Moments from Menopause

Any idea what today's talk is about? You get 10 points if you figured out it is.... Incontinence. Bladder leakage, or in med-speak, Urinary Incontinence,  is a little discussed side effect of menopause, but a common one many women experience. When estrogen levels decrease,  your pelvic floor muscles begin to weaken and atrophy. Remember what happens to a muscle when it atrophies: it basically dies, or stops functioning in a normal way. These pelvic floor  muscles control the act of conscious urination, conscious defecation and help support the musculature around your female sex organs. Notice I described these acts as conscious. That means that you are aware you have to go to the bathroom from the signals your body is sending to your brain allowing you to realize it's time to...well... go. None of use really remembers our toilet training days, but this is how we evolved out of the diaper stage. We recognized the signals our body was sending us when we had to go,  ...

SO if you've been doing strength training to keep those bones and joints healthy and strong, good for you. Your spine, hips, feet and legs will thank you for the rest of your life. But you're not done. Strength is one thing. Endurance and strength are another matter. Your heart is a muscle. You know that. And, like any muscle, if you don't keep it in condition, it will atrophy and begin to whither and die. Remember that cliched expression "If you don't use it, you loose it?" True for your little heart, too. In order to keep heart disease at bay, and keep on with a productive, heart healthy lifestyle post-menopause, you need to keep that muscle conditioned, toned, and in optimal working order. AEROBIC exercise was the king of the hill in the 1980's. Every one who was anyone had an exercise  program devoted to a good, sweaty cardio workout. From Jane Fonda, to Richard Simmon's Sweating to the Oldies. Why were these so popular ( and lucrative)? Becau...

To many women, the thought of putting time aside during the day to exercise , in addition to everything else they need to do in twenty-four hours, is just not something they want to devote precious time to. Unfortunately, with the onset of menopause, exercise may play a key role in a woman’s mental and physical health and happiness. And it just may help her get through this transition time with a lot less stress and aggravation. There is an overabundance of research for reasons why women should exercise in general, much less when they are going through menopause. This time of a woman’s life, though, highlights areas of concerns that aren’t seen much in the earlier years. OSTEOPORSIS is med-speak for the thinning of bones in your body. Bones naturally weaken as we age, but women tend to lose more bone mass and density then men because of menopausal changes in the body’s chemistry, and therefore the strength of their bones is at risk. This can lead to easy fractures.   Calci...

So, you know that the hot flashes seem to come faster and last longer during the night. Why this happens, I really don't know, but it does happen to me. My husband and I have frequent " discussions" about how to compromise on my "we need the air conditioner in the winter turned on" and his "where are the flannel sheets?" talks. So, one of my girls, Jenny R., came up with what I think is an ingenious and MARKAT-ABLE plan. She suggests talking a flannel bottom sheet and a regular cotton, or polyester sheet, cutting them in half lengthwise and sewing them together. Do the same with the top sheet. This way, HIS side has the warm sheets and YOURS has the "Cool" sheets. Instant harmony in the bedroom! If you steal this idea...GOOD FOR YOU! Hope it helps.

You probably thought I was going to say "right before my eyes." Wrong.   What I meant to say was "my life is flashing CONTINUALLY!" Here's a little except from a conversation I had with my hubby the other night as we turned the lights off and headed to dreamland: Hub: When are you going to put the flannel sheets on the bed? It's getting colder at night. ME : I'm not going to. These sheets are fine. Hub : But I'm cold and the comforter doesn't cut it. ME: I'm hot. I'm flashing all night long and flannel sheets will send me into dehydration mode from excessive sweating. I'll need an IV to replenish the loss. Hub: Can't we compromise? ME: Sure. I'll put the flannel sheets on the bed if you agree to keep the air conditioner on all winter long. Hub: "Sigh." Good night. I thought that was a good compromise. The Hub, not so much.

Vaginal Dryness during peri- and post menopause affects a great majority of women. It can make sex uncomfortable, leading to abstinence, make sitting for long periods painful, and can cause burning and discomfort with urination that lead to excoriation and soreness of the vagina. Vaginal dryness is a symptom of the unbalanced hormones of estrogen, progesterone, and yes, even testosterone, which all go flooey during menopause. Low estrogen and high progesterone cause thinning and dryness of the vaginal walls and a concomitant decrease in natural internal moisture production. This dryness leads to a myriad of complaints from painful intercourse, to red, sore vuvla, and an increase in the potential for yeast and urinary infections. But it doesn't have to be this way. If hormone replacement therapy isn't for you, there are other ways to combat this problem. Why do you think KYJelly was invented? KY is a water soluble lubricant, as is Astroglide. When used during sexual inter...

                         I just had to put this up.                        Last week I was lucky enough to see MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL                        in my town. It was the best 50 bucks I've spent in  years! The theater was                      packed to the rafters with laughing, crying and dancing women of all ages.                     I saw mothers with their grown daughters, grandmothers, aunts, and friends.                    And I saw a surprising number of men of attendance. I went with one of my                best-ies and she and I roared! The music was fabulous - all Motown...