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Not a creature was stirring…

Posted by Liz on Dec 25, 2013 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Wishing you and yours’ joy this holiday season! See you in 2014!

Best (and worst) of 2013? You decide!

Posted by Liz on Dec 23, 2013 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

It’s that time of year again when I start polling readers about Flashfree (and Guyside) — what you liked, what you disliked, what I/we can be doing better. So, I’m throwing it out there – share a link to the post that resonated the most, and that resonated the least, in the comments section. Tell me and my colleague Bob Le Drew what you would like to see more and less of in 2014. And don’t forget that we start a weekly Guyside in the New Year.

Your reward for your comments? a $25 Amazon gift card which will be drawn out of a hat on January 1.

Ready! Set! Soapbox….

Newsflash: MedPage Today warns about OTC thyroid supplements

Posted by Liz on Dec 20, 2013 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

I’ve long been asked to write about thyroid issues and I’ve avoided the topic for several reasons, one of which is that it can be quite complicated to distinguish between common perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms such as fatigue, weight changes and hair loss and the very same that may be related to an underactive thyroid. Other symptoms may include changes in cognitive function (memory issues, anyone?) and depression.

A bit of background…

As we age, thyroid disorders become more pervasive. This is due to functional changes in the endocrine system — the collection of glands the produce hormones that control growth, metabolism, sexual development and function (including the thyroid gland) — that result in certain tissues and glands producing less of a certain hormone or producing it at a slower rate. The thyroid in particular, can cause problems because signs are not always readily apparent. And when they are caught, they may be easily confused with the most common complaints of menopause, which is why the involvement of a healthcare professional is so critical.

Yet, MedPage Today is reporting that women who take over the counter supplements to boost thyroid function may actually be placing themselves at risk for severe hyperthyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid produces too much hormone, which can lead to rapid weight loss, irritability and nervousness, sweating, fatigue and a rapid heartbeat. The underlying reason for the associated risk in OTCs is that they contain unlabeled levels of two main thyroid hormones — T4 (thyroxine), and T3 (trilodothyronine).

The article also points to other contaminants, such as iodine and heavy metals.

I encourage you to visit MedPage Today (you may need to register) and read the piece. as Staff Writer Kristina Fiore’s expert source points out, it is especially critical for women who are looking for a quick fix for their thyroid issues to avoid supplements at all cost and see a physician who will monitor and measure hormone levels to insure that they are just right. These drugs walk a fine line when it comes to dosing and the gap between an effective dose and a lethal one is quite narrow.

If you are uncertain about your symptoms and you are not finding relief with standard menopause therapy strategies, please see a qualified endocrinologist. You may be mistaking menopause for something more serious but often equally manageable by a health professional.

With gratitude

Posted by Liz on Nov 27, 2013 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

We’ve been missing in action this week. I’ve been moving into a new home and my partner in crime, Bob LeDrew, has been cooking up a storm of ideas for Guyside.

For our American readers, wishing you a splendid, joyful Thanksgiving. And for the rest of our readers, we can never say thanks enough.

We’ll be back in action on Monday with Flashfree and in December with Guyside.

Cheers!

Bewitched, bewildered, and bemused…Nardil and the ‘pause

Posted by Liz on Nov 4, 2013 in depression, Uncategorized | 0 comments

Regular readers of Flashfree know how  amused and astonished that I am when I run across vintage menopause ads. This one is for Nardil,  an agent used primarily to treat social anxiety and certain types of depression that don’t respond to other drugs, meaning that it is rarely the first antidepressant used. Ironically, while first prescribed for menopause in the Sixties, it remains part of the depression armamentarium 50 years later! Nardil has some significant side effects, including a worsening of depression and suicidal thoughts.

The housewife in the ad was brought into the doctor by her husband, ‘sympathetic but obviously out of his depth!’

Looking for a few good men…

Posted by Liz on Nov 1, 2013 in men, Uncategorized | 3 comments

No, I am not looking for a date! But I am looking for talented, male writers.

When I started this blog roughly 5 and a half years ago, my goal was to bring menopause out into the open, to promote dialogue, to remove stigma and to provide data-based, useful information about strategies to combat symptoms. Over the years, Flashfree has evolved to address midlife issues, career and self-growth. However, I realized that one critical piece of the puzzle was missing: the male point of view.

As much as I believe that women should rule the world (I kid!), the other half exists and influences how we think, how we behave and how we feel. Likewise, we do the same and sometimes without an intimate understanding of what makes the male psyche tick.

As we approach midlife and middle age, things start to shift, needs change, points of view alter and communication can break down. If my mission is to pave the midlife path and help you avoid some of the bumps and potholes, then I need to find a way to bridge the gap between the sexes.

Hence, Guyside.

And like all good things, Guyside is evolving.

Started over the summer by columnist, Bob LeDrew, Guyside is the male side of midlife and menopause and relationships and growing older. And as of the New Year, we’ll be making a few changes. Currently a once-monthly column, Guyside will now be taking over the Wednesday Bubble slot. And while we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves and a couple of stellar male writers lined up to share some of the spotlight with Bob (as well as the trials and tribulations of this time of life), we are looking for a few good men, namely a few guys between the ages of 50 and 60 who know their way around a sentence or two.

If you are interested in contributing, drop us a note at flashfree111@gmail.com. Guyside is your side; it’s about time we’ve got some testosterone in these here parts!