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Menopause
HOST ON CAMERA
Hello, and welcome to The Art of Women's Health, I'm Juju Chang. Menopause. The word itself can strike fear in the hearts of some women. Hot flashes, hormones, old age, is that what menopause is all about? Not exactly. We're about to meet 3 women who have all experienced menopause in similar ways, but took different paths to come to terms with it.
NAT SOUND
Sydelle Kramer
You there Daly? Just checking on you now.
Sydelle Kramer
My symptoms of menopause began when I was about 50, 51 years of age.
Conjetta Mineikis
At the beginning it's a surprise. You don't really realize it because it comes on slowly.
Dee Adams
And I went through about probably 10 years of what I know now, that were symptoms, without knowing or putting the name menopause on it.
HOST V/O
The symptoms can be difficult to understand. Most people think of menopause as the time in a woman's menstrual cycle ends. But before menopause, or peri-menopause, some women experience the worst symptoms without even knowing it.
Conjetta Mineikis
But I was clueless. I didn't realize when I was peri-menopausal the things that were happening to me; the mood swings and I would get an occasional hot flash and I didn't know what it was.
HOST V/O
Dr. Isaac Schiff from Massachusetts Gen. Hospital helps women understand the changes they are experiencing.
Isaac Schiff, M.D.
Well, I would like to think of menopause as a natural change in a woman, just like going through puberty, is a natural physiologic change. We ought not to think of menopause as an illness.
HOST V/O
Menopause is a big adjustment. Sydelle Kramer of Pembroke Pines, Florida remembers struggling to find what would work for her. After speaking with her doctor and confiding in friends, Sydelle decided to try alternative medicines.
Sydelle Kramer
Well the doctor gave me choice, he said I can either go on hormone replacement which at that time was not really what I wanted to do. So I started with homeopathic over the counter medications, for the hot flashes. Because that was my biggest problem.
But I found that after a prolonged period of time, I was still losing sleep at night.
HOST V/O
After having limited success with alternative medicines, Sydelle tried Hormone therapy. She was concerned though about the risks associated with its use. Combined hormone therapy which uses estrogen and progestin may increase the risk for blood clots in the legs and lungs, stroke and breast cancer.
Sydelle Kramer
Cancer does run in my family so I gave myself a limit. And if it relieves the problem for a year, I'll be happy. And that's the route I went to take.
HOST V/O
For some women, especially those with severe hot flashes, the benefits of hormone therapy may outweigh the risks. It helps reduce symptoms such as hot flashes, which may contribute to night sweats and sleeplessness. Menopause is a time for a woman to pay attention to her physical health, but her emotional health is also being affected. Conjetta Mineikis remembers how menopause changed her body and her mind.
Conjetta Mineikis
The difference that I feel was in my relationship. Umm and my spouse felt that ahh that I was getting old and saw me as someone who was old, that's why I say its very important to discuss these things and work them through with your spouse so that they understand what you are going through emotionally and that they can be supportive. If they make jokes, and say ahh you're just getting old. It really does crash down on you heavy.
HOST V/O
Whether a woman's transition into menopause is easy or tough, she is equally vulnerable to the same risks. Because after menopause her chances of having heart disease increases. Dr. Deborah Smith, an Ob-Gyn who's worked for years in the field of women's cardio vascular disease, says it's important to get screening for any risk factors.
Deborah Smith, MD
Women tend to have a twofold increase in their risk of developing heart disease or heart attacks once they go through menopause.
HOST V/O
In a small town in Michigan, 56 year old Dee Adams is revolutionizing the way people view menopause. She is hoping humor will reduce the kind of anxiety it brings to millions of women.
Dee Adams
And I was never one to be concerned about oh I am getting older. When I turned 30, when I turned 40, even when I turned 50, it was no big deal, I accept it, you know, it's inevitable.
HOST V/O
Using a simple pencil, pen, and plain white paper, Dee is able to express some of the awkward feelings menopause generates.
Dee Adams
Minniepauz came from out of the blue. And I thought that's got to be it, it's a cartoon character name. And there is nothing out there that women my age could relate to in a sense of humor, with a sense of humor. So that's where it started.
HOST V/O
With humorous messages and creative outlines, Dee uses "minniepauz" to inspire women to view menopause as a natural event in their lives.
Dee Adams
I just knew that she had a voice and that there was nobody else out there talking about it. So I started making fun of the things that I was going through
She is like every women, she's got all of the symptoms. You know one person may not have, I may not have, but minniepauz has it all. So everybody can relate to her.
HOST V/O
Menopause is a serious time in a woman's life. Dee's vision is that women will face the challenges with a light heart and an occasional chuckle.
Dee Adams
If you don't take it so seriously you don't worry as much, you don't get depressed, you tackle it, and you feel stronger.
I chose humor to get a message across because it's always worked for me.
HOST ON CAMERA TAG
Doctors say the best way to prepare for menopause is through education. Being aware of the symptoms and learning about the available options may help to reduce the discomfort. Doctors also say for those women who are considering hormone therapy to provide relief, try the shortest duration possible, at the lowest effective dosage, and reconsider, at least once each year, whether hormone therapy is needed.
HOST V/O
After a discussion with their doctor, if women choose to take hormone therapy for relief of menopausal symptoms, experts advise that they take the lowest possible effective dosage for the shortest period of time. And reassess the need for hormone therapy at least once a year.
Host V/O
Lisa Ellin started her search for answers more than ten years ago.
Lisa Ellin
It's very common to feel like you're crazy, and that this is all in your head, when it is a very real pain syndrome.
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