Category Archives: menopause

Enter To Win Special Promos For Boomer Girls

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Here are some fun promotions for boomer girls (boomer guys and boomlets are eligible too) to enjoy from chocolate treats to ways to enhance your sleep  during a night of hot flashes:

Chocolate Treats For My Fellow Boomer Girls: Just say “chocolate” and “shopping” in the same sentence and you have my attention. So when Chuao  told me that they are giving America a chocolate makeover with their handcrafted, all-natural gourmet goodies, now available in select Target stores and specialty retailers nationwide – I had to share the news. To celebrate, Chuao is launching a Sweet Makeover sweepstakes and offering my blog readers the chance to win a $1,000 designer shopping spree on Shopbop.com

To enter, simply like Chuao’s Facebook page where you can then enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win the $1,000 designer shopping spree. While there also check out these fabulous prizes Chuao is giving away each week:

- A one-year subscription to Birchbox ($120 value) (Birchbox provides makeup samples.)

- Philosophy Miracle Worker Collection ($190 value) (I love Philosophy products.)

- A Broscato Vibrastrait flat iron ($150 value)

- Clarisonic Mia2 Skin Cleansing System ($150 value) (I’ve been using my Clarisonic Mia that the nice PR lady sent to me and really like the way it cleanses my skin. Hope it helps wash my wrinkles away.)

- Gourmet Chuao chocolate ($180 value)

Chuao will be sending some chocolates for me to sample and I’ll be sharing them with you. If you like Judi Boomer Girl on Facebook or follow judiboomergirl on Twitter or leave a comment on my blog by November 15, you might just win some chocolates. I’ll be randomly selecting one lucky winner!

Sleep LIke A Pro: The makers of SHEEX, a new line of performance sheets for unrivaled sleep, sent some samples of their new pillowcases for me to try. SHEEX bedding is made with performance fabrics that are similar to athletic wear, enabling better temperature control, moisture transport, breathability and superior feel. While I didn’t have any hot flashes the week I slept on my SHEEX, I found the cases to be very soft. I also let my boyfriend L try a pillowcase too…I’m such a nice girlfriend!

And now I want to share SHEEX with my blog readers. To enter the raffle to win a set of SHEEX click here. The winner will be randomly selected in December. Deadline to enter is two weeks from this post, so hurry and sign up. Tell your family and friends too – the more the merrier.

During my life after 50, I’m always interested in learning about ways to improve my sleep. To find out more about sleep health and fitness, visit www.sleepfoundation.org.

Hope everyone on the east coast survived Hurricane Sandy and are safe and warm. I had minimal damage to my “condo on the corner” at the Jersey shore. I was very lucky. To donate to those in need go to www.redcross.org.

Judi

Key Notes from BlogHer ’12 Key Noters Martha and Katie

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Fellow boomer bloggers commented on the fact that the two keynote addresses at the BlogHer ’12 Conference were both 50 plus. Over lunch on Friday, we had the opportunity to hear from Martha Stewart and on Saturday, Katie Couric spoke to the crowd. Both shared news about their new television shows which are starting soon.

Martha, Martha, Martha 

“Bloggers should be passionate,” said Martha, who was celebrating her 71st birthday on Friday. “You should be good communicators and the better you are the more people will want to read your blog.” (I hope so Martha. I am very passionate about sharing my journey with other boomer girls and learning from my virtual community. Plus, it is so great when I can actually connect in person with some of my readers like blogger Ashleigh Burroughs from Tucson, pictured here. I turned around after the luncheon and she was standing right behind me. I hugged her when I saw her, it was like we were old friends. Ashleigh was shot alongside Representative Gabrielle Gifford last January. She is an amazingly strong woman.)

“If you were to mentor your younger self, what would you say?” asked BlogHer Co-founder Elisa Camahort Page during her interview with Martha. “Encouragement is important,” Martha answered. “I would encourage the young people to follow their talent and abilities.” Martha encouraged us as a blogger community to encourage ourselves as well.

Relating To Katie

I’ve always been a big fan of Katie Couric, so I was especially excited to hear that she was going to be a keynote at BlogHer ’12.  Widowed at a young age (like me) and being a boomer girl in her mid-fifties (like me), I can so relate to her perspectives on life.

Katie admitted to being in the middle of menopause. “I’m up at 3:30 a.m. every morning and my eyes are so dry.” (I wanted to tell Katie to call me when she is up during the wee hours because I’m usually wide awake too. And, like Katie, I have to put drops in my eyes three times a day to keep them moist.)

“People are interested in your guns,” BlogHer Co-founder Lisa Stone said to Katie during the interview. (Time out: I wasn’t sure what Lisa was talking about when she asked Katie about her guns. “I can’t believe you don’t know what guns are mom,” said both my daughter A and son D when I told them about Katie’s guns. It’s arm muscles, mom. It’s muscles.) Katie was wearing a sleeveless dress and she definitely has Michelle Obama arms, as my yoga teacher N likes to remind us of when we are practicing our plank asanas in yoga class each week.

How exactly does Katie keep up her ‘guns’ and her leg muscles during her life after 50? “I started spinning. It is an efficient workout in 45 minutes and they also do arm exercises,” she said. (Okay, okay, if I can get ‘guns’ like Katie, I may have to find 45 minutes in my busy schedule to start spinning at my gym.)

Katie had positive words to say about being fifty-something. “Baby boomer women are a very huge and powerful group,” said Katie. “You have to be as vibrant and energetic as ever. If you feel marginalized, then you will be perceived as marginal. You have to be strong.” Katie said that she feels she is a better journalist today than she was before because she is smarter from having had more life experiences. (I agree Katie.  I am definitely a stronger person today than I was in my 20s, 30s and 40s. All those life experiences do add up.)

Katie’s husband died of colon cancer when he was only 41 years old. Lisa asked Katie how she balances everything and motherhood. “Brian Williams never gets asked about ‘how do you do it all?’” said Katie. “My kids are 21 and 16. They are my best accomplishments.” (I definitely can identify with Katie on this topic. My husband died at 56 and I am sad that he did not have a chance to see our children grow into the fabulous young adults they are today. When I think about my greatest accomplishments, my daughter A and my son D are are definitely at the top of my list. Yes they are.)

The Katie Show starts in September on ABC. Katie said that she is going to have two seats for bloggers in her audience for every show. Will one of those bloggers be me one day? Oh, Katie, Katie, Katie, this boomer girl is  one of your biggest fans. Please save a seat for me. Hope to see you soon.

Judi

To all my boomer girl blog readers who participated in the July promotion and signed up to receive my blog via email, left a comment, liked me on Facebook or Twitter – thank you all. But there can only be one winner of the random raffle of “I Remember Nothing and Other Reflections” in remembrance of the late Nora Ephron. Drum roll please…ta da, ta da, the book goes to blogger Lori from My Evident Faith. Congrats!  

Coming soon, I’ll share some news about new products that I learned about at BlogHer ’12. In August, I’ll raffle off some of the swag I received. So sign up for my email, leave a comment, like Judi Boomer Girl on Facebook or follow judiboomergirl on Twitter this month, and you may just win some swag.

How To Get More Beauty Sleep

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After nights of not sleeping, I finally took myself to the sleep doctor this morning.  I had made an appointment more than a month ago.  Dr. A’s schedule was booked, booked, booked.  So many people have sleep issues these days.

My appointment was very prompt.  No long wait in the waiting room. (Guess they don’t want insomniacs to fall asleep while they wait.)

I filled out a simple sleep survey.  I answered “rarely” to most of the questions.  For example, I “rarely” fall asleep when I watch television. (My son D disagreed when I told him about my answer. “Mom, give me a break, you frequently fall asleep when you’re watching television,” said D. “I always have to wake you up when your show comes back on after a commercial.”) I “rarely” fall asleep when I lie down to take an afternoon nap. (My boyfriend L, on the other hand, frequently falls asleep when he takes weekend naps.)

After my survey, it was time to meet Dr. A.  He was very alert, likely he had had a good night’s sleep.  I bet he knows all the tricks, I thought.  I was eager to have him share his sleep secrets with me.

“When did you start having sleep problems?” asked Dr. A.

“Peri and meno, peri and meno,” that’s all I had to say plus, “shortly before my fiftieth birthday and ever after.  ”I used to be a great sleeper when I was in my twenties.  I would put my head on the pillow and kaboom, I was out for the count. Not now.  Not during my life after 50. No, no, no.”

Dr. A asked a few more questions.  He wanted to know if I was depressed. “No.” He wanted to know if I had restless legs. “No.” He wanted to know if I had any extreme pain in my back or neck or other parts of my body. “No.” He wanted to know if I stopped breathing during sleep. “No sleep apnea.”

Then Dr. A said the magic words, “It’s all about sleep hygiene.  You have to take a cognitive approach.  There are no magic cures or perfect drugs.”

So what’s a 50 year old boomer girl to do?  How can I get more beauty sleep?

Want to know Dr. A’s tips?  Do ya?  Do ya?  Okay, here goes:

* “Don’t go to bed until you are really tired, even if it is late at night or early morning.” (While I always thought I should aim for an early bedtime, I was pleased to learn that it doesn’t matter if I go to bed at 11:00 p.m. or 12:00 a.m., as long as  I am tired.)

* “If you haven’t fallen asleep within 30 – 60 minutes, get out of bed and do something else. Read a book, watch television or even have a light snack.  Bed is only for sleep and sex, not lying awake at night and counting sheep.” (Ooh, ooh, ooh, Dr. A. I will no longer lie in bed for hours and hours.  Maybe I will move a big comfy chair into my bedroom and put a floor lamp nearby so I can read in a chair instead of in bed.  I can also watch television in my big comfy chair. Yes, that is exactly what I am going to do.  Soon, soon, soon.  As soon as I find a pretty blue accent chair to match my pretty blue accent wall. I’m charging my Kindle for future sleepless nights.)

* “Take Ambien if you haven’t slept in several nights.  Take it 30 minutes before you are going to bed.” (I don’t like to take Ambien too often, but I do take it occasionally when I really, really need it.)

* “Make sure to exercise.  And try wake at the same time every day.” (I do use my stationary bicycle each morning.  I do yoga and mindfulness meditation a few times a week.  Lift my weights on the weekend. I walk too. Okay, okay, I really should walk more often.  As for timely sleep, can I not sleep in on the weekend?  Oh, please. Pretty please!)

* “Stay off the computer before bedtime.” (That means no blogging before bed. Uh, oh. No. No.)

That means I have to sign off soon.  I need time away from my computer to decompress and relax before bedtime.  I may never get the recommended eight hours of sleep a night – four or five may be the best for me.  Dr. A said that’s okay.

I promised to maintain a sleep diary for two weeks and will be back to report to Dr. A in late February.

Sleeping Beauty Judi

2011 Intention: Get More Sleep

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It’s almost the middle of January and I’m not doing too well with the top intention I set for myself for 2011.  As my yoga teacher N said last week, we should set intentions, not resolutions.When we set an intention, we commit to something now and aim to accomplish it in the present. However, when we set a resolution it is further in the future and not as likely to get done.

My intention for 2011 is to get more sleep. I’ve been trying to get more sleep the past 13 days.  I’ve tried to cut back on my magazine reading at night.  I’ve tried to stop surfing the internet until the wee hours.  I’ve tried to meditate and stop contemplating the future when I get into bed. 

I put on my sleep music and set the dial to turn off after 30 minutes, when hopefully I’ll have fallen asleep.  Some nights the music goes off and I’m still awake.  I know those are my menopausal nights when I’m likely not to fall asleep at all.  It’s sooooo frustrating.  I just want to cry out “please let me sleep.”

I’m always searching for tips on how to get more snooze time, so I was quick to scan the recent iVillage newsletter on “30 Ways To Get Better Sleep,” featuring tips from Dr. Maas’ book on Sleep for Success: Everything You Must Know About Sleep But Are Too Tired to Ask.  I thought perhaps some of these suggestions might help me with my 2011 intention.  Hmm, let’s see:

Determine Your Personal Sleep Quotient (PSQ) – I’m supposed to pick a bedtime when I’m likely to fall asleep quickly and make sure it’s at least eight hours before I need to get up.  (Okay, I can do that.  I usually get up at 6:00 a.m., so that I can go on my stationary bicycle for 15 minutes before I take a shower.  The bicycle ride is part of my other 2011 intention to exercise more.  Counting backwards, that would mean that I would have to go to bed at 10:00 p.m. Wow.  That’s really early. How am I going to do this every night? That includes weekends too!)

I’m supposed to keep to this bedtime for the next week and note when I wake up each morning. If I need an alarm to wake up, if it’s difficult to get out of bed or if I’m tired during the day, Dr. Maas says I should move my bedtime up by 15 or 30 minutes the next week. I am supposed to continue doing this each week until I awaken without an alarm and feel alert all day. When I determine what I think is an ideal bedtime, I am supposed to cut 15 minutes off it to see if I’m sleepy the next day. If I’m sleepy the next day, I have to add15 minutes back.  Then I’ll have my personal PSQ. (This is way too complicated to think about.  I never get eight hours of sleep anymore.  I don’t think I’ve had eight hours of sleep since I was 25 years old.)

What’s the next tip?

Keep A Consistent Sleep Time and Wake Time (I can do this during the week, but I’m not sure I’ll be as successful on the weekend.  Lately as I age, I’ve started to do more sleeping in on weekends.)

Give Yourself Time To Wake Up (If I give myself more time to wake up, then I’ll have to go to bed even earlier, probably by 9:00 p.m.   How will I watch Gossip Girl?  Okay I admit it, I do watch Gossip Girl. And how will I find time to gab with my girlfriends and hear about all the hot happenings at my mom’s new assisted living residence?)

Get Sleep In One Continuous Block. (I’m good at this.  I never set the snooze button on my alarm.  I just turn it off and get out of bed…most of the time. That’s a good thing otherwise, Dr. Maas advises that I go to bed earlier.)

Make Up For Lost Sleep As Soon As Possible (If I miss some sleep on one night, I’m supposed to go to bed earlier the next night.  Soon I will be going to sleep at 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon. This intention is getting harder and harder to accomplish.)

Try Napping to Pay Back Your Sleep Debt (I do love nappy time, but who has time to nap?)

Avoid Caffeine After 2:00 p.m. (Yep, I stopped drinking my Snapple and only drink water now.)

Avoid Alcohol Three Hours Before Bedtime (I do like my glass of wine before dinner.  If I have dinner by 7:30 p.m. and go to bed after 10:30 p.m. then I can still drink my wine. However, I really am supposed to go to bed by 10:00 p.m. to get my eight hours of sleep.  This is getting more complicated.)

Exercise Between 5 and 7 p.m. (Uh, oh.  My Tuesday yoga class is from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Now what?)

Set the Thermostat at 65 Degrees (I just did that.  I just turned my thermostat down to cool down my room.  I’m not having too many hot flashes yet, but I do sometimes heat up at night.)

Dim the Lights (Yep, my light bulbs are 60 watt in my bedroom.)

Lull Your Eyes to Sleep (Guess the dim lights will do that job.)

Shut Out the Lights (But I always like to have a night light on.  What if I have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom?  My bladder isn’t like it was when I was younger.)

Cover the Clock (But how will I know what time it is when I wake up in the middle of the night?  Okay, I know I’m not supposed to clock watch.  Easier said than done.)

Neutralize the Noise (I keep my humidifier on to prevent dryness and it provides a nice humming noise.)

Design A Bedroom and De-Clutter the Space(I’m going to do this as soon as the decorator helps me pick out my paint colors. But, I’m not getting rid of my magazines and books.)

Dress for Rest – Or Nothing At All (I love my pjs.  Nothing at all, ooh, la, la.)

Pick A Perfect Pillow and Go Shopping For Sheets (Will do when I redecorate my bedroom.  Can’t wait!)

Eject the Electronics (Take out my iPod, my radio, my computer…that’s it.  It’s 11:09 p.m.  It’s an hour and nine minutes past my PSQ and I am supposed to eject my computer.)

Say good night Judi. 

 

I’m The Incredible Shrinking Woman

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It was about a week or so ago that I saw my gynecologist for my yearly checkup.
“Step up on the scale,” said the nice nurse. “Okay,” I said as I took my jacket and shoes off.  I always take off whatever is easy to remove whenever I have to get weighed.  (At home, I always weigh myself in the morning before I step in the shower and before I’ve eaten anything.)

“You weigh 115 pounds,” said the nice nurse.  (Whew, didn’t gain any weight this year.)

“Now turn around so I can measure you,” said the nice nurse.  I did not remember getting measured during previous years’ visits.  Why was she measuring me now?  Was this a new routine?

“You’re 5′ 2-1/2″ tall,” said the nice nurse as she pushed my hair down and lowered the metal bar on the top of my head.

“What do you mean?” I said to the nice nurse. “How could that be?  I’ve been 5’3″ for the past 35 years.”  

“Well, I guess you are starting to shrink,” said the nurse, who I didn’t think was so nice anymore.

“I don’t think the nurse measured me properly,” I said to my doctor when she walked into the room.

“When you hit menopause, you can start to shrink,” said Doctor S.  “It is true.”

I knew my mother had shrunk in recent years.  She was always 5’3″ or maybe 5’2″ when I was a kid and now she is barely 5′.  But she is 88 and walks with a walker so she is permanently bent over. 

Now, at 52, it is starting to happen to me…I am shrinking.  No wonder the petite skirts at Nordstrom fit me so much better than the regular Misses size, it is because I am shorter than I was last Fall.  I am shrinking.

How much more will I shrink next year and the year after, I thought to myself.  This has major implications for the rest of my life.

What will I do when someone asks me how tall I am? I will have to say I am 5′ 2-1/2″.  I am shrinking.

What will I do when I buy pantyhose?  I can no longer  look for my standard height and weight.  I will have to look at a different set of proportions to see if I need a smaller size…or perhaps larger size. I am shrinking. Yes, I am.

What will I do when I measure my Body Mass Index and Body Fat Percentage? I am shrinking.  It will never be the same again.  I am shrinking.

On a positive note, I may find that I can now fit into the entire petite line of clothing when I shop.  Normally, I buy separates because I need the petite jacket and the regular pants.  Now I may only need the full petite size.  I am shrinking, shrinking.  Yes, I am.

“I want you to have a bone density test,” said Doctor S.  “Let’s see if you need to add Calcium supplements or not.”  (I was concerned about taking Calcium supplements after a recent research study linked Calcium supplements to a potential increased risk of heart attacks.  However, my friend L, who is a very smart dietitian, said as long as I take Calcium supplements with Vitamin D, it is okay.  So glad I asked my friend L.  I do like the Viactiv Calcium plus D soft chews. They taste like chocolate caramels.)

Next week, I am scheduled for my bone density test. (As well as my yearly mammogram.)  I have never had a bone density test, but at 50+ it is time to give in and see how I measure up. 

According to “The Wisdom of Menopause,” author Dr. Christiane Northrup says that research has shown that “the average woman loses 2-4 percent of her bone mass per year in the first five years after menopause.  After that, loss slows down markedly or disappears. In men, accelerated bone loss is more apt to begin in the late sixties.” 

Am I at risk for osteoporosis?  Oh, I hope not.  I think I’ll wait and see what my bone density test says, before I get all excited.  On second thought, maybe I should just start to rev up my bone building program a little more each day…just in case.  It can’t hurt. 

Where are those weights?

Oh, yes.  There they are.  Wait a minute. Can I lift them?  They are very heavy.

Yes, I can. I can lift all 726 pages of the September Fall Fashion issue of Vogue magazine.  (Ooh, ahh, la, de da.  Lift with the right, lift right again. Turn those pages.  Turn them fast. Lift again.) 

And for the left arm, I have my ‘hot off the press’ InStyle magazine with 600 pages of Fall Fashion!  (Ooh, ahh, la, de da. Lift with the left, lift left again. Turn those pages. Turn them fast. Lift again.)

What great exercise, for the body, the soul, and my fashion form.  Sure hope they have lots of fashions for petites this fall.  I may be shrinking, but I’m mighty big when it comes to Fall fashions.

Judi

P.S. – To all my readers and followers.  I will be taking a blogging break for the next week or two to read all 1326 pages of my Fall fashion mags or shall I say, do my annual Fall fashion exercise program.  I’m going to get back to the gym too and lift some real weights…as soon as I get this sore tendon all healed and am able to put my trendy new black Nike sneaker back on my right foot instead of the black boot and ace bandage I’ve been wearing the past two weeks.  Have a great rest of your summer.  Looking forward to catching up and sharing more news, views and results about my bone density test with you in September.

50 Going on 16

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As I sit here looking out my window at the snow falling and as I prepare for our second major snow storm of the week, I wish, oh how I wish, I was still in Tucson.

I wish I was still at the Miraval Spa. I wish I was getting ready for my Abhyanga massage with P, the massage therapist. P massaged warm herb-infused oils into my skin to get rid of all the toxins and impurities that were in my body. It was so wonderful.

I wish I was still at the Miraval Spa. I wish I was getting ready for my CranioSacral massage with N, the cranial massage therapist. N gently manipulated the surrounding tissue and bones in my head, spine and sacrum/tail bone areas to free up muscular and energetic blockages that were restricting the flow of cerebral spinal fluid. It was so relaxing.

I wish I was still at the Miraval Spa. I wish I was sitting down to have my Chamomile Calming manicure with G, the fabulous manicurist. First G bathed my hands and then she gently exfoliated them with a chamomile scrub that was rich in botanicals, which provided much needed moisture to my dry sensitive skin. Then G gave me a perfect, I mean p-e-r-f-e-c-t (not one smudge or extra spot on any of my cuticles) manicure. She was a perfectionist and a really fun person to talk to.

I wish I was still at the Miraval Spa. I wish I was attending one of Evelyn Resh’s classes on Human Sexuality. Yes, I told you I would share all that I learned from Evelyn, Miraval’s Director of Sexuality. She was so entertaining that I went to both of her class offerings.

Evelyn wrote the book, “The Secret Lives of Teen Girls: What Your Mother Wouldn’t Talk about but Your Daughter Needs to Know.”(I definitely need to get a copy of this book and read it. I should get a second copy for my daughter too. After hearing Evelyn’s talk, I realized that I didn’t educate my daughter well enough.)

The first class was titled “You’re Still 16.” Evelyn said that “what occurs in adolescense continues throughout our lives.” (I remember my Sweet 16 party. However, it was all girls. There were no boys at my Sweet 16 party. I should have invited boys to my Sweet 16 party. Guess it is too late now.)

Evelyn spoke about our brains. The back of our brain is the Reptilian brain with hard wiring. The Frontal Cortex is where we get our math, writing skills. And then there’s the Limbic brain, which is the emotional center. It is highly sensitive and the seed of our sexuality. Teenagers spend more focus on the Limbic part of the brain.

Evelyn said that menopausal women (that’s me, that’s me, perk up, perk up) need to move even more into their Limbic brain. Evelyn said that “womens’ lives are lists, kids, grand kids, work, cleaning, things, more things.”

“Stop making all those lists and doing all those things,” Evelyn said. “Instead move more into that Limbic brain and create your new post-menopausal sexuality.” (Suddenly I felt more like 50 going on 16. Oh, Evelyn, thank you for all this great information. I will try to get rid of my lists. I will use music like you said to create the mood. I want my Limbic brain to be able to release more of the good stuff like oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine.)

The second class entitled “Pissed Off and Tired” was even more informative. Here’s the scoop:

Evelyn told us that the reasons we don’t have sex are because of the 3D’s – Dyspareunia (it’s painful), Dissatisfaction, and Decreased Libido. Menopausal women (that’s me, that’s me, perk up, perk up) can have vaginal dryness which causes dyspareunia. Evelyn suggested using vaginal estrogen to help with this problem. “Ovaries retire, they don’t shut down,” said Evelyn. (Evelyn is so smart and very wise. I really liked Evelyn’s advice.)

According to Evelyn, one of the reasons we have dissatisfaction with sex is because we have inhibitions about our bodies. She said that “many women have plastic surgery and try to change their bodies, even though their mates still want them just the way they are.”

Women of all ages have decreased libido. “The legacy you leave behind is how well you loved,” says Evelyn. “Did you love authentically? Did you love spiritually?” She said that “you must give your partner your undivided attention. Sex is a discipline and a devotional practice.”

Finally, it all goes back to Sweet 16. “Why don’t long-term couples not make out?” says Evelyn. “Teens can make out for two hours. Go ahead, make out for two hours.”

Oh, Evelyn, really?

Really?

Really?

Well, okay then.

Judi

Totally Organic

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Yesterday, I had a totally organic day, thanks to my fabulous totally organic facial. My esthetician D, took special care of me on Saturday morning because I was having one of my menopausal headaches (which I’ve been experiencing a lot lately.)

“I smell honey,” I said to D. “What is that you are putting on my face?”

“It is totally organic blueberry honey. Honey puts moisture into the skin,” D replied. “When you age you lose moisture.” (It’s a good thing there weren’t any bees buzzing around my face. My face was soooo sweet. I always knew that blueberries provided lots of antioxidants when I ate them, but didn’t know they could help enhance my face.)

“What’s next?” I asked D, as she slathered another concoction on my sweet face.

“This is a plum anti-aging masque,” said D. “It is totally organic.”

I felt so healthy. I like to eat plums during the summertime. I especially like prune plums. But, I never knew that plums could contribute to anti-aging. (All I needed was some peaches and bananas and I could have had a fruit salad on my face.)

D also massaged my neck and back to try to lull my headache. I told her all about my menopausal woes that are starting to invade my 50+ year old body – the mood swings, hot flashes, insominia, and headaches. D is so thoughtful and always has recommendations to help me heal. Today’s recommendations were totally organic.

“Try Rescue Remedy,” said D. “Just a few droplets in your water and it will help you de-stress. It’s totally organic.” She also suggested I try acupuncture and gave me the name of a licensed acupuncturist. (Ooh, acupuncture…I don’t know about putting needles in my head or back. Dare I try this? Will it clear up my menopausal mess? Yes, no, yes, no. I think I am going to research this suggestion a little further.)

As for the Rescue Remedy, I left my facial and went straight to Whole Foods to search for the totally organic droplets. I couldn’t believe how many totally organic menopausal solutions were on the shelf. Since my headache was pounding at full strength, I was ready to buy one of each kind…but I stopped myself and decided to see if the Rescue Remedy would rescue me, before pursuing other options.

I passed the flower section as I headed to the checkout and picked up some huge sunflowers. “They will perk up my day,” I thought to myself. So I bought two bundles.

I came home and put a few droplets of my Rescue Remedy in my water. Then I had some totally organic Yogi tea that I had bought at the store the day before. According to the Yogi tea box, the tea is supposed to calm tension and anxiety. It includes lavender on the ingredient list, so I decided to try it.*

I finished reading my relaxing book, “Yiddish Yoga – Ruthie’s Adventures in Love, Loss, and the Lotus Position.” It’s all about a recently widowed New York City Jewish grandmother whose granddaughter gives her a year of yoga class. What a wonderful little book. (It was only 110 pages, so I was able to read the entire book, including the Yiddish and Yoga glossary of terms, in less than an hour, as I sipped my Yogi tea. One less book for my retirement reading list.)

Ah, Ommmmmmmmm, Ah, Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I also decided that I need to read more about what’s in store for me during menopause. Where is that other big book I bought? Ah, yes, “The Wisdom of Menopause,” by Christiane Northrup, M.D. Oh, no. Oh, no. This book is going to be my bible for the next several years and I found it on my retirement reading bookshelf. Not a good spot, I need to read it now. Now, now, now. I need all the wisdom I can get right now, whether it is totally organic or not. Show me the wisdom Christine. Now, now, now.

Judi

Disclaimer: While I may try these herbal remedies, I do not endorse any of them or their proclaimed cures for menopause or any menopausal symptoms. Try at your own risk.

Goodbye Peri, Hello Meno

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I went to my gynecologist last week for my yearly checkup. “How are you doing?” she asked me. “How long has it been since your last period?”

I hesitated. I had to think about it. And then I said, “You know what, it has been a year. I haven’t had my period since last June.”

“You have reached menopause,” she said, “next year we will have you get a bone density test.”

“Should I start taking calcium supplements?” I asked my doctor, even though I had started to chew Viactiv calcium supplements awhile ago. They taste pretty good and they are chocolate.

“Actually no,” doctor S said, “you may not need them. Wait until we do the test next year and see if you need extra calcium.”

So, last week it was official. As I walked out of my gynecologist’s office after my pap test, I said goodbye to my perimenopausal days and officially became branded as a menopausal woman. I’m so glad I purchased a copy of Dr. Christiane Northrup’s newly updated and revised edition of “The Wisdom of Menopause.” I definitely am going to need all the advice I can get as I enter this new phase of my life.

Dr. Northrup says that the hormone-driven changes during menopause ‘affect the brain.‘ (Ooh, this is scary.)

Dr. Northrup says that these hormone-driven changes ‘give a woman a sharper eye for inequity and injustice and a voice that insists on speaking up about them.’ (Ooh, ooh, I wonder if I will start to be bold and brazen in my 50+ years. Let’s see, what inequities and injustices do I want to speak up about? Hmm,hmm. I’m sure there will be plenty of inequities and injustices to speak up about as my hormone-driven changes kick in.)

According to Dr. Northrup, if I keep silent during this time, ‘it will be like putting the plug on a pressure cooker.’ (I know what that is like. I used to have a pressure cooker when I was twenty-something. I never liked cooking with it. I always thought the top was going to blow off. Ooh, ooh, just the thought and image of that pressure cooker makes me want to pop. No wonder I have so many tension headaches lately. I guess I’ve been putting the plug on my voice box and not speaking up for what I want. Wonder if my headaches will go away as I start to express myself more?)

Dr. Northrup says to prepare for this transformation, ‘we must be willing to take full responsibility for our share of the problems in our lives.’ (Am I ready to do this? Do I have the courage to admit my own contributions to the things that have gone wrong in my life and stop seeing myself as a victim of something outside of myself? Do I? Do I? Do I? I want to. I want to. I want to. Yes, yes, yes. Ah,ah,ah, I feel better all ready!)

By doing this, Dr. Northrup says it will help me ‘change, heal, grow, and move on to a more fulfilling and joyful life.’ (I’m getting excited. This menopausal gig might be just what I need in the second half of my life.)

Oh,no. Oh,no. Dr. Northrup says that there is another requirement for transformation and it is more difficult. The second requirement is that ‘I must be willing to feel the pain of loss and grieve for those parts of my life that I am leaving behind.’ (Well, I know how to do this. I’ve been doing this for almost two years. Unfortunately, I now know what it’s like to lose a spouse, to let go of a marriage that lasted 24 years, to watch my children grow up and leave the nest, to become comfortable on my own at 50+. Dr. Northrup is right, it is difficult to leave those parts of my life behind and start anew.)

I’m only up to page 17 in Dr. Northrup’s book and I’ve already gained so much menopausal knowledge. Wait, I have to read this next paragraph out loud. I have to yell. Here goes:

‘THE EMOTIONAL CHANGES THAT COME ABOUT IN THE YEARS LEADING UP TO AND DURING MENOPAUSE CAN FEEL EARTHSHAKING AND EVEN TERRIFYING, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE ACCUSTOMED TO THINKING WE’RE IN CONTROL. IT’S ONE THING TO RESIST CHANGE FROM SOME EXTERNAL FORCE. IT’S QUITE ANOTHER WHEN THE CHANGE IS COMING FROM WITHIN, AND EVERYTHING YOU CLING TO THAT’S COMFORTABLE IN ITS FAMILIARITY, INCLUDING YOUR VERY IDENTITY IS METAMORPHOSING FROM THE INSIDE OUT.’

Now I have to yell and scream again in my own words,

“THAT’S EXACTLY HOW I FEEL! THAT’S EXACTLY HOW I FEEL! WHO AM I? WHO IS THE NEW JUDI?”

I’m like a caterpillar that is turning into a butterfly. Wait a minute. Wait…a…minute. I like butterflies more than caterpillars. Yes, I do. Yes, I do. Butterflies are prettier than caterpillars. Butterflies can fly. Butterflies can move faster than caterpillars. Caterpillars can only crawl.

Maybe I am ready, as Dr. Northrup says, ‘to live a life based on true freedom and joy!’

Red light. Green light. One, two, three. Ready or not, I’m moving forward into the next phase of my life. Goodbye peri, hello meno. Hello. Hello.

I can’t wait to read the next chapter and learn more about what more menopausal wisdom awaits me.

Judi