Nadine Feldman, Author

celebrating strong female characters and whatever else strikes my fancy

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Guest Post: Living With Pelvic Organ Prolapse

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I would like to introduce Elizabeth Carrollton, who wrote the post that appears below. While I’m not a medical person, I am happy to share any information that can affect the health of women in my age group. Thanks to the good folks at Drugwatch.com, including Jasmine McCarthy, for visiting my site and offering to share their expertise!

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In the United States, as many as 50 percent of women between the ages of 50 and 79 will be diagnosed with a condition called pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Diagnosis is even common in much younger women. As women move through menopause, their estrogen levels decrease. This decrease in estrogen reduces collagen production – causing connective tissues to weaken. In the case of pelvic tissues, this weakening can deplete the structural support that holds pelvic organs in place. If tissues weaken enough, pelvic organs will shift down toward the pelvic floor. While this condition is in no way life threatening, in its most severe form, it can be uncomfortable or debilitating. However, the majority of women with POP will only experience mild to moderate symptoms, and can often find ways to live with POP without the use of surgical intervention.

Living with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

One of the most common treatments for women with moderate to severe POP is surgery. However, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have made it clear that surgical intervention for POP should only be used in cases where anatomical corrections are the only solution for debilitating symptoms.

Otherwise, women and doctors should rely on the most conservative treatments available to adequately reduce the symptoms. This is because one of the common surgical treatments for POP that uses transvaginal mesh devices. This vaginal mesh product has been linked to thousands of cases of serious and irreversible complications. In fact, multiple transvaginal mesh manufacturers have discontinued their products.

Conservative Methods for Treating Prolapse

  • Lifestyle Choices. In addition to pregnancy and childbirth, smoking and obesity are also links in more severe cases of POP. Women should focus on eating a well-balanced diet, getting regular exercise, ceasing unhealthy habits, and maintaining a healthy weight target in order to reduce the strain on weakening pelvic tissues.
  • Pelvic Physical Therapy. Kegel exercises can be done daily to strengthen the vaginal walls and the pelvic floor. Strengthening these muscles can help to prevent organs from prolapsing further. If a woman has been diagnosed with POP, or the condition runs in her family, she may want to seek a physical therapist for a list of other exercises which can help to promote pelvic floor strength. Electrical stimulation can also be used to manually exercise weakened pelvic floor muscles.
  • Vaginal Pessaries: The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends the use of a vaginal pessary for women who have more moderate prolapse symptoms. These devices are custom shaped and fitted according to the woman’s body and symptoms. When inserted properly, and used consistently, a pessary is very successful at providing support for the pelvic floor, preventing organ prolapse, and reversing incontinence. Many women have found that vaginal pessaries prevent the need for surgical interventions.

While surgical intervention can be successful in treating severe cases of pelvic organ prolapse, where the uterus has begun to prolapse into the vagina, most women find that their symptoms can be managed using non-invasive and less risky treatments.

Elizabeth Carrollton writes to inform the general public about defective medical devices and dangerous drugs for Drugwatch.com.

 

http://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/News_Room/News_Releases/2011/Statement_on_FDA_Patient_Safety_Communication http://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0501/p1111.html http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/UroGynSurgicalMesh/ucm262299.htm#treatmentoptions http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm262435.htm

Book Tuesday: Feeding Your Demons

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When we remodeled, we created a small room intended to be a guest bedroom. We had planned to put in a trundle bed. However, when we rerouted our heating system, we had to place the door in a different spot, making it impractical for a bedroom. Yes, if we need to, we can put in a cot of some kind, but for now we have made it a reading room, with two comfortable chairs and a lamp table in between.

Today I stopped joking and used the room for that purpose.

I’ve written before about how I work with fear, depression, and anger — I prefer to “dance” with them, or “invite them to tea.” However, lately that’s been easier said than done. A recent interpersonal conflict has disrupted my work, and I’ve held so much tension in my jaw that I broke one crown and dislocated another tooth (yes, I’m getting a mouth guard). It’s been a painful experience in the midst of an otherwise idyllic life. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything more about it than that. Let me just say that some people have WAY too much time on their hands.

I’ve taken appropriate action on a practical level, but I’m more concerned with what’s going on inside of me. How can I dance with this? How can I take this situation to tea? I can’t change the actions of others. I can, though, change my response. I can find inner peace. This time, though, I need a little extra help!

Enter Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict by Tsultrim Allione, which provides a five-step meditation technique known as Chod.

Allione is a former Buddhist nun who runs a retreat center in Colorado. Like me, her life was cracked open, and its trajectory radically altered, after the death of a child. Like me, it took her three marriages to find her true partner. Reading her words, I find the wisdom of someone who has “been there and done that,” who understands my inner challenges.

I went into my reading room and, iPad next to me, went through the five steps. Even with having to look at the instructions, I still had a profound experience. Here’s a summary:

  1. After breathing in the method prescribed in the book, I examined the “demon” I wanted to work on. I chose Fear, a dominating force in my life. In the conflict I mentioned, which has escalated, my greatest fear is of having my actions misunderstood and misinterpreted, then communicated to others.
  2. I “personified” the demon, which appeared to me as a fragile glass/ice man. He was translucent, pale blue, and afraid to move — much like people whose bones break easily.
  3. Asking the demon a series of questions, I discovered its need for protection and strength. He expressed a sense of separation from me.
  4. I imagined myself “feeding” the demon, which came in the form of rosy energy coming from my heart. As I did so, he transformed into a handsome, vibrant young man with clear blue eyes and porcelain skin. I asked and confirmed that he was my ally.
  5. Then I asked the ally a series of questions about how he would help and support me. He offered to alert me when something was wrong, but also to provide the strength of healthy “male” energy. He said that all I needed to do to access him was to look into his eyes.
  6. Next, I sat in stillness for a few minutes to integrate the experience.
While I don’t know yet how this meditation will help me vis a vis my current dilemma, I did feel stronger and more grounded after the meditation ended. At any rate, I think this method can be profoundly effective.
Allione also notes how we can use journaling, artwork, and partners to facilitate the process. Feeding Your Demons provides not only detailed instructions to the method (much more than I’ve outlined here), but also a series of examples of how it works in peoples’ lives. If you’re looking for a useful technique for releasing stress and emotional pain, I highly recommend this book.

 

 

Blog of the Week: Snack Girl

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I guess food and weight are on my mind this week. After a couple of weeks of travel, plus a few more weeks of hanging out downtown to avoid the remodeling, I am back up a few pounds. Why is it so hard to lose the weight, but so easy to gain it back? This week I have returned to the Weight Watchers online program from which I had strayed, counting my points and measuring my portions. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: when I measure portions I eat less but feel more satisfied. Funny how that works!

Losing weight, for me, is about maintaining health. In my case, family genetics don’t allow me to get away with any extra weight — we are cholesterol prone, with a nasty history of early heart attacks and strokes, and I want to stay off medication if at all possible. So far I’ve been successful, but a few extra pounds here and there caused numbers to creep up a little.

If you’re a snacker, I invite you to check out Snack Girl. Snack Girl offers a variety of ways to enjoy snacking but cut the calories way down. Visit the site, and you’ll get plenty of recipe ideas as well as thoughtful blog posts. In fact, the other day while discussing Cinnabon alternatives, she made sure that the Cinnabon photos were in black and white — just a small way of reducing temptation!

And here, because I’m feeling abundant today, is a bonus recommendation:  Right after I had decided to recommend Snack Girl, I ran across a blog post by one of my fave bloggers, Bella, at One Sister’s Rant. Reporting from the world of fashion, Bella has alerted us to a new term “fatkini.” It’s frustrating that we women are still hating ourselves and our bodies and using derogatory terms to describe ourselves and our clothing. I’m all for health and maintaining healthy weight, but let’s be kind to ourselves, shall we? Go visit Bella and her pooch, Roxy Lee, and show them some love.

It’s a gorgeous day on the peninsula. I’m leaving the crazy remodeling noises to get a nice, long massage today! I hope you all have a great weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Tuesday!

Love to Eat? Three Books About Food

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Apple-Rhubarb Pandowdy, from Local Flavors by Deborah Madison

One of my readers, SuZen, commented on my recent “Woman Up” post.  She wrote, in part, “…The Food Industry and the whole issue of GMOs (genetically modified) is all but being ignored by most of the population who naively believe the government that food safety laws are in place for their “protection”. Women not only give birth, but feed and nurture. Wouldn’t you think that they would wake up to dangers of consuming most of the crap in the grocery stores? Women, of ALL people, should tune in to this, start demanding better labeling, boycott brands that are phudes. We vote with our pocket books – but we are not!”

Like SuZen, I am troubled by our system of industrialized farming. It creates so many problems on so many levels, from energy waste to animal cruelty.  Even the nutritional values of what author Michael Pollan calls “Frankenfoods” is appalling compared to those of fresh, local food.

I suspect that many people are still unaware of the problems with GMOs, in part because the industry is so successful in its marketing efforts. I remember being surprised the first time I tasted a farmers’ market carrot. It was as though I had forgotten how a carrot was supposed to taste! I’ve also tended to hold my nose when eating greens, because I haven’t been fond of them. Now, eating chard from my garden and kale from the market, I’m in love with greens, because they’re filled with flavor!

There are a lot of great books out these days about growing and making healthful, nutritious food. I’ve chosen three to write about today that approach the subject matter from different but complementary angles.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

A friend recommended this book to me, and I’m so grateful! I knew of Kingsolver as a novelist, but I didn’t know that she was a woman after my own heart. AVM is part memoir, part food education, and part recipes. Written with her husband, Steven L. Hopp, and daughter Camille, Kingsolver takes us into a year in their life. They have uprooted from Tucson to live in Appalachia.  For a year, they agree to eat only locally produced food, including that which they grow in their own garden. While Kingsolver provides thoughtful reflections, Hopp discusses the facts, the science, and the benefits of eating in this manner. Daughter Camille provides additional reflections and recipes.

One update since this book was printed in 2007:  Kingsolver wrote that Territorial Seed, a seed company, purchased some of its seeds from Monsanto. Since I had bought some seeds from Territorial (before learning that our local farmers’ market sells organic seeds), I worried that I had unwittingly put some pennies into Monsanto’s pocket. Apparently Monsanto had bought a seed company that was a source for Territorial, but Territorial has since terminated that relationship.

The Three Season Diet by Dr. John Douillard

Dr. Douillard suggests that the reason so many fad diets don’t work long-term is that our bodies are seasonal. He says that we need more  greens in the spring to cleanse our bodies, carbohydrates in the summer when we’re more active, and proteins and fats in the winter. He provides evidence for his rationale, along with substantial food lists and recipes. He says that the more we eat on a seasonal basis, the more our bodies will naturally respond and start to desire the foods that are right for us.

I don’t particularly care for all the analysis of other diets that he includes in his book, but there’s good stuff in here, and hubby and I are moving more and more to seasonal foods. Since we are now buying virtually all our veggies at the farmers’ market, it’s easier to do. Right now, in my fridge we have kale, mustard greens, chard, spinach, lettuce, and kale raab. I’ve also been making a lot of nettle soup, though there were no nettles at the market this week! I guess their season is coming to a close.

But for some really good recipes, and an enticement to eat seasonally…

A lovely seasonal souffle made with all-local ingredients. Yep, it tasted good, too!

Local Flavors by Deborah Madison

If you’re like me, you don’t always know what to do with all these yummy foods. Madison to the rescue! In this stunning book filled with stories and information about farmers’ markets, Madison provides mouth-watering ideas for preparing local foods. Like that pandowdy photo? I grew up in Illinois picking and eating raw rhubarb — I love its tart taste! The sweetness of apple offers a nice counterbalance.

Big changes don’t happen overnight, but if you begin to buy organic where possible, especially at a farmers’ market, or even grow a tomato plant in a pot or herbs in your kitchen window, you’ll be helping yourself, your family, and your planet. Bon appetit!

Okay, this isn’t food, but the Supermoon the other night was awesome, and I had to share!

Exercise On The Go

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Staying active is essential as we reach midlife and beyond, and I am always looking for new ways to work out, especially when we’re traveling. Lately we’ve shuttling back and forth between Houston and Washington state in preparation for our move. Staying on an exercise regimen is particularly challenging during this time, with the stress and disrupted routine, so having easy access to a variety of programs makes life much easier.

I think I have mentioned Fitness Class before, which is an iPad app that allows me to take exercise with me. My favorite instructor is Ellen Barrett, with her mind-body approach to aerobic and strength conditioning.

I’ve also discovered an exciting website that I wanted to share called My Yoga Online. For less than the price of a single yoga class, you can watch yoga videos, choosing from a variety of class lengths, difficulty levels, and goals. At home in Washington, I may choose a gentle class in the afternoon after the workday is over. Here in Houston, since I don’t have my free weights to do my strength training, I’m choosing power yoga, which allows me to use my body weight to build strength. My Yoga Online gives me the flexibility (pun intended) to choose the best class for me on a given day.

In addition to the classes, you can read articles and plug into the community. Now, if you’re new to yoga, I would still suggest taking some classes from a teacher to learn proper alignment, but if you are comfortable with yoga and want a variety of classes for your home practice, give My Yoga Online a look.

Happy exercising! I’ll be back next week, reporting from Washington while I wait for my furniture to arrive! Have a great weekend!

 

Weighty Issues

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Some years ago, when my grandma was getting on in years, she started to lose weight. I had remembered her as carrying some extra pounds, but she was never fat or obese. When she lost weight, she also lost perspective and couldn’t see that she was getting too thin. If anyone told her of their concern, she accused them of jealousy.

Maybe some of you at midlife and beyond think it will never happen to you, but do a search on “anorexia at midlife,” and you’ll get a surprising number of hits. Apparently the quest for perfection doesn’t end in the teenage years.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been on a weight loss journey since mid-December, and I often think of Grandma in these past few months. While I have needed to lose some weight (we have heart disease in the family, and my cholesterol was slightly elevated), I want to stay in balance and not try to get too thin. I’ve been doing Weight Watchers online, and it’s been a blessing on many levels. One is that I HAVE to eat a certain amount every day, which keeps me honest. I’m also re-evaluating my goal weight and deciding what is “good enough.”

This weight loss journey has brought up a myriad of feelings and fears. I guess I thought that those were for people with a lot of weight to lose, but I’ve had quite a roller coaster with the 12 pounds or so that I’ve lost so far. Anyone relate to these?

1.  How do I handle ________ (fill in the blank — Valentine’s Day dinner, kid visit, funeral food)?

The real dread is that I’ll fall off the wagon completely. One big dinner could turn into two or more, that slippery slope into relapse and weight gain. Lately, though, this hasn’t been a problem. If I’m going out to eat and the restaurant has a website, I check the menu and go in with a plan. If they don’t, I can divide my meal in half or more. If we’re getting pizza, I load up on veggies and have one slice, not the whole durn pizza.

2.  I’m afraid I’ll gain the weight back overnight.

This has been weird. On Weight Watchers, we have discretionary “points” that we can spend during the week. Hubby and I enjoy a “date lunch” on Wednesdays and a dinner out on Saturdays, and I make the rest of our meals at home. When we are out, I still have to remind myself that it’s okay to enjoy myself, that having a pleasurable meal does not mean I’m going to instantly gain weight back.

One reason is that I’ve had a lot of trouble losing weight in the past few years. My thyroid was off-kilter for a while, we traveled a lot, and after I crossed 50 my metabolism went south along with other body parts. My success of the past few months has been a pleasant surprise, and I’m pinching myself. My new mantra is, “What I’m doing is working.” I have to remind myself of that a lot so that I can enjoy our dining out, that building in some treats within reason is important.

3.  I’m learning that less is more.

When I first started measuring my portions (a big reason, I believe, as to why I’m succeeding now), I would look at my meager plate and say, “Where’s my dinner?” I decided that I could get a larger helping if I really wanted one. Funny thing is, though, that smaller helping is always enough. Always. In fact, I don’t have those extremes of being either stuffed full or ravenous. Instead, I’m nicely full until the next meal.

4.  Moving and Not Moving

I’ve been active for years, so the thought of exercising more seemed impossible. Instead, I’ve made a few adjustments. I walk more for mental health than exercise, and have stepped up the aerobic activity through exercise videos. Since my writing work is sedentary, I try to do some movement in the afternoon as well as the morning. I also use weights a few days per week, to build muscle mass and therefore improve metabolism. I’m working toward those Michelle Obama arms!

That said, I notice that I have to make myself take two days off per week. After years of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I have to find a middle way of exerting myself, but not too much. Even now, having been symptom-free for years, if my heart rate gets too high I have a little “crash.” I usually take Thursdays and Sundays off from exercise (unless I want a walk or some gentle yoga).

5.  Depriving Deprivation

One thing I’ve learned about myself is that if it ain’t fun, I ain’t doing it for very long. Some diets are so boring they make me want to cry. We love good food, and deprivation doesn’t work. Fortunately, we love our veggies, and our meals are colorful, interesting, and delicious as well as healthful. Eating a healthful diet is always more pleasurable than junk food.

6.  Taking the Slow Road

While it’s fun to watch the numbers go down on the scale, I’m taking a leisurely approach. Last year I took a few sessions from a personal trainer, but I felt like he was pushing me to lose faster than I wanted. Losing weight slowly, I am getting used to being a smaller person again. Yes, it’s an adjustment. Sometimes we’re scared of hitting that ideal weight — we’re afraid of attracting attention or having to change our identities in some way. It’s odd to see that thinner person in the mirror.

This journey has been rewarding, even the scary parts. I’m getting closer to my goal and am enjoying the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. In the past, maintenance has been hard for me, mainly because I’ve gone “on” and “off” of diets instead of making a lifestyle change. I’m learning that there’s no “there” to get to. Once I hit the magic number, it will take gentle attention to stay there — and that’s what I hope to keep in mind. Not pushing, forcing, straining, judging, or beating myself up…just some loving care. Some days I’m better at it than others, but I’m learning. Day by day, I’m learning.