Luxe Health
A Deeper Look at Inflammation

Why Your Body Might Be Telling You Something

Caroline Glenn, PharmD, walked us through chronic inflammation — microdosing Tirzepatide for those who don't need weight loss, a migraine story that'll stop you in your tracks, my own whole-body before-and-after, and the science of inflammation in the brain and gut.

Live Zoom with Caroline Glenn, PharmD · June 28, 2026

Prefer to read instead of watch? Everything below is a written recap (not a word-for-word transcript) covering the key stories, science, and takeaways — a great option if you keep meaning to watch the whole replay but haven't found the hour yet.

Watch the Zoom Replay →
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Sound Familiar?

You Don't Have to Accept This as "Just Getting Older"

Joint pain that crept in out of nowhere. Brain fog. Waking up puffy even after a full night's sleep. Gaining weight despite doing everything right. Migraines. Gut issues that won't quit no matter how "clean" you eat. These aren't separate problems — they're often the same root cause showing up in different places.

Joint & connective tissue pain Brain fog & fatigue Migraines Gut & bloating issues Stubborn weight despite effort Poor sleep
What Caroline Covered

The Short Version

A few of the biggest takeaways from the call, if you want the highlights before (or instead of) watching the full replay above.

Chronic Inflammation Is a Smoke Alarm That Won't Shut Off

Inflammation itself isn't the problem — it's your body's protection system, and it's supposed to turn off once the job is done. Chronic inflammation is what happens when that "off switch" stops working efficiently, which becomes more common as we age, and gets an extra layer of complexity for women during perimenopause and menopause as estrogen declines.

Why Tirzepatide, Specifically

Visceral fat — the fat you can't see, surrounding your organs — isn't just stored energy. It's biologically active and releases inflammatory signals directly into your body. Reducing it is one of the biggest levers for lowering chronic inflammation, which is why GLP-1s in general, and Tirzepatide specifically, have generated so much interest outside of just weight loss. Caroline's clinical preference is Tirzepatide over Semaglutide across the board — she's found it significantly more effective with fewer side effects.

Microdose or Weight-Loss Dose? It's Based on BMI

You don't have to want or need weight loss to benefit from Tirzepatide. With EllieMD, if your BMI is between 20 and 25, you qualify for a microdose. If it's over 25, you can take the same peptide at a weight-loss dose. Same medication, same anti-inflammatory benefit — dosed to your actual goal.

Real Stories From the Call

Maybe You'll Recognize Yourself Here

8–10 migraines a month → migraine-free for 6 months
"I don't need to lose weight, but Tirzepatide pulled the inflammation out of my body — and my migraines went with it."
Angela, on a microdose + NAD+
Hear her full story in the replay above ↑
19 years with celiac → down to about 5 stomach aches a year
"My body was doing everything right and still holding onto inflammation. My B12 is finally normal for the first time since I was a kid."
Carrie, on Tirzepatide + NAD+
Hear her full story in the replay above ↑
My Story

Two Years of Doing Everything Right — and Still Gaining Weight

I'd been slim for most of my adult life. Even after having babies, once I stopped nursing and got back to working out, my body cooperated the way it always had. But somewhere around 40, that changed almost overnight.

Melissa holding out the waistband of her old jeans, showing how much room is left after weight loss
Same jeans. That's the whole story.

I told myself I just needed to tighten things back up, but it didn't go back to normal — it got worse. I did the bloodwork. Everything came back "within normal ranges." So I tried everything: intermittent fasting, heavy lifting, high-intensity cardio, keto, carnivore. Two years in, I'd gained 25 pounds despite working harder than I ever had.

I invested $4,000 in a 12 month doctor-supervised program with a nurse dietitian reviewing every bite I ate, guaranteed for women over 40. I gained weight the entire time. I was later told I was showing signs of severe insulin resistance — but not quite "pre-diabetic" enough for insurance to help — so I spent months testing my blood sugar eight times a day and living on beef, butter, and eggs... It didn't work either. By that point, I'd gained over 40 pounds since turning 40 three years earlier.

Melissa side profile before and after, showing reduction in midsection inflammation
Same pose, same outfit, 6 months apart.
Grid of Melissa's face before (top row) and after (bottom row) showing reduced facial puffiness
Top row: before. Bottom row: after.

In mid-January, Caroline was back in town and a friend invited me to dinner with her. I asked about peptides and ordered right there from the table. I lost 5.5 inches around my waist in the first week. There was something happening at a cellular level that three years of "doing everything right" never touched.

Since January 21st, I've lost 28 pounds — but honestly, if I never lost another pound, I'd still be thrilled, because I look like myself again. About three weeks in, I added Sermorelin to help balance my hormones, and unexpectedly, the knee and hip pain I'd written off as "just getting older" disappeared too. I only really understood how much it was helping when I cycled off it for a break and felt that low-grade ache creep back in.

The inflammation didn't just melt off my body. It melted off my face, my energy, and a version of myself I didn't recognize anymore.

Melissa before and after, showing the contrast in facial inflammation and overall appearance
This is the comparison that still stops me in my tracks.
Beyond Tirzepatide

Other Peptides Caroline Covered

Tirzepatide does a lot of the heavy lifting, but Caroline paired it with a few targeted peptides depending on where inflammation was showing up. Here's the quick reference.

Brain

NAD+

Clears inflammation from the neurological system and lifts brain fog.

Best for: brain fog, fatigue, mental clarity — often paired with Tirzepatide.

Gut & Pain

BPC-157 + TB-500

The "Wolverine Stack." Regenerative peptides that increase blood supply to injured tissue. Oral capsule for gut healing, injection for joint/connective tissue pain.

Best for: gut lining repair, chronic or acute pain, arthritis, recovery.

Gut & Skin

KPV

Repairs and calms the gut lining directly, and soothes inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Best for: gut inflammation, skin flare-ups.

Skin & Tissue

GHKCU

Known as the hair/skin/nails peptide, but its real power is boosting collagen production throughout the body — tendons, ligaments, cartilage, blood vessels.

Best for: skin and hair, post-surgical healing, tissue repair.

All-in-One

KLOW

A single vial combining BPC-157, TB-500, GHKCU, and KPV — the most comprehensive general anti-inflammatory option.

Best for: wanting broad support (gut + connective tissue + skin) in one shot.

Cellular

Glutathione

The body's master antioxidant — neutralizes free radicals and reduces oxidative stress.

Best for: immune support (especially travel), skin inflammation, cellular recovery.

Sleep

DSIP

Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide. Helps regulate the HPA axis and cortisol, improving how fast you fall asleep and how well you stay there.

Best for: trouble falling or staying asleep, shift work, high-stress cycles.

Ordering Tirzepatide (our top recommendation over Semaglutide)? On the EllieMD site, select the medication labeled GLP-1/GIP — not GLP-1 alone.
What You're Actually Paying For

One price. Everything included.

No membership fees. No copays. No surprise charges at checkout. Here's exactly what the price of your peptide covers — and why the structure is designed the way it is.

The price is the whole price

When you see a peptide price at EllieMD, that number includes everything: your doctor's care, all follow-up provider access, shipping, injection supplies, and any additional medications that come with your protocol — like Zofran for GLP-1 customers.

Included in every order: Doctor visits & ongoing care · Shipping · Injection supplies · Additional medications where applicable · No membership fee · No copay · No hidden anything.

Why multi-month bundles — and why it works in your favor

Most peptides are supplied in two-month bundles; GLP-1s (including Tirzepatide) come in three months at a time. There are a few good reasons for this — and they all benefit you.

First, peptides aren't a magic pill. Some are regenerating tissue. Some are signaling your body's insulin response. Some are doing quiet, important work that takes weeks to fully express. EllieMD structures the supply so you have what you actually need to see real results — and you won't have to make a reorder decision before your body has had time to respond.

Second, the founder is deeply committed to thoughtful production and reducing waste. Bundled orders mean less packaging, lower shipping frequency, and a company that's genuinely thinking about its footprint. It keeps costs down for everyone — including you.

Payment options that work for you

You can pay in full at checkout, or choose interest-free installments through Klarna — no interest, no catch. FSA and HSA cards are also accepted, which can make peptide therapy surprisingly accessible if you have funds set aside.

Pay in full Klarna — interest free FSA / HSA accepted

A personal note on FSA/HSA: it's worth a quick call to your plan administrator to confirm your specific peptide is covered before you check out. Some administrators are stricter than others — I learned this one firsthand.

Ready When You Are

How Would You Like to Proceed?

1

I'm Ready — Take Me There

Head straight to my EllieMD page, create your free patient account, and explore all available peptides.

View Peptides at EllieMD →
2

Not Sure Where to Start? Take the Quiz

EllieMD built a genuinely thorough quiz right on their homepage called "Find My Program" — about 3 minutes. Answer a few questions and it'll point you toward exactly where to begin.

Take the Quiz at EllieMD →
3

Want to Talk It Through? Book a 1-on-1

Book a 15-minute personal consult with a peptide-trained medical expert for just $50, and $25 of that applies directly to your peptide purchase. Scroll down to "1-on-1 with Our Wellness Experts" on the EllieMD site.

Book a Consult at EllieMD →
Melissa

And Then There's Me

I'm here for you, every step of the way.

I hope this was helpful! If you're ready to move forward, you can place your order and fill out your medical intake on EllieMD. If you get stuck at any point, message me and I'll help you figure out exactly which peptides fit your goals or how to proceed through the order & intake process — no need to sort through it alone. And ask me what rebates or team promotions we currently have running before you order; there's usually something active that could save you money.

— Melissa

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