PERIMENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE SUPPORT NEAR YOU
Told it’s just part of aging? Let’s find out what’s really going on.
Dr. Julie Gurbacki helps women in Omaha and Elkhorn get answers for perimenopause and menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, low energy, weight gain, and poor sleep. She runs detailed blood work and a saliva hormone test to see what’s really going on. Then she builds a plan around your results. We don’t prescribe HRT, but we can refer you if you want it. Located in Elkhorn, we see patients from West Omaha, Gretna, Papillion, Bennington, Ralston, La Vista, and across the Omaha metro. Virtual visits are available for Nebraska residents.
Credentials:
- Doctor of Chiropractic, Palmer College
- BS Exercise Science, Creighton University
- Functional Medicine Trained
- 60+ Five-Star Google Reviews
What are perimenopause and menopause?
Perimenopause is the years before menopause, when your hormones start to shift and your periods get harder to predict. The Cleveland Clinic puts the average at about four years, though it can run as long as eight. Menopause arrives after 12 months in a row without a period, typically around age 51 or 52, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Many women come to us after being told their labs look fine. One patient’s doctor called her “my healthiest patient” and said the rest was just part of aging. Dr. Julie found a hormone imbalance. As she puts it, “They might seem healthy on the outside, but they don’t feel good on the inside.”
Hormones are usually part of it, and there’s often another layer underneath, such as stress or poor sleep. We test first and build your plan from what shows up.
What causes perimenopause and menopause symptoms?
Several systems shift at once during this stage, and each one can add its own symptoms. These are the main ones we see:
Shifting sex hormones
Your ovaries start making less estrogen, often in your 40s, and levels swing up and down before they settle. The Cleveland Clinic ties those swings to symptoms like hot flashes.
Stress hormones
Cortisol is your main stress hormone, and our saliva test checks it four times across the day. When it runs off schedule, sleep and energy tend to follow.
Sleep hormones
Melatonin tells your body when to wind down and when to wake up. Some women make it at the wrong times, which leaves them more tired in the morning. Sleep problems and hot flashes often show up together in the women we see.
Weight, blood sugar, and thyroid
Weight gain at this stage can have several causes. Depending on your results, cortisol, insulin, or your sex hormones may be behind it, and we check your thyroid too, since low energy and trouble losing weight can point there.
An autoimmune trigger
For some women, the hormone shift of menopause is what sets off an autoimmune problem. Hashimoto’s is the one we see most.
Night sweats
Night sweats usually trace back to hormones in the women we see. They can also point to something more serious. If your labs show a red flag, we’ll refer you out for a closer look.
Most women have more than one of these going on, which is why we test before recommending anything.
Why normal labs can miss what you feel.
Standard lab ranges are wide, and you usually have to fall outside them before anything gets flagged. We also look at optimal ranges, which can catch a shift sooner. Our Women’s Health page covers the full testing process.
Catching a change early helps you keep doing what you love for the next 10, 20, or 30 years.
How we help.
Once we know what’s driving your symptoms, these are the tools we use:
- Functional medicine testing:
Blood work and a food sensitivity test, plus a saliva hormone test that tracks cortisol four times a day and melatonin three times. - Targeted supplements:
Chosen from your results. Dr. Julie doesn’t typically recommend hormone supplements until she has seen them. - Diet and lifestyle:
Food changes guided by your sensitivity test results, plus habits like workout timing. - Sleep support:
Dimmer lights and fewer screens at night, workouts earlier in the day, and melatonin at bedtime when your results call for it. - Chiropractic care:
Adjustments help your nervous system shift out of “fight or flight,” so sleep and digestion tend to improve. Some of our patients have seen their hot flashes ease with adjustments alone. - Acupuncture:
Acupuncture can support stress and sleep. - Virtual visits:
Telehealth for Nebraska residents, with labs drawn locally. - Referrals: A possible red flag gets a referral to an endocrinologist for a second opinion.
Not sure where to start? We’ll figure that out together. Many patients use a mix.
Menopause without HRT.
We don’t prescribe hormone replacement therapy, and we don’t typically recommend it. If you want it, we’ll refer you to a provider who does. Instead, we start with what your labs show and support your body’s own hormone production from there.
What to expect.
Your first appointment is a full hour. After your labs, we sit down about two weeks later to go over the results and your plan. The details are on our Women’s Health page.
How long this takes depends on what we find and how much of the plan fits into your life. Fatigue tied to hormones can take a year or more to turn around, and sometimes two. Some women notice changes sooner. Some choose to put off the saliva test to manage cost. That’s their call, though the hormone side of your plan stays limited until we have those results.
Patient Stories
“I’m in perimenopause and I’m starting my functional medicine journey. So far my energy level is much better!”
Jodi E., Google review
Overall Rating
About Dr. Julie Gurbacki
Dr. Gurbacki helps women in the Omaha metro area, including Elkhorn, Gretna, Papillion, Ralston, and surrounding communities get to the root cause of their health issues.
She’s board certified in chiropractic care, with additional training in functional medicine, and acupuncture. Your first appointment is a full hour, follow-ups aren’t rushed, and the treatment plan we build together meets you where you’re at right now.
Credentials
- Doctor of Chiropractic, Palmer College
- BS Exercise Science, Creighton University
- Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
- Functional Medicine Trained
Quick Contact
Get in touch. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
Located in Elkhorn, NE. Serving Greater Omaha
We’re located inside BodyKinetix, just off 204th Street, north of Dodge, in Elkhorn.
Patients visit us from around the Omaha metro area, including Elkhorn, Papillion, La Vista, Bennington, Gretna, Ralston, and Bellevue.
Contact Info
ADDRESS
20330 Veterans Dr Ste 5,
Elkhorn, NE 68022
PHONE
(402)881-1563
EMAIL
[email protected]
HOURS OF OPERATION
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30am–5pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 8:30am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Other Conditions We Support
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of perimenopause?
Common ones include hot flashes, night sweats, low energy, poor sleep, weight gain, and changes in your cycle. Many of these look like other conditions, so we check thyroid, blood sugar, and hormones to see what’s behind them.
Do you prescribe HRT?
No. We can refer you to a provider who does.
Is menopause weight gain hormonal?
Hormones often play a part, and so can cortisol, insulin, and your thyroid. Your results show which ones, and your plan follows from there.
Do you take insurance?
We’re an out-of-network provider, and upon request, we’ll give you a superbill to submit for possible reimbursement. Many patients find they save money compared to the copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs of conventional care, especially when the tests they need aren’t covered anyway.
Can I work with Dr. Julie virtually?
Yes. Virtual functional medicine visits are available for Nebraska residents. You’ll get your blood drawn at a local lab.
You know your body best. If something feels off, let’s find out why.
Start with a free consultation, or if you’re ready,
book your first appointment.
