💪 The Hairy Chin Newsletter #14

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Hello and Happy Monday to everyone!

This week I’ve got a short and sweet entry coming your way - last week’s entry was pretty dense. Big bravo to those of you who made it all the way through! 💪 

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s edition:

• Your Advocacy Toolkit: Managing Expectations at the Dr.

• Body Talk 101: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Health Truths: The Truth About BMIs

• Told By Her: Pain and Prejudice by Gabrielle Jackson

Let’s learn together! 💪

Spencer Moore
Founder, The Hairy Chin
(Listen to The Hairy Chin Podcast)
(Subscribe to The Hairy Chin Newsletter)
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Managing Expectations During Doctor Visits

You waited three months. You rearranged your life. You finally see the specialist…and… you leave with more questions than answers. Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth: not every appointment is a breakthrough, and not every provider can solve your entire health puzzle in one visit.

Sometimes you leave with clarity and confidence. Other times, you walk out in tears, second-guessing everything. Both are part of the process, even when it doesn't feel like it.

Here’s how to manage expectations and stay grounded in the journey:

• Healing Is a Process, Not a One-Visit Fix: Most chronic or mysterious conditions require time, patience, and layering insights over time.

• Go In Organized: Prep for your appointment with organized information. Avoid the temptation to “brain-dump,” help them help you by being focused.

• Set Realistic Goals for Each Appointment: Choose 1–2 clear outcomes you’d like from the visit.

• Track Progress, Not Perfection: A “meh” appointment doesn’t mean failure. Sometimes it’s still a breadcrumb on the path - a referral, a new phrase to research, a test ordered. It all builds. Even when it doesn’t feel linear.

The Bottom Line: Every appointment (even the hard ones) can move you forward in ways you won’t always see right away. You're not just attending a visit, you're building your map. Keep going. 💪

Let’s talk about ‘Carpal Tunnel Syndrome’

Tingling, numbness, or that “pins and needles” feeling - especially at night? You could be dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). And here’s the thing: women are three times more likely than men to develop it.

CTS often shows up during sleep with:

• Numbness or burning in the thumb and first three fingers

• Weak grip or hand clumsiness

• Swelling or tightness in the wrist

How to avoid it?

• Take breaks during repetitive tasks (typing, gripping, twisting)

• Optimize your workspace ergonomics

• Manage inflammatory conditions like arthritis or thyroid issues

• Be honest about your smartphone habits — overuse can inflame tendons and worsen symptoms

What to do if it’s already bothering you:

Talk to your doctor. Wrist splints, NSAIDs, physical therapy, or steroid injections can help. If symptoms persist or you develop muscle weakness, carpal tunnel release surgery may be needed to relieve pressure on the nerve.

You can read these articles here to learn more: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and 5 Ways to Reduce Finger and Hand Pain From Phone Use

The Bottom line: Those hand tingles? That’s your body waving a red flag - and ignoring it can lead to CTS. Your body is always talking to you, keep listening! 💪

Let’s talk about the BMI (Body Mass Index)

Ahh the BMI…how the medical profession determines “healthy weight.” And here’s what might blow your mind - it was developed using data from European men…in the 1830s. 🤦‍♀️

Belgian astronomer Adolphe Quetelet created it as a population tool, not as a health measure for individuals (NIH, 2023). And while it has been tweaked here and there over the years, it’s still widely used today in doctor’s offices, insurance forms, and even health research.

The issue? BMI is deeply flawed and biased.

It doesn’t account for gender, ethnicity, body composition, or frame size - and it is especially misleading for women, who naturally carry more essential fat and undergo hormonal shifts throughout life (National Geographic, 2024).

A woman can be labeled “overweight” by BMI standards even if she’s metabolically healthy and strong, while someone with high visceral fat and low muscle might fall into the “normal” range.

But there is some good news: Experts now recommend better tools, like body composition scans (DXA), waist-to-height ratio, and muscle-to-fat analysis, that give a fuller, more accurate picture of your health. (NPR, 2024).

The Bottom Line: If you’re interested in an updated measure of what’s really going on in your body, ask your physician about what modern day tools they have up their sleeve to help focus on what actually matters: strength, balance and long-term wellness.

Pain and Prejudice: How the Medical System Ignores Women, and What We Can Do About It

This is a story (and book) that hits home for me and lights a pretty big fire under my mission at The Hairy Chin.

Gabrielle Jackson, award‑winning journalist and deputy news editor at The Guardian Australia, spent years silently battling endometriosis before her diagnosis made one thing clear: it wasn’t just her, it was the system.

In Pain and Prejudice: How the Medical System Ignores Women, and What We Can Do About It, Jackson blends stark personal narrative with investigative rigor to expose how women’s pain is routinely minimized, misunderstood, or mislabeled.

She digs deep into medicine’s male-default bias, from doctor’s offices to pharmaceutical labs, and offers a sharp, urgent call to rebuild healthcare with women at its center.

If the pattern of dismissal, “It’s just stress,” “It’s in your head,” sounds familiar, Jackson’s story will feel like both validation and revolution.

This isn’t just a book I recommend, it’s one of the reasons I started The Hairy Chin in the first place: to share what women were never told, to give voice to stories like this, and to help each other be heard, respected, and supported in our healing.

The Bottom Line: It’s your body — and your voice. Let’s learn how to use both, together. 💪 

Ok my amigas, that’s a wrap.

Self-advocacy has never been easier - from To-Do to TA-DA - just like that! 💪

Bravo for being here,
Spencer Moore

_{DISCLAIMER: The information shared here, which can include affiliate links, is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not be treated as such. Always consult with a qualified provider before making any medical decisions, changing your health routine, or starting a new treatment. This content is meant to help you learn about yourself and advocate for your well-being. What you do with this information is entirely up to you.} 💛

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