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Our Motto Is... We Will Survive... : He Enopause Ang
Our Motto Is... We Will Survive... : He Enopause Ang
Our Motto Is... We Will Survive... : He Enopause Ang
60
The
Menopause
Our Motto is...we will survive...
Gang
After suffering thirteen years of debilitation caused by a chronic myofascial pain condition,
Carole Staveley realized there was no "magic bullet" coming to her rescue. She took charge
of solving her health challenges and went on to complete an IRONMAN Triathlon 2013.
Carole's book, Conquer Your Pain in 9 Steps, takes you through her proven 9-step Health
Champion approach to suffering less and achieving more. Carole Staveley is President of
Inner Victory Coaching, an organization she founded to empower others to become their own
Health Champions and reach their full potential.
Become Your Own Health Champion, and See How Far You Can Go!
At the age of thirty in 1996, Carole Staveley slipped on a wet tennis court and tore a hip muscle. Being young, fit and generally healthy,
she should have been healed and back on the tennis court in a matter of months. Unbeknownst to Carole, the injury triggered an
underlying soft tissue disorder. She later discovered that this underlying disorder is called chronic myofascial pain syndrome a
conditionin which the muscle and fascia (connective tissue found all over our bodies, covering all internal organs) lack the biochemical
components to function properly: to stretch, bend, and provide the strength to move at will without injury. This condition also fits the
description of fibromyalgia, a diagnosis that seems to be more and more prevalent, especially in women.
The Medical Community didn't provide much help
Within a few months, the hip and back pain that kept Carole from getting back on the tennis court was the least of her worries. Her
muscles and ligaments felt like metal rods. It was a struggle to sit, stand, or lie down for any period of time. She was chronically stiff,
sore and uncomfortable. The search for help within the medical system didn't provide any solutions. Visit after visit to doctors' offices,
laboratory and diagnostic facilities, and physiotherapists barely made a dent in Carole's pain and discomfort. She became chronically
tired as a result of the daily battle with pain and the difficulty in getting to sleep. Why couldn't the medical community help?
There had to be another way
When Carole was finally blessed with motherhood, it was heart-wrenching telling her young children that she couldn't carry them,
run with them, or even hold up a story book to read to them while lying in bed. After years of being stiff and underutilized, her muscles
had also become weak. She had gone from competitive tennis player and avid runner to weak and fragile victim. This went on for
thirteen years from 1996 to 2009.
Right Doctor, Right Question The Light Bulb Moment
Carole's understanding of what it really meant to take control of her health began to shift in 2001 as she battled infertility. With the
help of her social network, she uncovered fascinating insights about the huge variation in competence levels between infertility
"experts". She learned about a clinic with pregnancy rates more than double the national average. Working with a leading infertility
specialist, combined with asking him a key question, led to the diagnosis and treatment that allowed Carole to become pregnant with
her two beautiful daughters. It is clear that this experience strongly influenced Carole's approach to handling medical issues going
forward. She came to understand how important it was for her to play a lead role in addressing her health challenges and improve
Cont'd on Page 4
Menopause Corner
I met Carole Staveley at her book signing in Toronto. Her story was so
inspiring I decided to share with our readers. (Cover Page & Page 4)
Shaaron has bravely fought her breast cancer and has been cancer free
for over ten years now. (Page 7)
Contact: (441-297-0928
Email: menopausegang@hotmail.com
Website: www.themenopausegang.com
A Few Myths About Breast Cancer will probably dispel some of your
worries. (Page 12)
Editor
Carole Sousa
Contributors
Caroline Ivaliotis
Carole Staveley
Trish Wan
Dr. Danielle Marr
Bermuda Diabetic Association
Fiona Couper-Smith
Shaaron Wismer
Lise E. Fox
In One Place
Disclaimer: The information set forth in this pamphlet is not in ANY way (either written or implied) to substitute for and/or give medical advice.
It is only intended to "share the emotional aspect of going through menopause".
Become Your Own Health Champion, and See How Far You Can Go!
her quality of life. Never again would Carole assume that problem-solving in healthcare should be left entirely to those with what
seemed to be the "right" medical credentials.
In 2009, having had no success within the medical community, Carole met an exercise physiologist who explained that her chronic
pain condition was likely related to a biochemical issue and could probably be improved through a combination of approaches. Carole
was ready to listen and take action. A customized strength training program, combined with recommendations and treatments from
several other health professionals (nutritionist, chiropractor, sports medicine doctor), began to address the underlying problem.
Carole's symptoms started to improve. With the right direction and a lot of hard work, her life dramatically turned around.
Making up for lost time
When Carole talks about the day she carried her forty-pound daughter up the stairs, she talks about having met her greatest goal.
However, as she continued to implement her new health regimen, she felt that she could accomplish more and more. Wanting to
recapture some of her lost athletic opportunities, Carole began training for short distance triathlons. It was liberating. One triathlon
led to the next, then distances increased, and before she knew it, Carole was at the start line of an IRONMAN triathlon in 2013 at
age 47! Carole's hope is that everyone can have the opportunity to experience that "finish line" sensation in his or her lifetime that
is, to persevere through a difficult situation to accomplish something you never thought possible. The deepest lesson for Carole was
in the fact that, without those thirteen years of suffering, she could not have experienced that powerful sense of joy, exhilaration, selffulfillment and satisfaction. Carole views her chronic pain syndrome as a valuable gift, helping her embrace life's challenges as
opportunities to climb to new heights.
Carole's recent book, Conquer Your Pain in 9 Steps, is designed to empower and guide anyone looking to move beyond a health
challenge, toward living their most fulfilling life. Carole can be contacted at: carole@carolestaveley.com.
I met Carole at a bookstore in
Toronto recently and found her
story so inspiring I just had to
share it with you. Wishing Carole
all the best in her future triathlons.
Thank you for sharing with our
readers.
Lise Fox - Publisher
Calendar of Events
October 1
October 2
Opening Ceremony at 46 Point Finger Road 12 noon; all are welcome to attend
Get your organization or school involved, wear it pink or denim and make a donation. To participate
email BCAMarketing@chc.bm
October 7
October 8
October 21
October 30
Girls
Night In
The Publisher: Thank you Shaaron for your story. I'm sure it will inspire other women to have hope.
10
Sugar substitutes are loosely considered any sweetener that is used instead of regular table sugar. Artificial sweeteners are just one
type of sugar substitute, they are also known as non nutritive sweeteners (NNS) because they provide few or little calories and
generally do not raise blood glucose levels. The sweetness of artificial sweeteners is intense, ranging from 30 300 x the sweetness
of sugar (sucrose) so minimal amounts are required to sweeten foods and beverages.
Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as food additives. They must be reviewed and
approved by the FDA. For decades, their safety in products has often been controversial but according to the National Cancer Institute
and numerous other health agencies there is no sound evidence that any of the approved sweeteners cause cancer or other serious
health problems.
There are currently six artificial sweeteners approved for use in the USA, which are found in food or beverages here in Bermuda:
- Acefulfame potassium (Sunett, Sweet one)
- Aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet)
- Neotame
- Saccharin (Sugar Twin, Sweet n Low)
- Sucralose (Splenda)
- Stevia (Truvia)
The American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association have recently issued a joint scientific statement
recommending the use of non nutritive sweeteners in appropriate quantities to benefit those trying to maintain a healthy weight and
for people living with diabetes to assist in achieving good blood sugar control.
The importance of limiting all sources of added sugars in order to support optimal nutrition, healthy weight and good diabetes control
is also reinforced and supported.
Consuming the large amounts of sugar in our diets has set the stage to harm our health in many ways, and it is wise advice to limit
added sugars with or withoout the use of artificial sweeteners.
Moderation is the key in taking responsibility for our health and this message is certainly true of our consumption of sugar, artificial
sweeteners and sugar substitutes. Eating more calories than we burn, even those coming from natural sugars will result in weight
gain. A sensible approach of cutting down on added sugars, decreasing caloric intake with the use of non nutritive sweeteners will
go far to help achieve personal goals of good health, losing or maintaining weight and better diabetes control.
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In most cases, these changes are not cancer. For example, breast pain is more common with benign breast conditions than with
breast cancer. However, the only way to know for sure is to see a provider. If you have breast cancer, it is best to find it at an early
stage, when the chances of survival are highest.
Nipple discharge:
Liquid leaking from your nipple (nipple discharge) can be troubling, but it is rarely a sign of breast cancer. Discharge can be your body's
natural reaction when the nipple is squeezed. Signs of a more serious condition (such as breast cancer) include discharge that:
- Occurs without squeezing the nipple
- Occurs in only one breast
- Is bloody or clear (not milky)
Nipple discharge can also be caused by an infection or other condition that needs treatment. If you have any nipple discharge, see
a health care provider. Updated 06/26/15
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Bio: Fiona is a Bermudian with over 21 years experience as a holistic therapist, trained in Wales and England in various Massage
disciplines, Reflexology, Hot Stones, Nutrition and Reiki. Her practice Inner Balance Bermuda is an oasis of calm providing natural
therapies to support your health and wellbeing.
Contact: 333-5514 www.InnerBalanceBermuda.com