That Thing You Do on the Toilet That You Think No One Else Does? A GI Doctor Just Explained Why.

By Amy Sexton | Amy + Joe

We need to talk about something. Not in a whisper-to-your-best-friend kind of way, in a let's-actually-get-answers kind of way.

Because here's the truth: most of us have spent way too long Googling gut symptoms at midnight, wondering if what's happening in the bathroom is normal, and silently hoping someone will just say it out loud so we don't have to.

Well, someone finally did.

She Said What We Were All Thinking

I recently sat down with Dr. Patel, a board-certified gastroenterologist, keynote speaker, and one of the most refreshingly honest doctors I've ever met, and we went there. Bloating. Constipation. Pelvic floor dysfunction. The dance routine some of us do on the toilet just to make things happen. (Her words, not mine. Okay, also mine.)

She told me something that completely shifted how I think about my body: your gut is your second brain. The bacteria in your gut don't just control digestion, they regulate your mood, your immune system, and your hormones. So when your gut is off, everything feels off. And for women going through perimenopause, menopause, or recovering from surgery like I did after my hysterectomy? It's a completely different ballgame.

Dr. Patel broke down exactly what happens to your gut when your hormones change — and why scar tissue, stress, and even your phone habits on the toilet might be making things worse.

The 3 Things She Says Every Woman Should Do

I asked her for the simplest starting point, and she kept it to three:

A toilet stool. Raising your legs changes the angle and makes elimination easier. (I have a wooden one — yes, a pretty one — because function and aesthetics can coexist.)

Water. 64 to 100 ounces a day. Your body is like a car — without fuel, everything slows down. Hormone recycling, digestion, all of it.

Fiber. 30 grams a day. Two tablespoons of chia seeds gets you 10 grams. Two kiwis a day can increase both the number and quality of your bowel movements. Her line: "Two kiwis a day keeps the gastroenterologist away."

Simple? Yes. Life-changing if you actually do them? Also yes.

We Also Talked About Things I Didn't Want to Ask

Like whether wine affects your gut. (It does. Even small amounts. She was kind about it, but she didn't sugarcoat it.)

Like what Ozempic and GLP-1 medications actually do to your insides — beyond the weight loss headlines. (Spoiler: they slow your stomach from emptying, not your colon. But you need more fiber and movement to compensate.)

Like whether I actually got a parasite from a New York City pizza slice at 3 a.m. at the Plaza Hotel. (She said no. I'm still processing this.)

And like whether food sensitivity tests are even worth taking. (The answer is more nuanced than you think — and it might save you from unnecessarily cutting out half your diet.)

Why I'm Sharing This

Because gut health isn't a trend. It's not the new keto or the new grapefruit diet. It's the thing underneath everything else — your energy, your skin, your mood, your sleep, your ability to show up for your kids and your work and your life without feeling like something is just… off.

And because Dr. Patel said something that stuck with me: the reason so many women struggle with these issues in silence is because no one normalizes the conversation. So consider this me doing my part.

Listen to the full episode here: [The Amy Plus Podcast – Dr. Patel: Gut Health, Ozempic & Everything In Between]

Available on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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Let's Keep the Conversation Going

If anything in this post made you think "wait, that's me", I want to hear about it. Drop a comment, send me a DM, share this with your group chat. These are the conversations that matter.

And if you haven't already subscribe to The Amy Plus Podcast so you never miss an episode. We're just getting started

💕 Amy

Follow along on Instagram @amyplusjoe | Visit amyplusjoe.com