💪 The Hairy Chin Newsletter #8

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Hello and Happy Monday to everyone!

Welcome back to The Hairy Chin, where we talk, share, and educate about all things women’s health and wellness - yes, including those wiry chin hairs that pop up at the most unwelcome times. 🤷‍♀️

Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s entry:

• Your Advocacy Toolkit: Advocating in the ER

• Body Talk 101: Frozen Shoulders & Menopause

• Health Truths: HPV & Cervical Cancer

• Told By Her: Amy Schumer & Cushing’s Syndrome

• On The Podcast: The Dangers of Metamizole (Nolotil)

  *A must listen if you’re traveling abroad!

• The Supplement Scoop: Coming soon!

Let’s learn together! 💪

Spencer Moore
Founder, The Hairy Chin
(Listen to The Hairy Chin Podcast)
(Subscribe to The Hairy Chin Newsletter)
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Let’s talk about Emergency Rooms - because they can be intimidating, chaotic and at times dismissive environments. Their fast-paced nature, combined with high patient volumes (hello, wait times), can make it challenging to receive the attention and care you deserve. And let’s not forget the stress of just being in an ER and needing urgent care.

It’s helpful to remember that you have the right to be heard while being treated with urgency, even when the environment feels overwhelming.

Here are some ways to be your own best advocate in an emergency room:

• Have Your Information Ready: If applicable, bring information detailing your medical history or at least the relevant history for what’s landing you in the ER at that moment.

  • Take photos of your current medications on your phone before leaving so you can accurately explain names, dosage and information.

  • Bring any relevant information (physical papers) or have access to your online portals (yes, that means remembering your login and passwords!)

• Stay Firm But Polite: ER staff are often busy, but it’s crucial to communicate your symptoms clearly and calmly.

  • Be specific.

  • Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself. 

  • Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.

  • Be assertive about your needs.

• Ask Questions: Asking questions can help you feel more in control and manage any anxiety that pops up when you’re in the ER. While you might want to stray from “How long will this take?,” some questions that could be helpful are:

  • “What are you testing for?”

  • “What will happen next?”

• Master the Follow-Up: Once you’re discharged, be sure to ask for all copies of all test results done. Also ensure who will be relaying the information to your primary care doctor - you or the hospital. Remember, the ER is there to stabilize your medical crisis, not to treat or manage your health conditions. Follow-up care is essential to ensure that any findings are properly addressed.

The Bottom Line: You have the right to be heard and treated with urgency in the ER. Although the environment can be stressful, being prepared, assertive, and proactive can help ensure you receive the care and attention you need. 💛

Let’s talk about hormones, menopause and your shoulder - yes, that’s right, your shoulder.

According to the Mayo Clinic, frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, involves stiffness, pain and limited mobility in the shoulder joint. Signs and symptoms typically begin slowly, then get worse. Over time, symptoms get better, usually with 1-3 years. It is most common in women over 40 years old.

The process of a frozen shoulder includes a “freezing stage,” a “frozen stage, and a “thawing stage.” Yes, for real!

While there is not much concrete research linking frozen shoulder to menopause (perhaps because the research hasn’t been done yet), there are mounting menopause specialists and physiotherapists finding correlations between women in their 40s and 50s, lower estrogen levels and shoulder pain. (You can read one clinic’s blog about it here.)

But some research is being done, with results driving further investigations. A Duke University study found that postmenopausal women undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had a lower incidence of adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) compared to those not receiving estrogen.

The study suggested that estrogen's role in reducing inflammation and promoting connective tissue integrity may contribute to this reduced risk. You can read the Duke University study here. 

If you're a 40-50 year old female experiencing shoulder pain and suspect it could be linked to hormonal changes, don’t hesitate to talk to your healthcare provider. They can guide you through the right steps for managing both your shoulder pain and menopause symptoms.

Keep listening to your body, it’s always trying to tell you something! 💪

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer was the fourth most common cancer in women in 2022.

The WHO states, “Persistent HPV infection of the cervix, if left untreated, cause 95% of cervical cancers.”

HPV, the Human Papillomavirus, is a sexually transmitted disease. The WHO states that, "almost all sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms. In most cases, the immune system clears HPV from the body.”

Risk factors for HPV cancer progression include:

• immune status

• number of births

• age of first pregnancy

• hormonal contraceptive use

• smoking

According to WHO, as of 2023 there are six HPV vaccines available globally. It is recommended that the vaccine be given to girls, aged 9-14, before they become sexually active. There are options for women outside of this age group, you can read the CDC’s recommendations for the HPV vaccination here.

Cervical cancer screening is recommended for women aged 30-65. Options include:

• A Pap smear and a HPV test (every 5 years)

• Or only a Pap smear (every 3 years)

• Or only a an HPV test (every 5 years)

You can read more about cervical cancer screening options here. 💛

Amy Schumer has been in the headlines lately, and not for making the uncomfortable hilarious (which she does so well), but for a medical diagnosis that came from hateful online comments. The BBC reports how the comedian decided to seek medical advice after online trolls commented on her “puffier than normal face.” 

What she initially attributed to endometriosis, Schumer would later find out was Cushing’s Syndrome. She stated the diagnosis left her feeling “reborn.”

According to the NHS, Cushing’s Syndrome occurs when a person has elevated levels of cortisol in their body. Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone. The syndrome is usually a result of taking corticosteroid medications, a synthetic form of cortisol for long periods of time. (Which Schumer confirmed was her case.) In rare cases, it can be from the body producing too much cortisol from a tumor.

Symptoms of Cushing’s Syndrome can include:

• A red, puffy, rounded face

• Having more body fat on your neck, upper back, chest and stomach

• Hirsutism (hello chin hairs!)

In the News Not Noise Letter on Substack, Schumer spoke about the journey of her diagnosis, saying, “I want so much for women to love themselves and be relentless when fighting for their own health in a system that usually doesn't believe them. I want women to value feeling strong, healthy and comfortable in their own skin. This is a good example of the fact that we never know what is going on with someone. Everyone is struggling with something. Maybe we can all be a little kinder to each other and ourselves.”

Powerful words. 💛

In this week’s Chin Chats series, I’ll be talking about the dangers of Spain’s most commonly prescribed pain medication Metamizole, commonly known as Nolotil.

The Spanish Ministry of Health issued a serious warning for tourists being given the medication, due to the risks of serious side effects, which have included death. Nolotil is banned in many countries, including the US and UK, but it remains Spain’s preferred analgesic. And while it requires a prescription, it is often sold over the counter in pharmacies.

If you are traveling to or spending time in Spain (as well as Germany, Austria, Belgium or the Netherlands where the medication is also prescribed), tune in to this episode for important information you need to know. 💪

🎙️ Catch the episode this Wednesday at 9 AM EST on all major podcast platforms - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart and YouTube.

(And please don’t forget to hit subscribe wherever you watch or listen to the podcast - it helps more than you know! Many thanks 💛 )

The Supplement Scoop is getting an exciting makeover! It will be back, and fresher than ever, soon enough. Keep an eye out for updates on when it’ll be landing in your inbox. 💊 

Ok my amigas, that’s a wrap.

Self-advocacy has never been easier - from To-Do to TA-DA - just like that! 💪

Bravo for being here,
Spencer Moore

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