Sunday, April 26, 2015

THE "KING JAMES-ONLYISM MOVEMENT" : WHAT BIBLE DO YOU USE?

by Rev. Margaret Aranda, MD, Ph.D.


The King James Bible (KJV) is used by many Christian religions, as are other modern versions such as the New American Standard Bible (NAS). Alas, there is a rumbling under the earth that has been a grumble, surfacing its head and even making it into social media. This movement is an active debate for the overall good, in my opinion, especially because people either do not take a Bible to church (i.e., seen empty-handed en masse, entering church service), or they do not use any Bible at all (e.g., Book of Mormons).

Some have called it "King James-Onlyism" or "the KJV Only Movement" and it espouses that obviously, only the KJV of the Bible should be used. Hmm. Nice historical debate on the original Bible scrolls, the Dead Sea Scrolls of the Old Testament, and the wanderings of different gospels that were decided to be deleted by panels of men, and/or the integration of translating a translation of the Bible. One could imagine a lengthy dissertation on this debate, so I'll just whittle it down. And so you know my position on the matter, I use the NAS Ryrie teaching Bible, that cross-references many of the original New Testament Greek words back to the chapter and verse of the Hebrew Old Testament, and puts an introduction of each book for all to read. So the geography, time scale, and cultures of the time are also more integrated into the Bible when looking at the NAS Ryrie vs the KJV.

The type of Greek text used to translate the New Testament is the crux of the debate. Bear in mind that the only true "inspired by the Holy Spirit" Bible was the one original Bible; none of the translations were truly "inspired by the Holy Spirit" in the same manner.

It all seems to start with the KJV movement holding that "Textus Receptus," or the Received Text of the Greek New Testament is in fact, the "most accurate version of the Greek text" used at that time. That being said, the argument is that of all translations, only the KJV is a translation from the original Greek. All other versions are translations of this text, adding unintended meaning or context. This is a hard-line stance, and that is what is at the core of the movement. Additional translations of the Bible changed over the course of time, due to various discoveries, which were not always taken into account by the KJV movement.

Here is a Timeline for the Bible Translations and Discoveries:

YEAR                                          EVENT*                                                      
1500:                              Publication of Textus Receptus.
Various:                         Numerous Greek translations discovered.
1st Century                    New Testament written by numerous disciples; contains 27 books.
Early 2nd Century         St. Paul and his writings.
Late 2nd Century          Writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
1611                              Numerous Discoveries (above) taken into consideration for Bible inclusion.
1844 to 1899:                The Codex Sinaiticus was discovered. (The first complete New Testament)
1947 -1946                    The Dead Sea Scrolls printed; Ancient Hebrew Scrolls, were found in 11                                                caves of the Dead Sea. They are 981 different texts.

* Disputed Books that were eventually added to the Bible: The Book of Revelation, Minor Catholic Epistles. Earlier works that were originally accepted and then Rejected Books to be excluded from the Bible are: 1 Clement, the Shepherd of Hermas, and the Diatessaron.


Image. The Dead Sea Scrolls.  Used from 2 B.C. to 10 B.C., 
the Hebrew scrolls were printed in the 1900's.  Image courtesy Wikipedia.

So all in all, there was one "true" and "inspired by God" Bible, and only one. To hold that any or all KJV Bibles are the "only true versions" of the Bible is simply a mathematical error which fails to consider subject x, the "one and only" true Bible. Either way, I consider this to be a refreshing, historical, and multi-cultural debate that traverses many years of time. I find this discussion to be inspiring and it makes me eager to know more about the origins, languages, findings, additions, and deletions that comprise the #1 Best-Selling book in the world. I welcome your thoughts.




References: 
The Bible Gateway.com
https://www.biblegateway.com/

Got Questions Ministries
http://www.compellingtruth.org/KJV-only-movement.html





















Thursday, April 23, 2015

GUEST POST: On Hysterectomy Consequences

Guest blogger on Hysterectomy Consequences


You can read it all here, and don't be surprised at what you learn about what you thought you knew, what you knew, what you didn't know that you didn't know, and why don't you just go read it?

Be prepared.

Simply Unleashed.



Friday, April 17, 2015

First 19 Chapters of No More Tears: A Physician Turned Patient Inspires Recovery

by Margaret Aranda, MD, PhD.

Written from hospital bed to hospital bed as I learned how to read and write again, speak and process brain information. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is sometimes followed by a more rare condition, diabetes insipidus (DI) that has nothing to do with blood sugar. 

DI occurs because the posterior pituitary gland, that hangs from the brain like a dangling apple, gets smashed on its back, onto the skull. A hormone (i.e. DDAVP, or vasopressin, or anti-diuretic hormone) gets "knocked out," so a 'higher' hormone completely loses communication with it. 

What happens next is that this 'higher' hormone, located in the hypothalamus of the brain, speaks and speaks and speaks and speaks and speaks to the pituitary gland (not knowing it is "broken" or "severed")...and the body pees itself to death. Because the pituitary gland is missing "anti-diuretic" hormone, there is nothing any more to tell the hypothalamus "We're in the desert. Stop Peeing!" 

So most people with TBI die of DI via dehydration and kidney failure, perhaps mostly in their sleep. They are thirsty, thirsty, thirsty, yet keep peeing, peeing, peeing. They don't know that they can NEVER catch up in the drinking. I have had it twice now, and it is no fun. Titrating salt and water, water weight and Na levels ~ That's because the DDAVP is gone. Treatment? DDAVP or vasopressin, or Anti-diuretic hormone. No one wants to be on this drug regimen to "fake" an illness, as I was accused of doing. The unneeded drug will kill a person. Anyway, that's your pathophysiology lesson for today. 


Pituitary gland representation.PNG
Pituitary gland. Posterior pituitary is in blue. Pars nervosa and infundibular stalk are not labeled, but pars nervosa is at bottom and infundibular stalk is at top.)
Image 1. The Posterior Pituitary Gland.  It receives signals from the hypothalamus, to determine total body water (TBW) an prevent either hyponatremia or hypernatremia (both lead to death; the first by turning into a water balloon and having water toxicity; the second leads to death by kidney failure). Resource: Wikipedia

That is just one bit of the scientific, historic, humanistic, philosophical aspects which this book covers. If you or a loved one have suffered a TBI or ANY chronic illness due to accident or misadventure (i.e., Lyme's disease), then this book is for you AND your family AND your doctor AND the caregivers. No one else can "tell it like it is" the way that someone who has "been through it" has. And I have.

Dedication: Even if life is difficult, I learned at an early age that one has some control over one's destiny. Thank you, Dad, for teaching me from a young age that I can strive to achieve and never give up. 
   This book is dedicated to Dr. David S. Cannom and Los Angeles Cardiology Associates, which he founded in 1985. It is also dedicated to Keck School of Medicine at USC, Dean Tranquata, Good Samaritan Hospital of Los Angeles, and their cardiology department with Dr. Cannom. 
   I appreciate all the efforts turing the Tilt Table Test as wee as the special care you gave me on the cardiology floor. (Being the only patient without gray hair was iconic) Thank you for all your nursing, administrative, and physician efforts on my behalf. It is a great pleasure to donate a portion of the proceeds of this book to Good Samaritan's Campaign for Cardiology.
   Had it not been for Stanford's University of School of Medicine and the departments of anesthesiology and critical care, I never would have learned how to argue my own medical cases using concepts such as orthostatic hypotension, mean arterial pressure, orthostatics, ataxia, and the relevance of ataxia on the vertebral artery for balance. That little thing called, "balance" that we use when we get up to walk? Most of you take it for granted. We stand up and faint, as the blood pools in our legs and leaves our heads. For this reason, I give with great pleasure some proceeds of this book to Ronald G. Pearl, MD, Ph.D., Chairperson of the Anesthesiology and Pain Management Department, to put it towards his chosen effort. 

No More Tears: A Physician Turned Patient Inspires Recovery
Foreward
Acknowledgments
A Place with "No More Tears"
Introduction
Introduction to My Life
The Accident
Picking Garlic and Doctor Shopping
Before the Accident
Dysautonomia and Living with 'Brittle Dysautonomia'
Fifty Ways to Fall Out of Bed
The Gift of Prophecy
Prophecy during this Writing
Declined Memory
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
News for the Family, Especially the Significant Other
All Men are Not Dogs
The Disabled: News for both Old and New Friends
The Status of the Disabled in My World


Chapters continue on a second blog, yet to come. 
The "Forward", written by Dr. S Cannom himself, will be included. 


ORDER NOW! Dr. Aranda's books, please click here:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr. Margaret Aranda's Books:

No More Tears en Espanol
Face Book Page: Stepping from the Edge
Little Missy Two-Shoes Likes to go to School
From Menarche to Menopause: A Journey through Time



To Order Dr. Aranda's books, please click here:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

















First 25 Chapters of Archives of the Vagina

by Margaret Aranda, MD, Ph.D.


For those of you (women) who are still not convinced that this book is needed for YOU, here are the first 25 Chapters for you. Yes, there are 25 more...so this is you, standing in the bookstore, poring through the 

Table of Contents:
Foreward
Preface
Introduction
Raising Girls
The History of the Maiden
Cultural Variations of Menstruation
The Ovarian Follicle:
Reproductive and Endocrine System
The Virgin and the Maiden Tribute
Hiding my Period
Menstruation, Accidents, and Pilots
Menstruation in Art
Bears can smell the Menstruation --Or Can They?
Cleaning Up
Putting in a Tampon
Putting in a Penis
The Rectum
The Vagina
The Clitoris
Eating Disorders
The Mother
Uterine Bleeding
First Trimester Bleeding
Miscarriages
Second- and Third-Trimester Bleeding

ARCHIVES OF THE VAGINA: A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
By Dr. Margaret Aranda
ISBN: 978-1-62854-116-9


ORDER NOW! Dr. Aranda's books, please click here:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr. Margaret Aranda's Books:

No More Tears en Espanol
Face Book Page: Stepping from the Edge
Little Missy Two-Shoes Likes to go to School
From Menarche to Menopause: A Journey through Time



To Order Dr. Aranda's books, please click here:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What Others are Saying:  
"Dr. Margaret Aranda is a survivor. That is a fact. Gifted with an outstanding intellect, the willingness to help women of all ages, a talent to write from the soul level, and the ability to do extensive research on women' health, Dr. Aranda has created a book that needs to be in every library and on every woman's book case. What a helpful resource tool filled with inspiring stories." 

~ Nancy Mills,
Founder, TheSpiritedWoman.com

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Methods of Permanent Birth Control

by Margaret Aranda, MD, Ph.D.


Ladies, here is a typical scenario of a happily-married woman with two children, who now desires permanent sterilization. She does not want children any more; she does not want a pregnancy now, or in one year (i.e., the FDA's definition of "permanent"), or in more than one year (i.e., the FDA's definition of "permanent"). What are her options? Bilateral Tubal Ligation (BTL)? What is Tubal Ligation Syndrome? Does she take out her ovaries? Why can't the man just get a vasectomy? Starting from the least "invasive," to the most "Invasive" (and not meant as a comprehensive list or as medical advice or treatment; most doctors would say that you need to talk this over with at least 2 doctors):

(Remember that once you hit Menopause, you probably won't need any birth control at all, but you may be miserable and suffer Quality of Life issues (QOL) ~ for this, we have Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) ~ talk to at least 2 doctors for this, too.)


WE ARE GOING TO TACKLE EACH ONE OF THESE ISSUES, 
ONE AT A TIME.


AS WE HEAD INTO 2015, OUR MOTTO IS:

 "WE WILL NOT BE STOPPED!"


                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. INFORMED CONSENT AND ETHICS: There are two main components of Informed Consent: 
(A) The patient is informed of the risks and benefits of the procedure in the general population, as well as the risks and benefits in the individual patient; the patient is also told what the alternatives are to NOT having the procedure done; 

(B) The Consent is given without harassment, undue admonishment, coersion, ridicule, nor when a patient is deemed incompetent, has a Conservator for Health Care, or is under the influence of drugs including but not limited to: Valuim, Xanax, Benadryl, compazine, demerol, morphine, fentanyl, alfentanyl, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, hash, alcohol, or other drug rendering the patient unable to give Consent. Exceptions to this include when the benefits outweigh the risks: delivering a baby; repairing a head injury after a motorcycle accident; and ICU patient needs a chest tube for a pneumothorax, or perforated lung, AND every effort has been logically made to inform the next of kin and/or the family.

2. EFFICACY: A BTL is 99% effective after the first year. Over time, the tubes can reconnect, with 15 - 20% leading to a tubal pregnancy. A TUBAL PREGNANCY IS A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION, and YOU SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE OPERATING ROOM WITH "A LARGE-BORE IV", YOUR BLOOD "TYPED & CROSSED," AND AS A STAT. No matter what, the baby will die; our focus is to not let YOU DIE. Take heart, as you are NOT killing your baby, who can not survive. I have had many religious discussions with women very concerned about this issue, and I assure them that I have never given anesthesia for an elective abortion because I think it goes against the Hippocratic Oath. I have only given anesthesia to SAVE THE LIFE of a mother with a tubal pregnancy.

3. SIDE EFFECTS and CONTRAINDICATIONS: The existence of Post-Tubal Ligation Syndrome (i.e., increased menstrual bleeding, decreased libido, fluctuating mental health, and more pronounced PMS, abdominal pain, some leading to hysterectomy.) has been a scientific debate for decades. In 2005, Shobeiri et al (2) showed in 112 post-Pomeroy BTL patients vs. 'normal' patients, that menstrual abnormalities did not differ. However, women in two age categories experienced statistically more uterine bleeding: ages 30 - 39; and ages 40 - 45. In 2011, Moradan et al studied 160 women, finding no changes due to BTL.(3) 

Although there may be an increased rate of hysterectomy due to increased mentrual bleeding after a BTL, no where in the medical literature can a biologic correlation be found as the culprit except the decrease in hormones after a hysterectomy. But talk to individual women, glance through FaceBook and other social media sites, and these women are gaining momentum and a Voice. 

Perhaps what we need now is a study that includes an n > 10,000, for the rate of hysterectomies is so high in the United States. CONTRAINDICATIONS: bladder cancer. 


4. BILATERAL TUBAL LIGATION (BTL)*  The most common method of family planning, with vasectomy, a BTL is best performed after a couple days of childbirth, when the uterus is still swollen, and the Fallopian tubes are just under the skin. There are many different types, all requiring spinal anesthesia for optimal pain control: 

A. Bipolar Coagulation: cauterizes portions of the Fallopian tubes;
B. Monopolar Coagulation: same as (A) + radiating current for more damage + cutting the tubes at the end; 
C. Fimbriectomy: takes a part of the Fallopian tube that is closest to the ovaries, preventing the tube from accepting an egg, and therefore from fertilization;
D. Irving Procedure: two ties are placed at a length on one Fallopian tube: then the tube is cut and sewn to the back of the uterus;
E. Tubal Clip: metal devices such as the tubal clip made by Fishie(R), or Hulka (R): smashes the Fallopian tube shut, so the egg does not pass from the ovary to the uterus; 
E. Tubal Ring: with a silastic Band or Tubal Ring, the Fallopian tube is doubled up and then surgically placed to clamp it shut;
F. Pomeroy Tubal Ligation: often referred to as having the Fallopian tube "cut, tied, and burned."
G. ESSURE(R) Tubal Ligation*: Bilateral (both sides) have Nickel-plated and fiber coils that are screwed into each Fallopian tube under spinal anesthesia or pelvic block. An immune response is desired, causing inflammation and scar tissue, blocking the tube from receiving sperm.  
The FDA states that "permanent," specifically with Essure(R), is "one year or more." Controversy surrounds this metal device implant, which has been known to lead to side effects in individual patients (including but not limited to): breakage of coils into pieces; tubal pregnancies; perforation (i.e., poking a hole through) of the coils through the Fallopian tubes; perforation of the uterus; perforation of the colon; infants born with the coil going through the upper ear; colonic-vaginal fissure (a space or track leading from the colon to the uterus, whereby E.Coli stool can be passed through the vagina; hives; abdominal pain; back pain; and more. 
H. Adiana Tubal Ligation: No longer used due to a 2012 lawsuit and judgement announced by Conceptus(R) (the developer of Essure(R) procedure), against Hologic, Inc. (http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/04/30/474765/253823/en/Conceptus-R-Announces-Settlement-of-Patent-Infringement-Lawsuit-With-Hologic.html) 

5. REVERSAL OF BTL: requires microsurgery, and a fertility specialist may be consulted. Remember to get 2 Opinions on any surgery, and take someone with you. It makes the most sense to go to a surgeon who does this frequently, rather than go to a surgeon who does this infrequently.


6. HYSTERECTOMY (LAP-HYS): In the USA, women over age 45 have a 40% chance of having a hysterectomy. At 70 years of age, 70% have had a hysterectomy. Usually, the procedure is done as a laparoscopic procedure, where little slits in the abdomen are used to push in CO2 gas, blow up the belly, and insert instruments to cut and chop the uterus out. The risks of anesthesia include vomiting under anesthesia, aspiration pneumonia, death, tooth chips or tooth breaks, heart attacks, and a multitude of other general complications. Your specific risk factors should also be explained to you in language that you understand. Plan to have "referred" shoulder pain to your scapula; and plan to wear jogging pants for a few weeks before your belly shrinks back down to size.


7. HYSTERECTOMY WITH MORCELLATION: All the above is included with LAP-HYS by morcellation, with additional risks. The morcellator is almost like a vacuum machine that follows the 'carpet' of the uterus in a line, while water is slurped over it. It essentially turns the uterus into one long piece. It is impossible to know if your "fibroids" are truly cancerous or not prior to surgery, so off go some slides to the Pathologist. After a few days, you get the news, either good or bad: it is benign fibroid, or it is cancerous sarcoma or leiomyosarcoma. Only 15% of women are sill alive 5 years after this diagnosis, which the morcellator/surgeon caused by whizzing that morcellator all over your abdominal cavity. What once was Stage I (baby) Cancer, is now Stage IV (monster) Cancer. Because anesthesiologist Amy Reed, MD, PhD and her husband who is a REAL MAN have fought the FDA, the medical boards, and the government medical device department (501(k)), Johnson & Johnson pulled the morcellator worldwide. Its use has been banned by hospitals, insurance companies, and manufacturers due to the increased risk of "upstaging" a uterine cancer. Yay! We have more work to do, ladies, as the 501(k) needs to be rigorously disbanded as a thing of the 80's, and we have found Panel members who had to resign their positions because they took money from the manufacturers! Wow. They thought we would never find out. And now? "We will not be STOPPED!"


8. "OVARIAN CONSERVATION": Refers to the view that the ovaries belong in the pelvis, and are not to be taken out during a hysterectomy, if possible. There are risk factors for ovarian cancer that you can put yourself on, assessing your own risk, and remember that this is an individual decision for each woman. Some ovaries can secrete hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone for up to 15 years after a hysterectomy, so ladies, they are NOT just decorations. They are an endocrine system on their own right. They protect against bone injury, fractured hips, memory loss, heart disease (America's #1 killer), and when they "lose" communication with the uterus as it is surgically removed, the biofeedback communication between the "talking" of the uterus and the ovaries is lost. Ladies, we are living shorter lifespans for the first time in history. Men, on the other hand, are gaining lifespans. So put down that fried chicken and eat a salad.


9. HYSTERECTOMY WITH BILATERAL OOPHORECTOMY (LAP-HYS--BSO): OK, so your surgeon says you have to have "it all" taken out: uterus, both Fallopian Tubes, and both ovaries. It is done laparoscopically, and you make sure there is no morcellator used. Why do you need your ovaries out? Because of the risk of ovarian cancer (0.05%)? The risk of heart attack from NOT having your ovaries is higher, and you are going to be in overnight, full-on, surgical menopause.


10. SURGICAL, MENOPAUSAL "SHOCK": With surgical "shock", you don't get 10 - 15 years to have your ovaries gradually lose their ability to secrete hormones. Nope. Just jump in a cold pool. "Surgical shock" involves hot flashes, pain during intercourse, memory loss, depression and guilt, irritability, inability to sleep with sometimes severe insomnia, lashing out at your loved ones, and generally turning into that old crone of a witch that you never wanted to be. So check out the situation yourself; this is a monumental decision, not a small one. Find your Risk Factors in my book, and check off where you are. There. NOW get 2 surgical opinions. One study showed 50% of hysterectomies were unnecessary upon 2nd Opinion; the other found that 90% were unnecessary. 

It's not a status symbol any more, ladies. It's a chance at an early death, WITH the rest of your days being miserable. And is the surgeon going to put you on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)? Ha! Watch his face! Could it be that he just wants to 'cut' you, get paid, and then GO? You make sure you have a good gynecologist, endocrinologist, or Age Management Medicine specialist to follow-up on your hormone levels and HRT. 


11. BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT): BHRT is also known as Bioidentical Replacement Therapy (HRT), or natural hormone therapy. This is a huge topic that can hardly be covered in one paragraph, but suffiice to say that I studied this subject, as I am menopausal, and I like the reproducibility of compounded hormones from the pharmacy that Cenegenics uses. If it were not for my knowledge there, I would not know who to recommend. So if you are pre-menopausal, post-menopausal, or have surgical menopause, I suggest you read my book and obtain a 2nd Opinion (from an Endocrinologist or Ob/Gyn) on your hormone levels. If you would like a separate discussion solely on this topic, just let us know and we would be happy to oblige. In my opinion, this is a really, really, REALLY individualized, custom-made recipe of hormone replacement needed for each women.


12. LONG-TERM CARE: I've seen plenty of CEOs, CFOs, Presidents, and Owners of companies that fly jets to their destinations on demand. I want people to know that you are not going to be 25 or 30 forever. A car accident, where the lady pressed the gas instead of the brakes, changed my entire life in the blink of an eye. I didn't even  know how much it would be changed. Especially now, looking 9 years later, I have a full-time 24/7 Caregiver. She shops, takes me to my multitude of appointments and studies, and literally picks me up when I fall down. Or when my face turns green, she finds a bag for me to throw up into. I bought my policy 12 years ago, when my father had Alzheimer's disease, thinking that one day perhaps I would have it too. At that time, there were certain riders you could add: cost of living increase, no maximum benefit, etc. Now, as the Baby-Boomers age, one can not buy the same policy that was available to me then. So get on your horse, don your cowgirl hat, and spend the money now to buy Long-Term Care Insurance. Whatever it costs now per year, that it what it will cost per month years from now. Take it from me. Never planned to use it at 45 years old. But I planned to use it sometime before I died, so I 'got in' early. Please check your budget and do what you can to make it fit in. 

Believe me when I tell you that when you are sick or disabled, all your friends and family disappear over the years. It's been 9 years for me now, and I have only a few real friends. I have only one house full of  family. That's why I took up writing. I didn't want the time to pass, without having something to show for it, without the "MD" in me wanting to help others; without the "Ph.D." in me to think ahead and come up with solutions before the problems occurred.

13. QUALITY OF LIFE: Oh, but stay with me. Quality of Life is our God-given right, and we shall work to do the best we can to make sure that no one is left behind. It's not enough to lay in bed staring at the ceiling for 9 years. I wrote 5 books; I got my Ph.D. I listened to people tell me crap after crap, and instead of wallowing in my own pity, I chose to rise above the occasion and make myself a better person that still knew how to smile. 
                                 NO ONE IS TAKING AWAY MY SMILE.
              *** DON'T LET THEM TAKE YOUR SMILE AWAY, EITHER ***


              ARCHIVES OF THE VAGINA: A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME 
(By Popular Demand): 
Cost = $30.00 + Shipping
Other Topics: Gardasil(R) Vaccine (I say NO); The First Period,
Tampons and Cups, Immunonutrition, Telomeres... 
...just Everything in my Head!


* ALL SUBJECTS BUT BTL (# 3) ARE COVERED IN MY NEW BOOK, #13.
   I FIXED THAT HERE. 



REFERENCES: 


1. Wikipedia: Tubal Ligation, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubal_ligation.

2.  2005 May 2;5(1):5.

The risk of menstrual abnormalities after tubal sterilization: a case control study.


 2012 Jul;27(4):326-8. doi: 10.5001/omj.2012.81.

3.

Is Previous Tubal Ligation a Risk Factor for Hysterectomy because of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding?









The Effect of Menopause on a Relationship

 by Margaret Aranda, MD, Ph.D.


What are some important things that every husband and wife should know about menopause and how it affects a woman? (Hint: it has to do with how a man is affected, ladies, to keep the relationship on a 'high' note to try to avoid cheating, etc.) Well, I think the most important thing is that it can cause vaginal dryness, which leads to pain on intercourse. Some women complain that having sex feels 'like a knife stabbing me'. Really. It HURTS, and that's no fun for either partner. And there are other issues, too. Besides the frustration, humiliation, and resentment, and rage that festers. This is discussed in more length in my newest book, out NOW and available on www.drmargaretaranda.tateauthor.com/other-works). Men, want to stop feeling like you work, take pre-teens driving as a carpool, pay for this and that, and your wife is sweating so much that she has to sleep on another bed? In another room? 

Menopause = 1) male manopause, after prostatectomy  +/- irradiation/chemotherapy/orchiectomy; 2) female menopause, after hysterectomy with uterus and ovaries removed (that's a whole different story); and 3) oophorectomy (ovaries removed due to ovarian cancer).

I have noticed, for example, that a postmenopausal woman can be talking to me at night, and indeed let's make that a ~ cool ~ night with a breeze.  Her upper lip and forehead are covered with sweat.  In fact, her upper eyebrows and neck glisten in the moonlight.  I innocently ask (during our conversation on menopause), "Do you get hot flashes?"


She says, "No, I never get hot flashes."


So I ask, "Do you have pain with intercourse?"  Well, no big response there.  I persist, "Do you enjoy sex?"  She scoffs, "I could take it or leave it." She practically explodes at me!" " I just have sex to make my husband happy, but if it was up to me, I wouldn't even have sex.  And I would not miss it."  She smiles ever so gently. "Ugh!"

So I back up again, "Well, why don't you enjoy it?"  
She thinks.  
She hesitates.  
I wait, patiently.  
"Well, I guess that it just doesn't feel good."  

Results are in from Menopause, The Blog, which you can Click Here to Read.  While millions of women in the USA may have vaginal atrophy from a decrease of estrogen production after menopause, only about an estimated 7% are getting treatment!  This is simply astounding to me!  If you are a husband and your wife is complaining that having sex hurts during menopause, then this affects you as a man.

Studies show that a woman is reluctant to discuss the situation with her doctor, and doctors are reluctant to discuss it with their patients. So what is a man to do?

Firstly, we are reminded once again that with education comes empowerment. Now that you know that your wife could be having this problem, it may be good to talk to her about it. It could be that a woman does not realize that she has vaginal dryness.  The change could have happened so gradually over the perimenopausal years, that she does not realize that she actually has pain on intercourse, or dyspareunia.   So let's just step back a moment and realize that vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, and pain on intercourse ~ all these things can happen.  It's ok.  It can happen overnight from surgery, or it can happen over 15 years of natural menopause, naturally, as the ovaries are still secreting hormones. This is when the woman is most likely to be unaware that she is even IN menopause!

Men and Women just need to realize, like the perspiring woman who says she does not get hot flashes, that a woman's body continues to change with time. Men need to continue to be attuned to their woman's body.  Why?  Because menopause can riddle a woman's life with insomnia, restlessness, agitation, depression, hot flashes by day, sweats by night, pain on intercourse, vaginal dryness, dry skin, and general irritability. To name a few. And does that affect a man's sex life? Uhh.

Women can spend fully one-third of their lives in menopause.  
That's a long time to suffer unnecessarily. 
I know it affects you, because it has to affect you.
So we'd better get 'good' at being IN menopause, yes?  
Let's do!

*** If you like this article, please TWEET, LIKE, Google+, and give us Encouragement! ***


Medical Disclaimer: Nothing on this website is meant to diagnose, treat, or practice medicine. You must be seen in person by a physician for appropriate and individual medical treatment. If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1 in the USA.

Link Disclaimer: We are not responsible for any links that go outside of this website.

Full Disclosure: Margaret A. Ferrante, M.D.  is an Institute Physician with Cenegenics Medical Institute.  She receives no monetary compensation for hosting this website you are on, which is independent and not affiliated with Cenegenics. The information presented is for education and awareness.  Dr. Ferrante currently sees patients out of the Cenegenics office in Beverly Hills, CA. 
To book an appointment for a free Consultation, please email her at: mferrante@cenegenics.com

WITHDRAWAL OF OPIOIDS AND PAIN MANAGEMENT WITHOUT OPIOIDS By Dr Forest Tennant   We are pleased to share information from Dr. Forest Ten...