You've heard of "Dear Abby", now we've got "Dear Minnie" to respond to your questions about going through menopause or just getting through the "middle-rages" and making sense of all the issues that only a woman who has gone through it could do!
"Minnie" will answer as many of your questions as possible about where to find the information you need to make your life (as it is now) easier! "Minnie" cannot answer medical questions, but she will try to direct you to the best possible place to get answers, whether it is an internet site or a specialist in your area.

Dear Minnie:

    First, let me say that you have been there for me many times when I needed a moment of sanity and everybody around me was clueless, (including many medical professionals)!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I've also shared your site with many of my friends and pray that they get as much comic relief as I have, not to mention all of the other assistance your newsletter offers.
    I'm one of those lucky gals who has been going through menopause for over 20 years.  At age 25 I had a hysterectomy, but was allowed to keep my "pitiful, shrinking" ovaries.  The doctor said that they might help me for a few more years, so he didn't want to put me into instant menopause if it could be avoided.  I guess that I should add that I had cervical cancer, and soon after that bilateral breast removals.  At about the age of 29, my first symptoms appeared, but due to my previous cancer, the doctors told me that I could not recieve any hormone replacement therapy.  At that time, I was assured that I should only have to go through two to three years of menopause, then my life would be "better than ever!"  :-)  I was even told that my sex life would probably improve, even though I had no complaints in that department at that time.
    I'm now an attractive, 50 year old grandmother of nine!!!!!!!!  For about the last 15 years I have had almost never-ending night sweats, and during the day, I walk around looking like a drowned rat.  I can't keep any kind of makeup from sliding down my face to where I once had breasts, and if I cut my hair any shorter I would be bald.  Now, truly, I have a great sense of humor, or I'd never have made it this long, but it's beginning to get a little old.
    I have tried everything known to mankind to to lessen my "power surges", including hormone replacement therapy, (the doctors say that it's been long enough since my cancer surgery, and that with my breasts and all of the other female organs gone except for my little "raisin ovaries," that I'm a safe candidate for HRT).  Little, wet headbands and neckscarves that hold water in them, fans and spritzer bottles have traveled across the country with me.  I've frozen the rest of the family to death with air conditioning, (they were so well preserved and  looked so good that I thought they were just ignoring me when I spoke to them).   Even after a tepid bath, I always wear the "wet look", even though I rarely go out in a bikini anymore.
    Quite by accident, I found out that if I get angry and blow off a little steam to a friendly ear (and someone who doesn't feel intimidated by it) the hot flashes often go away.  However, I'm sure that you see the problem with that.  Besides, as I said before, I like to use my sense of humor!
    Perhaps you're wondering if I even have a question to ask?  Yes, I do.  I'm hoping that you either know the name of a product I'm looking for, or know where else I might look for it.  Not knowing the name of it, I'm praying that I can describe it well enough for somebody to figure out what it is.
    It is shaped like a horseshoe or fat headband, but it goes around the neck from the back.  From what I gather, it either sends tones, vibrations, or even cool air through the sides of your neck, giving relief to many hot flash sufferers.  I don't remember where I saw it, but I do know that it was on some daytime television show that I saw briefly on my way out of somebody's house.  My memory, being ever so touchy lately, has left me out in the heat.  ;-)  So, dear, if you or any of your sources can find out the name of this supposed miracle, I would be deeply indebted to you.  It seems like I heard a price for it, in the area of $50 - $75.  If it works as well as it is reported to, I think that price is more than fair for me to pamper myself with.  I also know that the company making them might want to make a few million dollars from women like us.  Maybe, just maybe, they would even pay you som! e money to refer customers to them, in the event the product does work.  That would be wonderful.
    Thank you so much for listening to me ramble and whine.  It took me almost a year to remember to make an attempt at finding the product.  When I did at last, I felt that I would have the best chance of locating it through you.  God bless you for all you do for others!!!!!!!!!!!                      Karyn
 

Dear Karyn:
The product you are looking for is sold at Sharper Image. Here's the webpage:
Readers can also check out this site: http://www.mscooling.org/coolinggarments.html  for lots of cooling products! There's more here: http://www.minniepauz.com/problemsolvers.html

Stay Cool,
Minnie

Dear Minnie:

I've been going thru peri-menopause for the last 6 months or so . I've been getting these hot flashes which turn into an unusual body odor. It seems to come up off my chest. It smells kind of like salt and vinegar, McDonalds Fries, musky odor , just rather unpleasant. I've noticed that some people can smell this on me and I find it very disconcerting. I bath regularly so this isn't the problem. I work in very close contact with people and I find I'm starting to have little panic attacks because I think that everyone thinks I have a body odor problem. I take black cohosh extract to help with the hot flashes but this odor seems to be clinging to me all the time now. Help .
B
 

Dear B:
If you have body odor, try taking zinc tablets. Zinc, plus magnesium, will help balance your body's metabolism and reduce the cause of bad odor. Studies have shown that taking 30 to 50 mg daily will dramatically reduce certain body odors, although you may need less. Zinc may also reduce perspiration and sweaty feet. However, it is wise to go above 15 mg only with a doctor's supervision as zinc may interfere with the absorption of copper, another essential trace mineral. More

Sincerely,
Minnie