The Nurse’s RX

Blog graphic asking “What are peptides?” with peptide molecule imagery, a vial, syringe, serum bottle, face cream, and question prompts about peptide uses, amino acids, proteins, FDA approval, peptide sources, and why women over 40 are hearing about peptides.

The Nurses’s RX no. 19: Wait… what actually are peptides?

Published on June 29, 2026June 15, 2026 by J. Nicole, RNLeave a comment

Okay, peptide-curious people…

If you’ve been seeing people talk about peptides, peps, peppers, 🌶🌊, Pɛp+ḷꝺΣ or whatever coded little nickname the internet is using this week and you’ve been wondering what everyone is even talking about… this one’s for you.

I wrote a full blog post about it…. here’s the TLDR version👇

What are peptides????

The easiest way to think about peptides is to think of them as language. Amino acids are the letters. Peptides are short words or phrases made from those letters. Proteins are the longer sentences, paragraphs, or full instruction manuals your body builds from them.

So when people say peptides are “building blocks,” that’s the part they mean. Peptides are short chains of amino acids, and those little chains can act like messengers in the body. Depending on the peptide, that message might be linked to skin, energy, recovery, metabolism, sleep, libido, or cognitive support.

That’s why “I take peptides” doesn’t really tell you much by itself. Peptides are a whole category, not one single thing. Some are talked about for energy and cellular function. Some are being researched for skin health, collagen support, tissue repair, recovery, metabolic support, sleep, libido, or cognitive wellness. The goal depends on the peptide, the person, and the reason someone is using it.

This is also why I’m not a fan of the internet acting like there is one “best peptide” for everyone. The better question is, “What am I actually trying to support, and does this make sense with my health history, medications, goals, and provider review?”

And yes, we also need to talk about safety and sourcing.

A lot of vitamins and dietary supplements people buy every day aren’t FDA approved for safety and effectiveness before they hit the market, so the phrase “not FDA approved” doesn’t automatically mean “bad.” But with peptides, especially compounded options, I care even more about where they come from.

I want provider review. I want a licensed pharmacy. I want clear instructions. I want quality standards. I want support if I have questions or concerns. I don’t want anyone playing mystery vial roulette because a website had sophisticated branding and a price that looked too good to be true.

So if you’ve been peptide curious but also slightly confused, suspicious, overwhelmed, or wondering if this is just another wellness trend with better packaging, I wrote the full beginner-friendly breakdown for you.

In the full post, I explain:
What peptides are
How peptides are different from amino acids and proteins
What peptides are used for in wellness
Why women over 40 are suddenly hearing about them
What “not FDA approved” actually means
How to think about peptide sourcing before you spend money on anything

You can read the full blog post 👉here👈

And honestly, if you’ve been seeing this topic everywhere and wondering if you missed the group text, you didn’t. The peptide conversation just got loud fast.

This is your starting point.

XOXO,
NIKI

PMOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

ASK ME ANYTHING TRUSTED WELLNESS TOOLS
Not sure where to start? Take the free quiz and you’ll receive a personalized plan based on your unique goals.
FREE Peptide Quiz
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_{Let’s be clear about who I am (and who I’m not)}

_{I’m a registered nurse and health coach who shares real, BS-free information about metabolic health, PCOS, perimenopause, and weight loss, because y’all deserve better than vague wellness fluff. But here’s what I need you to know: I am not YOUR nurse. Everything I share here is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, it’s not a diagnosis, and it doesn’t create a provider-patient relationship between us. Nothing here replaces the care of a licensed provider who actually knows your full health history. The opinions and content here are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer or the hospital where I work.}

_{Scope of practice}

_{As a nurse health coach, I can recommend over-the-counter products and supplements that may support your wellness goals. I don’t prescribe specific prescription medications. When it comes to GLP-1s and peptides, what I can do is talk about the science, what’s available, and what may be beneficial, so you can have an informed conversation with your licensed medical provider. The decision about what’s right for your body always belongs to you and your provider. Always consult your licensed provider before starting any prescription treatment. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.}

_Transparency

_{I only recommend things I actually trust. Most are products I personally use, some are from partners whose clinical standards I believe in. I will always let you know when it’s something I haven’t tried personally. Some links in this email are affiliate links or part of brand partnerships, which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.}

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_{Any testimonials or results shared here reflect individual experiences only. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on individual circumstances.}

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EllieMD Selank nasal spray bottle on a garden table with text highlighting stress and calm support, mental clarity, and mood and emotional balance.

The Nurses’s RX no. 18: When your nervous system missed the memo

Published on June 25, 2026June 13, 2026 by J. Nicole, RNLeave a comment

Happy Friday-Eve lol!

You know that thing where your brain understands that something is technically over, but your body absolutely didn’t get the memo?

Like the breakup happened. The hard conversation happened. The scary season happened. The job stress finally calmed down. The family chaos settled a little. Whatever it was, the event itself isn’t actively happening in front of you anymore, but your body is still walking around like it might start again any second.

That is such a weird place to be, because from the outside, you can look completely fine. You’re working. You’re answering texts. You’re showing up. You’re making dinner, folding laundry, pretending you didn’t just reread the same paragraph six times because your brain wandered into a side quest. Very normal adult woman behavior, obviously.

But internally? Different story.

Your chest feels tight for no clear reason. Your stomach drops when your phone buzzes. You’re jumpier than usual. Your thoughts are louder than they need to be. You’re tired, but not sleepy. You’re overstimulated, but also somehow bored. And if you’re an ADHD girlie like me, your brain already came with 900 tabs open, so now it’s 900 tabs open plus one emotional support tornado in the background.

Cute. Love that for us.

If any of that resonated… keep reading…

Selank is a compounded prescription nasal spray through EllieMD, and it’s a synthetic neuropeptide being studied for stress-response regulation, emotional balance, and cognitive function. It may help support the systems that help you feel steady, regulated, and mentally clear when your body has been running a little too “brace for impact.”

And I want to be clear about what I’m not saying here. I’m not saying Selank treats anxiety, fixes heartbreak, replaces therapy, or magically makes life stop being life. If someone is in crisis, having severe symptoms, or feeling like they truly need mental health support, that is a provider conversation, full stop.

What I am saying is that there is a whole group of people who are not in full on crisis, but also don’t feel like themselves. They’re functional, but fried. They’re “fine,” but one unexpected noise away from becoming a feral raccoon in leggings. They don’t necessarily want to be sedated or checked out. They just want their internal alarm system to stop acting like every email, text, memory, or minor inconvenience is a threat.

Your stress response is supposed to activate when it needs to, then come back down when the threat is gone. But after a rough season, a big emotional hit, chronic stress, burnout, grief, or even just a long stretch of “I am handling everything because apparently that’s my assigned role in this lifetime,” sometimes that system feels like it gets stuck halfway on.

Not fully panicking. Not fully relaxed. Just hovering.

Selank is being studied for its potential role in supporting a calmer, more balanced stress response, emotional steadiness, and mental clarity without the goal being “knock me out so I can function less.”

EllieMD Selank nasal spray graphic explaining stress and calm support, mental clarity, and mood and emotional balance over a sunset silhouette.

And honestly, I think a lot of women, especially Xennial/Millennial women, are living in that middle ground. Not falling apart enough to call it a crisis, but not regulated enough to call it peace. We’re calling it “busy,” “stressed,” “overwhelmed,” “just a rough season,” or “I’m probably fine,” when sometimes what we mean is: my life moved on, but my body is still standing in the wreckage with a clipboard.

With EllieMD, Selank is reviewed by a licensed provider, and eligibility is determined by your individual health history and intake. It’s compounded, which means it is not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not evaluate compounded medications for safety, effectiveness, or quality before use. That is also why sourcing matters, because if I’m talking about a peptide nasal spray that interacts with brain and nervous system pathways, I am not interested in mystery-vendor roulette.

Here’s the question I’d start with:
Do you feel like you need more focus, or do you feel like you need your body to feel safe again?
Because Selank is more the 2nd one.
Not “make me a new person.”
Not “erase stress.”
More like: can we support the system that helps me feel steady while life is doing life?

If this feels like you Check out SELANK here

XOXO,
NIKI

PMOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

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_{Any testimonials or results shared here reflect individual experiences only. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on individual circumstances.}

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EllieMD HRT Program graphic with a smiling woman and the text: Menopause can feel unfamiliar. Support shouldn’t.

The Nurses’s RX 17: Hot flashes, brain fog, night sweats… and actual options

Published on June 15, 2026June 13, 2026 by J. Nicole, RNLeave a comment

Y’AAAAAAALLLLLLLL!

EllieMD just dropped HRT for menopause and postmenopause support, and I am so flippin excited about this one! I’m constantly asked about HRT, and now I can finally say, WE HAVE IT!

Menopause has been treated like some vague “welcome to aging, good luck with that” situation for way too long. And it’s so much more than hot flashes.

It can be hot flashes that come out of nowhere. Night sweats that have you waking up damp, annoyed, and questioning every life choice. Sleep that suddenly goes sideways. Mood changes that make you feel like you owe your entire household an apology. Brain fog. Low libido. Vaginal dryness. Painful intimacy. Urinary urgency. Joint aches. Fatigue. Body composition changes. Feeling like your body hit a wall and nobody gave you the map.

This is common. But common doesn’t mean “you just have to deal with it.”

A Mayo Clinic study found that more than 3 out of 4 women ages 45-60 reported menopause symptoms, and more than 80% didn’t seek medical care for those symptoms. Only about 1 in 4 were receiving any treatment at the time of the survey.

That’s not because women are fine.

That’s because too many women were either never told there were real options, or they were fear mongered so hard about the risks that they never felt safe asking the question in the first place.

A lot of us were taught one very simple message: HRT = scary.

A lot of the HRT fear traces back to the Women’s Health Initiative, a large study from the early 2000s that looked at hormone therapy in postmenopausal women.

The part that made the biggest headlines followed more than 16,000 generally healthy postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79 who still had a uterus. The average age was about 63, so this wasn’t mostly newly menopausal women in their late 40s or early 50s who were looking for help with hot flashes, night sweats, sleep, mood, and quality of life.

That group was given a specific oral combination of estrogen + progestin. That arm of the study was stopped early because, in that group, using that specific hormone combination, researchers saw increased risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and invasive breast cancer.

Which sounds scary. And honestly? It was a big deal. But then the public message basically became: “HRT is dangerous.” PERIOD.

Which is exactly how we ended up with an entire generation of women white-knuckling menopause symptoms because they were scared to even ask.

But the part that got lost? That study was not the same as a 49-year-old woman in perimenopause who suddenly cannot sleep, is sweating through her pajamas, has zero libido, feels like her mood has been hijacked, and is wondering why nobody warned her this could happen.

The WHI included postmenopausal women ages 50-79, with an average age around 63. That matters. Timing matters. Route matters. Dose matters. Medical history matters. Whether someone has a uterus matters. Estrogen alone vs estrogen with progesterone matters.

Basically, the answer was never supposed to be “everyone should take HRT.” But it was also not supposed to be “everyone should be terrified of it forever.” The more accurate answer is: HRT can be incredibly helpful for the right person, at the right time, with the right provider reviewing their health history.

And yes, there are people who should not take it. That is why it should be a real medical conversation, not a Facebook comment section.

What makes me excited about EllieMD adding HRT is that it gives women another way to actually have that conversation instead of being told, “Well, this is just aging.”

Because hot flashes, night sweats, sleep changes, vaginal dryness, painful intimacy, urinary symptoms, mood changes, brain fog, and feeling like your body changed the rules overnight are not things women should have to just silently survive.

Common does not mean normal.
And normal aging does not mean “sorry, no options.”

EllieMD HRT Program graphic with three women and the text: Menopause care as individual as you are. 1 in 3 women are experiencing menopause. 75 percent don’t get the care they need. — Menopause care should be individualized, not brushed off or treated like something women just have to deal with.

EllieMD’s new HRT options include things like estradiol, progesterone, vaginal estradiol, DHEA, and pregnenolone options, depending on what someone is looking into and what a licensed provider determines is appropriate.

The initial rollout is focused on menopause and postmenopause support, with perimenopause support coming in a later phase. So if this current rollout doesn’t apply to you yet, that doesn’t mean the door is closed forever. It just means EllieMD is rolling this out in phases, so provider review, safety, and appropriate prescribing stay front and center. And honestly, I respect that. Hormones are not something to casually toss at everyone with a symptom and a credit card. Your history matters. Your uterus matters. Your age, symptoms, risk factors, and goals matter. That’s the whole point of having a licensed provider review everything before prescribing if appropriate.

The goal isn’t to pretend menopause is a disease.

The goal is to stop pretending symptoms that affect your sleep, mood, intimacy, cognition, energy, and quality of life are just some cute little midlife inconvenience you’re supposed to white-knuckle through while still running the whole household and remembering the orthodontist appointment.

Absolutely not.

But y’all!!! I’m so incredibly excited that EllieMD now offers HRT, so even if the doctors you have local access to don’t want to have this conversation, EllieMD providers will!

check out the new HRT options here
Or just reply to this email & I’ll help point you in the right direction.

XOXO,
NIKI

PMOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

↓ LET’S CONNECT ↓

_{Let’s be clear about who I am (and who I’m not)}

_{Scope of practice}

_Transparency

_{Results + Testimonials}

_{Any testimonials or results shared here reflect individual experiences only. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on individual circumstances.}

_{Read the full fine print at nicoleinscrubs.com/disclosure}

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The Nurses’s RX 16: My very real GLP-1 maintenance check-in after vacation

Published on June 4, 2026June 2, 2026 by J. Nicole, RNLeave a comment

OMG Y’ALL!

I just got back from a long Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach, and I have a couple pro tips.

1. Maybe don’t go to Myrtle Beach for Memorial Day weekend unless you are fully prepared for bike week.

Because whew.

The barricades. The traffic. The nonstop noise in the streets because the bikes and cars are literally just riding up and down Ocean Blvd over and over again.
And naturally, our Airbnb condo was on Ocean Blvd.

Sooo we purposely went to dinner early and got back to the room early every evening before it got tooo crazy. The barricades and road closures also made driving around almost impossible, so we chose restaurants we could walk to every night. They were all delicious, btw.
If you want to know where we ate, just reply, and I’ll send you the list with what we ordered at each place.

2. Turn INTO the wind when you’re spraying sunscreen at the beach.

Because I can literally feel every part of my back where the wind blew my sunscreen away. On day 2, I forgot to turn when I got to my back, so all the hard to reach places got basically zero sunscreen.
Love that for me.

Anyway…

This weekend turned into the perfect storm for me to gain weight.

I was cramping all weekend and started my period at the end of the trip. So yay me.
And yes, you can still bloat, swell, and see the scale jump with your cycle even while on a GLP-1.
It may be less than before, but you still have the hormone changes that cause water retention and cravings and all the other fun little surprises.
I even still get some typical PMS cravings, like chocolate.
It’s really the only time I crave sweets. The rest of the month, if I’m craving anything, it’s usually savory or salty.

I also still hadn’t fully rebounded from our last trip to Edenton, NC where we ate out and I gained a couple pounds. Which, honestly, wasn’t too bad. It just put me at the higher end of my normal 5 lb fluctuation since hitting my lowest weight.
But that also means I went into this weekend already on the higher end.
Then we ate out all weekend because, obviously, we were traveling.

And I definitely needed more fiber in my life lol.

My shot was due Sunday while we were gone. I planned on taking it on Monday when we got back.
Then I forgot Monday.
And Tuesday.
So now it’s Wednesday and I’m debating if I take it today and reset my shot day for a while, or if I just hold off and take it on Sunday like I have been. Ok, so I started writing this email on Wednesday, and then I realized how late it was and I had to start getting ready for work today….. so now here we are, Thursday. I’m definitely waiting for Sunday at this point lol.

Decisions decisions.

So here we are now, and I’m up a couple pounds over my usual max fluctuation weight.
I’m not immediately jumping to increase my dose.
Because right now, I know it’s me. Not in a shame spiral way. Just in a “ma’am, you traveled, ate out all weekend, had your period, needed more fiber, and forgot your shot” kind of way.
That does not mean the medication stopped working.
It means my body is doing body things.

So I’m going back to the routines I know work for me.

GET MY FREE “IS IT ME, OR THE MED?” CHECKLIST HERE

More protein.
More fiber.
More water.
Back to normal meals.
Back to my normal movement.
Back to weighing once a week instead of once every now and then.

And yes, I’m making sure I’m in a calorie deficit.
But no, I do not count calories.
I never have on this journey.

That was a decision I made for my own mental health after spending way too much of my life recovering from toxic 90s diet culture.
I won’t count every bite.
I won’t obsess over numbers.
I won’t turn food into a math assignment again.

I weigh once a week like I used to. If I’m losing, I’m in a deficit. If I’m not, then I’m not in a deficit.
I’ve counted calories enough over the years to have a pretty good idea where I fall, and I did a pretty dang good job estimating my deficit while losing 94 lbs without tracking every single thing I ate.

So for now, I’m returning to the basics first.

If I don’t see improvement after getting back to the routines that I know work for me, then I’ll have the dose increase conversation.
But that’s not my first move.

I’m a huge advocate for staying on the lowest effective dose for as long as possible, when that makes sense for you and your provider.
That’s how you can help minimize a lot of the side effects people complain about when they move up too fast.
And the providers at EllieMD support that too.

Low and slow, baby.

I’m also a firm believer that losing weight at a slow, controlled speed throughout my journey is part of why I minimized my loose skin.

Yes, I still have some.

But honestly, it’s mostly in the areas where I already had some loose skin from the rapid weight gain and loss with my pregnancies.

That’s a whole separate story time though lol.

All of that to say…

A couple pounds after vacation does not automatically mean you need more medication.

Sometimes it means you need your normal routine back.
Sometimes it means you need more fiber.
Sometimes it means your period is being personally victimizing.
Sometimes it means you ate restaurant food for 4 days and your body is holding onto water like it’s preparing for a drought.

This is the kind of real life stuff I help people sort through as a health coach.

Not just “eat less.”
Not immediately “increase your dose.”
Not pretending the medication does everything for you.

Actual support for the day to day part of this.

When you choose EllieMD as your telehealth provider through me, my health coaching support is included.

I’m also opening a few spots for people who are getting their medication elsewhere, like if insurance is covering it, for example, but still want support with the routine side of things.

Protein.
Fiber.
Side effects.
Dose conversations.
Scale fluctuations.
Travel weeks.
The “is it me or is it the medication?” moments.

If you’re in my Wellness Club and want more info about health coaching, just reply to this email, and I’ll send it over.

And if you only want the Myrtle Beach restaurant list, I support that too.

XOXO,
NIKI

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

ASK ME ANYTHING TRUSTED WELLNESS TOOLS
Not sure where to start? Take my free quiz and I’ll send you a custom plan.
WHAT’S RIGHT FOR MY BODY?
P.S. Missed the previous editions of The Nurse’s RX?
↓ Catch up here ↓
READ PAST EDITIONS

↓ LET’S CONNECT ↓

_{Let’s be clear about who I am (and who I’m not)}

_{Scope of practice}

_Transparency

_{Results + Testimonials}

_{Any testimonials or results shared here reflect individual experiences only. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on individual circumstances.}

_{Read the full fine print at nicoleinscrubs.com/disclosure}

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Niki from NicoleInScrubs in a talking-head video about starting a GLP-1 medication and not trying to change every habit overnight.

The Nurses’s RX 15: You do not have to fix everything this week

Published on May 12, 2026May 15, 2026 by J. Nicole, RNLeave a comment

Can we talk about something for a second?

Let me save you from doing the absolute most this week.

If you just started a GLP-1 and suddenly feel like you’re supposed to become a protein, water, fiber, meal prep, movement, perfect little wellness machine overnight… please take a breath. That is one of the fastest ways to make this feel overwhelming.

And I get why it happens. Starting a GLP-1 can feel like a fresh start, especially if you’ve spent years feeling like your body was not responding the way everyone said it should.

So your brain starts making a whole list. More protein. More water. More fiber. More steps. Better sleep. Better meals. Track everything. Fix everything. Become an entirely different human by next Tuesday.

Respectfully… that is a lot.

You do not need to become a brand-new person this week. You need one honest starting point.

Ask yourself where you’re weakest right now. Not where the internet told you to start. Not what worked for someone else. Not what sounds the most impressive. Where are you honestly struggling the most?

If you’re getting decent protein but barely drinking water, start with hydration. If you’re drinking water but constipation has entered the chat against everyone’s wishes, fiber and fluids may need more attention. If your food is pretty solid but movement has been nonexistent, start with something small enough that you’ll actually do it. If protein is the thing you keep missing, start there.

The other areas are not unimportant. They may just be good enough for now while you focus on the area that needs the most support first.

That’s the part I wish more people understood about starting these meds. Progress over perfection sounds cute on Instagram, but with GLP-1s, it’s actually practical.

When you change everything at once, it gets harder to tell what is helping and what is making you feel worse. When you work on one thing at a time, you can actually pay attention to your body.

And that matters, especially if you’re already wondering whether your dose is working, whether you need an increase, or whether you’re doing something wrong.

Sometimes a dose conversation with your provider is absolutely appropriate. But sometimes the missing piece is much less dramatic than that. Maybe you’re not getting enough protein. Maybe your hydration is basically iced coffee and hope. Maybe constipation is making everything feel worse. Maybe your body needs more support before you decide the medication itself is the problem.

That is not about blaming yourself. It’s about walking into your next provider conversation with better information.

One habit at a time. One area of improvement at a time. One realistic change you can actually keep doing.

That is how this becomes sustainable.

Not perfect. Sustainable.

And honestly, that’s the goal.

I also made a short video version of this if you’d rather hear me talk through it instead of reading my full thoughts like we’re all pretending our attention spans are thriving.

You can watch the video here: WATCH ON TIKTOK WATCH ON INSTAGRAM

And if you want the deeper explanation, I turned this into a full blog post too. I go into more detail about why trying to fix everything overnight can make starting a GLP-1 feel way more overwhelming than it needs to be.

READ THE FULL BLOG POST HERE

If you’re already on a GLP-1 and wondering, “Is it me, or is it the med?” I made a free guide for exactly that. It walks you through the four questions I asked myself before every dose increase conversation so you can go into that appointment with more clarity and less spiraling.

XOXO,
NIKI

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

↓ LET’S CONNECT ↓

_{Let’s be clear about who I am (and who I’m not)}

_{Scope of practice}

_Transparency

_{Results + Testimonials}

_{Any testimonials or results shared here reflect individual experiences only. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on individual circumstances.}

_{Read the full fine print at nicoleinscrubs.com/disclosure}

No longer wish to receive these emails? UNSUBSCRIBE HERE

Graphic introducing KLOW, a peptide blend with BPC-157, GHK-Cu, TB-500, and KPV for tissue repair, systemic recovery, and inflammatory balance support.

The Nurses’s RX no. 14: Hold up… they put GHK-Cu in what?

Published on May 11, 2026May 4, 2026 by J. Nicole, RNLeave a comment

Wait a dang minute y’all!!!

I saw the new KLOW blend and was immediately like… hold up, wait a minute.

This has the GHK-Cu that I already LOOOOOVE, plus the BPC-157/TB-500 I had already been contemplating adding… ANNNND the KPV all in one?

Hell yes, sign me up.

If you’ve been around here for more than five minutes, you already know I’m not just casually curious about GHK-Cu. I’m on it. I love it. I have been very impressed by it. I’ve had more new baby hairs with GHK-Cu than I’ve seen with anything else I’ve tried in the last 10 years. My hair is growing faster, and I’ve also noticed improvement in the loose skin on my arms and neck.

So when I saw that EllieMD released a new compounded peptide blend with GHK-Cu in it, I wanted the details immediately. Then I realized it also includes BPC-157/TB-500, which I had already been looking at for recovery and tissue support, plus KPV, which I’ve been curious about for gut and inflammatory balance. It brings together several peptides I was already looking into separately, especially for the stuff so many of us start caring about when our bodies stop bouncing back like they used to…

Skin changes. Recovery. Gut support. Inflammation. Collagen. The “why do I feel like my body needs a system update?” era.

Lifestyle graphic introducing KLOW, a compounded peptide blend containing BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, and KPV, with pricing shown for monthly and 8-week supply options.

KLOW is one I would absolutely want to know about if you’ve been curious about peptides beyond GLP-1s, especially if you’re thinking more about long-term wellness, recovery, and supporting what your body is already trying to do.

CHECK OUT KLOW HERE
If you’ve clicked a link and can’t see KLOW, it’s because it’s one that requires Exclusive Access to view. Just sign in with your free EllieMD account OR CREATE ONE HERE

XOXO,
NIKI

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

↓ LET’S CONNECT ↓

_{Let’s be clear about who I am (and who I’m not)}

_{Scope of practice}

_Transparency

_{Results + Testimonials}

_{Any testimonials or results shared here reflect individual experiences only. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on individual circumstances.}

_{Read the full fine print at nicoleinscrubs.com/disclosure}

No longer wish to receive these emails? UNSUBSCRIBE HERE

Hand holding a CloveRX NAD+ injection vial prescribed through EllieMD telehealth, 100mg/mL, 10mL multi-dose vial for subcutaneous use

The Nurses’s RX no. 13: New onset eczema at 41 and what actually cleared it

Published on April 30, 2026April 17, 2026 by J. Nicole, RNLeave a comment

Y’all. I have to tell you what happened.

Last summer, at 41 years old, I developed new-onset eczema.

On my EYELID. And under my eye. Of all the places on my body, it picked my face. Then, a few weeks later, a patch showed up on my neck like the party needed more guests.

I was furious. I was confused. I was LITERALLY doing everything right.

I was already using my Prequel skincare, which is formulated specifically for eczema- and rosacea-prone skin. When the flare wouldn’t quit, I stripped my routine down to the absolute bare bones. Topical hydrocortisone. Aquaphor. The most basic, boring, dermatologist-approved protocol you can do at home.

It would start to clear up… and then come right back. Over and over. For months.

Why would eczema suddenly show up in your 40s when you’ve never had it?

Turns out this is a real thing. And it’s way more common than anyone talks about.

Perimenopause does a number on your skin in ways most of us are never warned about. As estrogen starts to decline, your skin produces less oil, loses ceramides (the lipids that hold your skin barrier together), and the whole barrier function is compromised. Your skin microbiome shifts. Your immune response shifts. And the inflammation that your body used to handle quietly? Now it’s showing up on your face.

Research published in dermatology literature confirms that the drop in estrogen during perimenopause can trigger new-onset eczema or worsen existing eczema, even in women with no prior history. Skin gets thinner, drier, more reactive, and more easily inflamed.

So… cool. One more thing nobody tells you about your 40s.

But wait. Aren’t you on a GLP-1? Shouldn’t that be handling the inflammation?

This was literally my exact question. I’ve been on a GLP-1 for over two years. GLP-1s are known to reduce inflammation, even at low doses. So why was my face actively revolting?

GLP-1s reduce one type of inflammation, the metabolic kind. The kind driven by insulin resistance, visceral fat, and blood sugar dysfunction. And they do that really well.

But the inflammation driving perimenopausal skin changes is a different beast entirely. It’s hormonal. It’s local. It’s happening in my skin because my estrogen is dropping, my skin barrier is compromised, and my skin’s immune response is reacting to things it never used to.

GLP-1 is putting out the metabolic fire in my body. But the hormonal fire showing up in my skin needed something else.

Enter NAD+

Available in Injection or Nasal Spray through EllieMD

I started NAD+ injections last fall. I wasn’t taking them for my skin, honestly. I was taking them for energy, recovery, and general cellular function. You know, the perimenopausal brain fog. The skin improvement was surprising, but then when I thought about it, it made PERFECT SENSE.

But within a few weeks, I noticed my eczema was staying cleared up. Not in the “it’s better today, let’s see what happens tomorrow” way. In the actually gone way.

I added GHK-Cu later, which also has some skin benefits, but I want to be really clear. The eczema had already cleared before I added GHK-Cu. The NAD+ was doing the heavy lifting.

Hand holding CloveRX NAD+ and GHK-Cu injection vials prescribed through EllieMD telehealth with two insulin syringes for subcutaneous peptide injections — My skin stack from EllieMD.

And then I did what nurses do, which is make absolutely terrible patients. I got busy. I skipped a week. Then another one.

Guess what came back.

I went straight to my kitchen, pulled my vial out of the fridge, and took my injection. It cleared up again after a couple of weeks. Then I missed another week (I KNOW, I KNOW). Started seeing the early signs creeping back. Back to the kitchen I went. I also bumped up to tier 2 dosing, which is a higher dose, and the skin kept improving. Not getting worse. Which matters to me because it tells me my skin is responding to more NAD+, not less.

At this point, I am not messing around. NAD+ is in my toolbelt permanently.

But is there actual science behind this, or am I just seeing things?

I want to be honest with you here, because I am not trying to oversell anything.

Research on NAD+ and inflammatory skin conditions is still in its early stages. But what’s out there looks really promising.

NAD+ is a molecule every cell in your body uses to make energy and repair itself. When you’re young, you have a lot of it. As you age, levels drop. When NAD+ drops, your cells can’t handle stress as well, can’t repair damage as well, and can’t calm inflammation as well.

One 2023 study found that boosting NAD+ calmed down one of the main inflammation pathways (called Th17) that drives skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Basically, more NAD+ told the inflammation to settle down.

Another study on a form of NAD+ showed it reduced eczema symptoms, itching, and helped the skin barrier rebuild itself. It calmed the fire AND helped the wall.

And a big review from 2025 on a related form of vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) laid out why this whole family of molecules is already being used by dermatologists for eczema, rosacea, and other inflammatory skin issues.

So no. This is not me seeing things.

It’s me having a body that was inflamed, a skin barrier that was compromised, a hormonal transition nobody warned me was starting, and a cellular molecule (NAD+) that supports the exact repair and anti-inflammation work my skin needed.

It makes sense that it worked. It makes sense that when I stopped, it came back. And it makes sense that when I bumped up my dose, it kept improving.

CloveRX tirzepatide with glycine, NAD+, and GHK-Cu injection vials prescribed through EllieMD telehealth, arranged with insulin syringes and McKesson alcohol prep pads on a granite countertop — The full stack from EllieMD. Metabolic, cellular, skin. All working together.

What I want you to hear:

If you’re in your late 30s or 40s and something new is showing up on your skin, whether that’s eczema, rosacea flares, random dryness, or sensitivity you never had before, this is worth paying attention to. Your skin is telling you your hormones are shifting. That’s just physiology.

And if you’re already in the longevity and anti-aging conversation and you’re curious about NAD+ for energy, recovery, collagen, mitochondrial health… all the things… this is one more reason to pay attention. The skin benefits are real, even if the research is still catching up.

NAD+ is not a miracle cure. The research is preliminary. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you something.

But for me? It’s part of the stack now. PERMENANTLY

If you’re curious about NAD+ or want to actually talk to a provider about whether it’s something worth exploring for you, I use EllieMD for my telehealth. The physicians are real, the messaging is unlimited, and you can ask all the questions you need to ask before you start anything. (They work with CloveRX for compounding, which is the pharmacy that actually makes the peptides. Same consistent quality every single time, which is what I wanted when I made the switch.) With EllieMD you now have the option of NAD+ Injections or an NAD+ Nasal Spray (which I will probably try out with my next order).

As always, talk to your own provider, do your own research, and don’t start anything without understanding what it does and what it doesn’t do. I am a nurse, but I am not YOUR nurse, and this is not medical advice. It’s my story, the research I’ve pulled, and an invitation to look into it if it resonates.

Love you, mean it.

XOXO,
NIKI, RN

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

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The Nurses’s RX no. 12: The one blood test your doctor probably didn’t order

Published on April 28, 2026April 2, 2026 by J. Nicole, RNLeave a comment

Hey y’all!

Can I tell you the thing that still makes me want to flip a table?

It’s the phrase “your labs are normal.”

Because for a lot of women… especially women with PCOS, perimenopause knocking, and years of “borderline” results that nobody ever actually addressed… “normal” doesn’t mean fine. It means nobody looked deep enough.

Here’s what most routine bloodwork checks when it comes to blood sugar: fasting glucose and A1C. That’s it.

And here’s what those tests miss: how hard your body is working to keep those numbers where they are.

Your fasting glucose could be sitting at a perfect 94 mg/dL.
Your A1C could be a beautiful 5.4%.
And your pancreas could be GRINDING out insulin behind the scenes just to hold those numbers in place.
You wouldn’t know. Because nobody ordered the test that shows it.

That test is called fasting insulin. And when you pair it with your fasting glucose, you can calculate something called your HOMA-IR score… which basically tells you how insulin resistant your body is right now.

Not how your blood sugar looks on paper. How your body is actually functioning.

The CDC says over 115 million American adults have prediabetes. 8 in 10 don’t know it. That’s not because they’re ignoring their health. It’s because the standard tests aren’t catching it early enough.

And research published in Diabetes Care found that using A1C alone to screen for prediabetes missed about 75% of at-risk people.

If that doesn’t make you want to flip the table too… I don’t know what will.

Here’s what I want you to do:

Next time you have bloodwork, ask your doctor to add a fasting insulin level. It’s drawn from the same blood, at the same time. You may need to specifically request it because it’s not included in standard panels.

Once you have it, here’s the math: (fasting glucose x fasting insulin) / 405 = your HOMA-IR score.
Under 1.0 = optimal.
Over 2.5 = insulin resistance may be present.
Over 3.0 = significant.

That one number could explain more about why you feel the way you feel than every “normal” result you’ve ever gotten combined.

I wrote a full deep dive on this on the blog… why standard panels miss it, what it means if you have PCOS, and the exact labs I’d tell my best friend to ask for. If you want the whole picture, it’s there for you.

READ THE FULL POST

You deserve better than “normal.”

XOXO,
NIKI, RN

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

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The Nurses’s RX no. 11: Your doctor never explains why you’re still exhausted

Published on April 25, 2026April 25, 2026 by J. Nicole, RNLeave a comment

Grab your coffee….

I need to explain something about sleep that nobody told me for most of my life. And I’m willing to bet nobody told you either.

I’ve been a night owl since second grade. Every time my schedule forced me onto days, I reached for melatonin, thinking it would help me adjust. It got me to sleep. I still woke up every single time feeling like I hadn’t slept at all.

For years, I thought my body was just bad at this. Turns out the problem was never falling asleep. The problem was what was (or wasn’t) happening AFTER.

Here’s your nurse lesson for the day.

Your sleep has stages. Stage 3, also called deep sleep, is where your body does the actual overnight repair work. Your brain files away memories. Your immune system does its thing. Your hormones get regulated. Tissue gets repaired. ALL of it happens in deep sleep.

And here’s what your doctor probably never connected for you… deep sleep is the FIRST stage to get destroyed by stress, hormonal shifts, and age. Perimenopause? Your sleep architecture starts changing before you even realize what’s happening. You can sleep 8 hours and barely touch the deep stage. You were in the pool all night, but you never went below the surface.

Melatonin doesn’t fix this. Melatonin tells your body WHEN to sleep. That’s it. It puts up the “closed” sign on the store. But whether the cleaning crew actually shows up to do the repair work? Melatonin has nothing to do with that.

The sign said closed. The cleaning crew never came.

There’s also a handoff that’s supposed to happen every night between your stress system and your sleep system. They take turns. Stress runs the day, then clocks out so sleep can take over. When that handoff breaks down, you get that “tired but wired” feeling… exhausted, but your brain won’t stop running the list. That’s not a personality trait. That’s a broken shift change inside your body.

DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide) is being studied for BOTH of these things. The depth of your sleep AND the stress handoff. It’s been researched for over 40 years. It’s not a sedative. No morning fog. No dependency. It works with your body’s own systems instead of overriding them.

I’m about to be forced onto day shift for three months (I KNOW). Then, a few days later, EllieMD dropped DSIP. The TIMING. I dug into the research and… this sounds like exactly what I need right now. You know I’ve already ordered it! I’ll keep you updated on how it goes.

I wrote a full breakdown on the blog. What DSIP is, how it’s different from melatonin, what deep sleep actually does for your body, and who this might help most.t it with real physician oversight.

If you’ve been sleeping “enough” hours and STILL waking up exhausted… this post explains WHY. And that answer alone is worth the click.

READ THE FULL BLOG POST HERE

XOXO,
NIKI, RN

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

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The Nurses’s RX no. 10: Update! How GLP-1 meds reduce inflammation so fast 🤯

Published on April 20, 2026April 22, 2026 by J. Nicole, RNLeave a comment

Okay sooooo…..

Remember how I told you about my accidental experiment of skipping my injections last week? And how the joint swelling and inflammation came back with a vengeance?

Well, I am checking in today with an update that honestly blows my mind, even as a nurse.

Yesterday, I finally took my compounded GLP-1/GIP + glycine, along with my NAD+ and GHK-Cu injections. It has only been 24 hours, and that inflammation that was creeping back like no joke is already mostly resolved. I still have a tiny bit of swelling, but it is not nearly as bad as it was yesterday.

And the best part? The food noise is officially GONEZO!

As a nurse, I love knowing the “why” behind how our bodies work. If you have ever typed “does GLP-1 help with joint pain” or “how fast do weight loss meds reduce inflammation” into your search bar late at night, I have some answers for you. I went digging into reputable clinical studies, and the science behind this rapid relief is wild.

Here is what the research actually says about GLP-1 medications and systemic inflammation (and I brought the receipts so you can check them out yourself!):

It works fast: Studies show that a single dose of a GLP-1 medication can start reducing inflammatory cytokines (the specific proteins that cause swelling and pain) within literally hours. This perfectly explains why my joint pain and stiffness got better by the very next day.
It is not just because of the weight loss: Clinical trials have proven that GLP-1 medications consistently lower C-reactive protein. That is the main inflammation marker your doctor checks when you get routine bloodwork. The crazy part is that the research shows a massive chunk of this reduction happens completely independent of weight loss. The medicine itself is actively fighting the inflammation!
Whole body relief: These meds do not just target your stomach to make you full. They actually help block the pathways that cause chronic inflammation all over your body. The science shows they have direct anti-inflammatory effects on your joints, heart, liver, and immune system.

So if you have been wondering if GLP-1 weight loss medications do more than just help you drop pounds, the answer is a massive yes. They are powerful tools that help manage chronic conditions from the inside out.

Have you noticed a major difference in your own inflammation or joint pain since starting your wellness journey? Reply back and let’s chat about it!

XOXO,
NIKI, RN

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

ask me anything

trusted wellness tools

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_{Let’s be clear about who I am (and who I’m not)}

_{Scope of practice}

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_{Results + Testimonials}

_{Any testimonials or results shared here reflect individual experiences only. Results are not guaranteed and will vary based on individual circumstances.}

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Okay, peptide-curious people…

What are peptides????

And yes, we also need to talk about safety and sourcing.

XOXO,NIKI

PMOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

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Happy Friday-Eve lol!

If any of that resonated… keep reading…

XOXO,NIKI

PMOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

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Y’AAAAAAALLLLLLLL!

This is common. But common doesn’t mean “you just have to deal with it.”

Absolutely not.

XOXO,NIKI

PMOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

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OMG Y’ALL!

1. Maybe don’t go to Myrtle Beach for Memorial Day weekend unless you are fully prepared for bike week.

2. Turn INTO the wind when you’re spraying sunscreen at the beach.

This weekend turned into the perfect storm for me to gain weight.

So I’m going back to the routines I know work for me.

Low and slow, baby.

XOXO,NIKI

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

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Can we talk about something for a second?

XOXO,NIKI

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

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Wait a dang minute y’all!!!

Skin changes. Recovery. Gut support. Inflammation. Collagen. The “why do I feel like my body needs a system update?” era.

XOXO,NIKI

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

↓ LET’S CONNECT ↓

Y’all. I have to tell you what happened.

Why would eczema suddenly show up in your 40s when you’ve never had it?

But wait. Aren’t you on a GLP-1? Shouldn’t that be handling the inflammation?

Enter NAD+

Guess what came back.

But is there actual science behind this, or am I just seeing things?

What I want you to hear:

XOXO,NIKI, RN

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

↓ LET’S CONNECT ↓

Hey y’all!

And here’s what those tests miss: how hard your body is working to keep those numbers where they are.

Here’s what I want you to do:

You deserve better than “normal.”

XOXO,NIKI, RN

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

↓ LET’S CONNECT ↓

Grab your coffee….

XOXO,NIKI, RN

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

↓ LET’S CONNECT ↓

Okay sooooo…..

XOXO,NIKI, RN

PCOS. Perimenopause. Metabolic health. The real stuff. Not just “eat less, move more.”

↓ LET’S CONNECT ↓

XOXO,
NIKI

XOXO,
NIKI

XOXO,
NIKI

XOXO,
NIKI

XOXO,
NIKI

XOXO,
NIKI

XOXO,
NIKI, RN

XOXO,
NIKI, RN

XOXO,
NIKI, RN

XOXO,
NIKI, RN