Menopodcast Season 2 Episode 9

Julia preparing to leave the country!

Discussing goals we had set for March and how we did. We discuss comfort eating. Something we are EXPERT at.

Talk about eating habits on movie sets. A big part of our lives and careers.

Bible Study - Cultural Catchup

Emotional reaction to this chapter.

The book was written in the late 90’s and the info about how hardly anyone talks menopause and how doctors get very little education on it - half a day is dedicated to the subject. HALF A DAY.

Talk about the history of medicine and how it seems like it takes ages to catch up. And how medicine still focuses research on men, not women’s. We need separate studies!

We learn that menopausal women are not lucrative for Gynecologists. Disappointing!

“Ovarian Failure" is the medical term for menopause.

The idea that doctors can often “gaslight” patients. Telling them how they are wrong about whatever they might be feeling in their very own bodies. Frustrating!

Class and ethnic difference in medical care for women around our country is disheartening

What is a “sugar donut figure”???

Moving on to the sandwich generation, being a parent with kids still at home while now also having to take care of aging parents. Tough place to be when you are going through the change and feel like you might also be coming into your own in your life, starting to put yourself first and then suddenly have to start caring for parents.

It can be super stressful financially to look ahead and consider taking care of parents in their later years and/or planning for our retirement.

Discussion about robotics in Japan helping with the older generation.

There is mention of other cultures and how things shift when women pass through menopause and get older.

Women of color tend to be told to discuss hysterectomy as an option in the older years, as opposed to how to move through menopause in great health.

Coalescence as a goal. Julia’s still fighting the change….Sarah feels more positive.

Next section - People in their 50’s tend to hold on to their youthful image. Julia feels this very much. Trying to let go. Sarah hasn’t let go of coloring her hair. She is quite grey and is not quite ready to let the color go.

We know people who have gone natural grey and have been so happy to be done with all that. And “done with all that” meaning not so much about coloring their hair, but more about letting go of worrying how we look.

Finding passion in your life. Don’t give up now that you are older and about to retire.

We feel like that is not even an option in our lives as we have kids at home for a while!

Women don’t give up on sex as they get older! That is a myth!

BEST QUOTE from the book: “I wasn’t ready to be 50 until I was 52” We both feel this!

Menopause is an in between stage that can be uncomfortable and ugly and a fallow time. Perhaps there is a second adulthood on the other side.

Comment about Gail writing about how every 6 weeks she and her husband go for a long weekend away. Something few of us can actually do!

Quote that spoke to us “I have the courage to take the next step” you have to make progress in life and be conscious and move ahead into new aspects of life. You can’t be stuck.

Good book and even though out of date, still great ideas and things to consider.