Beyond Beauty Med Spa Coeur d'Alene

By Linda Owsley, RN BSN

Beside my failure to shake my constant state of doubt and my sudden lack of ability to turn the other cheek, I also started experiencing those troublesome textbook symptoms of hot flashes; deceased sex drive, night sweats, and acne… This certainly was not an easy start to my metamorphosis. In fact, this was a complete 180-degree turnaround in my reality.

At first, I began this practice of denial. My coping strategies focused around fleeing. Desperately trying to escape this loss of comfort in my mind. I buried myself in work. Going as far as developing a new business venture that took nearly 3 years to investigate, resulting in my marriage turning up on its head. But, I was sure that if I could keep my mind busy enough, I would never have to look at what was really happening in my life.

Let’s not forget that this major physical and mental turnaround coincided with the move of my youngest son into his dorm half way across the country. How unfair was that? My motherhood ended so abruptly as to happen on Evan’s 18^th birthday in Chicago Illinois… Brutal.

That was a soggy flight home. My husband, Mr. Empathy, just kept repeating, “You should drink more water, so you wont dehydrate from all the tears spilling down your face.” Looking back, I don’t think he’d ever seen me cry like that before. Humor was his way of coping with me. Of course, I did not find it very funny at the time.

It stands to reason the real mental challenge I was facing was the expiration date on my motherhood. There is a lot to ponder when ones identity as a parent is abruptly stolen and catapults us into the life of an empty-nester. You’ve probable noted from many women by now that the timing of these two events so meticulously dovetailed has to be the greatest challenge of our lives. I think it has more meaning though. I am so much more self aware today. Instead of having your whole life ahead of you, you’re coming to terms with the concept that the first, possibly most meaningful half of your life is ending.

That may sound a little dramatic, but when you find yourself at the vortex of that intersection, it feels dramatic. But forward we must go. This process is much like a tunnel. It is dark and scary when you first enter, but as you bump into walls and cry yourself to sleep, each day brings you closer to the other side.

By Linda Owsley, RN BSN

A Treatment for Vaginal Dryness  and  Stress Urinary Incontinence is Finally Available!

Ladies! You can keep up with the best of him with one simple treatment.

One of the many symptoms of menopause is dryness of the vaginal tissue. This lubrication is a sign of youthful and healthy vaginal tissue, and when lost, it can create painful side effects.

As we age the vaginal tissue thins just as the tissue on the rest of our body thins. When this thinning of vaginal tissue is coupled with loss of lubrication, intercourse can cause micro tears in the tissue creating painful contact. This can greatly interfere with sexual satisfaction, and in some severe cases normal daily living.

Vaginal dryness can be the most uncomfortable aspect of our diminishing hormone levels. Although hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can prevent this from happening, not everyone is a candidate for HRT, and for some HRT is not enough to sustain adequate lubrication.

With one simple, painless, and non-surgical treatment, vaginal dryness, among many other symptoms can be reversed. The treatment is called Geneveve.

Geneveve is a mono polar Radiofrequency device that couples thermal heating of the tissue with cryotherapy. This patented technology allows for deep penetration of bulk heating providing results deep (>5mm) into the vaginal tissue. There is no downtime and it takes 30 minutes.  Results peak at 90 days after treatment, but improvement is noted within 4 weeks. Studies show sustained improvement  throughout the study period of 12 months.

This treatment is changing lives and I am happy to be the only provider in our area to offer this treatment.

Call us today, (208) 660-2307 for your free consultation and see if Geneveve is right for you!

Linda Owsley, RN BSN

Welcome to Memoirs of Menopause — a blog series of my personal experiences with menopause. I will be sharing my story and discussing the many challenges I faced, and the ways I struggled and/or coped with these changes along the way. And yes, I’m actually going to try to tackle this in a few short paragraphs twice a month! I would encourage you to share your comments with me! You can leave a comment by clicking on the gray button “Leave A Comment,” which is located just above my name on the top right side of this article.

My first blog begins with the trials and tribulations of pre-menopausal symptoms…

A Godmother to Pre Menstrual Symptoms

I remember my earliest pre menopausal days. My PMS seemed to be on overdrive…ugh! I was starting to question whether the stormy week I had suffered through each month was just a preview of what my post menopausal real self was going to look like…Yikes! That, my friend was a dreadful thought.

In addition to questioning every thought that came to mind, my cycle would vacillate between bleeding to death, and passing clots the size of my breakfast bagel. I’m positive the carb load I was throwing at my body wasn’t helping, but at the time I thought, “What the heck, I already feel bloated every day how much more damage could a little bagel do to my attitude?”

Spoiler Alert: when you’re asking yourself that question, the answer is not going to be a positive one. Carb load or not, I’m sure I wasn’t the most pleasant member of my household during those few years.  But, it is a tough transition for many of us—and I got through it. For those of you that may want a hint for navigating these turbulent waters, I’m here to give you my personal view.

First off, you’re not alone. Embrace this chapter in your life, rather than resist it.  Just like me, you have friends that are right ahead, or right behind you in this process, and we need to band together. I’m sure the range of symptoms that each woman suffers through, or breezes through, are as varied as our individual personalities.

For most of us, these symptoms are just the beginning. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and there is treatment as well. For treatment options click here.

The best relief that got me through those tumultuous moments/days/weeks/months and/or years was the ear of my good friend Paige. So my advice for those of you who are entering this dramatic, but equally liberating change in your life, is to find a confidant, a comrade, a good listener, and a truth teller to help you through the process.

I’d love to hear your comments! Please scroll down the page to the “Leave A Reply” section, or click the “Leave A Comment” button at the top right of this article!