The other day I was listening to a popular local radio show that featured an “expert” gynecologist talking about menopause. What struck me about her was that she seemed to spouting the same medical techno babble that you would expect from an uninformed man. Women were calling in describing the different symptoms they were experiencing. This so-called expert was shooting them down left and right. One of the symptoms were those dreaded “hot flashes”. You know, those “private summers” or “power surges” that for some seemed to be emanating from their legs 
up. This “expert” said it was “physiologically impossible”. I really hate it when a doctor or anyone else for that matter just about calls you crazy when you are trying to describe what your body is experiencing. There are a few things that can trigger a hot flash. For me, if I get really ticked off about something, it can trigger one. So you can imagine by listening to this doctor I was literally “fuming”. Also I discovered that wine is a trigger. Other women reported that “sweets” such as chocolate triggered a hot flash. Wow, bummer!
Anyway, the last caller in the segment asked if there was something that could be done about the weight she was gaining around the middle. This so-called expert told her to watch what she was putting in her mouth – that there were good carbs and bad carbs. The caller sounded bewildered and slightly frustrated. This doctor was a complete idiot!! By this time I was totally infuriated!!! This doctor obviously knew nothing about menopause other than what she had read in some outdated medical book.
If you are Going Thru the Change – Fear Not! You can get to the light at the end of the tunnel. First, you have got to research and read for yourself. Most doctors know very little about menopause. Much of their time was spent learning about your child-bearing years and they know very little about the last half of a woman’s life. In my opinion, a caring doctor would never discount what symptoms a patient is describing. If you say your legs are hot, than by golly you got hot legs! (Remember Rod Stewart’s song “Hot Leg”, anyway I digress.) Secondly, most women experience weight gain around their middles. During menopause estrogen levels decrease significantly. The fat cells in the abdomen most resemble estrogen cells, thus the reason for the ever-increasing middle. It has very little to do with good carbs, bad carbs. If only it was that simple. Thirdly, check out the miracle of adding soy to your diet. Lots of stuff on the Internet about – check it out. I’m going thru the menopause tunnel, but I do see the light!
