Although I don’t have children in my household heading back to school, September still evokes a feeling of new beginings.   The lazy days of summer are transitioning into the bustle of fall and the coming winter. This is a perfect time to take advantage of opportunities to learn something new, connect with old friends or make new ones.   Invest in yourself.  Studies have shown that people who have more interaction with others are healthier and happier.  Learning keeps your brain and memory sharp.  Doing something enjoyable is good stress relief.  Below are a few ideas and resources.

Take a class.  Look through those catalogs you have been getting from your local community college, city school system and recreation department.  They are full of interesting “enrichment” classes.  Skills ranging from yoga, bird watching, palm reading to a variety of arts and crafts are yours for a phone call and small fee.  Many have senior citizen rates.  There are  day and evening courses and even on-line courses.

Program for Women: Science for a Healthy Brain. Sponsored by  Henry Ford Health System Neurology Department, this is a series of three programs.     Physican speakers will address topics near and dear to the heart of menopausal women, so consider attending. There is no charge.   From 6:00 to 7:30p.m. at Fairlane Health Center, Dearborn.  September 11 topic is Sleep, October 9 is Mood, and October 30 is Memory. Call 313-916-8088 for more infomation and to reserve a spot.  See you there.  I’m already signed up.

Attend a retreat.  No matter what your religion or beliefs, retreat houses generally welcome everyone.  St. Paul’s Retreat house in Detroit is a lovely oasis with many programs for women.  They have a day long program  called “Women in Midlife-A Mosaic of Transitions.  It is designed for nurses and offers CEUs but is open and appropriate for all.  A donation of $70 is suggested.  Go to www.passionist.org/stpauls  or call 313-535-9563 for more information on this or their other programs.

Click the link on the right.  Henry Ford Health System has numerous programs and events, most free.  Go to site and click on Henry Ford Classes for a calendar.  In addition to the Menopause support group information you will find programs for weight management, back care and more.

What other ideas or resources have you discovered and enjoyed in your community?  I would love to hear about them.

written by Deborah McBain, CNM MSN

As a certified nurse-midwife I not only take care of pregnant women, I care for women throughout the life-span. Routine annual exams, urinary tract and vaginal infections, irregular periods and menopausal complaints often find their way to my clinic exam room. Many of my patients are experiencing the challenges of menopause. “ Listen to Women “ has been a motto used by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and that is what I have done for over ten years. What I have heard behind closed doors has been an amazing education. The same skills that allow me to midwife women through the changes of pregnancy and childbirth are also appreciated by women during the changes of menopause.

With more and more baby boomers reaching this certain age, the expectation for knowledge and support is growing. Self-determination, when it comes to making health care decisions, has been this generation’s Modus Operandi. We are after all, the generation that revolutionized obstetrical care, making childbirth education and natural childbirth commonplace.

And so onward we travel. Experiencing a need personally and through my patients, I became credentialed as a menopause practitioner through the North American Menopause Society (NAMS). In October of 2006 I did a very well attended talk for consumers on menopause and received many requests to start a support group. Since April 2007 we have had 9 support group meetings with topics ranging from heart health to sexuality. Participation is growing but I would like to reach a wider audience. What better way than a blog?

A blog or Web log is simply a type of web site in a format that allows for easy updating and feedback. The most recent entries will be at the top. This will allow the easy addition of new information and comments on health related news stories quickly. Another beauty of a blog is the ability for readers to comment and ask questions.

My goal is to offer a reliable source of accurate material useful to anyone looking for information related to menopausal health. The internet may be jam packed with information, but who can you trust? Many sites and blogs are sponsored by companies or people selling things. Information may be opinion rather than research based. Writers may not have any medical background, These blogs all have their place, but browser beware!

This blog has the sponsorship and backing of a world class health care organization- Henry Ford Health System of Detroit, Michigan. I will cover topical information offered in our support group meetings, comment on health care news and respond to your questions and comments. As member of an extensive and renowned health care system, if I don’t know an answer, I certainly know where to find it!

written by Deborah McBain, CNM MSN