What happens when you’re working harder than everyone else on your health—but your body still isn’t responding?
For Nicole Peterson Doran, that question started when she was only 16.
In this episode of Modern Thyroid & Wellness, McCall McPherson sits down with Nicole, co-founder of PUR-FORM, Humanaut Health franchisee, and host of The Healthspan Collective Podcast, for an honest conversation about PCOS, hypothyroidism, fertility, long COVID, mast cell activation symptoms, GLP-1s, peptides, gut health, EBO2, and personalized medicine.
Nicole’s story closely mirrors what many women with thyroid and hormonal dysfunction experience: symptoms appear, standard treatment addresses part of the problem, but the person still doesn’t feel well.
Nicole’s PCOS and Hypothyroidism Journey
Nicole was a healthy teenage athlete until her health changed rapidly.
Within months, she gained approximately 30 pounds, developed facial hair, experienced irregular menstrual cycles, extreme fatigue, and severe brain fog.
After seeing several specialists, her mother took her to a longtime OB-GYN who decided to look more deeply at her hormones and thyroid.
Nicole was diagnosed with PCOS at 16 and hypothyroidism a few years later. She was prescribed birth control and metformin, which helped some measurable markers and symptoms but did not restore how she felt or resolve her weight and inflammation concerns.
That experience eventually pushed her toward integrative medicine.
The Turning Point: Whole Foods and Bio-Individuality
After college, Nicole reached what she describes as a low point in her health.
She began working with a health coach who encouraged her to stop obsessing over calories and macros and instead focus on whole foods.
Nicole noticed significant changes in how inflamed she felt and also began learning about mindfulness, emotional health, and the relationship between stress and physical wellbeing.
That experience led her to study at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and introduced her to one of the concepts that still shapes her approach today: bio-individuality.
What works beautifully for one person may not work for another.
Nicole personally feels best gluten-free, while someone else may have no reason to avoid gluten. Her friend thrives with intermittent fasting, while Nicole does not.
But she believes several foundations apply broadly: whole foods, balanced blood sugar, adequate sleep, movement, and recovery.
PCOS and Preparing for Pregnancy
One of the most emotional moments of Nicole’s teenage diagnosis came when she was told that getting pregnant might be difficult.
She remembers leaving the appointment crying because she already knew she wanted to become a mother someday.
Years later, when pregnancy became a priority, she approached fertility intentionally.
Working with practitioners, Nicole focused on lowering inflammation and supporting overall health. Her personal routine included supplements such as CoQ10 and fish oil, eliminating alcohol, reducing sugar, continuing her gluten-free diet, temporarily eliminating dairy, reducing travel, and prioritizing rest.
She became pregnant after roughly three months.
Importantly, Nicole emphasizes that fertility is not completely controllable. Lifestyle and medical support may help optimize health, but every person’s fertility journey remains different.
When Long COVID Changed Everything Again
Just as Nicole felt she had reached one of the healthiest periods of her life, another health chapter began.
She contracted COVID during an extremely stressful period surrounding her wedding and the launch of her business.
Afterward, she began experiencing intense histamine-type reactions, frequent sneezing, inflammation, brain fog, irritability, weight changes, and the feeling that her immune system was constantly overreacting.
Eventually, a practitioner suggested mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) as a possible explanation for the pattern she was experiencing.
Microdosed Tirzepatide, Thymosin Alpha-1 & Larazotide
Nicole describes several therapies she personally used while working with practitioners during this period.
One was microdosed tirzepatide, which she says became particularly important for her own inflammation and metabolic health.
She also used thymosin alpha-1, which she discusses in the context of immune regulation, and larazotide, which was introduced to her as a gut-focused peptide.
Nicole describes gut health as a consistent thread throughout her various health challenges and believes addressing that piece was particularly important for her.
These therapies are discussed as part of Nicole’s individual experience and should not be interpreted as recommendations for every patient.
What Is EBO2?
McCall and Nicole also discuss EBO2, or extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation.
Nicole explains that PUR-FORM offers the treatment and trains other clinics in its use.
During the procedure, blood is removed through an IV, circulated through specialized equipment, exposed to ozone and oxygen, filtered, passed through a light-based device, and returned to the body.
Both Nicole and McCall share their personal experiences with the treatment during periods of significant health challenges.
Because research and clinical use of therapies such as EBO2 continue to evolve, listeners should discuss risks, benefits, and evidence with an appropriately qualified medical professional before considering treatment.
From Struggling Patient to Health Entrepreneur
Perhaps the most hopeful part of Nicole’s story is the contrast between where she began and where she is today.
She remembers being the teenager who could barely stay awake in class and the woman who spent years working intensely on her health without seeing the results she expected.
Today, she is running multiple businesses while preparing to become a mother.
Nicole says that experience shaped her mission: she wanted to create the kinds of resources and healthcare environments she wished had existed when she was struggling.
PUR-FORM
Nicole is a co-founder of PUR-FORM, a health optimization and regenerative medicine clinic in Boca Raton, Florida.
During the episode, she discusses offerings that include:
She also discusses PUR-FORM’s work with Dr. Joseph Purita and the clinic’s ongoing expansion into newer regenerative approaches.
Learn more:
https://purformhealth.com/
Humanaut Health
Nicole is also involved with Humanaut Health, which combines in-clinic and telehealth-based health optimization.
She describes their advanced health assessment as including tools such as:
Patients then work with a practitioner on a personalized health plan based on their goals and clinical findings.
Learn more:
https://humanauthealth.com/
The Healthspan Collective Podcast
Nicole also hosts The Healthspan Collective Podcast, where she explores health, longevity, and what it means to live well throughout every stage of life.
McCall has also appeared as a guest on Nicole’s podcast to discuss thyroid health.
Connect with Nicole Peterson Doran
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nicolejdoran/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolejpeterson/
PUR-FORM:
https://purformhealth.com/
Humanaut Health:
https://humanauthealth.com/
Final Takeaway
Nicole’s story is a reminder that health rarely follows a straight line.
PCOS led to hypothyroidism. Lifestyle changes opened the door to integrative medicine. Fertility required another level of intention. Long COVID and mast cell symptoms forced her to reevaluate her health again.
But one principle remained consistent:
There is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution.
The goal is not to copy someone else’s protocol. It is to understand your own biology, build strong health foundations, work with practitioners who listen, and find the tools that make sense for your individual situation.
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