S2E8. Empowering Women in Menopause with Dr Donna Ivery

12/01/20 • 63 min

1 Listener

Welcome 1.32

‘The lack of intrinsic information is what has astounded me the most over the years,’ 5.15

‘The symptom that caused me the most challenge to my confidence was being so edgy. And some people would say, b****y, um, that I couldn't predict how I would react’.7.59

And if you're naturally a control freak, then losing control. Having that control just you wake up and realize it's gone, is very unsettling 12.36

‘I finally understood why women end up in the emergency room looking panicked. Because I had to catch myself from not being panicky that not only had I bled so heavily that I soiled my clothes that as I'm in the bathroom, I am pouring blood out of my body uncontrollably’ 13.20

And I have plenty of former patients that work for Walmart, we could have a whole discussion about what it's like, as an hourly worker in an evening or night shift at a supplier. And the lack of breaks the type of hard work, we don't appreciate how much physically hard work how many women are in physically demanding jobs, 22.58

‘We are where we are as women for three different reasons. Blood banking, antibiotics, and pap smears’. 29.56

‘We also have to be willing to acknowledge that hormonal changes are real. They're not a sign of weakness’ 35.16

Not everybody will find menopause a difficult transition. It's not a disease, I emphasize that I tell all my patients that it's not a disease, it's a timeframe of change in our lives, from a high hormone environment, back down to a low hormone environment 36.57

‘That's the anti-aging push. that pushes the notion of just get your hormone levels up, and it'll be fine’.39.49

‘And then we're like, okay, here, here's a script and you walk out the door. 10-minute visit, we're failing, our healthcare system is failing us. And we've got to do better’.44.43

Dr. Donna’s 3 takeaways for you:57.22
1. This is a life stage is not a disease, you're not broken. It's very common. So don't be afraid of it. But don't ignore it as though you're too weak or you're not doing the right things.

2. Get information, get help. And a lot of times you're going to be rebuffed. That's probably the hardest part. Keep going to the next person. So you get somebody that's listening.
3. It's a stage in life. It's a developmental stage. And it will not last forever. And there are definite things you can do to feel better soon.

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Welcome 1.32

‘The lack of intrinsic information is what has astounded me the most over the years,’ 5.15

‘The symptom that caused me the most challenge to my confidence was being so edgy. And some people would say, b****y, um, that I couldn't predict how I would react’.7.59

And if you're naturally a control freak, then losing control. Having that control just you wake up and realize it's gone, is very unsettling 12.36

‘We are where we are as women for three different reasons. Blood banking, antibiotics, and pap smears’. 29.56

‘We also have to be willing to acknowledge that hormonal changes are real. They're not a sign of weakness’ 35.16

‘That's the anti-aging push. that pushes the notion of just get your hormone levels up, and it'll be fine’.39.49

‘And then we're like, okay, here, here's a script and you walk out the door. 10-minute visit, we're failing, our healthcare system is failing us. And we've got to do better’.44.43

Previous Episode

S2E7. How to nail your executive presence and reputation with Helen Robinett

Welcome 1.32

‘It was really interesting for me the the impact that the visual has on success in life and in business’ 2.33

‘My research showed me Clarissa that women are not broken. There's nothing wrong with us, the system is broken,for sure.6.18

Men speak over the top of women. And what we do is we just go silent, because if we speak out, then are seen as aggressive 6.42

The corporate and the political landscape, it's very patriarchal, and in order to survive, women take on the masculine ways of being the wearing of the power suit and the bob haircut 12.11

Any woman can build a brand that's for her but I think particularly when we want to stand out in more senior positions in this sea of black and gray. People remember you. 22.39

A signature style. Let's make this a thing for you. Let's get it out there. Let's show you doing this so that you own it because confidence is a big thing. 25.35

For senior roles a man will have two out of 10 of the criteria. And he'll say, Yep, in the bag, going for it. A woman will have eight out of 10, and she'll say she hasn't got it all. 27.07

Women who know how to manage, a two year old, they have learned the art of negotiation and influence. These are skills for board roles too 27.36

Part of getting into senior position is finding the good men who can help women to get to where they need to be these are the men who should be in your circle of influence 36.25

‘So get off the fence, get off the fence, you need to go one side or the other. You sit on that fence too long, you'll get splinters’ 37.30

Mne join boards because it goes on their CV. Women join because they want to make a difference. We should question more: Why do you want to be on this board?47.22

https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenrobinett/

Next Episode

S2E9. Stand Up to Cancer with Grace B. Charrier, cancer activist and patient leader

Welcome 1.32

The anxiety of not being able to access information, services and affordable treatment 2.43

Why it is so important to accept and face that you have cancer 8.59

‘ I get high on talking about mental health, because I think that's what has kept me here to this time’ 12.45

The power of affirmations about who you are, and where you want to be and where you want to go 16.29

The importance of looking inwards and telling yourself, okay, this has happened to me. Then taking steps to find a community to support you 18.37

‘I watched, a close friend of mine go, and all that, that gave gave me a sense of urgency to become my own best advocate’ 22.52

‘Don't allow any doctor to brush you off as a statistic. You know, go there, tell them exactly what you feel, mentally and physically and insist that they listen’ 23.15

We can be our own best advocate by asking the right questions by noting down what is going on, everything, the medicines, your relationships, everything because we suffer sometimes from chemo brain 28.30

As soon as the doctor starts talking, you also hit record. Because there's so much going on. When you get home, in your quiet moments on your bed, then, go back to what the doctor said 29.12

Patients deserve a seat at the table. Big pharma or oncologists are to be to be talking about us, but invite us to be there in order to have the best of outcomes. Without us the equation is not equal 29.59

Grace shares about the work she does as a cancer patient advocate with the American Cancer Society, Wego and Immerman Angels 32.20

Grace talks about her newly published book Impossicant which is what her daughter said in African slang on hearing her mothers diagnosis 42.37

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoicS9_zeq5owu7nluE1HjQ/feature

https://www.instagram.com/cancerconvos.graceb/

https://www.facebook.com/cancerconvoswithgraceb

https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-charrier-021b03143/

https://www.amazon.com/IMPOSSICANT-QUIRKY-INSPIRATIONAL-CANCER-SURVIVOR-ebook/dp/B089VM74R7