Are You DIY-ing Your Health?

Check out these three key tips from a doctor of physical therapy and women’s health coach for an easier and more effective journey!

by Stephanie Harrod

Recently, I was chatting with a friend and her fertility journey came up in conversation. When I asked her what her support system was like she responded with, “Honestly… I’m DIY-ing it.”

She mentioned that she had been to her OBGYN who had told her ‘everything looked fine’ and yet it had been over a year of trying, her cycles were irregular and she knew in her gut, something was off. And let me tell you – girlfriend is unfortunately in very good company. This is something I hear from friends and patients all of the time (and have even experienced myself)

And it’s 100% understandable. When it comes to the western medical system and management of chronic or hormone related health concerns, we often have to wait months for an appointment and get about 10-15 minutes of face time with a provider before being handed what feels like either a dismissal or a bandaid solution to a problem we know intuitively needs to be addressed on a deeper level.  

On the functional medicine or naturopathic side, the barrier is often extremely high out of pocket costs for appointments, testing and supplements. So we strap on some eye protection and pick up a hammer, determined to figure it out on our own.

Women are nothing if not resourceful when backed into a corner. 

But this strategy can come with a lot of trial and error, a lot of stress and anxiety and a lot of loneliness. The perfect storm.

Entrepreneurs are even more prone to DIY’ing their health.

As entrepreneurs I think we are even more predisposed to this ‘I’ll just do it myself’ mentality. We are SO used to wearing all the hats, getting scrappy and taking things into our own hands that it just comes naturally to us. When starting our businesses, we don’t always have the luxury of having the support that we likely need or want and that ‘do it myself’ energy can bleed over into other aspects of our lives. We have high expectations for ourselves but also for where we invest our time, money and trust. And because of these high expectations for ourselves, our productivity and our output - health challenges can be even more devastating.

We are used to working hard and getting the results we expect (or at least landing in the ball park). But what happens when ‘doing all the right things’ doesn’t work? What happens when our typical go-to’s for managing symptoms aren’t cutting it? Going from doctor to doctor is exhausting but so is sifting through conflicting information on the internet and social media.

You are not alone.

My goal is twofold:

1. To validate that if this is you, you’re absolutely not alone

2. To offer some guidance to help make your DIY health journey a bit smoother.

If I were to DIY my health journey here is what I would prioritize: 

1. Test don’t guess: The first thing I recommend is to find a way to get some testing done. Whether it’s blood work, urine testing, stool testing or at home kits having some sort of data to base next steps on is crucial. In Washington, we are legally able to order direct to consumer labs and there are a lot of online companies you can do this through. Alternatively, I would make a list (on physical paper) of the tests I wanted ordered (based on my research through credible sites) and bring it to my next PCP appointment. It’s incredible what having your requests written down on paper can do to shift the dynamic and place you more in the driver seat, maximizing your precious time with your provider.

2. Pick and commit: Based on my research around my symptoms I would pick one action step that feels most aligned and commit to it for 2-3 months minimum. With so much information out there, we can end up chasing new shiny things each day or week which is not only overwhelming but inefficient and ineffective.

3. Protect my energy: Our world is flooded with opinions and others’ experiences, which can add to the stress of a health struggle. Setting boundaries around content consumption - especially on social media - can protect your nervous system, reduce stress, and help you focus on what matters most: you and your body. Your energy is valuable - save it for yourself.

For the DIY’er Who’s Ready for More Support:

After six years of working in women’s health, I wanted to create a resource for the women I kept seeing - those who felt let down by conventional medicine and tired of doing it all on their own. A resource for the proactive, informed DIY’ers who are also ready to:

• Honor their time, energy, and capacity

• Feel more in control of their symptoms

• Get expert support when they hit a wall

• Understand why their symptoms are happening

• Learn sustainable, shame-free strategies to improve energy, digestion, and hormone health

I wanted to create a space that feels like a homecoming to your body, your power, and your potential for healing. Synchronized Health and our upcoming retreat, Nourish are the result of that. Nourish is a full-day, in-person wellness retreat designed to help you reconnect with your health in a calm, supportive, and evidence-based environment. We’ll gather for a day of interactive workshops, breakout sessions, and gentle movement—all centered around improving your access to high-quality, hyper-local health education and tools. You’ll learn from some of my favorite local experts on topics like:

• Nutrition

• Mental health

• Perimenopause

• Pelvic floor care

• Financial well-being

All in a low-key, low-stakes setting that invites learning, curiosity, and connection. You’ll also have opportunities to ask questions, connect with women in similar life phases, and begin curating your ideal support system.

If you’re a DIY’er ready for approachable and accessible support we’d love to see you at Nourish.

Curious about Nourish  - a full-day women’s wellness retreat with expert-led workshops, gentle movement, and empowering, evidence-based support designed to help you feel more connected, confident, and cared for at every stage of life? Learn more and grab your tickets here for this event on September 20 at MODE in Liberty Lake. USE CODE VESTED10 FOR 10% OFF YOUR TICKET - EARLY BIRD PRICING OFFERED THROUGH AUGUST 1.

About the Author

Dr. Stephanie Harrod is a doctor of physical therapy, certified women’s health coach, and founder of Synchronized Health. She has practiced in the women’s health space in Spokane for the past six years.

Synchronized Health & Wellness is a Spokane-based practice supporting women’s health through cycle coaching, hormone education, and community-centered wellness programming. Through events like Nourish, we aim to help women build practical, long-term strategies for feeling better in their bodies.