Hot Flashes!!! Women Only!
 HELP |
|
|
| Ron, we need a fan emoticon, STAT!! |
wear a ice pack. I thing you can buy things for that type of issue. As a bloke we just fart & sweat all of the time.  . On the subject would it be possible to see your doctor asap . |
I have no suggestions as I escaped without having any  But I hear many stories from friends ......power surges are the preferred term. Lots of "steps outside" to cool off, many nightgowns at night and ability to throw off those covers....fan blowing on your sweaty body at night may help. Bitchiness.......that goes with the territory. Yes, the dual temperature house........you pretty much need to isolate the men in heated rooms and throw open the windows for yourself. I guess it's too late to add that walk in refrigerator to your new kitchen. |
| Yep, been there and doing that. I could take the hot flashes...every few minutes. Not pleasant but I could do it. The straw that broke the camels back...the hormones started messing with my sleep. I would fall asleep for anywhere from five to 30 minutes and then wake up. My body would say "OK you slept and now you're done" and it would take me hours to fall asleep again. I started to walk around in a sleepy fog. That took me to the Dr. My Dr. is female and has gone through the "change" so she understood where I was coming from. She put me on a low dose HRT. It helps me sleep and thats the most important thing for me. Side effects are I don't get as many hot flashes...still some but not that many. I found this http://www.project-aware.org/Experience/symptoms.shtml and that has helped me make my way through this hell my body has been going through. When something weird popped up, I would check the list and more times than not, it was there. I hate it when women would say "oh yeah, I had a hot flash and then I was done". I started this on the early end and have been living it for the past "seven years". I've been told that it takes some women 10yrs to get through...I fear I may be part of that. Interesting little tidbit...you never ever get a hot flash when you're cold...when you could use it. |
Having had a hysto 15 years ago, I had one doozie hot flash 2 months after. I was going to a figure skating recital with a friend to watch her granddaughter. I was the only one in the arena wearing a short sleeve shirt and no jacket. That sucker lasted for over 2 hours!!!!!  When I did get them, my head would be soaking wet, couldn't even day my hair and my glasses would fog up as well as being red from head to toe. When I put the big fan on at work, everyone knew what was happening and would leave the fan alone until I TURNED IT OFF!!!  They would wear sweaters.  Mine They would last a couple hours at a time. I looked so beautiful.........  .After that I was fine. A year later @ my dr visit, he was pretty insistent I go oh HRT. He told me all the things it prevented and the benefits. I said yes just to get him off my back. HRT has always been a 50/50 split with drs and the debated benefits vs risks. I was on it for 4 1/2 years and finally got off of them. All the conditions it was to prevent, the "benefits" actually were major contributors to the negative. I personally would not recommend HRT. There are other herbal and over the counter remedies. Estroven, Black Cohash, and others. Estroven you can get at any drugstore. Try a vitamin, health food place, or a nutritian place. Everyone has to make their own decision about this stuff. But in more recent studies, it doesn't help prevent heart problems nor dimensia, but increases the chances and other types of cancer. For you bones, take calcium, and other supplements. After the 1st year off of HRT and Estroven, I had maybe a few 'flashes" then nothing. I always called it "my inner child is playing with matches" And I also NEVER had one when I was cold and could use it. |
| I can relate. I had my hysto at 35, 7 years ago. I did the patch for a couple of years and it helped but then I started to get raw spots from it. My DR gave me a pill and I really dont notice much difference. But then Im bad about taking meds so I dont take them everyday. Maybe 3 times a week, that could be the problem. At night I put the AC on 70 and have my ceiling fan on and another tower fan thats on my side of the bed. DH deals with it. He just adds another cover to his side. I also have a fan next to me at my computer. During the day I TRY to keep my AC at 75 because bill gets so high but once and awhile I crank it down. Good luck in dealing with them, its just something Ive learned to live with.  |
I BEGGED my Doc to give me HRT...but due to the history in my family, she refused...I tried OTC, Black Cohash, Estorven, etc...nothing worked. Amberen did help after a few months of taking double the dose but you can't keep that up long term...so back to fans, AC, sleeping in Tee Shirts and not sleeping longer than a few hours at a time...So, how long do these suckers last? Years????  |
| The saddest day of my life was when the surgeon who did my lumpectomies told me I had to stop HRT. I was on it for almost 10 years because I had the hot flashes from hell. I could handle them during the day but like Pam, they would wake me up every half hour. I can't say for certain that the HRT caused my DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) but if it did, I don't care. I never felt better than when on HRT. And any herbal supplement, etc. can have negative effects. They are all estrogenic which means they act like HRT, good AND bad. If you want to be 100% safe, don't take anything. If I could, I'd go back on HRT in a heartbeat. I take Restoril, an anti-anxiety drug, before bedtime and that has taken away the nighttime flashes. During the day, I just learned to live with it. |
I have to say, as a woman just entering this stage of life, y'all are depressing the dickens out me.  I can hardly wait! |
| Tammy, my mom and sister sailed through menopause with barely any issues. My sister got a few hot flashes A YEAR! (I hate her). I know lots of women who have had no problems. You might be one of them (but I won't hate you!) |
Tammy, my mom did not have any problems at all. She just stopped. As a matter of fact, she noticed it after 3-4 months and thought she might be pregnant!!!!!  She went to the doctor to find out and was soooooooo relieved that she wasn't!! After all, she had 2 daughters in college and no way did she want to start over!! The doctor said he could give her something to start her periods again and she told him "NO WAY IN HELL!!!!!" This was long b/4 HRT. She never had a hot flash. I always I would be the same way but major problems happened. Everytime I go thru 'that department' I smile.............................................. |
I hope I'm that lucky!!  |
Mine haven't been that bad. None to speak of during the day.  And at night, maybe 1 a week.....but I sleep so soundly that they don't wake me up. Instead I wake up in the morning just soaked and nasty...  But I guess that's better then waking up in the middle of the night, having to get up and shower and change, and THEN try to get back to sleep. That would be horrid! |
Try soy. Tofu- Soy Milk- Edamame. My Japanese friends have never had hot flashes, and their soy rich diet is the reason. Good luck!!!  |
dogmom wrote: Tammy, my mom did not have any problems at all. She just stopped. As a matter of fact, she noticed it after 3-4 months and thought she might be pregnant!!!!! She went to the doctor to find out and was soooooooo relieved that she wasn't!! After all, she had 2 daughters in college and no way did she want to start over!! The doctor said he could give her something to start her periods again and she told him "NO WAY IN HELL!!!!!" This was long b/4 HRT. She never had a hot flash. I always I would be the same way but major problems happened. Everytime I go thru 'that department' I smile.............................................. Now see!!! You hear of women like that and just want to slap them! I've been dealing with this for years....YEARS!!! I can also add its not just hot flashes I have. Just kidding(kinda) |
| Everybody is so different...I say do whatever you have to to be comfortable. I was plagued by them for a good ten years and the only thing that helped was HRT (and I tried 'em all!). I was finally able to stop taking it, and they gradually subsided to now just occasionally. I once heard it described as if you've lost your internal thermostat, and that seems to fit as I can no longer enjoy a hot bath unless I plan to sit in front of a fan for an hour afterward to cool off. While I enjoy and appreciate the wisdom and maturity that comes with age, the changes in the body really suck!! I threatened to get a tee shirt made up - "Menopause - it's not for sissies!" Oh, and if "Menopause The Musical" is playing anywhere near you, go see it! At least you will know you are not alone and will be thoroughly entertained with lots of laughs. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|