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Ladies... umm... hot flashes?

post #1 of 23
11/15/10 at 8:06pm
Thread Starter 
For the last three days I've been getting a lot of hot flashes. I don't feel sick. I'm going to be 48 in February. My mom and sister both had hysterectomies so they have no advice or thoughts and I have no idea when they would have gone through perimenopause/menopause.

But it's so annoying! They only last a few minutes to like 15 minutes, but they happen frequently. I notice myself looking at the room temp like all the time - and it's staying constant but I feel like it's about 100 degrees and I break into a sweat - and then it goes away pretty quickly.

Is this that?

Guess it's time to go visit my gyn...
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post #2 of 23
11/16/10 at 2:48am
I am 58 and still have not gone through menopause. But, this past summer the heat really bothered me a lot. More than any other time in my life.

I hope things calm down for you. I know people suffer quite a bit from those flashes.....I am still waiting.

Hope you feel better.
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post #3 of 23
11/16/10 at 4:35am
I can't speak from experience, but I have friends a few years older than you who decribed their hot flashes the same way. There are meds for them, and also natural remedies (I've read that a TBLSP of cider vinegar in water once or twice a day is supposed to help. I sometimes drink this for colds, etc., and it works for those ailments, so I gues it would for hot flashes!).

I hope you find relief soon!
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post #4 of 23
11/16/10 at 4:50am
Could be. Hot flashes are as unique as the women they afflict.

For me, they hit suddenly and I feel like I'm going to spontaneously combust. I literally feel so hot that I want to rip my clothing off (of course I don't).

Hot flashes are not only indicative of menopause, but they are also symptoms of other things too. You should go to the doctor and get checked out before automatically assuming it's from menopause.
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post #5 of 23
11/16/10 at 4:53am
I've been lucky (so far) and rarely have hot flashes. But I'm usually warm to begin with so maybe thats why. I suggest dressing in layers and stepping outside in this cooler weather to help you cool down.
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post #6 of 23
11/16/10 at 5:36am
I've been having hot flashes for years, literally, as soon as I try to stop my HRT. Even though I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 36, I still got hot flashes and terrible night sweats to the point that I couldn't get a full night's sleep. There are herbal remedies apparently which may or may not work for you. They did not work for my friend so she started taking HRT. I've been taking HRT since I was 36 (I'm now 64). This of course, is a very personal decision since there is much ado about HRT. My cancer specialist advised me to take it and I've followed his advice.

As Linda suggests, talk to your doctor before making any decision.

Good vibes coming your way - it's an overwhelming feeling when they come. I started referring to them as my "power surges".
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post #7 of 23
11/16/10 at 5:36am
That's what it sounds like, Laurie, though my doctors aren't sure whether mine are caused by menopause (I had a hysterectomy 8 years ago) or my thyroid (most of it removed 5 weeks ago). They can be really intense for a couple of days or weeks, then diminish, only to start up again. I didn't opt for HRT due to a history of breast cancer in the family, but found that a glass of soy milk every day helped. I think the brand I used in the U.S. was Silk, or something like that, in chocolate flavor. Unfortunately I can't drink it now until my thyroid medication is properly readjusted. If I were you, I'd talk to my gynecologist and get my thyroid levels checked out, because you could be having symptoms of either or both.
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post #8 of 23
11/16/10 at 5:47am
Yes, it's time to see your doctor, just to make sure it is menopause and not something else.

I had a total hysterectomy at 24 because of severe endometriosis. I've been on hormones, though, so I don't think I've gone through menopause yet (I'm sure I'd know, wouldn't I?). It's not Premarin or anything like that....my doctor has me on a compound prescription that's made at a compound pharmacy. It's a combination of estrogen, progesterone (sp?), and testosterone. I have bloodwork done every year to make that everything is within proper limits. I've been on it for over 25 years and will continue for another ten years or so....my dr and I just chatted about that at my last visit.

I feel OK with the medication and I have an annual mammogram and a monthly self-check just to be on the safe side. Breast cancer is rampant on both sides of my family, so I do worry about it.

Good luck! I've heard that hot flashes are a real bugger!
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post #9 of 23
11/16/10 at 6:15am
I started menopause when I was 34, with very irregular periods, hot flashes, etc. I went to the doctor and had blood tests and a D&C, and thankfully they found nothing wrong.
I was on HRT for a few years, which worked great, but went off of them when I was laid off from my job and no longer had insurance.
Now, 22 years later, I still have very minor hot flashes, but not as bad as they had been.
Definitely go to your doctor!
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post #10 of 23
11/16/10 at 6:23am
Hot flashes are wicked. Like you describe, you just want to rip all your clothes off immediately. In addition may come "Cold flashes", where you suddenly feel a deep chill for no reason.

I had a complete hysterectomy at 27, and had my first hot flash about 10 minutes after I woke up from the surgery.

I took estrogen replacement (premarin) for 19 years, but went of it when I was 46. So I went through a menopause of sorts.

I still get the hot flashes, though not as often and diet plays a large part. If I go on a sugar binge, for example, the hot flashes are wicked for days.
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post #11 of 23
11/16/10 at 6:40am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the feedback. Gonna go call the doc.... in the meantime, I was up at least every hour last night! Didn't help that I had three kitties sleeping on me and Shelly in my face.
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post #12 of 23
11/16/10 at 7:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post
Thanks for the feedback. Gonna go call the doc.... in the meantime, I was up at least every hour last night! Didn't help that I had three kitties sleeping on me and Shelly in my face.
I still sleep with a fan blowing on me year round.
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post #13 of 23
11/16/10 at 8:36am
Could definitely be perimenopause. You are the right age for it to begin. It can be kind of crazy, with a period every 2-3 weeks, then 2-3 months without one! I was lucky 'cause it was really short for me, and lasted only a little over a year. Then... FREEDOM! It's worth it, so nice after!

(My doctor said a good diet avoiding refined sugar and flour will help with the symptoms. I didn't have too much trouble with hot flashes, thankfully, but it's always chilly here and I'm always cold but I believe I would have been miserable if I were still in Texas!).

Always wear a tank top with layers and and you can strip down when you need to! And carry a bottle of cold water with you, too. Avoid red wine at a crowded stuffy indoor party... I say this from experience 'cause the party guests almost saw me spontaneously combust, lol!
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post #14 of 23
11/16/10 at 9:41am
I had them at their worst when I was in my 30's, and they just started again to a lesser degree in the last year. I've been told to avoid HRT at all costs, as there is breast cancer in my family. My trick is to get exercise and eat right. When I do that, I rarely notice them.

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post #15 of 23
11/16/10 at 10:28am
Thread Starter 
The funny thing is that I've really focused on improving our diet on and off over the past year, but stuck to it for the past month or so - and the past 2-3 weeks, we've pretty much been eating only non-processed, organic stuff. Gary still needs his dark chocolate, haven't completely weaned him off of that yet. But I'm even down big on the carbs.

And HRT isn't an option for me, have the family history of breast cancer too.

And Cat - at the party comment! No stuffy parties for us anyway.

We're already in the habit of traveling everywhere with water... I'll just have to start dressing in layers.
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post #16 of 23
11/16/10 at 3:23pm
I started having hot flashes at age 37, when perimenopsuse hit. Menopause hit at 50 and, 4 years later, I still have the hot flashes. As someone else said, I feel as if I'm going to spontaneously combust; when it stops the sweat turns cold and feels like ice water on my skin.
I've noticed that they seem to come more frequently when I'm under stress. I also get the urge to have a drink of cold water---immediately!
They don't bother quite as much in the winter; I'm cold-blooded and they actually feel good sometimes
Definitely see your gyn. to rule out anything else.
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post #17 of 23
11/16/10 at 3:41pm
It doesn't have to be so bad, you'll just deal with it and be okay, it's just another life thing, add it to the list.

The room was stuffy, not snooty party!
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post #18 of 23
11/16/10 at 3:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post
Gary still needs his dark chocolate, haven't completely weaned him off of that yet.
Dark chocolate is very good for you.... in moderation.

http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelo.../chocolate.htm
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post #19 of 23
11/16/10 at 3:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SwampWitch View Post
The room was stuffy, not snooty party!
Let's just say... Gary and I don't get out much these days, so no stuffy rooms or snooty parties.
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post #20 of 23
11/16/10 at 5:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SwampWitch View Post
Could definitely be perimenopause. You are the right age for it to begin. It can be kind of crazy, with a period every 2-3 weeks, then 2-3 months without one! I was lucky 'cause it was really short for me, and lasted only a little over a year. Then... FREEDOM! It's worth it, so nice after!

(My doctor said a good diet avoiding refined sugar and flour will help with the symptoms. I didn't have too much trouble with hot flashes, thankfully, but it's always chilly here and I'm always cold but I believe I would have been miserable if I were still in Texas!).

Always wear a tank top with layers and and you can strip down when you need to! And carry a bottle of cold water with you, too. Avoid red wine at a crowded stuffy indoor party... I say this from experience 'cause the party guests almost saw me spontaneously combust, lol!
I read that vitamin E, olives, olive oil are supposed to help, too.
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post #21 of 23
11/16/10 at 9:36pm
Sounds a bit like what my mother is going through. She's at the wacky, irregular period stage. Don't know if it really works; but an old co-worker of ours used to swear by wearing a little deodorant "down there." Along the bikini line I guess is how to put it delicately. She swears her hot flashes stopped after that. Could be coincidence. I've never heard that one again.
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post #22 of 23
11/17/10 at 7:59pm
This thread made me laugh out loud - especially when Natalie said with the utmost seriousness that she wanted to rip her clothes off, but didn't, of course!

I am driving my husband crazy, turning down the thermostat when he's not looking. I, too, feel like I'm gonna spontaneously combust at times. I'm going to look into this diet thing...
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post #23 of 23
11/18/10 at 8:38am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Natalie_ca View Post
Dark chocolate is very good for you.... in moderation.

http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelo.../chocolate.htm
Actually, I was aware of that, and I misspoke. I haven't weaned him to the point of moderation.
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