Dear AARP

First of all, I apologize to anyone who might be fifty or over for my ranting response to letter received. Second,  a gals gotta  hang onto her youth as long as she can!

Dear AARP,

Thank you so kindly for your membership proposal. You may take it and ram it up your @$$.

In case you don’t know. I AM NOT YET FIFTY YEARS OLD!!!!! In fact I am a mere forty-six. That gives me FOUR (actually 3 ½ , but who’s counting?!) whole years to consider the advantages of your exclusive membership.

BTW, who offers oldie memberships to women who haven’t even hit menopause? I am truly becoming suspicious of your motivation.

Since you obviously have my name and address, but not my birthday, I want to know if someone sent you a photograph of me. I can explain:

Those grey hairs you see, it’s called mothering teenage boys.

The wrinkles, got them the same way.

Rounded middle…I eat my worries away.

Weak bladder. That’s from birthing those little monsters, yeah nine pounders!

Any other reasons that led you to believe that I was fifty, I will still pin on my kids, and if they don’t fit the bill, I’ll stick it on Dirt Man!

While I do appreciate the fact that you are “fighting for my American Dream”, I think I am achieving it without your assistance.

As far as other special privileges, I don’t need or want your instant savings on car rentals, eye care, dental services, pharmaceuticals, insurances, or even your cash-back credit card.

Nor am I interested in your magazine or your newsletters about money and travel. First my kids have sucked me dry as far as money goes. And travel, well, I can’t retire because I still have to pay for said children’s college expenses.

No, I will not join your local chapter. I have no interest in getting together with a bunch of retirees and playing bingo, square dancing , comparing denture creams, or whatever it is they do at their meetings! I choose to wait until I actually hit fifty, and then I’ll consider seeing what people THAT age do!

Furthermore, You should really consider an overhaul of your membership drive committee. They suck! Really, is it standard practice to send an invitation to someone only forty-six? If so, I am sure I am not the only pissed off forty-six year old out here!

But hey, I’ll keep the two membership cards you sent. I might can use them for scraping my windshield or something.

Again, I thank you for considering to allow poor little “old” me into your exclusive club. And again, SHOVE IT!!!!

Just so you know, it’s your fault that my children have just lost their inheritance. (That is what they haven’t yet sucked out of me!) They found it quite hilarious, that I received this in the mail. Now, I intend to spend every cent I have before I expire. It has become my new aspiration in life.

Yours Truly,

A young at heart (if not in photos), SuziCate

[Via http://suzicate.wordpress.com]

Got Questions? Bioidentical Hormone Doctors Answers Your Questions!

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Seminar:

Who should attend?  Women and men ages 35+ suffering from the symptoms of hormonal imbalance such as weight gain, lost libido, mood swings, hot flashes, depression, sleep problems, fatigue, memory loss, muscle loss, erectile problems and thinning hair.

What:  Menopause and Andropause (The Male Menopause) & All Natural Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Seminar

Where & When: Find a date and location near you below

Admission: RSVP Required – Free Admission. Limited Space Available

Register:  Register online today!

Details:   

State Location Physician Date Time California Encino Dr. Deuson 27-Jan 7:00pm California San Diego Dr. Center 21-Jan 4:00pm Connecticut Manchester Dr. Dam 20-Jan 5:00pm Florida Naples Dr. Rubin 26-Jan 4:00pm Florida Orlando Dr. Solomon 19-Jan 6:30pm Florida Orlando Dr. Landa 27-Jan 6:30pm Georgia Atlanta Dr. Donohue 20-Jan 6:30pm Illinois Chicago Dr. Mazzei 20-Jan 8:00pm Kentucky Louisville Dr. Abell 21-Jan 6:00pm Ohio Cleveland Dr. Joseph 19-Jan 6:00pm Texas Dallas Dr. Gorn 21-Jan 5:30pm Wisconsin Milwaukee Dr. Raskin 21-Jan 6:30pm

 

Register today and learn how bioidentical hormones and BodyLogicMD’s customized 3 pronged approach to wellness has helped tens of thousands of men and women feel their best!

[Via http://bioidenticalhormoneexperts.com]

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Fibromyalgia # 2

1/11/10

UGH. DOUBLE UGH.

As some of you know, I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis which even though it sounds like a special on a dinner menu is an auto immune disease. Before being treated for that, I was formerly diagnosed with  Fibromyalgia.   My Endocrinologist gave me Synthroid when, after menopause, I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid.   Synthroid brought my thyroid levels back to a normal range but I still felt absolutely horrible.   Months and months later I found my way to a Rheumatologist who diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and prescribed Cymbalta. I still felt horrible and about a year later I found my guru Dr. who is the Head of Auto Immune Diseases and Rheumatology at a NY hospital.  I think I might be in love with him… he’s a genius.

I  take Plaquannel every day.  And folic acid.  Oh, and methotrexate with a high dose of Vitamin D, twice a week. It pretty much takes me out of commission 4 days of the week  because my stomach rages against the methotrexate for two days each time I take it.  I take Cymbalta for the Fibromyalgia (which I may or may not have) and an anti-depressant used for anxiety issues. I am my own chemical compound. I was also on Prednisone which at high doses makes you feel incredible, high, and young and when you lower it significantly and slowly, you feel like you are in the movie “Cocoon” where the elderly first are given a special potion to feel young and fabulous and later on it goes away and they feel old and horrible again. Heartbreaking but true.  I’m not proud of all the medications I have to take but I am not ashamed either.

According to my guru Dr. in the city “Fibromyalgia is a lazy diagnosis.”  His theory is that anyone with an auto-immune disease like mine will feel achy, fatigued and have muscle pain.  To me, the patient, I don’t care what you call it, as long as you can help me feel better.

It took two complete years to even get on the right track of my initial diagnosis and while I think I am on the right track, it doesn’t mean that I feel swell all the time. It means I feel better and have learned to handle and predict certain situations. I am also 53 and not 23 and that does make a significant difference. Somewhere in this medical mystery of mine, I have had many broken  bones, sprains and torn ligaments;  I think there is a connection with the Hashimoto’s but not definitively.  All I know is that  it hurts and takes a very long time to heal.

My experience with the above urges me to say the following: If you feel that something is wrong, believe it. My internist didn’t believe me at all and actually left the office in a huff when I started crying from all the pain. Go to different doctors for their opinions. Don’t be scared that Dr. Jones will be insulted if you see Dr. Stevens. Nobody cares. Hardest but most important of all, believe that you will get better! You may not be perfect but you will be better and you do need patience for that.  Keep trying and keep believing that you will not always feel this bad. Believe me, I am still learning  and relearning that lesson every single day.

Good Luck!

[Via http://hibernationnow.wordpress.com]

Lose Weight After Menopause

Going through menopause is generally not a fun time for women (or their husbands for that matter). They have to deal with ever occurring hot flashes and night sweats, mood swings, sleeplessness, depression, and the list just keeps going. These symptoms can last for a few years making the end a joyous occasion, almost. Many women find that they gain weight during menopause and it tends to stick around longer than menopause, and woman, being the self conscious beings they are, tend to stress about the extra pounds. Generally, the weight gain is not to extreme for most women gaining about 10-20 pounds. Good thing there is a simple way to get rid of the excess weight without killing yourself at the gym.

Eating a healthy is the first step to weight loss. Today’s society is filled with fast foods, sugary drinks, and other equally unhealthy things that we all consume. Cutting all that junk food out for your diet will help you lose the weight quickly. This includes any fast food, sodas, most frozen dinners, crazy Starbucks concoctions, and other foods high in fat. This doesn’t mean you have to stop eating foods that you like or stop eating out all together. You can still eat deserts and go to restaurants, but keep it in moderation. If you still work, try either packing a lunch or healthy frozen lunch instead of eating at Burger King every day.

When eating at home remember portion control. Take a look at the nutrition fact before cooking for yourself and look at how many servings there are in the container. A lot of people today believe they are eating healthy based on what the nutrition facts say, but they eat two or three servings at a time. A great example is a Marie Calendar’s chicken pot pie frozen dinner. The average person would not have a problem finishing a 16oz pot pie by themselves, and it seems like a fairly healthy dinner; roughly 650 calories per serving. But what a lot of people do not look at is a 16oz pot pie contains two 8oz servings bringing the actual calorie count closer to 1,300 calories. This is 65 percent of a 2,000 calorie diet in one meal! You do not necessarily have to start counting calories, but you should be aware of about how many you take in each meal and smaller portions will help keep the number low. There are a number of online calculators that will tell you the ideal number of calories you should take in for your weight. Some will also tell you how to adjust your diet to reach your target weight by a certain target date.

Exercise is also an essential part to weight loss. A lot of older people, especially women, are hesitant to go to a gym because they think they have to work themselves to death to see any results. This is not true; in fact light to moderate exercise four times a week will provide you will outstanding results. Besides helping you lose weight, exercise will give you more energy for everyday life and make you feel better by improving your general mood. The thing to remember when working out for weight loss is that you are not necessary trying to build a bunch of muscle. Instead you are going to strengthen and tone the muscle you already have which will burn off excess fat fast.

To tone muscle you should do high numbers of repetitions with light weight. Aim for three sets of 15-20 repetitions each. You should also chose a weight that will allow you to complete all three sets with relative ease. The last set should be the hardest of the three, if not then chose a higher weight. When working out it is best to work muscle groups versus doing a whole body work out. You will recover faster and you will see better results sooner. There are three main muscle groups or pairings that can be worked; back and biceps, chest and triceps, and legs. You should try to work only one muscle group per workout day. Core and auxiliary muscles, which include abs, shoulders, and neck, can be worked in with the main groups on your workout days at your digression.

Cardio is another exercise that should be done at least 30 minutes a day, three or four times a week. Running the one of the more popular cardio exercises, but many older people find that this puts too much stress on their legs and that they are doing more harm than good. Biking is a good alternative as it greatly reduces the stress on the legs and many people enjoy it better. For those who wish to stay indoors for their cardio workout for whatever reason you can find cardio machines at most gyms. These include treadmills, stair steppers, stationary bikes, and elliptical machines.

Lose Weight After Menopause by Feminestra is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

[Via http://feminestra.wordpress.com]

Wednesday Bubble: heart disease, depression and menopause

Today’s Bubble is not exactly bursting with good news. On the other hand, it more a matter of erring on the side of caution.

Depression in menopause and midlife is a common occurrence. Although researchers are not quite sure of the exact reasons for its surge during the transition,  (e.g. declining hormone, life stress, prior history), many women tend to suffer the blues during this time. In addition to physical activity or herbs, many practitioners recommend that women incorporate a low-dose antidepressant into their daily strategy. Yet, while this might help to maintain mood balance, researchers are starting to question whether or not using antidepressants may increase the risk for dying from heart disease during menopause. Yikes! So, we are given drugs to help boost our moods during menopause but they may end up killing us in the long run? Somehow the old adage, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ doesn’t make me feel better this time.

In a study that appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers examined information collected from over 136,000 women who had participated in the Women’s Health Initiative Study who either were or were not taking antidepressants over a period of about 6 years. The findings? Women who used SSRI antidepressants had a 45% increased risk of stroke, and a 32% increased risk of death.  This risk remained even after researchers took other heart disease risk factors into account, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking.

Here’s the rub: depression is a known risk factor for heart disease and death from heart disease, and has also been linked to an increased risk for stroke. So, researchers are not certain if it’s the chicken (depression) or the egg (antidepressants) that is accounting for these study results.

So, what can you do? Should you throw away the pills?

Not so fast. Speak to your doctor. Get tested for known heart disease risk factors, such as overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history, diabetes and of course, smoking. Incorporate heart healthy changes into your life, such as physical activity, a better diet, yoga, meditation and laughter. And then figure out if the benefits of antidepressants are worth the risks. These data are early and inconclusive. Just something to be mindful of if you are in menopause.

[Via http://flashfree.wordpress.com]

Menopause: Diet for Hot Flashes

Menopause: Diet for Hot Flashes

Written by Gloria Tsang, RD

Published in September 2005

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is an herb used extensively in Europe for treating hot flashes. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports short-term use of black cohosh – up to six months – for treating symptoms of menopause. But the exact effects of longer-term use aren’t known. Studies are underway to determine the effectiveness and long-term safety of taking black cohosh supplements.

Soy

Soy contains phytoestrogens, an estrogen-like substances. In Japan, where soy foods are commonly consumed daily, women are only one-third as likely to report menopausal symptoms as in the United States or Canada. In fact, there is no word in the Japanese language for “hot flashes”. However, clinical trials have generally yielded unimpressive results. The safest approach is to incorporate whole soy products such as soy milk or tofu in you diet. Indeed, the North American Menopause Society in 2000 recommended that 40 – 80mg of isoflavones daily may help relieve menopausal symptoms – that is 1 – 2 servings of soy products.

Other common supplements for hot flashes:

-Vitamin E (400 – 800 IU)

-Dong Quai

-Wild Yam

-Evening Primose Oil

[Via http://ecofrenfood.wordpress.com]

Comparison between Oral and patch therapy for hormone replacement

There are some intriguing assessments to oral and patch (transdermal) hormone replacement therapy. The transdermal patch presents less variety in hormone levels. Another benefit to the patch versus an oral path is that there appears to be a declined risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots), which is one of the couple of important contradictory dangers affiliated with hormone replacement therapy. Another intriguing occurrence is there appears to be a boost in thin body mass with transdermal estrogen versus a boost in fat mass and a decline in skeletal sinew with oral path of therapy.

hormone replacement

There are some theoretical and genuine improvements in cardiovascular risk components by utilising transdermal versus oral therapies; although, other than the incidence of body-fluid clots, it does not appear to change clinical outcomes. There are some potential clinical tests that have furthermore shown a decrease in the risk of postmenopausal hip fractures and the risk of vertebral deformation with the especially outstanding facts and numbers from the Women’s Health Initiative study in declining osteoporosis and fracture risk.

The last investigation considering these exact matters of hormone replacement treatment would propose important enhancement in clinical outcomes. Unless you evolve a specific infection by hormones, for example breast cancerous infection, long-term use would give you multiple benefits.

According to multiple investigations, there is a very powerful likelihood that hormone therapy, if started early on and proceeded, can have a very affirmative influence on the development of osteoporosis and has shielding advantage to a patient’s heart.

[Via http://mywikipedia.wordpress.com]