How Do  You Know When You’re Done Having Kids?

Our real woman on health patient, Tracey, explained to us last week on our radio show that she wanted to be able to enjoy her two children – a boy and a girl – and with both her and her husband working, “we decided that we had enough with 2 and felt very blessed”.  Tracey has some unique insights that will help women, moms, step moms, consider when enough is really enough.  At 37, Tracey is typical and as she puts it “in good company” with the majority of women over 40 who do seek permanent birth control.

What women must know about advances in birth control today:  

1. The biggest obstacle to choosing any kind of birth control seems to be the number of options – there are over 17 different birth control options – and understanding how they are different from one another is important.  Luckily, there are only two truly “permanent” birth control options, and only one of the two options is “surgery-free”.

Here’s a handy list so you can see how how permanent birth control stacks up against the other options.  For example, barrier methods, like an implantable IUD, or a condom, aren’t really permanent and less effective than a true “permanent” option of which there are two:  tubal ligation (surgery to “tie your tubes”) and a surgery-free option, non-hormonal (no estrogen or other hormones).

2.  Permanent really does mean permanent with this surgery-free birth control option.  Once you go ahead with the procedure, you can’t “untie” the tubes without more surgery so you must be sure you are DONE having kids.

3.  You must talk to your ObGyn and ask these questions, about this surgery-free birth control option.

TALK WITH US!

UPCOMING ON-LINE RADIO SHOW THIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 12TH @12:30 PM EST. 

JUST DIAL 1-646-929-2625 TO LISTEN OR TALK WITH US!

ARE YOU A WOMEN’S HEALTH OR MOMMY BLOGGER? WE HAVE CONTENT FOR YOU TO USE, INCLUDING A LIVE INTERVIEW WITH DR. AMY BRENNER, OBGYN, (NOMINATED WOMEN-OF-THE-YEAR BY CINCYCHIC)

Our Real Women on Health On-Line Radio Conversation Sponsored by Conceptus, maker of Essure.

In fact, many women feel invisible in the media and have a difficult time finding women like us. How do you feel about that? Do images of younger women flood your brain when you’re at the movies, reading magazines or looking for new clothes?

What about sleep? What keeps you from getting a restful sleep? What’s changed for you?

Take a listen and add your own tips here. We’d love to know what your own strategies are around beauty, sleep, sex and more…

Many people mistakenly believe that beautiful eyes and seeing well translates to good eye health.

But, as women, our own vision can be compromised by “presbyopia” as well as other age-related and environmental conditions that create dry eyes, itchy eyes and watery eyes.   For example, in menopause, women may experience dry eyes that, if not treated, can affect the quality of vision as well as comfort and quality of life.

Although it’s hard to put your own health first, you shouldn’t have to “put up with” discomfort in your eyes or strain in reading.  It’s definitely worth seeing an eye doctor to explore what the cause and treatment might be.

If an annual eye exam has not been on your “wellness list,” you might want to book your eye doctor appointment and while you’re at it, book one for your children.

Did you know that about 20 percent of children develop nearsightedness—the most common eye condition requiring vision correction?

Good vision is critical to children’s development, so once you’re at the doctor,   make sure you save time and ask about the best vision correction options for your kids.

If your child is eight years of age or older, contact lenses may be a good choice and your eye care professional can help evaluate if it’s the best fit.

The benefits of contacts for children extend far beyond just improved vision. Studies have shown that children who wear contacts feel better about their physical appearance, athletic ability and social acceptance compared with children who wear glasses.

So, now that you know,  get your calendar out and book your child’s eye exam today!

Join us as optometrist Dr. Mary Lou French gives us the inside scoop on why you need to have your eyes examined regularly, the latest in contact lens options for you and your children, and tips for keeping everyone’s eyes healthy and safe.

When:  Wednesday, October 6th @12:30 pm EST

How to listen:  Go to our on-line radio show to sign up for an account – OR – just listen in via phone.  Dial 1-646-929-2625 at 12:30 pm EST.

The show will last for about a half hour…we’d love to hear your voice so just chime in with a question or…say hello!

When I invited Lori and Sheryl to contribute to our Real Women on Health! community, I was struck by my naivite about talking to a loved one or friend who is coping with a cancer diagnosis.

But,  that’s no longer.

I was with  my dad when he was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, a rare leukemia that is partially curable with Gleevec.  In last month since his diagnosis, I’ve struggled to find a way to talk to him about anything…without being overly concerned or too dismissive, too humorous and too serious.

I’m feeling like there’s no perfect way to talk to a loved one or friend and much guilt about my own apparent health…. at least for today.

So, it was with relief when Sheryl Kraft outreached to me to see how we could collaborate on an upcoming radio show on how to help a friend with cancer.  As a breast cancer survivor of many years and women’s health writer and advocate at HealthyWoman.org, Sheryl was enthusiastic about helping friends talk with their friends who might have just been diagnosed..or are in the throes of a long, active treatment cycle for any type of cancer.

Sheryl suggested we contact Lori Hope, Lung Cancer Survivor, and Author of “Help Me Live:  20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know”.

Always the filmmaker, one of Lori’s first thoughts after being diagnosed with lung cancer was, “I should make a documentary about this.”   When her therapist urged her to deal with the disease first and worry about documenting her journey later, Lori dropped the idea. But soon after, when a well-meaning friend said something to Lori that made her extremely anxious, and when people continually asked her whether she had smoked, and regaled her with tragic stories about people who had died of lung cancer, she revised her thought somewhat: “Someone really ought to write a book about what people with cancer need others to know!”

About nine months later, Ten Speed Press publisher Kirsty Melville took Lori’s seminar on documentary production at Bay Area Video Coalition in San Francisco, and asked Lori whether she had ever considered writing a book. After several meetings, Help Me Live started to come to life.

Published by Celestial Arts, an imprint of Ten Speed Press, Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know, tells intimate stories of words and actions that have made a tremendous difference to people with cancer. Designed to help caregivers, friends, and loved ones of cancer patients and survivors communicate more effectively and compassionately, Help Me Live does not prescribe behavior, but encourages compassion, respect, and listening.

Download this podcast/radio show with Kelley Connors as she speaks for 45 min with Lori and Sheryl.  Do share your story, your own struggles and your own victories with us on our Facebook page!

A recent New York Times article, “My Brain on Chemo, Alive and Alert”, held my feet to the fire to recognize the routines in my life I sometimes abhor.  Only good health affords us the priviledge of ignoring gratitude and bliss in favor of blurred images of how we spend our precious time here.

That’s why, when Marisa at HealthyWomen told me about Mary Beth Maida, a breast cancer survivor, and her book, “Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls”, I knew I had to bring her story to you all.  Like Lisa Martinez says, “we are all survivors of breast cancer” since we know more women each year who are diagnosed with this condition, threatening to affect one in eight women over a lifetime.  That’s way too common but the good news is that more women are surviving today, based on earlier diagnosis and earlier, better treatments.

With that said, women’s health research shows and personal experience magnifies the fact that personal empowerment is absolutely key for women surviving breast cancer.   Enter Mary Beth and her partner Debbie Kiederer, a dynamic and passionate duo who have just launched Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls – the first-ever community dedicated to women who want to look and feel their best while they deal with the side effects of cancer treatment.  They believe that every woman dealing with cancer deserves to look and feel as close to normal as her energy and her spirit will allow.

Marybeth Maida is a journalist and breast cancer survivor who has worked in television, film and web for more than 20 years. She is Chief Operating and Strategy Officer for Public News Service, an independent, state based network dedicated to producing news in the public interest; President of the Beauty Foundation for Women’s Cancer Care, and vice president of the Red Bank Borough Education Foundation. Marybeth lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.

Debbie Kiederer is a 25 year veteran of the retail cosmetics industry, a digital strategist, and Founder and Principal of ChalkDust Consulting. She is an executive board member of the Hunt Hill Farm Trust, Skitch Henderson’s Cultural Center; an advisory board member of the New Canaan YMCA Diving Parents’ Association; board member of the Beauty Foundation for Women’s Cancer Care, and a
member of Cosmetic Executive Woman (CEW) and the Metropolitan Executive and Professional
Registry. Debbie lives in New York with her husband and children.

Join us on September 26th at 9:30 am EST for our on-line health salon and radio show “Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls” with Mary Beth and Debbie and bring your friends.   Support for our friends and our family members surviving breast cancer is what Real Women on Health! is all about!

Do you know any women who’ve told you they have epilepsy?

Probably NOT!

Like breast cancer or multiple sclerosis, it’s not a club we ask to join…but, instead, make new choices to thrive alongside our own wellbeing journey.

Called the brain’s “electric storm”,  it’s more common than breast cancer and more ubiquitous than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy combined.

I had the priviledge of coming across an inspiring young woman succeeding with epilepsy named Marion Clignet.  A 25-year old from Maryland, she’d been diagnosed three years before and told she couldn’t drive, so she put her passion into cycling and, over a decade, won six world titles, two Olympic silver medals and competed in more than 180 races worldwide.  Marion proved to be the “I can do it” gal and has been an inspiration to other women like her.

And she’s one of millions of women who are either patients themselves or caregiving for others with epilepsy.

To help highlight how women affected live fulfilling lives as patients and mothers, HealthyWomen created an inspirational and educational video series,  Women Succeeding with Epilepsy with support from UCB, Inc. HealthyWomen’s program is being promoted in conjunction with Epilepsy Advocates.

Through this educational campaign you can learn how the disorder can affect reproductive life, pregnancy and menopause.  You also can watch videos of Veronica C., a 30-year old with epilepsy who describes her life in high school and tips for living on your own, and Amy W., mother of Spencer who was diagnosed at birth, is now 11, on the student council, taking up golf and living life with a smile.

Trust me, these women’s stories are worth listening to — you can’t help but feel anything’s possible!

Thanks to HealthyWomen, Voted by Dr. Oz as his favorite women’s health web site, for sponsoring this on-line radio show!