Sarah Has Questions

If you have a uterus, menopause is coming for you. But most of us don't really know what to expect. We've heard of hot flashes (heck, I'm fanning myself as I write this) but there are a ton of other symptoms people don't talk about. On this topic, Sarah has even more questions than usual.

Her totally unfiltered menopause-related questions include:

What's the deal with hot flashes and how can we mitigate them?

Why is is so hard to lose weight in menopause? And why am I gaining more weight in different places?

Other than not having periods, is there anything to look forward to?

What changes are happening to my lady parts?

Is this the result of my uterus dying? (Spoiler: no, it's not.)

The guest for this episode is Dr. Amantia Kennedy, an OB-GYN from WakeMed who thinks we should all be talking more about our vaginal health! Find out more about her at www.wakemed.org.

Send us your questions at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.

People have been having periods since the world began. But where you fall generationally has a great impact on how you talk about it, and what questions you feel comfortable asking. Sarah is a solid Xennial, but she’s asking questions we can all relate too, including:

What causes cramps and why are they so bad for teenagers?

Besides pregnancy, what are other reasons for skipping periods?

WTH is up with…blood clots, toxic shock syndrome, big boobs and upset stomach during your period?

Does a super heavy period mean you could have had twins? (SPOILER ALERT: NO, but Dr. Fleischman lets Sarah down easy.)

Do we need any special soaps or cleansers? 

The guest for this episode is Dr. Anna Fleischman, an OB-GYN from WakeMed who was the fourth doctor (at least) to remind us no one needs to douche! Find out more about her at www.wakemed.org.
Send us your questions at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.

One in four Americans has insomia each year. That's a lot of sleepless nights. Sarah is a master sleeper, but with her schedule on morning radio, she gets up super early, and likes a daily nap. Is that a normal sleep pattern?

Her totally unfiltered sleep-related questions include:

Why is it so hard to go back to sleep after we wake up?

What is good "sleep hygiene"?

How do depression, stress and anxiety affect sleep patterns?

Can a nap be "too long"?

Who needs more sleep: babies, teens, adults or seniors?

Should our bedrooms be totally dark?

When should we see a doctor about those sleepless nights?

The guest for this episode is Dr. Nerissa Price, a  psychiatrist from WakeMed who says we should use our bedrooms for two things...sleep and sex! Find out more about her at www.wakemed.org.

Send us your questions at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.

We've all heard it before: The signs of heart attack can be different for men and women. So why are men's symptoms considered "typical"?

Sarah's totally unflitered questions about women's heart attack symptoms include:

What are the signs for women?

How can seemingly random symptoms like jaw pain or sweating be related to the heart?

What about heartburn and acid reflux? How are those mistaken for heart attack?

What role does genetics play in heart health?

What causes heart palpatations and is it cause for worry?

What can we do to prevent all this mess?

The guest for this episode is Dr. Chelsea Ngongang, a cardiologist from WakeMed who is a big fan of getting plenty of water every day (64 oz to be exact). Find out more about her at www.wakemed.org.

Send us your questions at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.

Think back to the first thing you learned about sex. Maybe it was misinformation from a friend, or very clinical information from a parent or teacher. Maybe you saw porn when you were a kid (and that image stuck with you forever). Does your first image of sex relate to what you do in the bedroom today? Maybe not...

On this topic, you know Sarah has questions. Her totally unfiltered questions on sex include:

Should the goal of sex always be orgasm? And what exactly happens to us during an orgasm?

How do medicines alter sex drive? Is there a female version of Viagra?

What the heck happens in sex therapy?

Are STDs still a thing? (Turns out, yes they are!)

Does sex without a condom result in vaginal pH imbalance?

Can a guy feel your IUD during sex?

The guest for this episode is Dr. Jenna Beckham, an OB-GYN from WakeMed who says NO to douches and YES to lube! Find out more about her at www.wakemed.org.

Send us your questions at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.

What's the first sound you hear every morning? Perhaps you wake up to chirping birds like Snow White, but if you're like us it's popping ankles and crackling knees. Is all that internal noise normal?

Sarah King's totally unfiltered bone and joint questions include:

Do men have to worry about bone density loss like women do?

How can we maintain bone density?

Is milk the cure for all bone and joint problems?

What's the #1 thing we can do to prevent arthritis?

How much damage does sitting do?

The guest for this episode is Dr. Michael Ruffolo, an orthopaedic surgeon from WakeMed who admits his own joints snap, crackle and pop just like everyone else's. Find out more about him at www.wakeortho.com.

Send us your questions at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.

If you've had a baby, you know. Your brain just can't hold all the things it held before. But maybe that's a good thing. So what if you're forgetting things. Your baby is now taking up a lot of space in your head, right.

Sarah King's totally unfiltered mom brain questions include:

Is mom brain real, and if it's not what the heck is wrong with me?

How does your brain actually change before and after having a baby?

Will it ever go back to the way it was before?

How can I work around this and boost my memory capacity?

The guest for this episode is Dr. Nerissa Price, a phychiatrist from WakeMed who would like us all to practice more self-compassion as we work through the very normal state of "mom brain." Find out more about her at www.wakemed.org.

Send us your questions at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.

When it comes birth control, Sarah King has a wild origin story. According to family lore, she was born clutching her mom's IUD. From that outrageous beginning to today, Sarah has had quite a history with birth control. 

Her totally unfiltered birth control-related questions include:

How do estrogen and progesterone work together...or apart?

What are the side effects of birth control?

Why isn't there a birth control pill for men? (Spoiler alert: There is...sort of.)

Is it OK to skips periods if you're on the pill?

The guest for this episode is Dr. Chantel Roedner, an OB-GYN from WakeMed who wears her birth control on her name tag, literally. Find out more about her at www.wakemed.org.

Send us your questions at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.

You may think “leaking bladder” is something that happens only to very old women, but just wait until you’re 41 and you attend a kid’s birthday party at a trampoline park. Now it's real! And this very unpleasant problem has everything to do with your mysterious pelvic floor.

Sarah's totally unfiltered pelvic floor-related questions include:

What exectly is a pelvic floor? (And if there's a pelvic floor, is there a pelvic ceiling?)

Why are we just hearing about this in the last decade or so?

What causes pelvic floor disorders?

Other than peeing when you sneeze, what are other effects of a weak pelvic floor?

What can we do about it?

The guest for this episode is Dr. Andrea Crane, a urogynecologist from WakeMed, who has heard every euphamism for "vagina," and isn't shy about sharing. Find out more about her at www.wakemed.org.

Send us your questions at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions

Let's begin this podcast with the end in mind. When it comes to poop, what's normal, what's abnormal and what does your poop say about you in general?

Sarah's totally unfiltered poop-related questions include:

What can we learn from our poop?

Is there a normal when it comes to regularity, color, shape, etc.?

Why is sitting on the toilet for a long time bad for you?

Why are digestive problems such a mystery? 

Is there a difference in poop health for men and women?

The guest for this episode is Dr. Brenna Houlihan, a colorectal surgeon from WakeMed who loves Metamucil and recommends it for everyone. Find out more about her at www.wakemed.org.

Send us your questions at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions