Newsletter No. 58

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Spring 2015 No. 58

The
Menopause
Gang

Our Motto is…we will survive…

Time For Reflection
By Ellen
The Recipe:
I can’t even tell you when it happened exactly but I do know I’ve lost
it. How do I know this? Because I hinge on things of which I have
no control, to ensure I remain unhappy/wanting what is wanted...left
wanting. I thought I deserved the quiet misery of laying the bricks in this realm of invisibility, strong arms holding people up so effortlessly they would forget I’m even here, working so well in the shadows. I’m afraid for
the light to hit my face. Yet somehow I am still unsatisfied, no one else can see me.
“Recipe for happiness”...ah...there’s the note I was looking for.
It all has to do with the turmoil and upheaval I’ve experienced this past year, great highs and devastating
lows. Emotionally being caught with my mind gelled. All I can do is defend myself with the easiest (and familiar) coping skills I know. Not really coping skills, but a bed of thoughts I use to keep myself adrift so I don’t
drown...must learn how to swim. Like a ping-pong ball that keeps ping-ponging against that brick wall. It
makes me feel like I might be going crazy. I don’t like that feeling...doubting one’s self is never a pretty thing.
It’s time for some emotional housekeeping.
I have too much to do to keep chasing my tail for people, things to whom I’m insignificant...was my time far
too valuable? As I was once reminded, no one owes me their time.
Getting rid of the clutter that makes it easy for me to fall into the familiar and unwanted patterns. I’m a person
of value and deserve to be treated as such. Those who refuse to see that will be clearly reminded or
worse...lose out on me all together.
I’m dedicated and loyal, but there comes a point if I have to walk away for my own peace of mind, I will completely disengage. I have to...because investing in someone or something, I don’t do it halfway. When I love
that person or that thing, it becomes a fiber of my entire being. This would be great if people could reciprocate, but it rarely ever works out that way. It’s the curse working its magic, to love more than be loved. The
ultimate control over those things we can never ultimately control.
I’m too old to continually get caught up in these destructive, co-dependent relationships: It’s unsettling for being needed to substitute for being wanted, so much as it scares me.
Cont’d on Page 8     
 

 



Inside this issue
Time for Reflection………………………………
Table of Contents………………………………..
Tales from Trish………………………………….
Please Pass On This Important Information….
Lines from Caroline……………………………...

Our Motto is…we will survive…

 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 

Bda Cancer & Health Center Home Page.……

 6 

Divine Natures And Inspirations………………..
Time for Reflection (Cont’d from Cover Page)..

 7 
 8 

Tales from Trish (Cont’d from Page 3)………...

 8 

Menopause Corner

Menopause Moments…………………………...
Younger/Early Onset Alzheimer’s & Dementia

 8 
 9 

Time for Reflection: Thank you Ellen for sharing your inner
thoughts. Someone will certainly gain insight from your article.

Leaky Gut Syndrome……………………………

10 

—— 
Tales from Trish: Having lived in Bermuda myself for almost
forty years, I can attest to Trish’s article about these little creatures.
—— 
Lines from Caroline: Caroline is teaching us how to read labels
on juice cartons to make sure we pick the right ones.
—— 
Divine Nature and Inspirations: Good news is a confidence
builder. Monica is challenging everyone to see the benefits of
Bermuda hosting the America’s Cup in 2017.
—— 
Younger/Early Onset Alzheimer’s & Dementia: A quick guide to
finding out about this wide spread disease that can also affect
middle-aged people.

Lise Fox — Publisher
The Menopause Gang Newsletter
Contact: (441) 297-0928
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.themenopausegang.com

—— 
Leaky Gut Syndrome: You might have experienced it for years
but have never been able to get a true diagnosis. It opened my
eyes.

Editor
Carole Sousa

Contributors
Caroline Ivaliotis
Monica Jones
Trish Wan
Ellen W

Disclaimer:
The information set forth in this pamphlet is not in ANY way (either written or implied) to substitute for and/or give medical advice. It is only intended to “share the emotional aspect of going through menopause”.
The Publisher

 

 



Our Motto is…we will survive…

Tales from Trish
Tree Frogs Rule
Whilst we lived in Bermuda as expats, I wrote detailing our exploits to friends and family, some of whom suggested, “Why don’t you write a book?”
I certainly don’t have the patience to write a book, my style being more conducive to the short story or articles
drawn from experience. My ambition in high school (decades ago) was to become a journalist, however this
was akin to attempting to prove to my family that I wanted to marry Prince Charles or climb Mt Everest, so
inevitably I became a secretary, wife and mother — perhaps safer occupations than dodging bullets or less
tedious than reporting social events and weddings.
So I lived as a singleton in Australia, England and Canada, settling down in Sydney, where after 30 years
working in telecommunications, my spouse’s reward for hard work and longevity was a transfer to Bermuda
for a little over five years. The move fortunately consolidated our retirement funds, but unfortunately burnished our grey hairs.
The aforementioned friends also posed the question, “How do you stand it, living on such a small island? Isn’t
it too quiet?” Purposely misinterpreting that word ‘quiet’ many noises surrounded our rental home on Middle
Road: the persistent hum occasionally emanating from electricity supplier, Belco, three giant air condensers
thoughtfully placed beneath the bedroom windows, the water pump switching on and off but also protesting
loudly when it felt unwell, the pool pump, the gurgle of water gushing down interior drainpipes during torrential
rain, midnight sirens and screeching types of speeding emergency vehicles, drivers’ honks when passing
friends, and two dogs whose kennel was adjacent to our master bedroom window. Nights were punctuated by
the simultaneous deep, sad ‘woof woof’ of the large, elderly dog, and the excited, energetic ‘yap yap’ from the
smaller breed. We did, nevertheless, become accustomed to Bermuda’s background barcarole.
The most penetrating noise, though, was from tree frogs, synonymous with Bermuda, whose tiny bodies are
no larger than a little finger nail, will dry up and die after accidentally straying into the house, make good fodder for ants and at sunset begin a nightly chorus continuing until the wee small hours of the morning.
I was somewhat aware of tree frogs during a five-day stay at the long-gone Castle Marriott Hotel and Hamilton Princess in 1998. Their din was conveniently subdued by the thickness of each hotel’s walls, but the
sound can penetrate double-glazed windows, and is similar to the racket made by cicadas and crickets during
Australian summers.
Believe it or not, the seasonal chime of these tiny frogs can be heard as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Contacting colleagues and family by phone was not simple due to the 15 hours time difference, but Antipodeans receiving phone calls made at midnight from Bermuda hear a high-pitched chirp dinning down the
line, like a maddening case of tinnitus. Trust is stranger than fiction!
Naturally, our conversations were elevated to a shouting match during occasional dinners on the terrace,
though, inevitably the winner was the unabated chirruping. After we retreated indoors, the tree frogs’ white
noise also determined television volume.
We strained to hear the muted questions of
the off-screen interviewer during the local
evening news: the interviewee was often
seated in a green wing chair, one of which
we’d also purchased at Castle Marriott’s
closing sale. By noting whether their head
was above the back of the chair or at some
point below it, we could guess the interCont’d on Page 8     
 

 



Our Motto is…we will survive…

Mandatory Reading — Please Pass On This Important Information:
On Wednesday, Dr. Oz had a show on the fastest growing cancer in women — thyroid cancer. It was a
very interesting program and he mentioned that the increase could possibly be related to the use of
dental x-rays and mammograms. He demonstrated that on the apron the dentist puts on you for your
dental x-rays there is a little flap that can be lifted up and wrapped around your neck. Many dentists
don't bother to use it. Also, there is something called a "thyroid guard" for use during mammograms.
By coincidence, I had my yearly mammogram yesterday. I felt a little silly, but I asked about the guard
and sure enough, the technician had one in a drawer. I asked why it wasn't routinely used. Answer: "I
don't know. You have to ask for it." Well, if I hadn't seen the show, how would I have known to ask?
We need to pass this on to our daughters, nieces, mothers and all our female friends and husbands
tell your wives!! I just did, now you send it on to your list. Someone was nice enough to forward this
to me. I hope you pass this on to your friends and family.

Contact Tracey Caswell 
to purchase these books at: 
Email: [email protected] 
 

(A friend sent this email to me.)

 



Our Motto is…we will survive…

Lines from Caroline
Has Your Juice Been Spiked?
You may be surprised to see what the words on a juice container in the supermarket mean...and why you might rethink the brand of
juice you buy.
Juice from “concentrate” is simply fruits and veggies that have been heated down to syrup and diluted with water. During this process
many of the nutrients and flavor are lost. Producers add chemicals to enhance the taste of the juice.
Juice from “concentrate” is simply fruits and veggies that have been heated down to syrup and diluted with water. During this process
many of the nutrients and flavor are lost. Producers add chemicals to enhance the taste of the juice.
Juice that is labeled “not from concentrate” is juice that has been deoxygenated and stored in vats for up to a year. To replace the
flavor that is lost in this process, chemical “flavor packets” are added to the juice.
Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are living organisms whose generic material has been artificially manipulated in a lab using
genetic engineering. These GMO’s are created to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Examples
of GMO ingredients often found in juices are citric acid which is not made from citrus but genetically engineered from corn, sugar
beets and high fructose corn syrup created from GMO corn. GMO’s are added to juices to prolong the expiration date of the product.
GMO’s may be linked to autoimmune diseases and allergies. Presently, GMO labeling is not required by law. Therefore the consumer
must be aware of ingredients listed on a product label that may fall into the GMO category.
Synthetic ingredients sometimes have names that sound like they could be a natural substance but are indeed chemicals created in a
laboratory. Examples include Inulin, a synthetic food used to increase fiber and fructooligosaccharides used as a fiber and sweetener.
Some very bright rich colored juices have attained their enticing color by being tinted (or is it tainted?) with petroleum based artificial
food coloring.
Pasteurization is another heating process performed on juice. While it removes bacteria, mold and other unwanted microorganisms, it
destroys much of the raw enzymes, minerals and vitamins found in juice.
So how can the juice industry process their product as mentioned yet label their products as high sources of vitamins? You guessed
it...they create synthetic vitamins and add them to the juice. There are vitamins in the juice but not natural vitamins that the human
body can synthesize and benefit from.
Luckily there are some healthy juices you can buy in the market. Juices worthy of consuming should have labels with jargon like organic, raw, cold-pressed and or high pressure processed (HPP). These juices can be pricey but they are worth every penny.
To avoid consuming unnecessary pesticides juices should be organic. Produce labeled “Organic” are fresher and tastier and have not
been sprayed with hazardous chemicals. Cold-pressed juice is a very healthy choice. The fruits and veggies are ground into a fine
pulp and pressed. All nutrients from the pulp remain in the juice.
High Pressure Processed (HPP) juice is considered a very
safe juice option. Instead of using heat, cool pressure is applied to bottled juices. This juice processing method can extend the shelf life of the product without destroying the juices
vitamins, enzymes and nutrients.
Investing in a juicer and creating your own juice is always a
healthy option; unfortunately it is time consuming and organic
produce is not cheap. Product brands to shop for when selecting high quality juices are Suja Juice, Luna’s Living
Kitchen and Viva Raw. Reading and understanding the words
on labels will help you make good juice product choices.

 

 



Our Motto is…we will survive…

BERMUDA CANCER & HEALTH CENTER HOME PAGE

 

 



Divine Nature And Inspirations

Our Motto is…we will survive…

By Monica Jones

There’s been a lot of excitement in our home about the America’s Cup. When It was first announced, I had an ear infection and was lying in bed. My husband came rushing up saying: “WE GOT IT! “Got what?” I asked. The America’s Cup in
2017! Oh. Right. I’d forgotten about that!
He wasn’t making any effort to contain his excitement. He and my son Matthew have already got a tentative charter for
the event.
He explained that he’s been following the America’s Cup since he was a little boy. He used to cut out photographs of the
sailboats in the America’s Cup and put them in scrapbooks. He loves boats. He loves paintings of sailboats.
And one of the reasons I like painting sailboats is because we did do one ocean crossing together on my uncle’s sailboat
‘Pie Crust’ when I was about 25 years old from Bermuda to Newport Rhode Island. It was quite the adventure and I could
write a few stories about that journey.
When we got to Newport, we saw the 12 metre sailboats that used to feature in the America’s Cup. The competition was
held in Newport Rhode Island for years and years before it started moving around the world.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this event. I’ve had to work hard within myself to detach from my own “stinking thinking”
about how some people will use this event as an opportunity to expand complaints. I don’t listen to the radio talk shows,
but when I hear the odd snippet, or read the newspaper blogs, all I hear is the words that I sometimes feel are like a national mantra. It says: “There’s nothing in it for me”. When I hear this I feel like I do when I encounter an unflushed toilet.
It repulses me and I want to flush and retreat as quickly as I can.
Then I feel hopeless and frustrated. Hopeless, because I feel powerless to say or do anything to make the situation better. Frustrated, because I see so much potential in so many people.
And when I hear those words, I often want to put a grip on the person. Give them a shake or a slap and say: “You’re so
much more than this!”.
I’m reining in my frustration as best I can. I’m putting my energy, my heart and mind into a vision of us making a community effort to embrace with joy this wonderful event. Of all of us participating in some way to making it the best event we
can.
My challenge to myself and to anyone who doesn’t see the personal benefits, is to
go out and research, search and find the benefits that will exist for all of us. And if
anyone needs some help, I have quite a few ideas, so contact me if you’re stuck.
Let it be a confidence builder. Good news. Let it bring each one of us hope. It’s just
as joyful to see someone really loving something as it is for the person loving the
event!
We all benefit from enthusiasm, realism and confidence building. These energies
create more of the same.
No, I’m not a boat lover. But I love to paint boats because my husband loves them
so much and I love him.
Today and every day, expand the horizons of your joy and let them continue to get
bigger and broader as you travel through this journey that is called life.

Monica Jones is a Bermudian artist and writer. Monica paints in pastel, charcoal and encaustic. She lives in
Bermuda with her husband Arthur (lifelong sweetheart and supporter) and three ducks. Monica has three children, two grandchildren, a son and daughter-in-law and grew up in Paget, Bermuda.
Contact info: email [email protected] if you would like to receive regular newsletters from the author and
be added to the mailing list.
Cell: 441-332-2753…Website: http://www.monicajonesartist.com
Copyright Monica (Smith) Jones

 

 



Our Motto is…we will survive…

Time For Reflection  Cont’d from Cover Page 
I think I wanted to be wanted because when people cease to need you, then you’re right back where you
started. You’re still drowning in unrealized expectations.
Worse, it leads me down very unwanted detours where ceasing to care about things that need to be cared
about...such as my health or my wellbeing. I know I am in a very dangerous position.
The Plan:
To concentrate on doing things that have purpose. I need to economize my emotions and stop wasting time
on things that are hopeless. It’s hard for me to let go of hopes and even people, but if it’s not going to boost
me up, then it’s only going to drag me down. There is too much to do in this life to be weighted down. No
more drama, especially the kind that I bring on myself.
The Recipe is to lighten up in every sense of the word. It’s time to reclaim my ‘happy’. I thought I had used up
all my allotted amount, that it could not possibly be limitless. As much as I’ve tried to give it away to other
people, I am the only one who can control it.

Tales from Trish Cont’d from page 3 
viewee’s approximate height, a nonsensical game
that enlivened our viewing pleasure. As interviewees were allowed to speak for as long as they desired, without being bothered by such a thing as another question, I’m curious to know whether the interviewing style has developed over the years, if the
green chair had been replaced — and in whose living room our green chair now resides?
We learned to love these miniscule noisy critters,
and because they spoke to us of ’Bermuda’, obviously tree frogs rule!
MENOPAUSE MOMENTS:
You get out of your rental car and inadvertently press the panic button on the key fob. The car is honking and you can’t
shut it up. This goes on for a while. You’re pressing everything you can think of, nothing happens till your daughter
comes out, grabs the fob and presses the ‘Panic’ button. Noise stops. The End….
You pull a sweater off over your head on the plane when you arrive at
your destination. You forget your reading glasses are sitting on top of
your head. You’re not paying attention so I’m sure the glasses flew off
somewhere and you didn’t notice. Where are they when you need them a
little while later???
You go to your favorite coffee shop and order your favorite java. You give
them your name so they can write it on the cup. It’s very busy so you patiently wait. Eventually they call out your name and you’re not paying attention. After five minutes it finally registers that they have already called
your name...embarrassed!
 

 



Our Motto is…we will survive…

Younger/Early Onset Alzheimer’s & Dementia By alz.org
(I just read the book ‘Still Alice’ by Lisa Genova. I thought I would bring this subject forward as women going through
menopause have an issue with brain fog. This is not to be confused with early onset Alzheimer’s or dementia. You may
even have to deal with a family member going through this).

Alzheimer’s is not just a disease of old age. Younger-onset (also known as early-onset) Alzheimer’s affects people
younger than age 65. Up to 5 percent of the more than 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s have younger-onset.
Who gets early onset Alzheimer’s?
Many people with early onset are in their 40s and 50s. They have families, careers or are even caregivers themselves
when Alzheimer’s disease strikes. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 200,000 people have early onset.
Diagnosing early onset Alzheimer’s
Since health care providers generally don’t look for Alzheimer’s disease in younger people, getting an accurate diagnosis
of early onset Alzheimer’s can be a long and frustrating process. Symptoms may be incorrectly attributed to stress or
there may be conflicting diagnoses from different health care professionals. People who have early onset Alzheimer’s
may be in any stage of dementia — early stage, middle stage or late stage. The disease affects each person differently
and symptoms will vary.
If you are experiencing memory problems:
Have a comprehensive medical evaluation with a doctor who specializes in Alzheimer’s disease. Getting a diagnosis
involves a medical exam and possibly cognitive tests, a neurological exam and/or brain imaging. Call your local chapter
of the Alzheimer’s Association for a referral.
Write down symptoms of memory loss or other cognitive difficulties to share with your health care professional.
Keep in mind that there is no one test that confirms Alzheimer’s disease. A diagnosis is only made after a comprehensive medical evaluation.
Causes of early onset including genetics:
Doctors do not understand why most cases of early onset Alzheimer’s appear at such a young age. But in a few hundred
families worldwide, scientists have pinpointed several rare genes that directly cause Alzheimer’s. People who inherit
these rare genes tend to develop symptoms in their 30s, 40s and 50s. When Alzheimer’s disease is caused by deterministic genes, it is called “familial Alzheimer’s disease,” and many family members in multiple generations are affected.
Impact on your family:
Learning about the unique challenges of living with younger-onset is the first step in understanding the impact the disease will have on you and your family. While this may be difficult for you at first, it can help relieve some of the anxieties
and fears you may have about the future, and allow you more time to focus on things that bring you joy. While each family experiences the impact of younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease differently, there are common issues:
Stigma:
There are many myths, misconceptions and stereotypes about Alzheimer’s disease. Because of your young age, people
may not believe you have the disease, may question your diagnosis or dismiss it. Stigma can have a significant impact
on your well-being and quality of life. It may cause you to withdraw from your relationships and become isolated. Don’t
fear stigma, fight it instead.
Plan for your future:
Prior to your diagnosis, you may have been saving for your retirement. As someone in the early stage of the disease,
you have the ability to put critical financial and legal plans in place. Be confident about the decisions your family will need
to make on your behalf when it becomes too demanding or unsafe for you to make your own decisions.
Talk with your family or consider speaking with a financial planner and an attorney.
 

 

10 

Our Motto is…we will survive…

Leaky Gut Syndrome By Matt McMillen (WebMD Feature)
What should you know if you think you have leaky gut syndrome.
“Leaky gut syndrome” is said to have symptoms including bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities, aches and pains. But
it’s something of a medical mystery.
“From an MD’s standpoint, it’s a very gray area,” says gastroenterologist Donald Kirby, MD, director of the Center for
Human Nutrition at the Cleveland Clinic. “Physicians don’t know enough about the gut, which is our biggest immune system organ.”
“Leaky gut syndrome” isn’t a diagnosis taught in medical school. Instead, “leaky gut really means you’ve got a diagnosis
that still needs to be made,” Kirby says. “You hope that your doctor is a good-enough Sherlock Holmes, but sometimes it
is very hard to make a diagnosis.” “We don’t know a lot but we know that it exists,” says Linda A. Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center. “In the absence of evidence, we
don’t know what it means or what therapies can directly address it.”
Intestinal Permeability: A possible cause of leaky gut is increased intestinal permeability or intestinal hyperpermeability. That could happen when tight junctions in the gut, which control what passes through the lining of the small intestine,
don’t work properly. That could let substances leak into the bloodstream.
People with celiac disease and Crohn’s disease experience this. “Molecules can get across in some cases, such as
Crohn’s, but we don’t know all the causes,” Lee says. Whether hyperpermeability is more of a contributing factor or a
consequence is unclear.
But why or how this would happen in someone without those conditions is not clear. Little is known about other causes of
leaky gut that aren’t linked to certain types of drugs, radiation therapy, or food allergies.
Unsolved Mystery: Leaky gut symptoms aren’t unique. They’re shared by other problems, too. And tests often fail to
uncover a definite cause of the problem. That can leave people without a diagnosis and, therefore, untreated. It’s crucial,
Kirby says, to find a doctor who will take time with you and take your concerns seriously.
“You may have leaky gut and we may be able to treat what causes it,” Kirby says. “If you have something going on, it is
incumbent upon the medical community to listen to you.” Unfortunately, Lee says, not all doctors make the effort to get at
the root of the problem, and that’s what frequently sends patients to alternative practitioners. “Often, the reason they
have resorted to alternative medicine is because of what they have been told and how they have been treated by other
practitioners,” Lee says. “We need to listen.”
Treatment Without Research: In her clinic, Lee combines conventional medicine with evidenced-based complementary
therapies. But with leaky gut, she says, the evidence — about what causes it and how to treat it — has yet to fully accumulate. This is something that is essential for patients to understand. “We are in the infancy of understanding what to
do,” Lee says. “People who are making claims about what to do are doing so without evidence.”
For example, many web sites offering information on leaky gut, recommend taking L-glutamine supplements to
strengthen the lining of the small intestine. Lee says that theoretically makes sense, given glutamine’s role in intestinal
function — but there is no research to back up such claims. “There’s no evidence that if I give you a pile of glutamine
pills, that you will improve,” Lee says.
Lifestyle May Matter: Treating the underlying condition, such as Crohn’s or celiac disease, will often resolve symptoms
associated with the condition. But without a firm diagnosis, a doctor’s hands are often tied by a lack of evidence. Diet
likely plays a big role in having a leaky gut, Lee and Kirby agree. So if you have symptoms of leaky gut, you would do
well to see a gastroenterologist who is trained in nutrition.
Chronic stress may also be a factor, Lee says. “You need to tend to your stress, whether through medication or meditation. That’s what you need to focus on.”
Lee says that lifestyle modifications, such as those that reduce stress and improve the diet, may be among the best
ways to treat leaky gut, particularly when no underlying condition is identified. “Chronic health problems are so often due
to lifestyle, and we don’t have pills for those,” she says. “We’re talking about the way we live and the way we eat.”
 

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