Crabby Van Roberts is the pen name for Karen Roberts, MSN, ARNP-C, a board-certified nurse practitioner living and working in Lawrence, Kan. A busy part of her practice is helping women through life transitions, and she herself is menopausal. She is happy to share everything she still remembers about … what were we talking about? Oh, yeah! — midlife.
Recent Stories
The straight poop
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Dear Crabby: Seems like ever since I became perimenopausal, I’ve been having a lot of trouble with my bowels. I used to be pretty regular, but now I can go for days without any real results. I DO NOT want to become one of those old ladies obsessed with her bowels! Please help.
Too much information
Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008
Dear Crabby: It seems like almost every day in the news, I hear that some medicine is bad for me or some treatment I'm using increases my risk of something-or-other. When I try to check it out, I get even more confused! How should I handle all this information?
Minding the medicine cabinet
Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008
Sometimes I look in the medicine cabinet and find some medicine whose expired-by date is printed in Roman numerals. So, do I blithely open this container and take II tablets IV times quaque die and call my physick in the ante meridiem? NO!
Bring some novelty to your New Year fitness routine
Friday, Jan. 4, 2008
Dear Crabby: I'm looking for something new for my exercise routine this year. What can you recommend? Bored in Baltimore
Changing seasons linked to changing mood
Friday, Oct. 5, 2007
Ah, the changing of the seasons. The snap in the air, the gorgeous leaves, the complete inability to get your carcass out of bed and face the day. The earlier night falls, the faster your mood plummets. Have you noticed?
Frozen dreams
Ice cream frenzy leaves family fulfilled, lethargic
Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007
My family loves ice cream. When we eat it, invariably, at some point, one of us will look up from our bowl, and say, dreamily, “I could eat a gallon of this stuff.”
Pill required even after birth control isn't
Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007
Dear Crabby, You’re not going to believe this! Three years ago, after an intense period of lobbying, my husband finally got that vasectomy. Woo-hoo! But my excitement was short-lived. Now at 45, I’m having heavy bleeding, clots, unpredictable periods, and general menstrual mayhem. My gynecologist is recommending the pill!
Thyroid gland isn't the perfect fall guy
Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007
Dear Crabby: I am dieting and exercising my tail off and I still can’t lose weight! I am convinced I have a thyroid problem that’s affecting my metabolism. I just know if my health care provider gives me some thyroid medicine, I’ll lose weight.
Nature’s renovation?
Friday, July 27, 2007
Dear Crabby, What would you recommend for a teetering-on-menopause woman who's experiencing hot flashes of the intensely sweaty kind far too often for comfort? I have read so many conflicting articles about hormone replacement therapy, and as nasty as the hot flashes are, they seem preferable to breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and whatever else the wisdom of the day suggests HRT can provoke.
Strength of body and spirit
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
People often complain that they don’t have time for exercise, they can’t afford gym fees, or that they don’t know what exercises to do. Fortunately for them, the solution is as close as their nearest PBS station.