Posts by Liz

Men. Oh. Pause. Rewind.

Posted by Liz on Jul 10, 2009 in humour, Inspiration | 6 comments

I’d like to welcome guest blogger Amy Ferris.

Amy writes about all things women. She is an author (a greater goode, Houghton Mifflin Publishers; The Buddha Next Door, Anthology, Middleway Press), a screenwriter (Mr. Wonderful, Anthony Minghella, Director, and Funny Valentines, Julie Dash, Director) and  an editor. Following is an excerpt from her new book, ‘Marrying George Clooney – Confessions from a Midlife Crisis‘ (Seal Press) which is available by pre-order from Amazon.com.

Show Amy some love!

Imagine this scenario if you will: you’re in the Holland or Lincoln Tunnel, all of a sudden, without a warning, all the lights go out, including all the headlights on all the cars. You’re stuck. There’s no going forward; there’s no going backwards. Complete and utter darkness. And you know in your soul that others are going through the exact same thing – but no one, not one person gets out of their car.

Welcome to menopause.

I have been depressed, anxious, forgetful, lost in a fog, angry, and resentful, with an emphasis on ‘angry’. I have been filled with tremendous hope, and in the next unexpected moment, filled with the exact amount of despair. I have cried uncontrollably from my gut, and I have laughed from the depths of my soul. I have felt like throwing my life away, as in literally jumping off a bridge. I have witnessed my body grow one full size while sleeping so undly.

In the midst of this fresh hell, I decided to quit smoking. I’m not sure if it was an act of courage or just simply self-destructive behavior. Much to my husband’s grand delight, not to mention my friends and family, I decided to divorce the one constant that kept me from experiencing my feelings fully – a cigarette.

So, not only were my hormones doing a ferocious dance – now my suppressed, discarded feelings were vying for attention.

This is the point in the story I get to introduce my husband. Please raise your hand if any of you have turned into the devil doll on a dime. You know what I’m talking about – that moment when your husband (or wife, or partner) says or does something trivial, innocuous, a casual throw-a-way and without a moments hesitation you respond by burning a hole in their heart with your tongue. And it’s all down hill from there. The only word that comes to mind to describe my behavior is vile. The only word to describe my husband’s reaction is stunned.

Along with weight gain and mental anguish, insomnia is yet another ‘side dish’ accompanying menopause. So, late one night while unable to sleep and tossing a coin – heads, Ambien, tails, Ambien – it occurred to me that it was time for me to put into practice what I deeply believe. To a) truly embrace and love every single part of me. Not just the good and kind and generous, but the bad and unattractive and mentally unstable. And b) find the enlightened side — it was my obligation and responsibility to acknowledge and hold dear the privilege of my very own life.

Every single woman I know, without exception, has or will experience some deep inner turmoil or upheaval because of menopause. It is a part of being a woman. Period. I have known women of great equilibrium to wobble horrifically because they were in the process of dealing with this huge change of life. The good news: most women credit this hell as the single most profound experience, which has enabled them to uncover their own greatness. I can definitely embrace that.

And here’s the enlightened side: Menopause is just like couture fashion. Some of it is just really ugly.

Welcome to my world.

Wednesday bubble: sexuality during menopause – blurring the lines

Posted by Liz on Jul 8, 2009 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

This week’s Bubble comes to us care of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil and a fascinating study in the journal Latino American Nursing Reviews. The report attempts to address the limitations imposed by solely examining physical aspects of sexuality during the menopause as opposed to the intimate and relational dimensions.  In others words, signs and symptoms of the climacteric (the period marking the transition from reproductive to non-reproductive status) that specifically relate to sexuality, such as vaginal dryness and painful intercourse, are less important than the sum of their parts.

In this study, which involved interviews with postmenopausal women between the ages of 48 and 55, the researchers confirm that sexuality involves more than biology and rather, encompasses a woman’s subjective experience with her partner, her world, her perceptions of her body, how she experiences pleasure and displeasure and her values and behavior. In fact, sexuality does not “end with hormonal deficiency” bur rather changes over time.

They ask: are we overvaluing the biological aspects of sexuality at the expense of the emotional expression of experience, cultural factors and how we relate to others?

Key findings:

• It is critical to be present, open up to another being, allow oneself to be “permeated by co-existence” with our partners/lovers
• We need to connect with our bodies, remove barriers to experiencing physical pleasure — both alone and in relation to another being
• We need to be aware that we are affected by our sexual partners and their limitations, physical conditions, virility, etc
• We must embrace the ‘feedback of pleasure,’ i.e. be willing and able to not only give pleasure but to receive it as well
• Sexual satisfaction does not end (or begin) with orgasm

I have written previously on sex and sexual desire, often presenting the argument that the sum is greater than its parts, that it is time to understand and embrace the totality of the experience.

I admire these researchers for reaching outside the box and broadening the discussion about sexuality during menopause and midlife. Personally, I believe that within this new paradigm, we may finally be able to blur the lines between the biological, cultural, emotional and sociological to fully embrace that notion that menopause, and its accompanying issues, are not a “disease” to be reckoned with but rather, part of our “natural evolution” as women.

What do you think?

Acupuncture and hot flashes – a winning combination

Posted by Liz on Jul 6, 2009 in hot flash | 5 comments

There have been a lot of naysayers of late with regards to acupuncture. However, one of the largest studies to date examining its impact on menopausal hot flashes has been completed. The results? Acupuncture plus self-care can significantly reduce hot flashes and improve quality of life during menopause!

In the  ACUFLASH study, researchers randomized 399 postmenopausal women (1 year since last menstrual period) regularly experiencing at least 7 hot flashes daily to acupuncture or no treatment. Moxibustion was used at the practitioner’s discretion and sessions could also be extended by two weeks (from 12 weeks), if needed.  Although the practitioners met beforehand to discuss possible diagnoses and recommended treatment points, all treatment was individualized. Both groups of patients also received self care recommendations, which consisted of a one-page information leaflet on care of menopausal symptoms (e.g. soy, herbs, physical activity and relaxation techniques) which they were free to add at their own discretion.

Overall, the mean frequency of hot flashes declined by 48% in women receiving acupuncture compared with 28% of women using self-care methods only. This means that 50% of women receiving acupuncture experienced a 50% or greater reduction in how often their hot flashes occurred, compared to 16% of women using self-care. Significant reductions were also seen in hot flash intensity. Additionally, the acupuncture group reported significant improvements in vasomotor, sleep, and somatic symptoms over the course of the study.

The researchers have pointed out that previous studies (which have shown mixed results) have relied on smaller numbers of patients, have used  sham needles that did not penetrate the skin,  and have relied on a standardized practice. In contrast (and in keeping in line with the edicts of eastern  medicine) ACUFLASH practitioners individualized treatment according to patients’ needs. This may help to account for the positive results.

I have long argued for a need to modify western methods so that aspects of eastern practice that both make it unique and also form its foundation, may remain intact. This study remained true to the practice of acupuncture while also insuring that certain scientific tenets were followed. I  am hopeful  that the size of the study coupled with its approach, will open the door for future studies and provide an evidence-based path for women who choose a non-pharmacologic approach to menopause.

A flash….

Posted by Liz on Jul 3, 2009 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

and I’m gone! As my friend Sissy says, “let freedom ring.”

Have a safe and happy Fourth!

Wednesday Bubble: weathering your hot flashes

Posted by Liz on Jul 1, 2009 in hot flash | 2 comments

Hey Ladies! This week’s bubble comes to you c/o my Twitter friend Gloria Bell, who asked an interesting question: does climate affect hot flashes?

Apparently it does. Although there are not a lot of studies that have been conducted specifically on this topic, an extensive analysis of data from 54 studies suggests that climate may indeed, influence the frequency of hot flashes. Investigators focused the mechanisms underlying hot flashes ( i.e., small elevations in core body temperature within a temperature range where a woman would not normally shiver or sweat –also called the thermoneutral zone), hypothesizing that these zones might actually be climate-specific.

The study:

• Researchers examined information on the frequency of hot flashes from 54 studies and evaluated the correlations between hot flash frequency and geographical latitude, elevation and annual temperatures. Additional analyses were conducted on data derived from studies that included women no older than age 60.

What they learned:

• Among women up to age 60, the average temperature of the coldest month could actually predict how frequently women experienced hot flashes almost a third of the time.
• Among all women, the difference between the hottest climates and the coldest climates significantly predicted hot flash frequency about 26% of the time.
• A climate’s mean annual temperature also predicted hot flash frequency.

Overall, women who lived in warmer temperatures tended to report fewer hot flashes than those in the coldest regions. Hot flashes also tended to increase in areas where there were more seasonal fluctuations.

Although climate plays a role, other factors, such as hormonal imbalance, smoking and diet have also been shown to influence hot flash severity and frequency. Still, it is interesting to learn that where we live may influence the challenges we may face when weathering the menopause storm!