Estrogen Issues

Scary Poppins. Weeping Beauty. Atilla the Hungry. Lois Pain. Minnie Pause.

All of these women are experiencing the results of “estrogen issues.” Gertrude Grumpy showed up at my house the other day and I got out the calendar as I wondered “what are YOU doing here?!” Sure enough, her visit was predictable if not welcome. I read a lot these days about estrogen and progesterone imbalances. I know that when estrogen is high, B-Complex is low in the system so I try to eat better and take a B-Complex supplement. I haven’t met Minnie Pause yet but deal with her cousin Perri Meanie with an herbal formula called Natural Choice.


Laughter is always good medicine, and Saturday Night Live is offering free laughter here:

7 Ways to Know if You Have "Estrogen Issues"

1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.
2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.
3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.
4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.
5. You're using your cell phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: "How's my driving-call 1-800-"
6. Everyone seems to have just landed here from "outer space."
7. Your brain went on a trip to outer space

I found one website that sold a PMS flag. A very unnecessary accesory if I've ever seen one!

Rebel with a Cause

There’s a rebel hiding in me. My mother could testify to this for sure. I’m sure my husband could also add a testimony or ten. I rebel selectively, and one thing I tend to rebel over is the medical system. This is a good and a bad thing. Let me explain.

The rebellion is seated in the fact that I think our culture deifies doctors. As in we tend to think they are all knowing, all powerful and hold our lives in their hands. Furthermore, doctors are trained to think linear. Western medicine primarily provides answers along the lines of drugs and surgery. I have a problem with this. Don’t get me wrong, I respect doctors and their education and there are times when I will run to them immediately (i.e. broken bones and such). I also think that in our lawsuit-happy culture, our medical system orders all kinds of tests that cost a gazillion dollars and are preventing the doctor from getting sued, rather than helping me toward better health.

I also think that each of is given wisdom from God as to what our body needs. Of course actually listening is the challenge. I also believe that many answers are found in methods that other cultures tuned into centuries ago, like chiropractic, homeopathy, nutrition and herbs. All that said, I resist conventional health paths. I’m either an intellectual or fruitcake, depending on your perspective.

Bear with me, I’m getting to the story.

When my sibling was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago, I was told to immediately go have a very unpleasant screening procedure. Didn’t go. Moffat Cancer Center contacted me to participate in a study that was designed to motivate siblings of people with colon cancer. I participated in the study to get the $50 gift card but didn’t go. All along, I told family and medical folks I would go when everyone is supposed to go, when I turn 50.

Yesterday, I went. It wasn’t quite as bad as the procrastination had built it up to be. And it did cost a gazillion dollars, which I would have loved to spend on something pleasant. But I’m so glad it’s behind me now. My rebellion was temporarily tethered. I am super thankful that I got an absolutely clean bill of health and attribute that to God, not anything I’ve done. In parting, the doctor said, “I’ll see you back in 5 years.” And I’m, thinking, “You better make that 10.” Snicker.

Don’t Breathe!

This Daffodil was feeling smashed last night. When I mean smashed, I mean literally. I went for a mammogram yesterday. The only funny part is that the technician would totally compress my body in this gigantic woman-eating machine and then say “don’t breathe”. Like I could if I wanted to. I Googled “blogs, mammogram” to see if anyone had found anything funny to say about the procedure. I was humbled and sobered that all of the entries I found were from people who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. So I don’t want to be negative about such an important preventive procedure. I guess I’ll just put it in the category of my least favorite things, which would include any procedure that involves pain or blood. I’m a bonafide wuss. I knew this to be true early in my life when I fainted when I got my ears pierced. No kidding. I almost fainted when I watched Cupcake (youngest daughter) get hers pierced. I passed this tendency along to Uncommon Blonde. Her story could be repeated with many variations by the two of us.

An interesting note is that I had 3 babies that all weighed more than 9 pounds without any anesthetics and thought that was fine. My theory is that is a natural process so that makes it okay. I guess the quote I mentioned last week, “the pain of discipline is better than the pain of regret” comes into play again with yesterday’s experience. I wonder if that will be a theme of this new year. Oh - can't forget to be very grateful that my report was normal! Thank God!