrambling. I started a new business, while working a full-time job and studying for a specialist certification. I had a major endometriosis surgery. We worked on renovations in our house. My 16-year-old daughter got her driver’s license and had a huge spinal surgery. My 14-year-old daughter was busy with cheerleading. My husband worked a ton of overtime. But we survived, we thrived, but I also felt every symptom of burnout creeping into my physical, mental, and emotional health.
So, this year I’m going to attempt to slow down. By doing this, my true goal is to stop doing things I don’t want to do and that don’t align with my goals. Stop entertaining ideas of failure in my head. Stop making excuses. Stop accepting less. Stop comparing myself through social media and to those around me and stop making mindless decisions. All of this starts with mindset. I’ve always said, nothing changes unless you do. And I feel like I have been the queen of change, but not without some messy results. So, this year, I’m going (to attempt) to stop whining about being disorganized and just make some changes. I’m going to stop eating mindless calories. I’m going to stop complaining about my body and just move more. I am going to stop collecting things I don’t need or want. And mostly, I am going to stop giving myself endless boundaries.
My professional life is changing; my full-time job is time-consuming, my wellness clinic is growing, (and for that I am thankful.) But my organization skills have been lacking, my time management stinks, and I am feeling easily overwhelmed trying to keep up with the work-life balance that I long for.
I say all of that, to say this…. What do you want to do this year? What is stopping you? It’s really time to make yourself a priority. Let’s make a resolution to focus on stopping the things that are draining you, that feel toxic in and around you, and really look at what your goals are and figure out what it is that is keeping you from reaching them.
Emerald Key Wellness is a business dedicated to helping you make yourself a priority. To stop feeling miserable. Stop dealing with feeling exhausted, struggling with poor sleep and hot flashes, feeling fatigue, weakness, irritability and weight gain, or whatever other concern you may have.
There can be so many things that are causing those issues, and you owe it to yourself to get to the root cause and address those concerns. I’d love to help you on your journey, but it really starts with you, making the decision to stop feeling less than your best. Stop settling on mediocrity and stop thinking you aren’t worth it because you are. And it shouldn’t take a new year, or a new month, or even a new week for you to make yourself a priority, but if that is what is triggering you to make a change, let’s do it together.
- Janis Oenbrink, APRN
Emerald Key Wellness- 2460 N. Courtenay Pkwy. Suite 106. Merritt Island, Florida. 32953
Call, text, or email anytime.
321-794-0938
Phone consultations/ Telehealth visits available.
* Emerald Key Wellness is a Nurse- Practitioner owned wellness clinic offering Biote BHRT, Thorne Supplements, weight management and health consultations.
First Blog Entry
First Blog Entry
July 30, 2022
Q & A with Janis, Nurse Practitioner @ Emerald Key Wellness
I have received such great support from family, friends and many new people in my life who have reached out to seek treatment and guidance in my new office. I am thankful and humbled, and today I thought I would share a little more info about me, my wellness clinic, and provide a few easy options for you to get started with making your health a priority….
There are so many people dealing with low energy, irritability, poor sleep, lack of motivation and inability to lose weight. My goal is to help you to realize you don’t have to live that way.
My story began with chronic abdominal and pelvic pain, bloating and fatigue. By the age of 30 I had been through 2 colonoscopies, an upper endoscopy, and had my gallbladder removed with little or no relief or answers. At the age of 35, I had a hysterectomy- and was diagnosed with endometriosis. I had one remaining ovary. Little did I know or understand, endometriosis is microscopic, and estrogen driven, and without complete excision, it continued to grow and spread on the tissue throughout my pelvic and abdominal cavity. I was actually thankful for a diagnosis but knew little about endometriosis as it is very under-studied and under- diagnosed. 1 in 10 women experience endometriosis, but so many are left untreated.
I am now 43. I have had 4 more surgeries to address the endometriosis, but it wasn’t until 2 months ago that I had my final surgery- with a specialist that treated me with such respect, was thorough and finally removed it the only effective way, through excision. Endometriosis was attached to my ureters and bowel, causing adhesions and required an extensive surgery to remove it completely. It changed my life, and I want to help others see that you don’t have to settle for feeling miserable. So many things have contributed to this change in addition to the surgery and those include dealing with my “long-hauler” COVID symptoms and finding effective treatment for my Hashimoto’s- an autoimmune thyroiditis. These issues both cause a major inflammatory process within the body and while there is no magic pill to address these issues, there are many things that can be done to help reverse the process.
My point is, you have got to be your own advocate, be motivated to find answers, and you must put in some effort to make effective changes. My goal is to help you get to the root cause of why you feel the way you do and help you to start your healing process.
Let’s start some Q & A….
My most often asked question when I talk about Emerald Key Wellness, my wellness clinic, focusing on hormone optimization, supplementation, thyroid and gut health….
1) You are too young; how do you know anything about menopause?...
Well, let me just say I beat the majority of women my age to menopause, and I am here to help you so you can avoid the misery… I experienced it first through a medical menopause 2 years after my hysterectomy (with one remaining ovary.) I had an awful, failed medical treatment for my endometriosis. I had uncontrollable hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, difficulty sleeping, night sweats, brain fog… all of it, not to mention continued pain, fatigue and bloating from endometriosis. I knew at that point that not only did that treatment fail, but I was aware of what I had coming when I went through natural menopause.
But, I didn’t get to experience natural menopause…. Because not long after, I went through surgical menopause as that remaining ovary was removed in my 4th endo surgery. I woke up knowing I would need hormone replacement, but I had no idea where to start, and was given few options and had very limited guidance. So, I began my own research study on myself. I have tried patches, creams, pills and pellets, supplements, oils… you name it! I know the ins & outs, the benefits, the risks, and the effectiveness. I have read so many books, articles, posts and sought treatment from multiple providers. I knew I didn’t want to utilize synthetic treatment due to the increased risks, so I began my true research with Bioidentical hormone replacement and now here I am, a Certified Biote Provider.
2) I just don’t feel “right” lately…. What can I do to help me feel better?
There are so many things that can be contributing to your symptoms…. It could be a drop in your hormone levels, a vitamin deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, or any number of things. My best advice and recommended plan for my patients is to have a brief consultation to describe symptoms, questions and concerns and then get a full panel of blood work. Between listening to your symptoms and reviewing the blood work results we can make a plan to address your concerns. The initial blood work typically includes a basic blood panel as well a thyroid panel, vitamin levels and hormone levels. There are so many options and sometimes it is as simple as a supplement regimen, or maybe trying a cream or patch, a thyroid medication, maybe a specific diet or exercise regimen can be discussed, or there are bioidentical hormone pellets that can be placed every 3-4 months for consistent relief. So many options! These can be in a broad price range, and my goal is to help you determine what will work best for your symptoms, for your budget and for your sanity!
Referrals and additional testing or imaging may also sometimes necessary to address abnormalities.
3) What are the benefits?
This depends on what we find out through the blood work and what you consider your concerning symptoms. If you have low energy, irritability, hot flashes, inability to lose weight, brain fog, night sweats, mood swings, lack of motivation and or just don’t feel well those are the things we can address together. Can you imagine waking up from a good night’s sleep feeling rested, feeling decent energy throughout the day, losing those stubborn pounds, making through a day or night without sweating and feeling miserable? No? Well, you can. And I can’t wait to help you begin to address your concerns.
4) Is this just for women or can men benefit as well?
My goal is to help Men and Women feel their best. As we age, the body’s ability to produce key hormones like testosterone and estrogen is disrupted. And when your hormones are out of balance, it can affect your body in all kinds of ways. Don’t you want to have the energy, libido, and motivation you had in your 20’s? I do.
Men should be seeking answers just as much as women. We age because our hormones drop, because our gut health is compromised, because our vitamin levels are low, or our thyroid is not functioning appropriately. Let’s address that.
5) You’re not a doctor. How are you doing this?
Nope, not a doctor. Don’t want to be, don’t pretend to be.
I am a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. I have an Associate degree in Exercise Science, a Bachelor’s in Nursing and a Master’s in Nursing. I was a Registered Nurse for 10 years working in the hospital, in gastroenterology procedures and offices, and in Hospice.
I have been an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse since 2019. I work a full-time job as an NP for Curative Care Center, a clinic dedicated to testing and treatment of STD’s, HIV and HIV PrEP as well as Hepatitis C and primary care.
I have my autonomous FNP license in Florida, meaning I can practice independently within my scope of practice. I started the process of opening Emerald Key Wellness in January 2022, and officially opened the doors in June. I know my limits as an NP, have no intention of treating outside of my scope or capabilities and have several specialists I know and trust and refer my patients to when their condition requires advanced care.
I have 2 beautiful teenage girls, a very hard-working husband (who is experiencing the benefit of testosterone therapy) and I have several pets including my crazy chickens. I am happiest at the beach, and I have worked incredibly hard to get where I am in my life and health, and I want to share the knowledge to help others realize their potential.
6) How can I get started? Can I buy any supplements? How can I make an appointment?
Call us to discuss making an appointment for a consultation. We can briefly discuss your concerns and symptoms and will gather information and place an order for blood work to be completed at Quest. When those results are available in about 2 weeks, we will schedule a consultation in office to discuss results and recommendations. We can set up a plan and then follow up will be based on the treatment regimen. Prices for blood work and follow up will be discussed on a case-by-case basis. Every patient has an individualized care plan, and I want to work with you to get the best answers for your unique situation.
You can call or text 321-794-0938, or you can email emeraldkeywellness@gmail.com to make an appointment.
If I don’t answer the phone, please leave a message or send a text or email with a good time to reach you.
If you would like to look at the Biote Neutraceuticals that are available, click here… https://link.biote.info/izg
Thorne supplements- https://www.thorne.com/u/PR750381
I highly recommend ADK 10, Methyl Factors, the Multi- Strain Probiotic and I also love Best Night Sleep. My go-to's from Thorne include Glutathione, Magnesium CitraMate, and Collagen Plus.
7) Why did you name your clinic Emerald Key Wellness?
I love the color green, I love the Florida Keys, I love the beautiful water at the beach, and I love the idea of finding the key that will help you unlock the best version of yourself. I recently learned that the emerald stone symbolizes growth, focus, love, strength and harmony. How perfectly fitting, and who doesn’t want to see all of that in their own life?
Give me a call, send a text or email. Looking forward to helping you feel your best.
- Janis Oenbrink, FNP-C