The Dreaded Facial Hair issue!!

What is one of your worst menopause issues? The one that is most frustrating to me now is CHIN HAIR!!! I use to just pluck them because they were easy to control that way. Then I realized I couldn't keep up with them so I started getting waxed at the beauty shop (sorry, but that's what it was called back in the day--don't know if it's something else now!). That gave me a nice smooth upper lip, as well as all three chins, but was somewhat painful and started getting expensive.

My latest effort involves Nair Moisturizing Face Cream. It's been working pretty good, but I've discovered a problem. One reason I've never considered shaving is because I'm pretty sure the hair comes back thicker and stronger, but I'm afraid the same thing may be happening with the Nair cream! When you put it on and wait 5 min. and wipe it off, all you're doing is "cutting" it off at the skin...just as you would do with a razor. I think the only solution is to get rid of the hair permanently with electrolysis! Click on the ad below to find an Electrologist near you! Call and ask about their prices. I think you will find, as I did, that for a permanent solution to this hairy problem, it's not that much at all and well worth it!

I want to hear your "hair raising" stories and what solutions work for you! After all, we don't want to end up like Rapunzel do we?

Have trouble sleeping because of menopause?

I believe this issue deserves more attention than it gets, not only during menopause, but throughout our lives. And it not only affects us women, but spouses and even young children. It not only affects your energy level but also your weight! Just read this: "....lack of sleep changes blood-sugar levels and metabolism. It also affects impulse control, and it's harder for people to pass on food they know they shouldn't be eating."

What are some of the reasons for lack of sleep or trouble sleeping during the menopausal transition? According to one website it could be any one or a combination of:
•hyperarousal - anxiety, stress

•poor pre bedtime and sleep habits

•underlying mood disorders

•sedative overuse

•pain

•general medical problems

•nighttime urinary frequency

Here are some of their tips on how to get a better night's sleep:
•Make sure bedroom noise is controlled and temperature is cool

•have a fixed schedule to going to bed and getting up. Try not to vary it.

•avoid alcohol and exercise within 5-6 hours of bedtime and no caffeine after noon.

•do not look at the bedroom clock after you lie down in bed or if you get up at night

•eat a light snack containing protein, especially tryptophan, before bed. This would include milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, bananas, fish, and turkey.

•do not reflect upon the day's events or your "todo" list in the hour or two before bed But this could be anyone.

What is the connection to menopause? According to WebMD, a site I rely on a lot (but always compare info from at least 3 sites) "Approximately 75-85% of menopausal women experience hot flashes, which can last for five years. Hot flashes and sweating can make it difficult to sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 61% of menopausal women have sleep problems. Sleeping difficulties can lead to other problems, such as daytime drowsiness."

So what are some of the solutions for getting a good night's sleep? Here are a few recommendations:
Some Dr's recommend HRT, but there's a lot of confusion and controversy about what kind, how much and how long you should take it. Many women still use it and swear by it. It's truly a personal decision as are other solutions such as black cohosh. Dr. Andrew Weil says: "Black cohosh (Cimfugaa racemosa) can help relieve hot flashes and insomnia related to menopause." Some women use sleep aids because at some point you just can't keep going about your busy life with no sleep! It affects your relationships, your career and your overall health.

There's also melatonin, which promotes sleep, as well as SleepyTime Tea with Valerian (another herb that helps you sleep). There are different kinds of wicking sleepwear and bedding to use, many kinds of cooling devices such as a fan that blows under your sheets and something to slide inside your pillowcase. The small battery fans are a big help, as well as a refreshing, cooling spray or a glass of ice water kept on your beside table . Everyone's key to a good night's sleep is different.

I found that using bedding that has the Outlast technology has really improved my "night heat" problem. Yes they are a Sponsor, but I was not paid to recommend their products. For me it really works. As a side note, nearly every type of "cooling bedding" you find on the market will be using the Outlast technology.

Let us know what works for you or if you have another solution!

Drugs for menopause

This is getting so out of control in my opinion, but for those of you who still have horrible hot flashes, I suppose it could be good news.

Seizure drug enhances sleep for women with hot flashes

Gabapentin, a drug initially used to treat seizures, improves sleep quality in menopausal women with hot flashes, University of Rochester Medical Center researchers report online and in the September issue of the Journal of Women's Health.

Approximately 40 percent of menopausal women experience sleep disruption, often in the form of difficulty with sleep initiation and frequent nighttime awakenings. The study is the first to show sustained benefits in sleep quality from gabapentin, which Rochester researchers already have demonstrated alleviates hot flashes.

"Gabapentin improves sleep quality but does not have the potential dependency problems of some other sleep medications and does not involve the use of hormone replacement therapy," said Michael E. Yurcheshen, M.D., assistant professor of Neurology and the lead author of the article.

"It has minimal side effects and it is a generic drug," said Yurcheshen, who is based at the Strong Sleep Disorders Center. "That makes it a very attractive treatment for these problems in this patient population."

For the current study, researchers used data from a previously published randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of gabapentin in 59 postmenopausal women who experienced seven to 20 hot flashes daily. The subjects took either 300 milligrams of gabapentin three times a day or a placebo.

The research used a factor analysis of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a well-known and validated questionnaire, to evaluate sleep. The results showed overall improvement in the sleep quality score, even after 12 weeks of treatment.

Gabapentin's impact on the sleep quality factor in menopausal women may reflect improvement in hot flashes, stabilization of sleep architecture, or a decrease in the amount of time to transition from wakefulness to sleep, the researchers wrote. It is also possible that gabapentin improved sleep quality by addressing underlying sleep pathology, such as restless legs syndrome.
"We really are not sure which mechanism is responsible, but this study suggests that it does work to improve sleep quality," Yurcheshen said. Read the full article here

What are your feelings?

September Musings & Summer Memories

We've had glorious weather in Michigan and even though Fall doesn't officially begin until the 22nd, I'm already getting "into the mood"! My thoughts are going to cider and cinnamon donuts and my eyes are searching the tops of the trees. Noticed the first colors on a couple of trees yesterday! I also keep an eye on several live cameras from the UP since they turn first. I'll never forget my trip up to Copper Harbor (5 years ago-I think) where I was fortunate enough to catch the tail-end of the fall colors! After that trip I was ready to MOVE up there, but alas, it was not to be. Here are just a couple of the (hundred) pictures I took up there:


This year I spent my summer going to the grandkids' soccer and baseball games.....

















and watching the birds and other critters from my office window:









Since it's only the 3rd of September, I guess I don't really have many "musings" yet! LOL I really just wanted to get my posts started for this month. Everyone is getting ready (in the US for the Labor Day weekend. I plan on getting my Sept. newsletter ready to send on the 9th. If you're not on the list, sign up at www.minniepauz.com/signup

Choosing natural supplements

It's getting very complicated out there when it comes to finding the right products for a variety of health issues from things as serious as depression to just cold medicines. For menopause supplements it's REALLY getting hard! There are HUNDREDS, if not thousands, of products that make claims from "help relieve symptoms" to "cure your menopause". Some really do help and everyone just has to experiment to find what works for them, but Ladies, there is NO CURE for menopause! That's one reason I came up with the phrase "Menopause is not a disease, it's a LIFESTYLE"™

Here's a good example. I've been taking St. John's Wort for many years, not on a daily basis, just when I noticed that I was feeling down too often. I usually felt kind of a lift of spirits within 3-4 days and would then stop taking it. You must be careful if you're taking other medications because SJW can interact with them! SJW interacts with many medications because one of the main active ingredients (Hyperforin) is a potent inducer of the P glycoprotein enzyme, which is involved in metabolizing about 50% of the drugs on the market. This leads to medicines being metabolized by the body more quickly, decreased serum levels of these medications and reduced efficacy."

Then I read this: "According to the research, only St. John's Wort extracts that are standardized to contain 3-5% hyperforin effectively relieve depression, so don’t settle for products that aren’t standardized for hyperforin or standardize only for another, less important compound called hypericin. Also, keep in mind that St. John's Wort usually requires at least three weeks to begin working, and may not produce its full effects for a month or two."

When I looked at my bottle of SJW, I saw that it is standardized for hypericin, not hyperforin. Here's more info to explain this: Not all St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) products are created equal. Unfortunately, most of the brands found on the shelves of your local vitamin shop or health food market will do nothing to help depression or anxiety. Why? Because few products sold in the United States contain a standardized amount of the active ingredient, hyperforin. (Carefully examine products that claim to be "standardized", because most standardize for only hypericin, an inactive ingredient!)

Recent research shows that only St. John's Wort extracts standardized to contain high concentrations of hyperforin relieve depression and anxiety. Extracts not containing significant levels of hyperforin, even when standardized for hypericin and manufactured using accepted methods, work no better than placebo. I've written to Sundown and hope they will respond with an explanation about why their SJW uses an inactive ingredient. I'm sure they will and I still trust their name as much as any of them (not saying how much that is though). I just bought a new product yesterday--Apple Cider Vinegar tablets--made by Sundown. I'll definitely post their response here when I get it.

Now I'm out on the search for OTHER products that need some research! You all can help me out here if you have found something that doesn't do what it's supposed to do or have the stuff it's supposed to have. Just make sure you back it up with your research, ok?

Vitamin D recommendations

I'm finally hearing about something that is obviously SO important...Vitamin D! I've been on a search for the past 4½ years for something to help my skin because of psoriasis, so the issue of vit D has been on my radar for awhile now and I knew that the recommendations were way too low. I've been taking up to 4000 UI per day and today I heard a doctor on Good Morning America say "I recommend 1000 to 2000 international units of vitamin D supplements every day. It's cheap, there are no side effects or down sides. Although D3 is considered more potent and longer lasting, both D2 and D3 are acceptable."

I just had a full blood workup and checking for Vitamin D (which is really not a vitamin) was not even mentioned. Next time I will ASK for that...which is another frustration of mine...if WE know this information and there's so many reports about how people are so deficient in vit D, then why do we have to mention it to our doctors? Boggles the mind considering it's such an important element in our makeup.

Here's a response to the piece on Good Morning America:

5 Ways Vitamin D Could Save Your Life - ABC News: "I am Vitimin D deficient and just taking D3 was not being absorbed. I am now on a very high dose of D3 and having my blood checked to see if I am absorbing it. I was told that most of the D in food products and solid pill form was ineffective. Have your doctor order a blood test to see how much D you need. If you are going to take it, it makes sense to be taking the right amount and the correct type."

Here's a great article that explains all of this, like:
"The skin produces approximately 10,000 IU vitamin D in response 20–30 minutes summer sun exposure—50 times more than the US government's recommendation of 200 IU per day!"

Vitamin D Council | Understanding Vitamin D Cholecalciferol

So, how much did YOU know about Vitamin D?

Am I still middle aged?

Sometimes when we're not paying attention, we slip through one age group to another and I'm really trying to be REAL about where I am. LOL! The last time I was truly certain about what group I belonged in was when I was a teenager! That is clearly defined, but after that we're usually described by our decade--20's, 30's, 40's--then it starts getting sticky!

I guess we'll have to blame it on AARP. They are to blame for all the angst that comes sometime during your 49th year. Afterall, it's a magazine for RETIRED people for cripes sake! How many of you will retire (or have retired) at age 50? Here's my guess--0. Even the people who can AFFORD to retire at that age, don't. That's not what babyboomers do. So many that I know just create an entirely new career. Even I STARTED my business, Minnie Pauz Enterprises, at age 49 so I'm certainly not retired.

Which brings me back to my question. I accepted the fact that I was middle aged at 50because it's the "middle" of almost everything...the football field, the speedometer and the number 100. But, now that I'm 11 years past that mid-mark, I'm getting concerned. Am I falling into the OMG, SENIOR category???? To most in their 20's, 30's and 40's, yes I'm most definitely a senior citizen. To those in their 50's, I think they would be a little more kind considering they're starting to see the short time span between 50 and 60. I'm sure they would consider me still in the middle aged group, right?

Considering the fact that I now am only 9 years (a blink of my bespeckled eyes) away from OMG, 70, I am going to say that I would say that middle age covers from 45 through 65. After all, we DO want to take advantage of all the Senior Citizen Discounts, right? (You know, dicount wheelchairs, life insurance, LOL).

So I guess that gives me another 4 years to call myself middle aged instead of a senior! Whew!!