Hot Flashes!!

[LynnDeb]

I had a hysterectomy in my early 40's, even though still taking (lowest dose) of hormone replacement I suffer especially during the day with these on and off hot flashes.....and living in FL with the hot weather, ugh

Does anyone else still or did suffer like forever with this and what do/did you do??

Thanks, Lynn::ohdear:

[Trish Crocker]

I have resigned myself to living with these the rest of my life! I do find something interesting though. Close friends have asked how I could possibly consider living in Florida since I am always so hot. I find that the ouside temperature has absolutely nothing to do with it...it is internal. At least in Florida I will have an excuse for looking like I just left the sauna! Sorry I couldn't give you any advice..if you get some let me know!

[NotGolfer]

You don't share how old you are now. I can relate with your post though as I too had a hysty when I was in my early 40's as well. While I welcomed it (due to horrible monthly "visits")...it messed up my thermostat. I've always been warmer than folks around me since that time. I did have hot flashes while still in the hospital so know what they feel like. My physician gave me a shot that took care of those. I was on hormone therapy into my late 50's but to be honest never quite found the right thing that helped me feel "normal" again. Now in my 60's it isn't a factor anymore but my thermostat still hasn't leveled out. Perhaps you could fine a *good* integrative medical doctor who can give you wise counsel on this. In my experience that's what eventually help me out, some, with this whole thing. Once a friend told me of a good book written about all this...but I never read it so therefore can't remember the title. Maybe if you google your questions you're also find some answers.

Living in FL....to be truthful I'm fine with that here. To be sure...most places have the "air" on to the point of even me feeling some chill. I still find that sometimes I have to throw my covers off at night but that's about the extent of my discomfort of the whole thing. If it's too hot outside...it's too hot for everyone!!

[jnieman]

I'm in the same boat and 19 years later still having the hot flashes. I do find that drinking any alcohol makes it worse so I avoid that. My friends know to turn on the air conditioner before I get there ha ha. I have found that I never wear long sleeves here, hardly ever wear long pants or socks just in the coldest of cold. I dress in layers with always a short sleeve shirt on the bottom layer. I always carry a ponytail band in my pocket, always a paper towel in my pocket to pat down the sweat on my brow. I have found that after the first couple of years here the heat doesn't bother me nearly as much. I even play golf when it is in the high eighties which for me a few years ago was unbelievable.

[angiefox10]

I've found a doctor in the area who will work with bio identicals. She did a blood workup on me and prescribed the right combination for my system. No more flashes! I feel better than I have felt in a long time!

There are several doctors in the area who will work with you... Give it a try... One size doesn't fit all.

[Zoomie1955]

I've found a doctor in the area who will work with bio identicals. She did a blood workup on me and prescribed the right combination for my system. No more flashes! I feel better than I have felt in a long time!

There are several doctors in the area who will work with you... Give it a try... One size doesn't fit all.

Who is the doctor? Please share!

[angiefox10]

Who is the doctor? Please share!

IFMC (http://myifmc.com/)

[jpharmat]

I have had hot flashes or "power surges" for years. Non related to my hot flashes... I decided to eat an animal free diet. For some reason I have not had a hot flash since I adopted a Vegan diet. I don't know why this has happened but I am enjoying being hot flash free.

[Zoomie1955]

IFMC (http://myifmc.com/)

Thanks Angiefox10!

[Bonny]

I had a total hysterectomy when I was 39. I'm now 61 and have never in my life had a hot flash. As cold as it has been here in Florida, I wouldn't mind one now & again. ;)

[BritParrothead]

Have any of you ladies tried extract of Red Clover? It worked for me!

[LittleDog]

I have had hot flashes ever since I was treated for prostate cancer with hormone therapy (estrogen). It's been over a year now and I can't wait for them to stop and testosterone reappears. :a040:

John

[Schaumburger]

I know not every woman gets hot flashes. I've been in menopause for just over 2 years, and I haven't had a hot flash yet. When I saw my gynecologist last month, I mentioned this to her. According to her, if I haven't had a hot flash by now, I probably won't have them. Anyone care to weigh in on this? Don't really want to have them, but just wondering if I could possibly get hot flashes at some point in the future.

[gocubsgo]

I, too, had a hysterectomy in my 40's and while I have never done HRT, I do take soy supplements which have left me virtually hot flash free.

[susanpearce62]

None for me yet. My mom want all her life with out any.:a040:

[babbs455]

I had a total hysterectomy 4 years ago and had suffered with hot flashes fast and furious! I do not take HRT. I found that ACAI berry juice has all but halted my flashes. I have also recommeneded it to a few of my female friends to try who are also experiencing these brief moments in the tropics. The too agree that their flashes has eased up. You can find this juice at walmart in the orange juice section. Try it, it is also great for arthritis. you only need 4 oz in the am and 4 oz in the pm. please let me know if you try it and how it works for you. So far it has helped several of my friends who suffer from hot flashes!

[graciegirl]

Have any of you ladies tried extract of Red Clover? It worked for me!

omigosh. I always thought YOU were a guy.

Good morning sistah!

[tracy1j]

I had a total hysterectomy 4 years ago and had suffered with hot flashes fast and furious! I do not take HRT. I found that ACAI berry juice has all but halted my flashes. I have also recommeneded it to a few of my female friends to try who are also experiencing these brief moments in the tropics. The too agree that their flashes has eased up. You can find this juice at walmart in the orange juice section. Try it, it is also great for arthritis. you only need 4 oz in the am and 4 oz in the pm. please let me know if you try it and how it works for you. So far it has helped several of my friends who suffer from hot flashes!

Thanks for the suggestion, I will give it a try!

[BritParrothead]

omigosh. I always thought YOU were a guy.

Good morning sistah!

WHY??? :)) :)) L O L
oh well, here I am, femail, Brit parrothead :)
Yes, red clover extract is so good !

[jrandall]

I would like to know the name of the doctor as well.

[Dreamer61]

Wow, never a hot flash! Almost unbelievable. I too had a hysterectomy early and started having major hot flashes and nite sweats a few years back. I went on bio identical HRT and hot flashes and nite sweats went bye bye. But I made the mistake of discontinuing the estrogen gel because I thought I was done with menopause. Sure enough hot flashes came back with a vengeance! I resumed estrogen gel and very slowly the hot flashes are getting fewer and fewer. I highly recommend bio identical if your going the route of HRT.

[Parker]

Sweets, caffeine, and alcohol, all seem to make them worse. Alas, all the joy in life...

[senior citizen]

Never had a hysterectomy; mine just began at approximately age 46 and ended at age 58. I chose to go "natural" with no hormone replacement therapy. At first I thought I had the flu.......weirdest sensations. I had no clue. You all know the feeling. Noticed they got worse in a hot bath or a hot tub on vacation........mine just felt like internal overwhelming heat spreading over the body .........a bit of lightheadedness. Sometimes a feeling of something crawling on the skin. I never had night sweats.

However, once I read all about them......and had the knowledge, I just relaxed with them......drank a lot of water and switched to all COTTON clothing even during Vermont winters........plus kept the airconditioning on......and the HEAT DOWN.

It was the "war of thermostats" for sure.

Back then there was no internet info on hot flashes......but once I got my hands on a few books........I figured it out.

All of my friends and neighbors were going through the same thing at the same time so we had a good support system...........all of us handled it with no drugs.

A cousin in N.J. did go on HRT until years later the news came out on that...........

Our daughter is now of the age to begin; I just asked her the other day before they flew to Disney World and she said that all of her friends have hot flashes now.....

Now that I am COLD all the time........I can't wait to tease her and have the war of the thermostats again. She would always turn off my airconditioners when she came home from college.........my elderly mom at the time, when asked, would say "I don't ever remember having them at all".........yeah right.

[kfierle]

I have suffered from hot flashes (personal climate changes) for many years. I chose not to go the HRT route and tried just about everything with not much success.

A friend suggested I try acupuncture since it was the only thing that gave her relief. Since I felt I had exhausted all the other options, I decided to give it a try. After only 4 treatments and supplementing with some natural Chinese herbs, I am virtually hot flash free! My insurance covered each session in full with no co-pay! I am scheduled for a "tune-up" in about a month.

I am not sure if it will last forever, but at least I know I can have another treatment to keep those pesky hot flashes at bay.

[Mimivillager]

I, too, had a hysterectomy in my 40's and while I have never done HRT, I do take soy supplements which have left me virtually hot flash free.

Soy milk does it for me. 8th Continent does not taste so bad.
Flax capsules daily also.

[senior citizen]

I have suffered from hot flashes (personal climate changes) for many years. I chose not to go the HRT route and tried just about everything with not much success.

A friend suggested I try acupuncture since it was the only thing that gave her relief. Since I felt I had exhausted all the other options, I decided to give it a try. After only 4 treatments and supplementing with some natural Chinese herbs, I am virtually hot flash free! My insurance covered each session in full with no co-pay! I am scheduled for a "tune-up" in about a month.

I am not sure if it will last forever, but at least I know I can have another treatment to keep those pesky hot flashes at bay.

I have a friend who swore by accupressure treatments and now does accupuncture as well for her fibromyalgia. Post menopause now.

A professor at the college where she works offers the accupressure on the weekends........

Midlife and Menopause - Hot Flashes, Night Sweats and Sleep Disturbances: The Heat Spectrum - Our Bodies Ourselves (http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/menoexcerpt.asp?id=57)


Good write up...........but then, anyone of us who have experienced them, could easily write their own article, that’s for sure.

I always felt like my internal body temperature was rising at least 8 or more degrees and quite suddenly at that. It’s scary in the beginning.

Eventually, with each passing year........it tapers off......but I was clueless in my mid 40’s as I always thought “menopause” was in your 50’s.

My “end” was at age 58, just like my mother’s........who couldn’t remember her hot flashes..........but I could. Post menopause could be from 50 on.

Lots of women like to call menopause “manopause” as men usually just don’t “get it”. Unless they are the ones feeling overwhelmed with heat.

Some of my friends did call them “power surges”.......ha.

Knowledge is power............so once you know what’s going on........it’s much easier to cope with. Again, at first I thought I was coming down with the flu.

I haven’t had a hot bath since age 46. That’s when I experienced my first overwhelming hot flash.

Not to worry.........(changed over to showers).

Unfortunately, once post menopause is reached.......many begin to experience joint pains (being minus their hormones)........can’t win. Wish we were all teens again like our eldest grandchildren.

P.S. BACK THEN WE SLEPT WITH THE WINDOWS WIDE OPEN, EVEN IN THE WINTER..........for fresh air. Now, I crank the heat up to 80. Funny how your internal thermostat changes.

[Lahaja]

Have any of you women out there tried DHEA? Just curious...reading up on it and it doesn't seem to have any drawbacks. If you have please give me your experience because I'm interested in taking it.

[quirky3]

When I started having hot flashes, I took one capsule of black cohosh daily, (and still do!). It dramatically recuced the hot flashes.

[graciegirl]

Soy products and other substances that are like estrogen still act as estrogen on your body and they are wise to avoid if breast cancer runs in your family.

[PennyAnn]

Chemotherapy caused my early menopause and hot flashes continue, 10 years later. They are 24/7, at about 10 per hour during the day, and many throughout he night.
The doc says 10% of women have them for life. :o((
Are bio-identicals safe ? I am not allowed standard HRT, due to treatments.
Doctor info would be most appreciated.
Thanks.

[Nancy13]

please who is your doctor Angie?

[Nancy13]

Angie I would like the name of the doctor also. Thank you.

[redwitch]

IFMC (Angie's doctor): Integrative Family Medicine Center, serving Leesburg, Loudoun County and Northern Virginia (http://www.integrativefamily.com/Home)

[stroglass]

I also had the the plumping removed at 40 had flashes but did not opt for hormone replacement. I did soy and that seem to help. I get an heat surges now and then not sure if its the lack of hormones or my lupus. A cool drink seems to help. Having this will not keep me out of fla. Just more reason to soak in the pool