Hot flashes ?????

k, I need tips on how to manage them. I know it would be easier if I knew the source, but my doc is a moron, so that's not gonna happen untill I find a new doc

Anyways, I'm 32, and have been having hotflashes for the last ummmm, 6mos or so. Some of them are quite bad and very uncomfortable.

90% of them occur when I'm sleeping (or napping).... and will wake me up. My whole upper body covered in sweat not a nice way to wake up.

The rest are just during the day, out of the blue.

I'm looking for tips on how to manage them..... It would be better if I could stop them, but since I don't know where/why they are coming, I can't really stop them.

Last night I had 3 bad ones..... I woke fanning myself, and in full hot flash mode.

I know theres (said *respectfully* ) older ladies on the board, that have dealt with the big M, how did you guys handle hotflashes???

Thanks.

I started menopause when I was 32 and I've had hot flashes for over 20 years and they're just beginning to taper off now.
I was on HRT for a few years, but went off when I heard about the possible side effects. I didn't try any of the "alternative" treatments.
All I did was make sure I had a small fan near at all times!

Diet can play a role in the frequency of and intensity of hot flashes. Stay away from sugar as much as possible. Sugar is a real hot flash trigger.

Drink lots of water every day. Eat healthy balanced meals and don't starve yourself or over eat. Take a walk every day, even if you only hav e 10 or 15 minutes to do it.

I had to have a complete hysterectomy at age 27. I started having hot flashes two hours after the surgery! I took estrogen replacement (just estrogen, not the combo) for 18 years, then started worrying about stroke, so stopped.

The hot flashes were very bad for the first year, and have now (four years later) tapered off to a few a week, but worse if I am binging on sugar.

Your doc should order a blood test to check your hormone levels, perhaps you are entering perimenopause. Are your periods normal?

Originally Posted by otto

Your doc should order a blood test to check your hormone levels, perhaps you are entering perimenopause. Are your periods normal?

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Seriously, I am not kidding when I say my doc is a moron. (to answer the question before its asked, we have a shortage here and I need monthly meds, so I have no choice but to stay with him). He would rather throw meds at something, that do testing to find out the reasoning behind the problem. But I will bring it up at my next appt providing there's nothing more pressing. (he will only deal with 2 things per appt )

Yes, my periods are normal. ( had my tubes tied ummm 2yr ago, and they got heavier then but they are still regular )

I did not know sugar was a trigger.... I will keep that in mind

A fan is also a good idea, thx.

I do keep a bottle of water with me as well....

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

.......
I know theres (said *respectfully* ) older ladies on the board, that have dealt with the big M, how did you guys handle hotflashes???

Thanks.

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That's very diplomatic!

I actually had no problem with hot flashes, so I can just tell you what I heard from friends.

I know coffee and caffeine drinks trigger hot flashes. Also spicey foods, alcoholic drinks.

They say that doing relaxation exercises sometimes helps - deep breathing, yoga, stuff like that.

Black cohash (taken in moderation) has been known to help. You can find it in vitamin stores or the vitamini section of a drug store. There are also those over the counter tablets for menopausal women, also found in the vitamin aisle.

I'm sorry that you have to go through this at such a young age. Hang in there.

I would hesitate taking any drugs, though, and even take care with the over the counter stuff. My feeling is just cutting out things that may be triggering or promoting them.

Originally Posted by nanner

That's very diplomatic!

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I tried

I actually had no problem with hot flashes, so I can just tell you what I heard from friends.

I know coffee and caffeine drinks trigger hot flashes. Also spicey foods, alcoholic drinks.

They say that doing relaxation exercises sometimes helps - deep breathing, yoga, stuff like that.

Black cohash (taken in moderation) has been known to help. You can find it in vitamin stores or the vitamini section of a drug store. There are also those over the counter tablets for menopausal women, also found in the vitamin aisle.

I'm sorry that you have to go through this at such a young age.

Hang in there.

I would hesitate taking any drugs, though, and even take care with the over the counter stuff. My feeling is just cutting out things that may be triggering or promoting them.

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I have to be careful what I take, because I am on several other medications... so the black cohosh is out for me. If possible, I'd like to avoid taking more meds.

Yup, I am indeed trying to cut out any possible triggers and see if that helps first.

The hot flashes aren't horrible compared to some I saw my MIL have... but I do believe they are getting worse. One on the weekend happened when we were out... I had to get out of the vehicle, take my coat off, and fan my shirt (I wanted to take that off too, but not in public).

For the most part they pass in bout 5mins.

- caffeine: I drink 1-2 cups a day of coffee, nothing after 3pm with caffeine in it.

- alcohol: I haven't drank any in ummmm, 2 or 3mos now.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone.... I'm willing to try most things, so I can get a good nights sleep

I do know a couple of the medications that your on and I bet if you checked the side effects hot flashes would be listed. Actually they would be listed as night sweats.

A couple of ways I deal with them is keeping a hand towel in the freezer at all times that way if they get really bad it will help. Also I have a fan on my night stand which I can turn on for a few minutes.

Caffeine is another culprit, it's the worse for causing your blood vessels to constrict which is one of the reasons I gave up coffee. But this also goes for tea, most cola drinks. Also check the sugar content of whatever your drinking to much sugar right before bed will set off hot flashes.

Try and get a little exercise everyday even if it's only going for a short walk.

And have some blood tests done, that way you can know one way or another whether your beginning menopause or there is some other reason for the hot flashes.

the only thing that I did to help mine ease some, was use a cold wash cloth at the back of my neck.
I had a TVH (total vaginal hysterectomy) in 2005.At the age of 35.I went into surgical menopause a few days after mine.
Dr put me on 50mg of Zoloft for them.I stayed on it,for 6 months.After that---I have had one maybe 2 in the past 4 years.
good luck hon!!! The first one I had,my hubby thought I was dying---I was that red faced,and sweating

I also started the big M at an early age, early to mid 40's. It is a horrible thing for us women to go thru. You can ask your Dr. for a prescription that might help but it takes years to finally be rid of them. I used to wake up in an awful sweat too and during the day at work it would really become embarrasing. I really don't know what to tell you since there's not much you can do about it. Just talk to your Dr., if he can't help you, I guess no one can.

I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I've been getting hot flashes since I was in my mid 20's. Now I'm in my late 40's and am also peri-menopausal and they're getting worse.

I've been thinking of talking to my doctor and asking for a total hysterectomy because I'm tired of them.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I've been getting hot flashes since I was in my mid 20's. Now I'm in my late 40's and am also peri-menopausal and they're getting worse.

I've been thinking of talking to my doctor and asking for a total hysterectomy because I'm tired of them.

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I'm one of those "older" ladies. I had a hysterectomy when I was 36 due to problems. I have been on HRT since then because that's the only thing that helps. I had cancer in 1972 and my cancer specialist told me the chances of breast cancer due to HRT were like 1-3% chance higher than if I didn't take HRT. I decided the risk was worth it. I stopped taking my HRT for a year and the hot flashes have been so severe - 3 to 5 per day and several at night - so I've started my HRT again and after 2 weeks no more hot flashes.
One of my close friends tried herbal therapy and it didn't work for her so now she is also on HRT.

Linda, a hysterectomy does not prevent hot flashes. Some folks never get them, others only last a couple years, and my doctor told me they can last with some folks into their 70's.

It will be different for each person most likely so what works for one may not work for another.

aww hun my mam is going through this to and she says its a nightmare she hasnt found anything to help her, im hoping its not a gentic thing she has really bad mood swings (topped off with being an alcoholic not a good thing at all)

not good at inputting but cool from across the pond hun

Chris, are you sure it's not from the pain? Gary gets hot flashes all the time. He's constantly either sweating buckets or freezing. He's sick of "being wet" all the time - though I must say, his happen as frequently during the day as they do at night. He doesn't go anywhere without a fan (one of those japanese fold-up types), and I get him cool compresses for his forehead all the time.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I've been getting hot flashes since I was in my mid 20's. Now I'm in my late 40's and am also peri-menopausal and they're getting worse.

I've been thinking of talking to my doctor and asking for a total hysterectomy because I'm tired of them.

Click to expand...

I had a hyster,and still get them from time to time

Well... I'm 24 and I have hot flashes too! Mine is more of a hormonal imbalance which sometimes cause my cycles to be weird. I was on birth control for 5 years until I had a blood clot. They found several mutations in my blood that cause me to be prone to having another stroke, so no more birth control for me. I have to suffer through the hot flashes. Sweating is a major issue... when it happens... there isn't much you can do. A fan does help! I try to wear sleeveless shirts so that when I have a hot flash I will be cooler. You can always bring a sweater to cover up if you get cold. At night I notice if I wear shorts my legs kind of get sweaty from skin to skin contact... If I swear capri type pj bottoms, it seems to help with the sweating. Wear cotton, it's more breathable! I really don't have any other suggestions... I'm in the same boat though...

If your going through menopause the herb Black Cohosh is available at walmart or any health store. You can get a blood test to see if you are going through this phase in your life. There also is the phase before you actually start into menopause and it can last for years. It's called perimenopause. I never took estrogen because my mother had breast cancer, and honestly I don't trust the sources that some of the estrogens come from. I chose to go through menopause as natural as possible. I started into menopause in my early 40's because I had a hysterectomy when I was 28, they had left one ovary for hormonal purposes. It started to shut down at an early age.

I thought I was done with menopause, and I just got slammed for the last 3 months with terrible night sweats and hot flashes. The black Cohosh didn't work right away for me, but it seems like it's starting to work now.

Thanks for sharing ladies.

Susan: yep, I did look, and you may be onto something bout the side effects of my meds.

Thanks for the suggestions....the cloth in the freezer is a good one... and I've definately gotten some ideas of what to avoid to help reduce any triggers.

You guys are awesome. Thx again.

Chris, have you actually been diagnosed with menopause (and if your doctor is moron do you trust his diagnosis)?

I thought I was going through premenopause until I went to see a doctor about my thyroid. Have you had that checked out? Because a lot of symptoms of menopause can mimic symptoms of thyroid (hyper or hypo). If you haven't gotten your thyroid checked, can you get in to see an encronologist just to make sure? I think 32 is a bit young for hot flashes, unless you have a history of this in your family.

I'm so sorry you are going through this.

This post has been very educational for me.

I'm 27 but have had severe PMDD since about 21 years old.

I have the WORST hot flashes the two weeks before my period every single cycle. I've yet to be diagnosed with PCOS, which I highly suspect I have, but I'm getting closer. (finally the doctors are saying, "hey maybe something *IS* wrong")

I prefer to be in 50 degree weather at all times, summer is like Hell for me. I can only imagine how hard it'll be when I hit the big M.

God bless all of you that are going through it!

I have the occasional hot flash/night sweats. I just deal with it, but what I hate hate hate is the itchies! I sometimes feel like my skin is crawling with ants or something. And it is worse when combined with night sweats! I know it is menopause (haven't been to the Dr but at my age, I know what is going on) as I haven't had a real period in months. Only barely spotted a week ago. I also have achy legs at night. I take ibuprofen every night to deal with it.