|
Larrian:
Susan, how and why did you start HotFlash?
Susan:
I started HotFlash! my perimenopause/menopause web site and online
support group about 3 years ago. After finding myself at age 36
not sleeping, having hot flashes, and being very grumpy (where normally
I'm a pretty happy person) I knew something was wrong with me.
As
a nurse I conjured up all kinds of horrible diseases. When I couldn't
nail down what was wrong with me I went to the Internet. My search
lasted about 6 months until I finally found some information about
perimenopause. Up until then I had never heard of it. I was both
thrilled and angry when I realized that I was in perimenopause.
Thrilled, because now I knew I wasn't dying from some terrible disease,
but angry because no one every told me about this. I thought after
4 years of college and a degree in nursing one of my teachers would
have
mentioned it.
I
then began to look for books about perimenopause. Boy, there was
so little information. I only found 2 books and I devoured them.
Armed with some information I went to see my gynecologist. I was
amazed when he patted me on my head head and told me not to worry
about this, that it would "go away" with time. I couldn't
believe the lack of interest and
more importantly lack of information.
I
then vowed I would do my best to help women get the best and most
up to date information about perimenopause and menopause. I also
vowed to take them seriously, that they would have place to feel
validated. The lack of good, usable materials also propelled me
to do this. Another big force was my realization that if I, as a
nurse, had such a hard time learning what was wrong with me what
about all the women who are not in the medical field? What would
they do? How would they know about perimenopause?
At
the time I was editing and writing for my newsletter Mom to Mom.
I started including small articles about perimenopause. I quickly
found from all the e-mail that I received that there was a huge
interest in this topic. I wrote more and more about the health challenges
that women face during this time of transition. My husband and I
decided that since we were putting out so much information about
perimenopasue and menopause to create its own web site. Thus the
birth of HotFlash!.
Larrian:
What kind of response have you gotten from women?
Susan:
The response to HotFlash! has been overwhelming. Our support group
now has close to 500 members. This number doesn't even begin to
reflect how many women have joined HotFlash! the support group.
Over the years many women, after learning how to manage their lives
during perimenopause, leave and live their lives, for better. I
always ask them to remember the other women in their parts of the
world, their neighbors, co-workers and family members who may not
know about perimenopause. I strongly encourage them to reach out
and help them get on the path.
Our
web site has a tremendous amount of visitors every day. Along with
interviews with the best and the brightest in the field of perimenopasue
and menopause I include easily printable charts and tools that women
can use to help them chart their perimenopasue journey. I also include
all the latest therapies, natural and prescription for perimenopause
relief, the most common signs and symptoms and a whole lot more.
The site contains many articles relating to the very real and potentially
serious consequences of perimenopause and menopause like osteoporosis
and heart disease.
One
of the most common letters I get is from women who feel like they
are "losing their minds". They know something is wrong
with them and feel they are slipping away. These women really touch
me. There is nothing more frightening then feeling so alone and
scared. They are afraid to tell their loved ones because they think
they are crazy. They are afraid to tell their health care provider
for the same reason. So they suffer in silence. This is the worst
possible situation. HotFlash! the support group goes a long way
to alleviate this loneliness, in fact many women have said that
while physically they are still flashing and not sleeping, they
feel better because they know they are NOT alone. This for me is
the best part of HotFlash!, "Women helping women."
Larrian:
You focus on several diseases important for women to understand...
ovarian cancer, MS... what problems do you see women wanting to
discuss?
Susan:
Women
have many health issues that are important to them. Osteoporosis
or "brittle bone"disease is a very common topic. They
see their mothers, aunts and neighbors getting the "hump"
or breaking bones like the wrist or the hip and they get concerned.
Luckily there is a lot that can be done to prevent osteoporosis,
we have found that education empowers women to make smart health
choices.
Weight
is a very important issue during perimenopause and menopause. Larrian,
you have done a tremendous service for women in your books, The
Menopause Diet and your cookbook. Up until very recently women have
not understood the connection between
perimenopause/menopause and weight gain. Thanks to your books women
are becoming familiar with the way they need to eat after age 35
to keep weight down.
We
talk a lot about how autoimmune diseases like MS (multiple sclerosis),
thyroid disease and diabetes are affected when hormonal changes
occur during perimenopause and menopause. When you consider that
of ALL the autoimmune diseases women account for over
80% of them, this is a very BIG health issue. There has been much
research recently about the hormone connection and women's autoimmune
diseases.
Larrian:
How
do you see the internet helping women? Their health? Their families?
Susan:
The Internet has revolutionized how women and their families will
receive their health care. They will and are becoming much better
consumers. They learn about what could be or is happening with their
bodies BEFORE they see the doctors. This is invaluable. Now a days
with
doctors facing so many time constraints it's vital to come "prepared"
to your doctor's appointment. This will not only will save time
but help the doctor get to the heart of the problem, in the end
the patient benefits.
I
also strongly recommend that women do all the reading and research
they can about perimenopause and all health concerns. The Internet
really makes this possible. We have access to the same medical information
as our doctors do, this is fantastic. The Internet also allows for
people to get the support and communities that they need when going
through a health crisis. No where else can this happen. You can
immediately "talk" via e-mail to others who have had a
similar health situation and get answers and opinions. The only
down side to the Internet is to be careful about the information
you receive. It's very important to be able to decipher the actual
from the "snake oil." One guiding principle that has always
helped me and I share with my HotFlashers is if it's too good to
be true then it is. I feel very strongly about women taking responsibility
for their health care. They need to do the same work in the health
as what they do, for let's say researching a new car. It's that
simple. This time and effort is well worth it and women deserve
this consideration.
My
latest project is OSP- ovarian screening project. This an awareness
campaign to educate women about what they can do for early detection
of ovarian cancer. Our focus is transvaginal ultrasounds and how
they can catch this monster before it's too late. Most of the ovarian
cancer in this country is caught too late because women are not
getting this test when symptoms start to show up. Better yet, we
are advocating regular TVUs as part of a woman's regular gynecological
exam- catch the horse before it leaves the barn.
Projects
like HotFlash! and OSP are designed to help women help themselves.
I am often gratified and amazed at the power of women and what they
can do to change the system and help each other. I feel very fortunate
to be able to reach out and talk to women from all
around the world.
And
I want to thank you Larrian, for being one of those special women
out there trying to blaze the trail for good health and a good life.
Visit
our Message
Forums!
Would
you like to share this site with a friend? If so, simply Click
Here.
|
