Guest Post: Transparency at Midlife– Let’s Have the 2nd Talk About Menopause

A guest post by Poise Menopause Blogger Lori Jo Vest:

Once you start talking about menopause, you find out all kinds of interesting things that no one told you before.

A few years back, one of my close girlfriends shared how surprised she was that the beginning of perimenopause for her meant MORE flow and MORE periods, not less, as she would have expected.

Another friend shared that she had hot flashes whenever she got anxious and they caused her face and ears to turn bright red. It usually happened in work situations and it was completely uncontrollable.

A third friend suffered from constant headaches, causing her to miss work and her favorite activities for weeks at a time.

And yet another shared that whenever she laughed or sneezed, her bladder leaked.

Personally, I tell everyone “I’m so transparent you can see right through me.”

I tell people all kinds of details that others might keep to themselves. Most thoughts go straight from my brain to my mouth – no pauses and no filters. (Fortunately, my husband appreciates it and says it makes him happy that he never has to wonder what I’m thinking.)

That may be one of the reasons I feel so fortunate to be blogging for the new Poise website and the 2nd Talk campaign. (First, we talked about puberty. Now it’s time to talk about menopause. Hence, the “2nd Talk”.)

The 2nd Talk was initiated to start an open dialogue about a topic that has been off-limits to generations of women before us. We worry that there’s something wrong with us. We worry what men will think. We don’t want people to see us as “old” so we don’t talk about the crazy new things that are happening with our bodies.

However, the more we talk about it, the more comfortable we’ll get taking care of ourselves during this next stage of life. And to help us with that self-care, Poise has developed a new line of products designed for use during menopause.

There’s a feminine wash, panty fresheners, a roll-on cooling gel, cooling towelettes and a personal lubricant – all designed to help us fabulous menopausal women feel more confident and in control.

Learn more about the 2nd Talk and the new Poise products at www.The2ndTalk.com. (Check it out here.) You can watch videos and read stories from real women sharing their experiences. We’ve brought together a select group of experts in nutrition, aging, intimacy, fitness and menopause to provide valuable articles and answer your questions. And we’ve got two bloggers – Marilyn Suttle and me – to keep the dialog flowing.

Let’s change the conversation about menopause. The more we talk, the more we’ll know. And the more we know, the more we can share with other women who are following in our footsteps.

Lori Jo Vest lives a crazy full life, like most 40+ women. A customer service and sales expert, social media fanatic, best-selling author, overachieving wife and mom to a teenager, Lori gets energy from her close relationships with her numerous girlfriends.

Those friends have become somewhat of an informal research group for changes women in their 40s through 60s experience – like hot flashes and erratic periods – that Lori found herself going through as she hit her late 40s. She’s always enjoyed sharing what she’s learned in the business realm. Now she’s discovered how her experiences can help women who are also in this transitional phase.

Me:  I met Lori Jo Vest at the Bloomer Party at BlogHer.  She’s very real and lots of fun. I’m glad she’ll be blogging for Poise and glad to introduce her to all of you.

Poise is offering us a way COOL giveaway. Watch for it in a week or so!

Final BlogHer ’12 Report: Starstruck!

For me, BlogHer ’12 went out with a BOOM, and I was even able to give my regards to Broadway.

Daughter Laura admonished me that I needed cuter flats. I found this pair a few weeks ago at Nordstroms Rack.  I had them on and was doing conference things, when a woman said, “I love your shoes.”  As a not-great-shoe person, I felt triumphant. My shoes were stars for one sparkling moment.

I marched in said shoes fifteen happy blocks to the B(L)oomers Party, sponsored by BoomBox Network, with help from The Succulent Wife.

BoomBox connects brands with boomer bloggers and influencers. 

The Succulent Wife’s credo is: “For us, succulence is about truly tasting and experiencing life.”  Since I just went to my high school reunion, I especially love Senior Editor Audrey van Petegem’s take on her high school reunion.

Off Site New York, a newly renovated space, was the cool venue for the party. Love when old spaces get fresh lives.

BoomBox displayed quotes on aging. Since I’m a Madeleine L’engle fan, my favorite was this one:

A screen flashed images celebrating the theme of Beauty & Widsom by photographer Robbie Kaye.

Beauty product demonstrations took place in the loft.  Some of you may remember the Epilady of our youth. Ouch! This is the improved, gentler version.

Loved my festive favor bag!  I even found a button for my collection, created by  Not Done Yet, “a hip, new lifestyle brand dedicated to inspiring people to feel ageless at any age!”

The BlogHer conference is teeming with smart, energetic, innovative young women. If one is age conscious (which I admit I am, some) the atmosphere can be somewhat intimidating.

Joy! I walked into the BoomBox party to a room of smart, energetic, innovative women closer to my age.

When I announce I’m a menopause blogger, I almost always get a smile or an, “Ah yes. Menopause.”  I invited the women I met at the party to write guests posts for Friend for the Ride. Crossing my fingers they will.

And speaking of youth, Laura from Storymix Media did video interviews with the guests.  After she interviewed me, we chatted  about Storymix Media.

When Laura discovered  I’m mom to Kath of Katheats she tweeted that this was her most starstruck moment at BlogHer.  She’s been following Kath for years. Ah thanks, Laura. I’m starstruck by Kath too, but after all, I’m her mother.

My glittery shoes took me home by way of the starry lights of Broadway. What a New York night!

Thanks too  Chris Bradshaw of BoomBox  and Audrey Petegem and everyone else for the lovely party.

And thanks again to Estroven and the Good Sleep Challenge for sending me to NYC.

BlogHer Encore: It’s Mostly a Girl Thing!

My favorite part of BlogHer is the exhibits. Companies show off their stuff, especially what’s new and groovy. Since most of the attendees are women, there’s a focus on all things womansy, from nail care  and makeup to high tech to baby stuff to nutrition and health to fashion to household products.

I was pleased to pick up a novel by Marybeth Whalen in the Zondervan booth. The book’s cover tells me the story begins with a guest book in a Carolina beach house. I love to study the guest books left in beach and mountain rentals and country inns. Should be a fun read!

I’m a button collector, so I was pleased to find some new gems for my button box:

Now that I’m going to be a grandma, baby stuff has popped back into my world.  Hooray!

I picked up this all natural teething gel in case Baby Yet To Know His Name Younger-Monson needs it in about six months. (Is that when they get teeth? Funny what you forget.)

And maybe in a year or so, I can bring him presents in this shiny orange Lorax bag.

But what really caught my eye was this display:

Hologic, a woman’s health company, offers NovaSure Endometrial Ablation (EA).  This procedure is designed for women who suffer from “heavy periods due to benign causes who are finished childbearing.”

This condition plagues many perimenopausal women and can keep a girl housebound. I spoke with the representative about a guest post for Friend for the Ride that explains the procedure. One promised!

Hologic also offers 3D mammography, and I hope to have them do a post on this new type of mammogram, too.

And I sure do like the t-shirt they gave me. That’s about the color I’d like my mother of the bride dress to be. I wonder what Laura would do if I wore it to the wedding? Maybe I could have a skirt stitched on. After all, weddings are a really girl thing!

I’m back to the conference hotel for a comedy show put on by Poise. They’re introducing a line of menopause products. (That guest post and giveway are already in the works.)

I’ll let you know just how funny menopause sounds at the Hilton in the Big Apple tonight. After the show, I’m headed back down to Time Square to marvel at the people and the lights.

Thanks again to Estroven for sending me and to all of you for your good wishes!

A Menopause Blogger Goes to BlogHer12

Thanks to my brilliant agent Erzsi Deak of Hen and Ink Literary Studio, who told me if I wanted to write a book about menopause, I needed an online presence.

Thanks to my blogging daughters Kath and Laura, who have provided hours of techno support.

Thanks to Estroven and the Good Sleep Challenge for sending me to BlogHer12.

Love New York!  On my first walk, I found this lovely lady. I think she’s going through menopause, and she’s smart enough to take her head off until she’s finished.

Next, I found this fun shop. I debated, but then decided carpe diem, seize yourself some mini pies!

The pies weren’t as delicious as the shop was darling, but it sure was fun picking them out.

Next, I debated getting Cliff a NYC tie, but he doesn’t always like me to pick out his clothes.  Still, I thought one might be nice for Laura’s upcoming wedding:

I was delighted that Lisa Winkler was in NYC with family. She was kind enough to come to the hotel to meet me. Blog friends already. Instant in-person friends:

Lisa and I had fancy drinks. Yum!

I said goodbye to Lisa and headed over to the conference expo hall. I met Valerie at the Land O’Lakes booth. She reads Kath and Laura’s blog AND her mom reads mine!  Valerie’s mom, you’ve raised a lovely daughter.

Headed back out to the Hilton, the conference hotel, to check out the parties. (We’re all staying at the Shertaon.)  We menopausal types need to show the younger bloggers that we know how to party.