Menopause Expert PJ Hamel shares Menopause management news and commentary at MyMenopauseConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746 http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746 http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/28566/hot-treatment Thu, 22 May 2008 09:36:00 -0400 PJ Hamel Has menopause has got you down? The emotional swings, the crazy menstrual periods, the feeling that your mind is a blackboard that's just been wiped clean. The long nights, restlessly tossing and turning in bed. And, oh yeah - how about those hot flashes?   Hot Flashes - The Killer Menopause Symptom (that Won't Kill You)   Hot flashes are one of the truly irritating side effects of menopause. They're not going to kill you... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/28566/hot-treatment http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/28365/menopause-issues Tue, 20 May 2008 10:46:00 -0400 PJ Hamel Q. Since I've started going through menopause, I'm really not in the mood for sex very often. And even when I am, it's painful! What's going on?   A. Loss of sexual desire and painful intercourse are two hallmarks of menopause. The villain is your body's lack of hormone production. Your ovaries' and adrenal glands' production of estrogen and progesterone diminishes over time; and, while it takes longer, eventually testosterone... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/28365/menopause-issues http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/27884/menopause-ahhhh Wed, 14 May 2008 18:50:00 -0400 PJ Hamel After months of sleeplessness as a result of menopause, it was a long haul working my way back to healthy sleep patterns. I never took drugs; I'm one of those women who tries to avoid drugs at all costs, preferring to rely instead on time being a healer, and working the mind-body connection. I have nothing against drugs (besides their high cost), and take them when required; I would never eschew antibiotics for the occasional strep throat.... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/27884/menopause-ahhhh http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/27867/3-modification Wed, 14 May 2008 16:32:00 -0400 PJ Hamel About a year after entering menopause, I fell into a pattern of wakefulness that began to interfere with my life. I never had problems going to sleep, but staying there? Another issue. I'd go to bed at 10 p.m., awaken at 11, go back to sleep at midnight, wake up at 2 a.m., and again at 4 a.m...   That morning, I would feel like I'd been working all night, and some days I was barely able to drag myself out of bed. Even on days when I... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/27867/3-modification http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/27848/menopause-sleepy Wed, 14 May 2008 13:55:00 -0400 PJ Hamel Many of us go through sleep deprivation during menopause, and sometimes for years afterwards. Worry, a distressed body, age, declining hormone levels, all contribute to sleeplessness. Surprisingly, many women don't report sleep issues to their doctors; apparently figuring it's just "part of the deal" of aging, they choose to suffer silently.   Doing Something About Sleeplessness   Maybe that's not such a smart choice. Many... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/27848/menopause-sleepy http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/27845/menopause-crowd Wed, 14 May 2008 13:44:00 -0400 PJ Hamel As I write these words, it's 5 a.m. I was up till 1:30 a.m. working on tax documents and college financial aid forms. Hmmm, 3 1/2 hours of sleep - sound familiar?   "How can you get by on so little sleep?!" That's the question many of my friends pose to me, friends who A) haven't been through menopause, and B) are still in their 30s, that wonderful decade when the main thing disturbing your sleep is a hungry baby.   Me, I... http://www.healthcentral.com/menopause/c/16746/27845/menopause-crowd