I like this quote!

"Why should we think upon things that are lovely? Because thinking determines life. It is a common habit to blame life upon the environment. Environment modifies life but does not govern life. The soul is stronger than its surroundings."
- William James

Don’t Believe Those Menopause Myths

Several of the common menopause "myths" are disected in this article from the Menopause Blog. Check it out and have a great Sunday!

Massage for menopause :: Can it help to ease the journey?

Interesting blog post----click here to read about it. I am not a fan of massage (I have a bad back and I am very, very picky about who I let touch it), but a lot of my friends say a massage is very soothing and relaxing---and we can all use a little more relaxation this time of life, can't we?

What is BHRT?

From Learon.com-----this article gives a quick overview of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Most of you who have been readers of this blog for a while know this, but we have some new readers and this is a good, quick read. Have a great holiday weekend, everyone!

Menopause: Ups and Downs and Reaching Acceptance

Now that I am hormonally balanced---I love no longer having menstrual periods and I feel great. However, many women see menopause as an ending (fertility, family changes, changes in sexual well being), so this article from Empowher may spark some disccussion....click here to read it. What do you think, is menopause an up, down, or "just is" experience for you?

If you (or someone you know) takes Fosomax----

Take a look at this article in the NY Times----it's something to be aware of and talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Estrogen Supplements Not As Effective As Claimed

This is important reading, because many peri/menopausal women are taking supplements (sometimes expensive supplements) that may or may not be effective. It's something to be aware of----especially in this economy when money is tight for so many. Click here to read more from RedOrbit.

How to use vitamin D to fight swine flu

We're hearing so much right now about the H1N1 flu----and it's well established that Vitamin D plays a role in boosting immunity. This article from foodconsumer.org (written by a physician) discusses how Vitamin D can help protect you in flu season.

10 Natural Sleep Tips

From Christine Fee on the Huffington Post website----an article that outlines 10 tips for natural sleep (pun intended, natural sleep is something a lot of peri/menopausal women dream of). Nothing earth shattering in this article, but good reading and reminders of little things we can do to help restore restful sleep. I found that eliminating caffeine after about 1 pm (I used to be a voracious Diet Coke drinker right up to bedtime) helped me, as does melatonin nightly. Sweet dreams!

September is Menopause Awareness Month

I had a notice this morning in my email inbox telling me that September is Menopause awareness month-----it struck me funny but maybe it's because for me, researching this blog---every day is menopause awareness month! Here's a link to the North American Menopause Society, but fair warning---they are not advocates of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

100 million women in the prime of their lives have endometriosis

I was struck by some of the material in this morning's article from Physorg.com----while the article talks about the loss of productivity and sick days as it applies to women suffering from endometriosis----much of the financial issues in the workplace could also apply to women suffering from menopause symptoms. Something to think about---even if only half the women in the US who are dealing with severe menopause symptoms were able to access bioidentical hormone therapy, imagine the number of reduced sick days, fewer doctor visits, less cost for medication----it could realize a significant savings in medical costs.

Class Claims Solvay Pharmaceutical Sold Unapproved Menopause Drug for 45 Years

If you took Estratest, you might want to check out this article.....

Semenya's testosterone levels 'three times the level of average female'

This story about Caster Semenya, the 18 year old track star who so outran her competition in a recent track meet that whether or not she is female has come into question has sparked several questions from blog readers. This article about the situation popped up in my email this morning. The line in the story that caught my eye was the one that said testosterone levels in females can vary widely----which is why, if you are considering bioientical hormone therapy, you go through a reputable practitioner to get your hormone levels checked.

How Long Does It Take For BHRT To Start Working?

I get this question all the time, for me, the progesterone started working within a few days, but it's important to note that EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT! I know it's very scary when you try a new protocol like bioidentical hormones. When you feel terrible, you want to feel better fast, but understand that hormonal balance is somewhat of an art and a science, and it may take some tweaking of your doses to get the optimal regime for your body. I ran across this article from a site called hr:Handbags (Canadian site)----good reading.

Sixty percent of adults can't digest milk

I don't know about you, but so many women, and not just the ones I correspond with about hormonal care, have mentioned to me that they can't drink milk. Well, it turns out that about 60% of adults really can't digest the lactose in milk----and we've all heard of lactose intolerance. Right now this is a big deal because the medical community is hot on Vitamin D deficiencies (and any of you regular blog readers know that Vitamin D really isn't a vitamin, it's a prohormone). Check out this article in USA Today----and don't forget to take your vitamin D today.