I
n April, forty -five
TTARP members left
Trinidad for a seven
night cruise on board the
Carnival Glory with a three
day shopping spree in
Miami.
Our start had some
challenges. We were
greeted in Miami with
exceptionally long and
slow lines in Immigration.
Needless to say after four
hours standing in line,
there were many stiff, weak
and swollen legs. One
member missed her footing
on reaching the escalator,
and that resulted in an
unexpected trip to Coral
Gables Hospital.
After waiting for over three
hours our bus had left us.
Members began to panic
as only a Trini know how
to panic, knowing they
were in Miami, and not
knowing where they were
going and how to get there.
After several frantic calls
with roaming money being
depleted, the bus returned
within half an hour, for
us to realise that four
members were missing. It
took us another half hour
of anxiety before finding
them.
Early next morning
everyone was ready for
the trip to the port to board
the Carnival Glory. Once
on board, we headed to
the Lido Deck where there
was an abundance of
food. Spirits were instantly
healed. The first day at
sea was spent touring and
getting familiar with the
ship.
As Caribbean people, each
island looked similar with
sun, sand and beach, the
The Carnival Glory Cruise
difference were in their
craft, food and culture.
For example in the Grand
Cayman, no one touches
yard fowls and they roam
the streets freely. Their
iguanas are huge and
traffic would actually slow
for them to cross? They
are also used as pets.
They were lucky the Trinis
had no where to cook both
the yard fowl and iguana
as mouths were watering
for good curry stew.
Grand Cayman is also
noted for their banking
industry, as they have
over six hundred (600)
banks. With a population
of just over 50,000 and
no direct taxation, this
makes it a tax haven for
many. Caymanians boast
of having the highest
standard of living in the
world. The island of Isla
Roatan is also the home of
an iguana farm with over
4,000 iguanas. Belize was
another beautiful island we
visited and with the correct
amount of money anyone
can own a piece of this
island.
On board the
Carnival Glory
each day and
night we were
entertained with
full production
shows, karaoke,
trivia, bingo,
comedies and
the casino, to
name a few.
One member
tried her luck at
the casino by
investing $20.00
and won over
$100. Elated
she convinced
six others to do
the same but
needless to say they all
lost.
Every night members had
a variety of international
gourmet meal choices with
entertainment. One night
in the middle of the show
the light in the dining room
turned off and we waited
in complete darkness for a
bit, only to be told that the
ship had lost power and
30
31
A
ging has always been an issue; there are numerous
concerns some of which are related to health.
Women go through a natural progression from fertility to
menopause. This is a transition all women go through.
There is no set age for the onset of menopause.
Andropause not to be confused with menopause (and it
is not male menopause) is not a natural progression. A
growing number of men today will at some time in their
lives experience andropause. The WHO (World Health
Organization) in the latter part of the last century decided
on naming this condition Andropause.Early research in
this area when it was known as mid-life crisis noted that
men in their 40s to 50s will exhibit similar symptoms.
These documented symptoms were depression, loss
of libido (sex drive), lethargy, loss of muscle mass and
the will power to do exercises or compete, inability to
concentrate, weight gain especially in the tummy area,
sleep loss, related physical and emotional conditions to all
of the above erectile dysfunction.
These symptoms can be attributed to unhealthy lifestyle,
poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive drinking,
drug use, not getting enough sleep, injury, lifestyle
diseases such as high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension,
ailment of the digestive, circulatory and nervous system of
the body and of course stress.
The main cause of andropause is a drop of testosterone
levels, there is a natural depleting of testosterone at a rate
of approximately 1% per year usually after forty. Some
men have low levels to start with and as a result this
decline will affect those men more than others.
When one starts to lose your competitiveness, wakes up
but don’t feel like getting off the bed, excessive weight
gain, lowering of your self-esteem, loss of morning
erection, not being turned on as before by the things
that was a stimulus, feeling of depression and is seeking
other means of boosting his excitement then you are
experiencing andropause.
From our studies and treatment over the years of
individuals who seek treatment at Total Image’s Adult
Therapy Center in St. Augustine; we have discovered that
there is some sort of crisis among the younger men in our
society. Men as young as twenty-five are exhibiting signs
of andropause. Thankfully we have the treatment and cure
for andropause.
Men should know their levels of testosterone and PSA.
A yearly testing of this is a very good way of keeping
historical records and can lead to an early detection of
andropause.
Symptoms of andropause are also an alarm bell which
men can use to determine when there is cause for
concern of overall health issues. In addition to the
treatment of andropause it is recommended that one look
at other lifestyle diseases and how it may contribute to you
experiencing symptoms of andropause.
Changes in diet, a regulate exercise regime, six to eight
hours of night sleep, supplement usage and stress
management at an early age can prevent andropause.
There are foods to maintain excellent levels of
testosterone but once diagnosed with low testosterone a
proper supervised treatment will be required to reverse
andropause.
Symptoms and Treatment
for Andropause
(decreasing testosterone levels in men)
Dr. Giriraj G. Ramnanan Ph.D.
Applied Health Studies
Sex Gender and Sexuality
Sexologist/Sex Therapist
Tel: 645-4543 or 645-9829
we were drifting for awhile.
We thought it was part of
the act.
Back in Miami, we
shopped and had a hard
time complying with the
airline’s 50lbs ONE piece
of checked luggage.
God help Mayling on the
next trip.,,,,
