Living Well Etc.

  Diet and Exercise is my Fountain of Youth Menopause is a major life change for women.   Some welcome it, as it means the end of the dreaded monthly visitor.   Nevertheless, some mourn , viewing it as the end of their youth.   No doubt, menopausal women are not as youthful as we once were, but this can be the best time of our lives.   So true, except for that one enormous elephant in the room.   That elephant can be us due to the typical weight gain associated with menopause.   My experience is slightly different than most because I am also saddled with a chronic disease that limits my activities .   Combine the natural weight gain many menopausal women face with the neurological damage of multiple sclerosis and I could become that elephant quite easily.   Yet, I am not.   Why?   Follow me and I will share all my secrets.   Move that body! Even though my form of MS is a chronic progressive type, which chips away at my...

  My doctors informed me that my waning sex drive and painful intercourse is normal for a postmenopausal woman.  Eager to change my fate, I turned to my computer for help.  Most sources agree that due to lowering hormone levels sex drive decreases, the vagina thins, and it loses its natural lubrication causing painful intercourse.  Conversely, many also state that postmenopausal women tend to have a great sex life.  Armed with this confusing information, I decided to revisit my doctor. What Are My Options? I tend to be open, assertive, and direct with my doctor.   She knows me well, well enough to know I will not take unnecessary drugs.    Still, her job includes mentioning pain-reducing alternatives, which boiled down to hormone replacement therapy or water-soluble lubricants.   Hormone replacement therapy is a short-term option due to possible side effects.   With my personal history of breast cancer, we both felt that the consid...

Autoimmune Diseases, Menopause, and Young Children...oh my! A good night's sleep is imperative for those of us with autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. Sleep interruptions can cause an immune system response worsening our symptoms.  Nevertheless, quality sleep is extremely important for those with healthy immune systems as well.  Interestingly,  women  are most apt to be sleep deprived.  Why and what can we do about it?  Read along to find out. Why is sleep important? According to the  National Institutes of Health uninterrupted, quality sleep is like a magic pill, protecting us mentally and physically.  They even point to the quality of life and safety issues, in that with inadequate sleep we could cause an accident, increase our chances of disease, or cause friction in our relationships.  Additionally, our immune system uses sleep time to heal the body; we are better equipped to fight off infections....

  Hot Flashes, Mood Swings, Menopause...Oh My! How a change of life brought my husband and me closer I've had it with menopause!  OK, I've said it.  I've gone through the hot flashes, the mood swings, – oh boy, were those fun – the weight gain, and the fuzzy thinking.  Now, as I'm reaching the end of this sweaty, teary menopausal road and into my postmenopausal years, I wonder if there is a silver — besides my hair — lining waiting for me.  After all, aren’t we told that women over 50 enjoy life more because they've reached their best years?  Uh-huh.  So far, I’m not so sure.  Here's my experience with the menopausal cycle, or as I prefer to call it: my life on the evil roller coaster from hell .  First, Comes the Fire From Within I remember the day so clearly.  To celebrate a special anniversary , my honey and I decided to dine at our favorite restaurant.  It was a sp...