I Didn’t Pause for Menopause

When blogger Ruth Crates told me that she flew through menopause, I asked her to write us a post to present that side of  the story.  Take it away, Ruth!

Menopause?

I think I was so busy I missed it.

Since I am now 62, and I haven’t had a period in a while, I am pretty sure it happened.

Let’s back up just a little bit…

When I reached the age where periods were probable, my mom sat down with me (briefly) and we had a talk.

What I remember most about the talk was the fact that my grandmother never told my mother about the entire process.  Some subjects were just taboo in the 1930’s; this was one of them.  When her first period came, she seriously thought she was going to die and was afraid to tell anyone.   Luckily, her older sister intervened.

Even though Mom didn’t really give me a lot of information during the talk, she at least wanted to spare me the fear of the unknown.

She  gave me a little book created by Kotex  called “Now You Are 10″.  It explained everything very nicely and even had a diagram explaining how to use the little belts we had to wear to hold the sanitary napkins in place.   I never did get the hang of that!

Girls are always at some hormonal point in their lives.  I figure we get 10 years of no worries.

Then you have:  Premenstrual, Menstrual, Postmenstrual,  Pregnancy, Post pregnancy, Perimenopause. Menopause, and Post Menopause.  It’s the never-ending story!

I have gone through all those stages (some of them several times).

Unfortunately, now I have reached the stage which I have taken the liberty of calling “Oldness.”

I may be done with all of the above afflictions, but now there are new things  like memory-loss, confusion, arthritis, joint-replacement, and the ever popular incontinence.

As for the menopause thing, I had a pretty easy time of it.

My periods were never  regular except for a brief time in the 70′s when I was on “The Pill”.  So I can easily dismiss that symptom.

I don’t recall a single hot flash.

I did have night sweats for a long time…. maybe even as long as 10 years, but I blamed it on my mattress.

Since my periods were irregular, they were sometimes “super-heavy” and unpredictable.  I bought a rubberized bed cover to protect the mattress.  I always thought that the rubber discouraged air flow and  resulted in the sweats.  Maybe it was actually … menopause!

This I am sure of:  paranoia is a direct result of menopause.

When I turned 57, I had not had a period in several months and I began to have thoughts about being pregnant. It could happen.  These thoughts took on a life of their own and I began to obsess about it.

I had several mini-panic  attacks thinking I was pregnant.

I actually went to the doctor and had a pregnancy test done.   My doctor, thank goodness, is a woman, so I think she sensed how disturbed my thoughts were and wanted to put these fears to rest.

Of course, the results were negative, and I was quite relieved. I guess the funniest part about this obsession is that my husband had  a vasectomy 20 years earlier…. I mean, really, what were the odds!

I have always thought that obsessive and unrealistic thoughts were a side effect of menopause, at least in my case, because usually I am pretty sane.

Every woman’s menopause is different.

We should be careful not to compare our experience with others too closely. Experiencing an uneventful menopause is definitely preferable to having a difficult one.

Taking your menopausal symptoms seriously is sound procedure.

Visiting your doctor on a regular basis is just good sense.  The better your doctor knows you, the better chance you both have of being able to figure out what is going on with your body.  That is something we all need to be aware of no matter what time of life we are in.

Regardless of how you deal with the stages of your life… they are your Life.

Enjoy the changes and embrace each stage because there is always another one on the way!

Ruth Crates was born and raised on a Midwest grain and livestock farm and has  lived her entire life within a 30 mile radius.  She’s  been married to a grain and livestock farmer for 41 years, and they have three children (An attorney, a carpenter, and a librarian) and three grandchildren. Ruth taught for 35 years. She’s now retired and loving it! She started blogging to record stories for her children and grandchildren. Check out her  blog at Retiredruth: Life in the 50′s and Beyond.

Guest Post: A Cool-jams Giveaway!

A guest post from Cool-jams creator Anita Mahaffey:

My night sweats first arrived with an undiagnosed thyroid condition in my late 40’s.

Then, when menopause hit 10 years later and I was out of control. I was desperate to find a solution for these pesky night sweats that were keeping me awake at night. I would toss and turn steaming hot one minute and then 20 minutes later feeling cold, clammy and drenched with sweat in my cotton nightgown.

Luckily I was working in the apparel industry and had ready access to 100’s of different fabrics and testing labs. After much trial and error, I finally discovered our Cool-jams moisture wicking smart fabric.

When we got the first test results which showed superior absorbency and an incredibly fast dry time, I made myself a pair of pajamas using this new fabric.  After one night of cool, dry, comfortable sleep, I knew I had a winner!

This was the start of Cool-jams. The fabric felt like super soft cotton, but was so much more effective at managing night sweats than any other fabric we had tested.

This innovative new micro fiber fabric absorbs moisture faster than cotton, poly or other microfiber fabrics.

Additionally the second part of the equation was quick drying. Cotton does a fairly decent job at absorbing, but does not dry quickly. The beauty of our Cool-jams fabric is that it does both.

Not only does it absorb moisture rapidly, it also draws the moisture away from the body to the outside of the fabric and dries rapidly. In fact it dries 3-4 times faster than any fabric tested.

You guessed it…we now have the world’s most innovative and effective night sweat pajama. The pajamas actually help to regulate the body temperature so you never are too hot or too cold, always just right. As an added bonus our sleepwear fabric contains a natural antibacterial treatment so the garments always stay fresh and odor free.

Seven years later, Cool-jams is featured in national women’s magazines, on TV shows like “The Doctors,” and is top-rated with thousands of glowing reviews. Since 2007 we have grown our line to include bedding, travel sleepwear and wicking panties which we supply to thousands of customers around the world.

A customer recently asked if fairies weave magic into our Cool-jams fabric because it works so well! I had to laugh because there is no magic at all, just solid research, technical know-how and craftsmanship

In an effort to give back, Cool-jams donates a percentage of its profits to women and child centered charities. Our customers feel good about their purchases because they know that a part of every purchase goes back to help others in need.

Giveaway:  Simply post a comment on Friend for the Ride saying you’d like to win. Winner will get to select a nightgown or pajamas from cool-jams.com . Contest ends on January 16.

If you  would like a second chance to win a free pj, robe or nightgown, please feel free to enter the Cool-jams weekly giveaway located at the bottom of the Cool-jams.com homepage . 

Special Promo: Even if you don’t win this contest, we would like to offer you a special promo code for 15% off any of our nightgowns or pajamas. Use promo code CoolFriend at checkout to receive the discount.

Visit www.cool-jams.com to see its full line of quality guaranteed moisture-wicking sleepwear and cooling bedding, from cami-strap nightgowns, to boxer pajama sets, bathrobes, pillows, cooling sheets and more.

Anita Mahaffey, Cool-jams founder, is a 54- year- old mother, wife, and business owner. She started her career in corporate marketing, but after the birth of her second child she began her first stint as a business owner. Cool-jams, her most recent business, is an online sleepwear company specializing in sleepwear and bedding to help combat night sweats and temperature regulation issues. Cool-jams was founded in 2007 and now ships its products to over 150 countries around the world.

In her spare time, Anita loves to hike, ski, practice yoga and pilates and enjoys volunteer work with a variety of organizations. She also researches and writes health related articles and enjoys motivational speaking.

Hot Flashes! Some Tips

 Some hot flash tips sent to you from health writer Arianna Solimene:

With the decline of estrogen levels in the body and the onset of menopause, the always-dreaded hot flash effects women of all ages. While hot flashes aren’t completely preventable, there are some steps you can take to manage the overwhelming symptoms.

Step 1

The first step to preventing hot flashes is avoiding tobacco and heavy alcohol consumption. While not a direct cause, both are known to trigger hot flashes in women. Other things to avoid include stress, caffeine, spicy foods, and heat. Because triggers for hot flashes are different for every woman, it’s important to observe and recognize what brings on hot flashes for you.

Step 2

The next step is easier said than done. Relax. More times than not, anxiety and stress can worsen hot flashes. It is important to focus on breathing or meditation to practice relaxation techniques.

More tips for preventing hot flashes

Other ways to prevent hot flashes include exercise, eating well and staying cool. Often, sudden changes in body temperature can trigger a hot flash. Common techniques for staying cool are wearing layers so that you can peel them off, freezing wash clothes so you can place them around your neck, or sleeping in a cool environment at night.

While hot flashes are a normal symptom of menopause and are not a medical problem, some women find them so uncomfortable that they choose to seek medical treatment. This often includes hormone treatments, medications, acupuncture and more.

Although the annoyance of hot flashes is not completely preventable, it’s important to take these steps to manage the symptoms. By living a stress free and healthy lifestyle, you will able to manage & hopefully avoid regular hot flashes.

Arianna Solimene is a staff writer for NorthShore, an integrated health system with dedicated medical offices and hospitals in Chicago. The core mission of NorthShore University HealthSystem is to preserve and improve human life. Visit NorthShore today for personalized wellness services today.

Top Photo: Thanks to the kind shopkeeper at the North Carolina State Fair who let me flash a picture of her hot flash magnet!

Photo Below:  Here’s writer Arianna, with miles to go before the Great Pause!

 

Guest Post: Menopause–I Chose the Meds

A guest post by physician Judy Washington:

Menopause was not easy for me. I need to be high functioning at all times as a very busy Family Physician.  I have spent years counseling women about menopause and how to manage it.

Funny thing happened on the way to turning 50.  I experienced menopause. It was a totally mind altering and mind-numbing experience.  I admire those women who can tough it out.  I am not one of them.

The first time I went to a lecture on Bioidentical Hormone Therapy I was 40.  The co-presenter was a beautiful female Family Physician.  She talked about having fatigue, difficulty sleeping and concentrating and feeling like she had a serious illness but all the usual tests were normal.

She started Bioidentical Hormone therapy by consulting with a compounding pharmacy.  Her presentation was about using saliva testing to measure hormone levels.  I jumped right in consulting and started writing prescriptions for patients.  I have never gotten so many grateful hugs.

Then the research brought some doubts about the safety and risks.  After that, I spent time examining the evidence regarding benefits, risks and quality of life.

I was secretly hoping it would never happen to me.  I changed my diet, increased my running, and  started yoga and pilates.  Caving in to overwhelming gastrointestinal distress, I stopped the soy and the other natural stuff because of an allergy to some of the plants and tree nuts.

The symptoms hit and I was knocked off my feet. No really, I had one hot flash that was so bad I almost fainted.

That was while working with a resident.  She said and I quote, “Dr. Washington, are you having a hot flash? My mother gets those.”

Actually, I was held hostage by fatigue, hot flashes, and body aches.  All my blood work was normal.  I had to see patients, teach residents and medical students, perform surgical procedures, prepare lectures and attend meetings.

Well, it is hard when you are burning up one minute, cold the next and you can’t sleep.

My husband was a good sport and very empathetic. Fortunately for me, my best friend is an OB/GYN and a menopause specialist.  Her words of wisdom were, “Do what you think is best, but I am taking the hormones and I have no regrets”.

Well, I started the hormones and haven’t had a moment of regret.   Sorry naturalists.  I chose the drugs. Yes, compounded progesterone in olive oil and estradiol.

This choice is not right for every woman.  It was for me.

I will be 5 years into my decision May 2013.

At that time, I will start to taper my medication dose as recommended by the medical literature.

We will just have to wait and see.  My friend actually is a few years older than me and after a 5 year hiatus is delivering babies again and having a great time.

Judy Washington, MD FAAFP, is a board-certified Family Physician.  She has spent her medical career first in private practice and later in medical education. She is now working as a college health physician.