Ten Random Thoughts on Menopause Symptoms

Ask a dozen women to share their experiences with menopause and you'll probably get a dozen different stories. Menopause symptoms---and their intensity---can vary so widely among women that you may start to wonder if your own situation is "normal."

And what is normal, anyway? Again, it's different for everybody, but here are ten symptoms that you may have experienced:

1. Is It Hot in Here? Until you have one, a hot flash is so hard to describe. Imagine you're trying to start a campfire by rubbing two sticks together. Suddenly, it catches and poof! You're on fire. Tip: If at all possible---and you're not going to like this---give up caffeine, wine and spicy foods. Just not all on the same day.
2. No Layers Left. You're tired, moody, and plan on being sound asleep in ten minutes. Yeah, right. You wake up a short time later, drenched in sweat and ripping off the blankets. And now you're wide awake. Tip: Keep a fan by the bed, open a window, and have a drink of water handy.
3. Didn't Sleep a Wink...You know this one. You can't fall asleep, you can't stay asleep or you're waking up before the rooster crows. Tip: No magic trick here. Bump up your exercise, try relaxing before bed, and create a comfortable sleeping environment. 
4. And Now I'm Paying the Price. Your sleep problems are now affecting you during the day. You're probably constantly tired, have no energy, and are very, very crabby. No big surprise. Tip: Relax, take a deep breath, and catch a quick nap.
5. Sledgehammer, Anyone? Headaches and migraines might not have been a problem before, but are now making your life miserable. Food triggers, estrogen levels, and stress play a role. Tip: Is there a correlation with what you eat or drink? If it's hormones, pain medication could be the only answer.
6. Do These Jeans Look Tight? It starts when you can't zip your pants. Then you move up a size. And all the while, you deny this is happening. You might not even be eating more than you were. Tip: Watch what you eat because every calorie counts. Also, exercise, exercise, and more exercise.
7. The Moody Blues. Happy, crying, angry, and back to happy. That's all within the last five minutes. Tip: Reduce stress, find healthy ways to relax and be patient with yourself. 
8. What Was I Saying? Oh yeah, I remember. Stress, depression, sleeplessness, and medication can be partly responsible for your memory lapses. Chalk the rest up to menopause.Tip: Write it down, leave notes for yourself, and try take it easy on yourself. Nobody's perfect.
9. Time for a New Prescription. Are you checking out the large print books at the library? Tip: Go see and eye doctor and get some reading glasses.
10. No Combovers Allowed. More hair is going down the drain than ever before. Menopause can do that. Tip: Shampoo less frequently and try gentler hair products.

So what's your story? Have any of these symptoms, or others, turned your life upside-down? And how did you manage them? Sometimes just sharing your experiences can help you, and other women, navigate the journey a little more smoothly. Join our private menopause forum and tell us what symptoms have impacted you the most. Or, if you're already a member, check out the Message Board and share your thoughts.

Remember, this is only a stage in your life. It, too, shall pass and you'll be stronger and healthier if you learn to take care of yourself.

Take a Snow Day

Ever thought about taking a personal "snow day"? Once in a while, we all need to force ourselves to take a day of self-preservation. Call in to work, drop the kids off at school, cancel an appointment and hibernate for the next eight hours. And it actually might be snowing where you live.

So what happens next? You tell me. This might be a great opportunity to shake off the cobwebs of menopause---the moodiness, short temper, and "leave-me-alone" feelings.

Are you cranky and tired? Some solitude might be the answer. Make a cup of tea, grab a good book and enjoy. Or you can watch that chick flick that nobody in the house wants to watch with you. Too bad for them. They don't know what they're missing.

Do you have a partner in crime? A girlfriend whose arm you don't really have to twist for lunch and a manicure? How many of life's problems can you both solve over a salad and glass of wine?

Maybe your home needs a little TLC. Get rid of that stack of mail, clean out your closet, or tackle that pile of laundry. It doesn't sound like fun, but it feels good when everything's in order.

You get the point. Sometimes in order to feel like yourself, you need to block out everything else, if only for a day.

By the way, I wonder if throwing yourself into a pile of snow can relieve hot flashes. Hmmm....

National Wear Red Day: Friday February 5

Why are women everywhere wearing red tomorrow? It's National Wear Red Day, a campaign to raise awareness of heart disease, the leading killer of women today.

Unfortunately, heart disease tends be more commonly linked to men than women. Women are often misdiagnosed and their symptoms not taken seriously. That's why the American Heart Association would like women everywhere to join this very worthy cause. Wear red, stay healthy, and protect yourself from heart disease.

The video below features two women---both of whom have suffered heart attacks---discussing how they, too, were misdiagnosed. Their symptoms differed from those of most men. But as we approach menopause and our estrogen levels decline, the need to take better care of ourselves is greater than ever.

Menopause? There's an App for That.

Are you an app junkie like millions of iPhone users? You probably already know then that there is an application for nearly everything under the sun. You can use apps to make grocery lists, get recipes, play games, check the weather or watch YouTube.

How about an app that allows you to track your menopause symptoms, determine treatments, journal and even email your doctor? myPause, now available from AppSolutions, can do all that and more.

Having tinkered with myPause for the past few weeks, I found three features particularly useful:

• Journal. Record your symptoms from a list of about thirty, rating their severity and how often they occurred.
• Trends. Shows when and how often your symptoms took place. This is helpful since you're able to see if, and how, your symptoms are related to your diet and lifestyle.
• Plan. Allows you to track your activities, diet, vitamin and supplement use, and medications.

My only challenge was navigating between the many features. Some were intuitive. Others weren't. Still, a worthy app to add to your iPhone and a bargain at $4.99.

Check out the video and share your thoughts. Can technology possibly make your journey a little easier?

Saturday is Yoga Day

Saturday, January 23 is Yoga Day USA. If you have an inkling to try yoga, Saturday could be your lucky day. Yoga studios across the country are offering free classes and events to promote the health benefits of yoga. The above link will take you to the website, where you can find a class near you.

And if you haven't considered yoga---or aren't sure that it's right for you---keep an open mind. Aside from being a great way to relax, yoga has been found to help relieve many symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, migraines and anxiety.

Check out our other website, Yoga for Menopause, to find out more.

Pleasant Daydreams

Can you remember the last time you caught yourself daydreaming? Staring at a pretty dress in a store window, watching a cardinal against a snowy backdrop, or the bottom of your coffee cup. It doesn't really matter. It's just a moment of complete abandon. Time stands still and you're wrapped up in your thoughts.

There are probably some who would argue that daydreaming is a complete waste of time. I disagree. These moments can be your most imaginative and creative. Or therapeutic and healing.

Let the hustle and bustle of the holiday season go. Find some peace and solitude during the coming winter months and replenish your dwindling reserves. Stare out that open window, let your thoughts run wild and find an outlet for your creativity.

Be a daydream believer.

Celebrate the New Year

Starting to feel the New Year's Inquisition yet? You know, the time when everyone keeps asking for your resolution. Makes you feel like last year was a complete mess. Are you going to spend less, save more, go green, lose weight, yadda, yadda, yadda?

New Year's resolutions always seem to expose those things we can do better. Sure, there are probably areas in our lives we can improve upon. But why not resolve to enjoy the simple pleasures we may have been missing?

Ten things you might consider:

1. Free time. A block of time all to ourselves. Nothing scheduled. Nothing planned.
2. Music. Concerts. Choirs. Street performers.
3. Nature. Stop and smell the roses. Long walks, fresh air, and green grass.
   
4. Museums. Almost every town has one. Ever been to yours?
5. Books. Step outside your favorite genre. Try a biography, mystery or maybe historical fiction.
6. Space. Accumulate less stuff to make more room in our lives for non-material things.
7. New foods. Prepare at home or go to a new restaurant instead of the old stand-by.
8. Friends. Don't underestimate the power of friendship and the importance of having them in your life.
9. Companionship. Add a pet. A goldfish is fine. There is something about having a pet around that brings comfort.
10. Finally, adventure. Life should be one. Seek it out.