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Posted by: jadebear Jul 29 2004, 05:12 PM

I am interested in hearing detailed descriptions of your hot flashes...i know there are different kinds and they're different for everybody.I think it would help me,sometimes i get kinda anxious when i have them, and knowing others experience the same things would ease my tension.....thanks. Sometimes i'm not sure if i'm having a flash or if it's anxiety....an example,today from the chest up,i felt all hot and kinda tingly in the face/cheeks.It was like i could feel/smell the heat coming from me(sorta felt like steam almost).I wasn't nervous,but was when that happened.Or sometimes i get a "rush" feeling in my face and feel dizzy and the back of my head gets real hot.....so see,if you guys describe yours i will feel much better about it all....

Posted by: indigobuddha1 Jul 29 2004, 06:13 PM

Greetings Jadebear: I have just begun having hot flashes/night sweats this summer. On the whole I experience more night sweats than I do hot flashes, as I have the sweats every night. Even through I sleep with a small fan positioned by the side of my bed, I wake up around 1:00-3:00am taking off my t-shirt and blanket. The heat starts from my neck to my chest and feels sweaty but not enough to soak my sheets. Later on (depending if I can get back to sleep), I deal with cold spell, hence my soft cuddy blanket! Rarely during the day do I experience hot flashes, but when I do they also begin in the same place. Lately, as of this week, the flashes are accompanied with a feeling that I want to faint/pass out. I only seem to have flashes once a day, if that often. Hope my experience helps;)

Posted by: COwoman Jul 29 2004, 06:29 PM

For me, I just somehow get this feeling of warmth. My skin is very hot to the touch. They makes me stop what I'm doing and then they really get going. They start at my neck and work both up to my forehead and my scalp and down my chest. I sweat all over -- neck, forehead, scalp, underarms, between my breasts, down my spine. Lately I think my heart beats a bit more rapidly. I used to just get the night sweats, but in the past several weeks I get them all day -- probably about once every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. At night I do get a bit chilly when it's over and pull the covers back over me.:mad: PS We get nice cool nights (usually) in Colorado. Last night I had windows open and fan blowing. When I woke up the temp in the house was 64. I thought it felt great. The family complained about it. Too bad.

Posted by: matoaka Jul 29 2004, 06:45 PM

My flashes don't usually "flash". They start off like a crock pot - sort of a slow cooking feeling - and then I just gradually get warmer and warmer. I don't have rivulets of sweat running down my body, but I do end up with this sticky, filmy feeling on my skin after I cool off. YUK. Can't get in the shower fast enough. I used to have tons of anxiety attacks, and sometimes my hot flashes remind me of that. So I can understand why you're not always sure which is which. But I think the biggest difference with me is the sustained heat - frequently up to an hour. Try putting something cold on the back of your neck or on the inside of your wrists.... Keep the faith! Susan

Posted by: jadebear Jul 29 2004, 07:54 PM

Thanks for sharing...it 's a big help to me just reading what you experience.Do any of you feel anxiety or anything during a flash? indigobuddha1,you said you have been feeling like you wanna faint or pass out with yours this past week...how do you deal with that feeling?Do you just roll with it and then it passes?I have felt that way during a flash,but it made me freak out cause i really thought i would faint.

Posted by: indigobuddha1 Jul 29 2004, 08:39 PM

Posted by: COwoman Jul 29 2004, 09:25 PM

No anxiety here. I do the same as indigobuddha1. Just stand still and wait for it to pass. And ditto on the feeling warm all over, but I do eventually break into that sweat. This is just awful and I hate it. I hate going out because I never know when it will happen. Here's another question. Do you find they are worse at any particular time of day? For me, it's usually worse in the late afternoon and evening. And of course, they continue on thru the night. I usually have 3 a night.

Posted by: matoaka Jul 30 2004, 09:48 AM

My flashes are usually worse in the afternoon and early evening. This is my second or third bout with the flashes. They last a couple of months and then go away. Each bout is less obnoxious than the previous, so hopefully they will go the way of the dodo bird soon. I just ordered some Revival Soy and I'll let you know if that helps me. When I was having anxiety/panic attacks, I used to have those "near fainting" feelings. Really spooky when you're driving!! I finally figured that that feeling was just the way they started up for me... feeling faint and flush and feeling like every pore in my body was about the size of a quarter! I used to fight those feelings, get mad and cry about it, stomp the floor. Eventually, the best way for me to handle it was to just nod, accept the feelings, and go on about my business. They went away faster that way. I know that is easier said than done. But anxiety won't hurt you, it's just a temporary imbalance of brain chemicals or hormones that will soon even out. Treat yourself well.... this, too, shall pass. Hugs, Susan

Posted by: jadebear Jul 30 2004, 07:22 PM

matoaka,I am trying to just accept the feelings i experience,and it's HARD,but it does make them pass sooner.....it's a mind over matter thing.

Posted by: Pat01 Aug 1 2004, 08:17 PM

OK, I had two episodes of sweating this weekend and I can't stand it anymore. It begins with either physical exertion or extreme warm temperatures. I begin to sweat and I'm talking a wet back, running down my chest etc. I feel like a pig. I used to brag and say I didn't actually flash since I've always been hot blooded (dead of winter and only using one blanket or a sheet). but this may be a hot flash and not realizing it. Does physical exertion bring on the flashes? Thanks, Pat:(

Posted by: COwoman Aug 1 2004, 10:13 PM

I think so. I also will sometimes flash when I feel something "different" touching my skin. But exertion will do it for me too. Today was awful for me. My husband and son who is home from college went to a college alumni club picnic. It was probably about 95 outside. I never stopped sweating and flashing the whole time. At least in Colorado the humidity is low so I didn't have that to contend with, but once my body gets wet from sweating I can never dry off. And those flashes keep coming. I think I'll go take another shower! But this is really starting to have an impact on my activities.

Posted by: pesmith Aug 1 2004, 10:33 PM

yes i too believe that physical exertion does bring on hot flashes , hell vaccuming brings them on here and whoe i have to take a break before i finish:o

Posted by: jadebear Aug 1 2004, 11:57 PM

Do any of you sweat between your breasts so bad that it literally pours off of you and your bra is soaking wet?What is the best thing to do for that?I was putting paper towels in the bottom of my bra to soak some of it up,but that caused a bad rash....any ideas??

Posted by: Dearest Aug 2 2004, 03:30 AM

Lots of excellent information about hot flashes and night sweats in the following articles ... http://www.power-surge.com/headlines/hotflash.htm and http://www.power-surge.com/educate/whatsinahotflash.htm Dearest

Posted by: COwoman Aug 2 2004, 10:28 AM

Thank you, Dearest, for reminding us to read the information on the website. In reading it again, I noticed that most of the things we've talked about in this post were mentioned. I guess we all just need a place to whine and share "war stories". And yes, jadebear, I sweat profusely between the breasts and my bra does get drenched. It never dries out and I feel uncomfortable with it all day. Perhaps not wearing a bra would help you with the rash. I hate the stupid thing anyway. Probably invented by a MAN!

Posted by: Gia_Johnson Aug 2 2004, 10:54 AM

My hot flashes usually occur at night. I get a nauseous feeling that wakes me up then WHAMMO! The heat moves from the chest to the top of my head. Of course my heart races at top speed. I find that putting my head in freezer helps (lol) or splashing very cold water on my face and chest.

Posted by: alice3 Aug 2 2004, 10:55 AM

Yes the wet bra (and knix for that matter). How do we manage to look normal when we have drips running down our bodies? Having tried the paper, which just turns into mush, I have no suggestions in that department but for the rash it leaves I use graphite cream (a homeopathic cream by Nelson here but you must have your own brand). To help with night sweats I sleep on a soft comfy towel (if it's rough you'll be like the Princess and the Pea). I find it's more absorbent than a cotton sheet and you can chuck it in the night if you get too sweaty. My husband recently had a fever and I suggested the same thing for his feverish head and he felt much better for it.

Posted by: jadebear Aug 2 2004, 04:17 PM

COwoman,how i wish i could go without a bra.....that's definitely NOT an option for me,my size 34 D's would be sagging and bouncing all over the place.

Posted by: COwoman Aug 2 2004, 07:47 PM

I wear sports bras only. I hate the underwires in the larger sizes. Maybe those would help you a bit with the rash??? Good luck.

Posted by: Pat01 Aug 2 2004, 09:49 PM

Have you tried cotton bras? A co-worker swears by them but I still do sweat. There is a website called ** I ordered two types one doesn't have any support but the other that has flowers embroidered on the cups are great. Now if someone invents a sweatband for bras they would be rich! Pat:D ** Board Administrator: Links to commercial sites are prohibited on these message boards. http://power-surge.com/php/forum/viewthread.php?tid=3002 Thank you.

Posted by: jadebear Aug 2 2004, 10:34 PM

a sweatband for bras is a good idea.LOL I have tried all different types of bras,but not cotton ones,thanks for the link,i will check it out.

Posted by: COwoman Aug 2 2004, 10:38 PM

Ditto for me. Which style did you get, Pat01? There seem to be a lot to choose from. Prices look reasonable. What do the shipping costs run?

Posted by: Pat01 Aug 3 2004, 09:01 PM

I had good luck with style BB6895. Don't order style 6815 as it has no shape, might be good as a leisure type bra. Honestly I can't remember how much shipping was but it didn't shock me. I still sweat but like to think I am doing all I can to air condition myself. Pat:D

Posted by: jadebear Aug 3 2004, 09:16 PM

"I Likey" the link,the bras are priced so cheap compared to what i normally pay.But are they of good quality?I really need something with good support,I am tall and very thin so my large breasts are very noticable.....don't want them sagging.

Posted by: Pat01 Aug 4 2004, 09:53 PM

I like the one style I mentioned but it is not an underwire. Let's put it this way, my daughter laughs at me and says my boobs are hanging. Cotton does stretch but for right now I like the comfort. Pat:)

Posted by: jadebear Aug 17 2004, 03:47 PM

I have been paying close attention to the "feelings" i experience.Today,off and on,i start feeling a bit dizzy/off balance,i kinda feel "beside" myself,if you understand what i mean by that,my heart starts beating fast and i just feel warm,not hot.I used to panic when i felt like that and freak out,thinking for sure it was a panic attack.But today i have been timing them instead.....they last anywhere between 3-5 minutes and then it all goes away and i feel fine.Are these just a type of hot flash,or is something wrong with me?

Posted by: jadebear Sep 15 2004, 02:30 PM

For those of you who described your hot flashes,THANKS,for it has helped me. I realize now that alot of times when i have panicked or had an anxiety attack,it was just a hot flash.I also realize that not all flashes are the same,they can be different from hour to hour or day to day.

Posted by: CSugarGrove Sep 22 2004, 05:22 PM

jadebear, I've noticed that stress will bring them on for me. Sometimes the stress is only a thought in my head about which I feel anxious, and whammo! Hot flashes. Or I'll get a telephone call and someone tells me there is a problem, and--hot flashes! I seldom get them during the day at work, but in the morning before work, and at night before bed, they are pretty bad. I don't sweat, but I know my body gets hot because when I'm sitting in the car driving or in the easy chair watching TV, I'll have flash and the chair feels hot where my back was touching it. I didn't even have night sweats for a couple of years, just daytime hot flashes. Now I get the night sweats at least once per night, but I don't have wet perspiration with it, just a feeling of heat.

Posted by: jadebear Sep 22 2004, 08:06 PM

CSugarGrove,I have figured out stress brings on hot flashes too.I also realized all the panic i had been enduring while i was out shopping was due to the flashes too.At least i know/understand what they are now and don't freak out and panic like i used to.I wish i had known about all of this stuff BEFORE starting peri.....but,better late than never i guess. I am SO thankful for this site and ALL of you people!!:D

Posted by: CSugarGrove Sep 23 2004, 12:50 PM

jadebear, I discovered that my own reaction to having a flash was important. When I had my first big, sickening flash, complete with dizziness and a wave of nausea (about four years ago), I had to sit down and I was just overcome with depression. I don't know why. Maybe I was having to face the idea that I was entering meno, like it or not. Since then, I've discovered that if I just take the flashes in stride and try to have a loving sense of humor about them, they don't affect me emotionally. I just tell myself, "you're flashing," and try to just keep doing what I was doing. I never had one of those aura things warning me that I would be having a flash. I've read that some women get some kind of premonition, a feeling that they will have a hot flash. This never happened to me, although I waited to have an aura for a while. Finally, I gave up and thought, "you won't have one; you just get the flash." The good news is that it's been two years since my last period, and the flashes are not as often now, nor as intense as they used to be a year ago. I don't even perspire now. Just feel warm. So you can look forward to some improvement....

Posted by: NewCrone Sep 24 2004, 05:12 PM

I'm really lucky, because mine aren't too bad. I call them "warm flashes." I'll just start feeling a tad warmer than usual, and I'll get a slight "sheen" of sweat, mostly on my face and arms. My reaction to this is "Isn't that interesting? Is this a hotflash?" It better be, because I haven't had a period since June and 3 First Response EArly Result tests have been negative. I am 49, FYI.

Posted by: jadebear Sep 24 2004, 06:30 PM

I'm not sure if i have an " aura" before a flash,but i DO know when i am gonna have one.....i feel this bizarre,sickining feeling,almost like i can feel the blood pulsing through my veins throughout my entire body and i also feel like i'm kinda being squeezed ...like i'm running out of air.

Posted by: MoonShadow Oct 15 2004, 10:53 PM

I've been having hot flashes for over two years and they're escalating (I had a full hysterectomy almost 3 years ago). I get the dizziness and a kind of "outside my body" feeling. I also have a kind of buzz, almost like a low voltage shot going through my entire upper body and it makes me kind of nauseated. All day long I run hot and cold, but the late afternoon is really the worst. I haven't been sleeping very well for the last year because it's the same hot/cold feeling. Has anyone else felt the electrical shock kind of thing?

Posted by: Yvonne4747 Oct 15 2004, 11:21 PM

It seems each hot flash can have its own personality. I have had them at different times and to different degrees. The other day my husband and I were in an arguement and this hot flash hit me hard. I was asking, it is hot in here? My whole body was in a hot overload! I just wanted to get my clothes off. Oh brother, you just never know. lol Yvonne

Posted by: BettyAnne Oct 16 2004, 01:45 AM

Hi My hot flashes start with a warm feeling, then esculate to rivelets of water running down my back, between my breasts, down my stomach. Even my legs sweat. I get so cold afterwards, cause my clothes are damp. Yesterday I was in town and couldn't change into anything dry, by the time I got home even my jeans were damp. At night they are just as bad. I am constanting throwing off the covers, only to frantically pull them back on again cause I am freezing. I have tried a lot of the suggestions posted, some help, but not all the time. My Mom had hot flashes for over 10 years, she 76 and still has the occasional one. I'm not going to be like her am I???

Posted by: jadebear Oct 16 2004, 09:14 PM

My hot flashes have been so INTENSE lately.....sweat actually pours off my legs now too,not just my boobs.When i have alot of flashes,i crave water.....is that normal? Also,this is embarrassing,but my butt and crotch area sweat so much now that i'm always irritated and chafed down there.I change panties a few times a day,wash quite a few times a day,i even let myself "air dry" and i'm still having problems.any suggestions??

Posted by: jadebear Nov 15 2004, 10:46 PM

I am SO glad i have all of you people to share my problems with.At least all of you understand and don't tell me i'm wrong or it's NOT a hot flash...... I was in the grocery store over the weekend and all of a sudden,everyone in the store looked like they were darting around real fast,i started feeling off balance and having the electrical shock thing going on(like what you were describing MoonShadow)and i just felt like i HAD to get out of the store....but then i got SO hot that i felt like i was gonna pass out.I started sweating profusely in my breast area and down my legs so i took off my jacket and started fanning myself to cool down......I did cool down and started freezing and shivering.....end of hot flash. I was talking to a woman about hot flashes later that day and told her what i had experienced....she asked if i was ill or if i hadn't had any sleep....looked at me like i was crazy.....i just said "That's just how MY hot flashes are". I think i will keep my experiences to myself from now on(other than on here)......it really made me mad for her to act like i must have something mentally wrong with me,just because her hot flashes were never like that doesn't mean mine can't be.

Posted by: jadebear Dec 2 2004, 09:29 PM

Do any of you have ringing in the ears during a hotflash?I always have ringing( tinnitus)...but during a hotflash it gets very strong and loud.

Posted by: alice3 Dec 3 2004, 12:39 PM

Reading these posts I wonder why someone doesn't invent a band for round the bra or a small pack between the breasts (and even at the top of your btm :oops: ) it could be filled with silica gel crystals (which would probably cool you) and you could dry them off at night. If men suffered from sweaty baubles there'd soon be something on the market! :wink:

Posted by: jadebear Dec 3 2004, 01:41 PM

That is SO true alice.....but if men suffered through menopause,it wouldn't even exist anymore,scientists would have cured it completely or found a way to prevent it altogether....

Posted by: julief Dec 3 2004, 01:44 PM

SWEATY BAUBLES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your soooooo funny alice - I love reading your posts. Julie x

Posted by: jadebear Dec 11 2004, 08:54 PM

Do any of you experience internal shaking before/during/after a hotflash?

Posted by: violette Dec 15 2004, 02:16 PM

]I have been going to a rec centre more often because exercise really helps my symptoms.I do cardio, some weights, and I also was going for a swim afterwards. The swimming especially I find very relaxing and beneficial but its all good. Then I sat in the hot tub, thinking it would relax me even more. But over a few weeks, I had noticed that I was getting MORE hot flashes. Mostly at night, but sometimes during the day...you know how awful the feeling is..the sudden WOOSH of heat...lol Then I read HERE at this site that avoidance of hot tubs and saunas may help dimish the flashes. I shall stop using the hot tub and sauna and see if it helps... Sure makes sense, in any case

Posted by: jadebear Dec 19 2004, 07:36 PM

Yes,violette,hot tubs and such definitely make you have hot flashes.The last time i got in a whirlpool,i had such a bad hotflash i thought i was gonna pass out.

Posted by: MartyD Dec 30 2004, 09:53 PM

I have had night sweats for about 10 years before my period would start. Now I am 52 and have not had my period for 5 months. I have horrible hot flashes that happen some days 10 times a day and other days just a few. Some nights are really bad with the hot flashes. Keeps me up at night. I tear my clothes off durning the night and then put them back on. Would love to get a good nights sleep. I feel I am an oven from the waist up.

Thanks for this forum

Posted by: alice3 Jan 20 2005, 05:03 PM

Had a real wierd one the other day, felt slightly nauseous then warm in my mid chest and the heat spread two ways... to my head and to my waist AT THE SAME TIME

Posted by: Kleeo Jan 20 2005, 05:30 PM

That's how mine are in the mornings, Alice. I feel a wave of nausea and then the heat starts mid-section and moves up and down. I sometimes have to lie back down until it passes. Strange, eh? I once thought it was my B/P but took a reading and all was fine there, so put it off as JUST another annoying hot flash.
HUGS!

Posted by: alice3 Jan 21 2005, 06:45 AM

Have you ever taken your temperature at the same time as a flash. We bought a new thermometer and I was curious to see if my temperature zoomed up but it doesn't even though I may be having a real sweat. My body temp is a little lower than average (av =37 degrees) anyway.

Posted by: mauras Jan 21 2005, 12:25 PM

My flashes always start with what feels like a surge of adrenaline , then I get warm and my heart races. Sometimes I feel shaky and like I have to go to the bathroom. I usually just sweat a little.

I seem to always have them while I am sleeping. I will wake up suddenly and be laying there wide awake and then within a few minutes I know it is going to start.
Definitely difficult trying to get a good nights sleep with all that going on!

Posted by: GoldenFrost Jan 21 2005, 12:54 PM

Mine starts with a prickly feeling in my hands and arms
then the heat rush hits washing over me. First chest then goes up to head making my neck and forhead sweat.
Funny thing I find is that I suffer from blocked sinuses and when I have a rush my sinuses open up for a few mins.
Weird!
GoldenFrost

Posted by: Pattywack Jan 22 2005, 06:34 PM

I am new to this, but so glad that I found this web site. I think I am having some sort of hot flash???? I just get mild warmings of the chest, neck, and face but it is accompanied by prickly feeling and red blotchey rashy looking skin. The redness takes a while to go away too. I have a heavy feeling in the chest also. From what I have read so far on different postings just about anything goes. Seems like I always want to toss in a bit of anxiety once it all begins.

Posted by: alice3 Jan 24 2005, 08:33 AM

And why not? Anxiety seems to attach itself to everything else!

Posted by: iampixie Jan 24 2005, 08:04 PM

My hot flashes are not flashes, they are more like hot lingers. The hot spells seem to last about 5 minutes or more. If im sitting down the backs of knees get so wet the water runs down my leg. The back of my neck gets so hot that I put an ice pack on it. This is one of the worst sym. of menopause. Pixie

Posted by: Lbritt10 Jan 24 2005, 11:40 PM

I've been having hot flashes for over two years and they're escalating (I had a full hysterectomy almost 3 years ago).  I get the dizziness and a kind of "outside my body" feeling.  I also have a kind of buzz, almost like a low voltage shot going through my entire upper body and it makes me kind of nauseated.  All day long I run hot and cold, but the late afternoon is really the worst.  I haven't been sleeping very well for the last year because it's the same hot/cold feeling.  Has anyone else felt the electrical shock kind of thing?

Posted by: Lbritt10 Jan 24 2005, 11:44 PM

Moonshadow, I have had the electric shock feeling...had it last night. It feels almost like the feeling you have when you wake up startled and that "shock" feeling your body feels. Then I have a hot flash. It didn't last long...just kept recurring throughout the night.

Posted by: boyzmom Jan 25 2005, 12:00 PM

First of all I must say thank you ladies ... sooooo much! Until I found this site yesterday I thought I was losing my mind... or dying I had experienced a few night sweats over the past year, but no big deal. Then the palps began getting worse & episodes lasting longer. Still no biggie, figured it was stress. Then I begin waking during the night. A touch of nausea, then a sense of panic, heart beating faster & faster, a wave of warm to hot tingling begins in my chest, moves down my arms, thru my body then to my legs. I wasn't sweating during these episodes so I think it must be my heart! Went to the doc & ekg & blood were fine. I've been at a total loss for ideas then stumbled on this board yesterday. Thank God I'm not alone with these feelings!! I felt such a sense of relief even after reading this one thread. I love you girls already!!!

Posted by: alice3 Jan 26 2005, 08:40 AM

Another life saved Dearest!

Welcome to HMS (forgot US equiv again- sorry girls) Powersurge Menoboat Boyzmum!

Posted by: oncourse Jan 28 2005, 02:27 PM

The first and worst hot flash I ever had was shortly after the birth of my daughter. It felt like a volcano, the heat went straight up to the top of my head. Never had another one like that again.

The ones I get now are just overheating in the blink of an eye. I get overheated very, very easily and am always worried about the heat indoors during winter. Overheating makes me feel faint!

Posted by: freakofnature Feb 2 2005, 04:07 PM

I just recently started having 'pit flashes'! I've only occasionally had what I would consider a hot flash, but lately my arm pits will just start sweating for no reason. I can be sitting or standing still, and BAM they're dripping. It lasts for a few minutes, then just dries up. Think this is considered a flash?

Posted by: Juliann Feb 3 2005, 02:23 AM

I'm so glad that I have all these posts to read thru and begin to understand whats happening with my body. Although I have been having strong peri symtoms over the past 2 years, I hadn't experienced any type of hot flashes....... Until 2 weeks ago!!!!!

I have been having major insommnia the past 3 months (never had this problem before) than I started getting the night sweats. They come to me around 3am, and its a flash of heat mostly from my chest up. I wake sometimes already in a sweat. Then its covers off, then it covers back on cause I get the chills, wacky and crazy nights.

During the day, I get these things that are like instant heat wave, like someone put a strong "heatlamp" over me. I get warm (mostly upper body). They tend to come on, especially if I am in a stressful mood or situation at work, WAM.... hot all over, then it goes away. This is something new for me, don't know, but each day has a life of its own lately.

I'm going on 47, still have my periods, but they are acting strangely also. Major fatigue, tired and feel grumpy much of the time, this is not me, but now is the new me. Its like pms, all month long.

Thanks for listening and for being their ladies, may each of you get a break from the flashes and a good nights sleep......Juliann

Posted by: sybilleruth Feb 3 2005, 08:14 PM

I used to get warm flashes and have as yet to experience any genuine sweating sensations. Being four years post menopause, I do experience cold flashes - that cold feeling radiating from the inside to the outside. That is an odd sensation, but I just "ride with the feelings." Can't decide which I "like" better - the warm or the cold. Whatever. One of these days, I will be in sync!

Posted by: alice3 Feb 4 2005, 06:39 AM

Don't speak too soon Sybilleruth! I used to think:o

Posted by: sybilleruth Feb 4 2005, 11:30 AM

Even four years after cessation of periods? Good grief. This definitely seems to be turning out to be a "roller coaster ride." Seriously, Alice - do you honestly think I could still get hot flashes? Have been on this ride for almost nine years. Peri - I was going crazy. Post - My body is going crazy. Two opposite ends. Where is the middle, I ask.

Posted by: alice3 Feb 4 2005, 11:40 AM

Sorry, I missed the post meno bit B_U_T I was reading a book by Dr Miriam Stoppard (UK) (Menopause) that "for 25-50% of all women hot flushes can be very troublesome with up to 50 a day, even ten years after their last period".

That made cheery bedtime reading I can tell you.

Posted by: sybilleruth Feb 4 2005, 01:45 PM

Should I continue to have a "cheery" day after that revelation?

Posted by: sybilleruth Feb 4 2005, 01:46 PM

The picture above my name describes "to the T" my mental capacity. One of these days clarity will present itself.

Posted by: Maria612 Feb 4 2005, 04:18 PM

Does anyone experience their thighs and legs getting red and on fire. Sometimes it is together with my face and ears and sometimes the legs alone. If I am chilly and put on an afgan I can feel the heat bilding up in my legs. I don't sweat with my flushes, but they are so uncomfortable. With snow on the ground I have the ceiling fan on and windows open. My family isn't to happy.

Posted by: CSugarGrove Feb 4 2005, 04:46 PM

So many of these posts just exactly describe my flashes, too. Or the way they used to be. Many of you will not sweat with them as you are now, and they will diminish to feelings of warmth instead of being so overpowering. Mine used to be horrible and now they have subsided considerably, as I am two years post meno.

Do any of you notice an increasing intensity with warmer weather? Or conversely, do you notice a lessening of the intensity when it's cold? It's cold weather for me right now, so I'm wondering if I am speaking too soon and my flashes will worsen when it gets warmer.

I thought that my temperature must be rising during a flash. Sometimes even now, I'll be watching TV and I'll have a flash, and the chair back feels very warm.

Posted by: boyzmom Feb 5 2005, 01:23 PM

"for 25-50% of all women hot flushes can be very troublesome with up to 50 a day, even ten years after their last period".

That made cheery bedtime reading I can tell you.

Posted by: wingwalker Feb 21 2005, 12:10 PM

How about feeling vunerable and crazy thoughts? Or is that just the anxiety I've begun since these hot surges began two months ago?

Posted by: alice3 Feb 21 2005, 12:18 PM

How about feeling vunerable and crazy thoughts?
That's a free gift that you get with the perimeno-anxiety Wingwalker!

If you read back some of the old posts, you'll see we have all gone through this. When I first came here I would usually sit and cry while typing my posts. There were others besides me who seemed to be in the same boat. I must admit we seem a little cheerier nowadays but WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU. We're all well equipped with cyber-tissues and lots of TLC should you need it.

Vent away, my dear!

Posted by: wingwalker Feb 21 2005, 03:07 PM

Okay Alice3 you asked for venting here goes.....
For four months how come my doctor never mentioned the possibility that this could be perimeno? Each time I visited him, why was he making me a wreck by upping my BP meds and telling me I need to workout more? He finally put me on CELEXA and told me that my fear or flight response was off cilter. Then after quitting my job as I spiralled down and found a female psychologist who said I turned the situation into 'panic disorder'. I kept telling her "I'm not panicking I just get these horrible rushes and feel like a hyper lunatic and don't know why". So, I've read about four panic books and talked myself into being a mental case and my husband and kids have watched (for the first time) me bawl pratically every day. Now since reading this site I think I've turned my anger to 'pissed off' Feeling better already! Thanks for listening.

Posted by: boyzmom Feb 21 2005, 03:22 PM

You go girl!! Get pissed & kick peri's butt!! To repeat other posts, those rushes then panic had me wondering if I was dying or losing my mind. At first the doc told me it was stress, caffeine & nicotine. My bp was up, now I'm on a beta-blocker. The next time in I asked him about peri & said "could be" .

It is this site ALONE that is getting me thru the aches, pains, palps, surges, tingling, screwed up periods.....need I go on?
Hang in there!

Posted by: alice3 Feb 21 2005, 03:23 PM

See, it feels good to get it off your chest. You have a right to feel angry that they haven't really listened to you. I feel most doctors (I'm in the UK) want to shove a couple of pills your way and get you out the door.

I've had this sort of thing since I was 41 (I'm 50 now). My periods were very heavy and I was finding it hard to function, I was anaemic and getting sick regularly, which is not good when you go out to work. I had no help or advise from my doc (a woman at this time, so you'd expect some sympathy) and she would not consider me going on a mild bcp. I was back and forward to the docs for years (especially as I needed sick notes for work). Now I work from home, so I don't go anymore. I'm not saying that I have less things wrong with me but I've just given up.

Many stories you'll read here of the doctors not believing you or being sympathetic. Hormones have really thrown all of us into whack. Most of us have become really teary, short-tempered, spotty...it's like those teenage years all over again, I'm afraid.

There's a good, supportive crowd here Wingwalker, with lots to read. You should no longer feel that you are alone.

Posted by: wingwalker Feb 21 2005, 03:41 PM

Boyzmom-He's got me on beta blocker propranolol 40mg twice a day. My BP's been a beautiful 115/65 now that I'm home. That job was definitely stressing me but my BP going up was a sympton! IF I ever level out and complete the winddown of my SSRI, I may see what happens if I taper down on the blockers. I definitely have a new attitude toward 'crazy' folks. Man - no fun - you do feel the asylum is the only place at times. Now I feel perfectly normal which is so strange when I think of how I felt when I woke up cuckoo and rushing.

Alice3-I worked at home about five years ago, that was the ticket.... making money with my bunny slippers on . Get this, my next job was watering spring flowers with my headphones on in a greenhouse in the dead of a Minnesota winter - completely awesome - may have to go back that one. This last venture (busy receptionist) seems to have made something snap in my head that just will need some time getting rearranged. In the meantime, thanks for being there.

Posted by: alice3 Feb 21 2005, 03:49 PM

I think if any of us can function and contribute to the household bills it's a bonus.

You just have to find something you are comfortable with.

Posted by: boyzmom Feb 21 2005, 03:59 PM

This last venture (busy receptionist) seems to have made something snap in my head that just will need some time getting rearranged.

Posted by: jadebear Feb 22 2005, 08:39 PM

My hot flashes have been SO intense lately and while i'm having one,i feel so much anger...more like ~rage~,i just wanna pick something up and throw it or hit somebody(but i don't).....but i do yell and complain over the most trivial things because when i'm feeling like that,the trivial things seem so major.It seems like i spend alot of time saying i'm sorry to people....do any of you feel this way during a hot flash?That intense heat and sweating just gets hard to cope with.

Posted by: boyzmom Feb 23 2005, 11:02 AM

I seem to be doing that even without a hot flash. Bi!ching at other drivers (even more than usual ), yelling at the boys for trivial things that I normally wouldn't notice. So many things piss me off ... things I shouldn't find that annoying. Ditto on wanting to smack somebody .... anybody really. Isn't that awful? How is my family supposed to put up with me if this goes on for years?
Hope it lets up for you soon!

Posted by: Maria612 Feb 23 2005, 04:57 PM

My hot flashes have been SO intense lately and while i'm having one,i feel so much anger...more like ~rage~,i just wanna pick something up and throw it or hit somebody(but i don't).....but i do yell and complain over the most trivial things because when i'm feeling  like that,the trivial things seem so major.It seems like i spend alot of time saying i'm sorry to people....do any of you feel this way during a hot flash?That intense heat and sweating just gets hard to cope with.

Posted by: Maria612 Feb 23 2005, 05:04 PM

I sure can understand where your coming from, my flushes are whole body intense heat and I don't sweat, so I feel like a furnice. I just want to tear off my clothes and run into a snow bank, (not a pleasant site). My poor family, I have no patience left and thought at 57 and a total hysterectomy 10 yrs. ago I would feel normal by now, even on hrt. Does it ever get any better?

Posted by: Bckaroolady May 1 2005, 11:56 AM

I have differnent types. Some start with a feeling of anxiety,then I turn warm all over, others start with my skin having a tingling or crawling feeling, those are the worst, heavy sweating, and dizziness. Luckily I always have some type of warning and try to get to a fan or an air condition vent before it is full blown.

Posted by: Allshookup May 24 2005, 03:49 PM

Hello, I'm soo glad I discovered this site! Finally validation. I am forty-one years old and experienced the most ungodly hot flash yesterday evening. While sitting at the dinner table, I suddenly felt apprehensive, a little light headed, slightly sick to my stomach. I excused myself and went into the front room with a cool glass of water sipping on it and sat in the recliner. I felt like I was having an all out panic attack, and felt as though I was loosing control, because I didnt know what I was experiencing. After I sat down my family came into the livingroom to check on me. I had the feeling that someone split open my chest, filled it with ice, while the rest of my body, especially my face, earlobes, and neck were on fire, and was visibily red to my family standing around me asking me if I thought I was having a heart attack. I felt like I was boiling, and asked my husband to touch my face to see if I was feverish...his reply: "Your cooler than I am." It was like a rollarcoaster ride from hell, I thought more than once I was going to have to go to the hospital. After about an hour of sitting and sipping water, the anxiety subsided, and the reddness slowly dissappeared, only to be replaced with a chill.
Today I phoned my ob-gyn and described this phenomenon, and was told that there was no way I was experiencing a hot-flash due to the fact I was still too young and having "normal" periods...which by the way inch up about seven days every month. So even though I have the night sweats, have what I call "mini meltdowns" that require freezing everyone else out around me, and what I experienced last night.....per the professional I'm just a looney!
Can anyone out there help shed light on my experience? Does it sound familiar to anyone? I would appreciate any insight that I could get.

Posted by: lilbuddy May 25 2005, 03:57 PM

No way you could be experiencing a hot flash?......then what in the world was that???? I certainly can relate, and I think that is exactly what you thought it was. I am 42 and am feeling like I don't know my body anymore. My doc said the same thing....no way you are too young. My hot flashes are a bit different. I get a tingling in my mid-back and then around my lips. My head begins to throb, and here it comes. I also get a tightness in my chest. I have also experienced facial pain. Sometimes this can go on for days. Anyone else have experiences like mine?

Posted by: brassedoff Jun 3 2005, 08:27 AM

I can remember my first hot flash. It was a horrible experience, but now I find it a hoot reminising about it.

It happened about three years ago. It was a hot day(41C to be exact)and I had gone out with my husband on one of his jobs. I started getting really hot all over, yet I wasn't sweating. I can hear you ladies saying "well everyone will be hot driving around on such a hot day". And yes I agree, but this was different. It felt different. Anyway I cranked up the air conditioner to the max, thinking that would soon cool me down. No such luck, because it was only blowing hot air, so we guessed that it needed re-gasing.

Anyhow we continued on our way, as we were almost there, and we thought as soon as my husband was finished we would head home. To cut a long story short, things got worse and I told hubby to stop at the petrol station to get a bag of ice. Oh! what a relief. I hugged that ice so tight. But I was so hot it had melted within 5 minutes, but what was worse it had a hole in it, so my clothes were drenched. By this time I was panicking as to how to cool down. Hubby said he would buy another bag of ice, but I said NO, I need an air conditioner.

As luck would have it , we were near a fish shop, so we dived into the car park, and I just ran inside as fast as I could, drenched and water dripping everywhere, threw open the freezer doors and let them close against my body, and oblivious to all the stares I was getting, I had this huge hot flash. This all happened in an instant, as my husband had only just got out of the car. Anyway to try and recoup some of my dignity and appear normal ( I am sure 'normal' is not what I appeared) I bought about $50 worth of fish.

The flash subsided, hubby didn't get to his job, the car got re-gased the following day, and I survived to tell the tale. A lot more water has flowed under the bridge
since that day and its all been from my body.

So to all you flashers, keep cool and keep your cool.

Hugs from me.

Posted by: cmpo Jun 3 2005, 08:57 AM

Allshookup:
This surely sounds like peri to me as well. I have the great joy of having "wierd" hot flashes as mine occur only at night when I get into bed and my thighs get hot---just my thighs!! I mean SUPER hot. Hot to the touch---but my feet are usually freezing. Obviously, no sleep happens!! I also have to deal with palps, wierd and crazy heartbeats and some anxiety---usually in the form of "something awful is about to happen"---even when I sit perfectly safe and sound in my own home. I have had great relief from my "hot thighs" with Revival soy products and would recommend that you read more about the benefits of soy. I hope this site reassures you--I have found it to be a Godsend. It has, literally, saved my sanity. I have found great empowerment in the suggestions and thoughts shared by all of the wonderful women here. Keep reading---I am sure you will find hope and help in this site.
Chris

Posted by: jadebear Jun 7 2005, 09:22 PM

My hot flashes are actually becoming embarrassing now....i am getting the kind where the sweat pours off my face,rolls off my back and neck and down my legs.I was in the store yesterday and was embarrassed to notice my shirt was soaking wet over my left breast...it was a huge circle....looked like i had been leaking or something,but it was just sweat.I had to go home and change clothes,including my bra and panties.Do hot flashes keep getting more intense until we're completely through menopause,or will they just keep being different on a daily basis?

Posted by: pattygoody Jul 3 2005, 11:44 AM

Chris, I have gotten the hot thighs lately. I have now had 2 periods this month! Ugh! I am finding that before and during this period, I lay down to sleep and get hot through my body, chest pressure, weird tingling...which all stops as soon as I get up and stop trying to sleep. It's horrible feeling this way. Then there are the times I fall asleep and wake up with the weirdest feellings in my body. Other nights I sleep fine...oh, and the palps, too...always worse when I lay on my right side. Every day is a crap shoot on what will happen! LOL

I find myself coming to this board more often now trying to see who else is having this weird crapola, too!

Posted by: pambob Jul 6 2005, 05:34 PM

I just turned 50 March 05... began experiencing "changes" this June, not fun. I'm having nite sweats, and hot flashes, (not sure of the difference, other then one occurs during the day, and the other at nite) They begin with the feeling of warmth in the chest area, then move up the back of my neck. I get the all over clammy feeling, sweat between the breasts, and the back of the neck. They seem to last 3 to 4 minutes, and I've been tracking them, and it happens every 1/2 hour or so, plus I'm waking up at all times of the night. I throw the sheets on and off... How long is this going to last?????? I just know I'm very thankful for this site, and all the members who are willing to share their experiences

Thank you all!

Posted by: pattygoody Jul 6 2005, 07:28 PM

Just wanted to say hi, Pam! Lots of good info here and mucho comfort in sharing!

Posted by: Ruby Rose Jul 6 2005, 09:02 PM

Don't know how I missed this thread til now... except that I didn't think what I have are actually "hot flashes".... Talk about denial??!

I was always a very cold person - very cold, especially my feet and hands. When they put me on thyroid meds two years ago, all the coldness went away, and now I am always the warmest one in the room. But, I still haven't thought of it as "hot flashes"....until reading this thread.....

Of course, I was always skinny up until the weight started pouring on two years ago.... to a grand total of 40# extra pounds. Maybe that adds to the heat factor??

I teach classes quite often at the SBA and I turn the A/C on to about 66 when I am teaching.... being up front and active while teaching adds to the heat factor! By the end of the class, I look out at all these students shivering and quivering with blue lips! All the while, I am feeling great!

Posted by: junnepurl Jul 7 2005, 07:34 PM

Hi! My hot flashes is just me feeling a sudden wave of warmth in my face and neck. My husband the other night didn't want to cuddle because I was "too hot" and that's a switch because he's the one who is always hot.
I never need a sweater these days!!!!!! hehe

Posted by: Serenissima Jul 10 2005, 05:14 PM

I posted something earlier to the Newcomers forum, but my main reason for joining is horrendous hot flashes, so I'm posting here, too.

My whole life I've always seemed to sweat more quickly and heavily than most women, but it was always associated with intense exercise or very hot weather. This is a whole new stage. I'm 51 and this past May, two weeks after my period (my last one, so far) I started with hot flashes 24/7. And they are way more intense than before. It starts with warmth in my face and tingling up and down my legs--I call it my flash aura--and within minutes I am in a full body sweat, scalp to toes. The intense portion lasts about 2-3 minutes and then a few more minutes of a cooler period and then finally I normalize. About 10 minutes total. Higher frequency from 4 pm-11 am, but still at anytime during the day or night. I kept thinking they'd calm down, but no luck in that department. So I'm seeing my GYN soon. I'm hoping this forum will help me ask the right questions when I see her and then help me evaluate the options she offers...I'm sure you'll be hearing more from me soon.

When I was younger and older women joked about them, I had no idea....

Posted by: Funkynassau Jul 18 2005, 08:51 AM

Hi, I am new here and am glad I found this forum. I have had nite sweats and hot flashes off and on for a year or more, and they had always been tolerable and not that frequent.

Last week I was in Scotland on holiday and I had nite sweats something awful, it was almost constant, or sure felt like it, I could smell the BO in the morning and I sure didnt sleep well. I take Vitamin E and Evening Primrose Oil and so I increased the amount I took in hopes of improving things for me and I dont think it worked. Or maybe it takes longer than I want it to!

The sweats would wake me up and I would feel the heat in the upper part of my body and face and arms and it would overtake me. I just kick the covers off and wait for it to pass.

Since I have been home from my holiday the sweats have slowed down! I find that to be odd, I wonder if the time change and different activities while on holiday upset my system and caused more sweats? Has anyone else had this happen?

I am reading up on what else to try that is natural and I am going to buy some black cohosh today and see if that helps. I dont want any chemicals put in my body if I can help it, I'd rather do this naturally if I can.

Funkynassau

Posted by: Chavela Jul 23 2005, 10:07 AM

Hi girls!!

Last night aroung 9:00pm , I was on the way to buy some ice cream with my husband. Suddenly I began to have intense sweat, profusely, and my face got real cold, and feeling like faint, no pain, just that .. I had these kind of cold sweats before but never get that cold, ... I thought I was having a heart attack.. i didnt tell anything to my husband , I stayed quiet, waiting... it last about one or two minutes I think, and when was over, I felt okay... I have been having many rare symptoms, including this burning sensation on the ovaries and back area, buth only on the right side. the thing is that as they comes, they go... It feels like some kind of inflammation... I am 50 years old...
CAN THAT COLD SWEATS BE COLD SURGE AND THAT BURNING FEELING BE HOT SURGE? have someone experienced it in that way?
I have them during day or night, but never at sleeping time... I never expected that turning 50 will bring these kinds of presents... however, I try to find a possitive point of view, thinking it will not be forever... this site has helped me a lot coping with those symptoms... not all people , even our relatives and some doctors, can understadnd what we are experiencing... thanks Gold my husband is trying to understand them , although sometimes he forgot it... it is not that easy to cope with a new woman ... jajajja believe me girls, it helps me a lot taking it with a sense of humor... wish the best to all...

Posted by: linderful Jul 30 2005, 11:03 AM

Hi, I'm 45 years old and I just experienced my first "DRY" hot flash, or perimenopausal flash of any kind just the other day. I still have regular periods, though I do experience break through bleeding at about 3 or 4 days before my period is due. I have read that people usually sweat during their hot flashes. I did not. Mine started in my chest and spread up through my arms and neck and into my scalp. Another wave appeared to head South through my buttocks and down my thighs ending at my knees. There was no sweat. Just a terrible burning heat, and all my skin became ultra sensative to touch including skin to skin, fabric on skin or air movement. All of my flesh looked like it was sun burned and reacted in true fashion to the touch test. Touch Red sunburned skin and it turns white for a few seconds. Visions of "Spontaneous Combustion" were fluttering about in my head. I ran for the shower and took a luke warm shower, and the heat and pain were replaced with itching. Every inch of my body from the top of my scalp down to my ankles were itching. I wanted to scratch so hard that I could well have broken skin. In fact I believe that I did because when I woke up from a nap there was blood on my bed sheets. The Itching frightened me, thinking that it may have been an alergic reaction, so I took some Benadryl to stop the itching and to relax me.

Is this at all similar in terms of the PAIN and ITCHING to any one else's Flashes? I have to admit it scared the living daylights out of me!

Posted by: leonemarie Aug 26 2005, 02:39 AM

Wow!! This is soo wonderful to find all these women that have the same symptoms as I do. I thought I was having a heart attack and never even realized it could be peri meno since my periods have never changed even though I am 45. It was the most awful feeling in my life when I experienced these Hot Flashes. I just woke up instantly one night and started feeling like I had these butterflys in my stomach , then all of a sudden I started sweating a little , then my heart started racing faster faster until I started panicking thinking I was having a heart attack!! I went to several doctors after that - cardio- found nothing wrong, all kinds of blood tests including thyroid and harmones - found nothing. So I was diagnosed as being depressed and having anxiety and I just could not believe it because this was just an all of a sudden type of thing and nothing was happening in my life that changed!! And those anti depressants made things worse!! ugghhh!! I stopped all meds and starting to search sites and found this wonderful place and I love you all for making me realize I am just going through a natural part of life!! Whew now I can deal with these Hot Flashes so much easier. I may not like it but at least I know now what I am having. Doctors need to stop thinking everyone is bipolar, depressed and having anxiety and start looking at the natural way of life. Thank-you all for all your information!!

Posted by: linderful Aug 26 2005, 08:44 AM

Re: Fear of Heart Attack. It could be an anxiety attack no matter how dismissive you may be. Also, in the Homeopathic world, teas of Black Cohosh Root or Oat Straw are supposed to help with controlling overheating and sweats. Before you decide to try any Homeopathic Remedies, remember to check with your Doctor first, as there could be some interactions with your own medications.
I just recently found out why St. John's Wort is not the best of remedies for Depression or other mood disorders. St. John's Wort is classed as an MAIO Inhibitor and as such has negative effects on an individual taking SSRI's, and you may have taken notice on medication instructions that certain drugs are not to be taken with MAIO inhibitors and that potentially fatal interactions could occur. Be Careful out there Ladies. One must also realize that a Dietician is not a Practicing Physician or a Pharmacist, thus they are not the best at knowing any contra-indications.
I end my note with a TIP. When I work outside at something strenuous, I take a strip of old Bath towel, soak it in cool water and tie it around my forehead. Not only does it help to keep my head cool and thus my body, but it also absorbs perspiration and keeps the salty sweat from trickling into my eyes.

Have a Day !!!!

Posted by: linderful Aug 26 2005, 08:47 AM

Me Again;

I said MAIO Inhibitor, I meant MAOI Inhibitor.

Posted by: zen Sep 12 2005, 09:52 PM

for me, heat seems to start building around chest level, and rises.. if i have been stupid enough to not layer clothing, and can't start stripping off the layers, the heat starts to come in waves and spreads to my whole body, and i start sweating profusely all over, markedly my face and back of neck, my chest and my personal bits.. if i am home, or if i have layered well, i can take off enough clothes to help me be comfortable before major perspiration starts.. after the main heat wave has passed, and this can be a matter of minutes, or longer, i start to feel cold, and need to layer the clothes back on again... and this happened all winter long for me here in Australia - ok, it's not really cold where i live, but i am dreading summer! night sweats are worse, waking up wet in damp sheets has got to be one of my least liked things these days! i have taken to having a towel within reach, rather than getting up to dry off, i have a hope of going back to sleep then..

Posted by: ej Sep 12 2005, 10:05 PM

I thought I was lucky...I had a period of time where I had no hot flashes or night sweats...then just out of the blue I've started both. I find that my hot flashes are more just heat building to the surface in my face. It lasts for a couple of minutes and then I return to normal; however, it seems to be happening more frequently during the day. My night sweats aren't as bad as they have been but certainly enough to make me wake up and kick the covers off...then sure enough a minute or two later, I'm freezing.

This is so much fun.

Posted by: gelleraruba Jan 19 2006, 04:54 PM

My hot flash seem to last longer. It starts around my upper chest and shoulders - barely noticeable and intensifies as it gets higher. My ears get especially hot and sometimes my forehead to touch. Feels like when you have a bad sunburn and the heat just radiates and your skin is hot to touch. I get red too - sometimes.

At first I didn't know what was happending and my fiance asked me if I was feeling all right because my face was really red. Then I started realizing I was very hot - to touch - not sweaty though and didn't really feel like I need to strip down - just put something cool on my skin to cool down the burning senesation.

Last night I had a wierd one that seemed to only affect about 1/2 my face - or was only very mild on the right hand side. My last for about an hour or so and they are dry as well.

At night though I get the sweats.

Posted by: jadie Jan 19 2006, 11:07 PM

Hot flash or panic attack? Now I am not so sure after reading these posts?? I have been having this heat that starts just around waist level the last couple mornings.......it quickly rises upwards and runs down my arms and back and into my face but its coming with an increase in my heartrate.........can feel it pounding in my chest. I have managed to breathe through these the last two days and get them done and over with in minutes but...........is it normal to get heart racing with a hot flash girls??

Jadie

Posted by: arla Jan 19 2006, 11:17 PM

I get the same thing and it's always in the morning. I'm thinking panic attack too as my heart rate really increases. This actually started a couple of months ago but not every morning. I've done the same thing Jadie - lots of deep breaths. Anyone else?

Posted by: Tots Jan 19 2006, 11:44 PM

jadie, arla.....I wake up sometimes in the middle of the night having a hot flash, my heart sometimes races. Mine isn't a panic attack. I used to have full blown panic attacks and I can tell the difference. My racing heart just sometimes goes along with the hot flash.

Posted by: quick2start Jan 19 2006, 11:55 PM

My hot flashes have been getting better since I started the revival.
I still get then though. I get the night sweats and wake up totally soaked even my legs. Every morning when I sit up in bed I start sweating from my head to my feet. During the day I sometimes have a hot flash that starts at my head and moves down. I sweat with those too. Layering clothing has been my salvation.
Well that’s my storey of hot flashes.

Posted by: Bigheart Jan 20 2006, 12:29 PM

my hot flashes begin with a feeling of butterflies in my stomach, then i am so hot i can't stand it. i immediately turn on my fan ( i keep one at both my jobs and 2 at my bedside) and i get instant relief. my worse times are in the summer months when i am outside and their is no relief in sight. for the last month, my flashes have been very mild and less frequent. i am thanking God for that because i have been one miserable sister. i am not taking anything. i'm just trying to get through it without hrt. so far, i feel that my body is stronger. i really do feel better, but this has got to be the most difficult physical experience i have ever endured.


patrice

Posted by: mauras Jan 22 2006, 06:31 PM

I am on the pill now so I don't get hot flashes any more, but when I did get them, they felt like a surge of adrenaline, then warmth.My heart raced every time it happenned. They went away completely when i started on the pill so I know although they felt like panic attacks they were hot flashes.

Maura

Posted by: soloflyer Jan 30 2006, 11:03 AM

Newbie here....Turned 50 last year and it was if someone flipped a hotflash button on. Last May started with intense night sweats and day time hot flashes. Periods were only a couple times a year the prior year. After fighting the night sweats for 2 months I tried some of the herbal stuff, black cohosh,etc. For some reason the herbal stuff seemed to intensify the sweats/flashes. I finally gave in and went to my GYN and put me on HRT. My periods returned with a vengence also once starting the hormone therapy. My doc tried me on several types but all made my periods come every 10 days to two weeks. It did make the hot flashes and night sweats go away. After 5 months of non stop periods I finally quit taking everything. Until two weeks ago the night sweats started up again. I have been period free for almost 6 months again but am struggling with the night sweat adventures.

Anyway...thats my background with menopause so far so I guess at this point I will describe my flashes. The night sweats always start the same way. I wake from sleep and within seconds I start to feel the heat from my upper stomach rising to the top of my head. I do notice my heart begin to beat a bit faster. The next thing is breaking out into a sweat. Usually from my chest up is completely dampened and at times drenched. I use to tell my friends I need to invent some type of pillow that has a towel attached to it so all I have to do is pat myself dry then flip over the pillow and go back to sleep. I have had some hot flashes during the day. Those always start with a burning heat sensation on my ears. Yes, ears...I know thats weird but thats how it always starts. Then my face starts getting very hot and I break out in a sweat. It only last about 30 seconds but it sure has heck feels like an hour at times.

I found this site by accident this morning while researching if a memory foam mattress can cause night sweats...hhahahah and now here I am. This is an absolutely wonderful site and full of information. More so than my doc ever gave me. I look forward to reading everyone's journey through the hormonal abyss and sharing my own experiences.

Denise the newbie

Posted by: linda1109 Jan 31 2006, 08:33 PM

Hi Everone,

I stumbled on this site at about 3:00 AM after having another hot flash and night sweat attack. I am 58 and have been going through tough times since I was 50. I seem to know when my hot flashes are coming on. My chest, face, neck and head heat up like I'm in a hot steam bath and it lasts about 2 minutes. Then I am usually cold and clamy for awhile until my body readjusts. Unfortunatley the flashes occur about hourly during the day and about every half hour during the night. Not much sleep going on here.

I drink cold ice water and use a fan at work. It helps but the hot flashes and sweats are a real regular occurance not to mention the anxiety and mood swings.
At home I use a fan, drink lots of water, and go to bed with an ice pack every night. Not very romantic but neither am I when having a heat attack. I also work hard at keeping an upbeat attitude and sense of humor.

I was on premarin for about 3 years when finally a doctors assistant believed I was having hot flashes when I had one on the table during a yearly exam. Prior to that the doctor (a lady no less) kept telling me I was not meno. I had no way of telling other than the hot flashes because of a partial hyst. at age 35.

The hot flashes and night sweats went away while taking premarin but I got scared with all the hype on it not being good for us. The doctor that perscribed it was not reassuring when I ask questions and was told we are all going to die someday so I might as well feel good while I am alive. With that I cut back and finally stopped taking it.

I don't know which way to turn or how long to expect these conditions to last but I do know it is awful. I do exercise, eat and drink soy, and take regular supplements to try and ease the affects. Good luck to all of us and I will be here as a regular from now on.

I have an appointment in March with another doctor to see if either of us can be enlightened. In the mean time I have ordered more soy products and will keep reading.

Posted by: Jalyn Feb 1 2006, 12:05 AM

My hot flashes/night sweats, start with a butterfly stomach but does not feel like a happy little anticipaton of something excitintg about to happen, more like a tight feeling in my stomach with a anxiety outlook of doom and gloom.

I then feel the heart palps, heat, and the adrenal rush. I start sweating in the upper portion of my body and then it makes it way all over. It's not intense heat.. but a warming and a sweat. I deal much better with the physical symptoms then the mental crap that comes with it. Having to control my 'what ifs' and 'regret' thoughts is a full time job. It's such a bother to have to train my thoughts when in the past, I just thought.... and never thought about it. I wish this was over!!


Jalyn

Posted by: oncourse Feb 1 2006, 02:43 PM

When I first started getting hot flashes I got over 30 a day and they only lasted about 30 seconds. That ended and I had truly horrible ones over the summer where my arms and legs would perspire and the back of my neck would be wet. At that time I had no period. Once my period returned I have non existent hot flashes, only once in a great while and very mild again. Things change all the time in perimenopause for me. Now I think I get more heart palpitations but again, these are pretty mild, in fact, I have them right now and I'm trying to ignore it. My first hot flash had nothing to do with peri, it was after I gave birth and I felt like a volcano my face got so hot. I knew immediately what it was.

Posted by: janne Feb 1 2006, 03:32 PM

My hot flashes are similiar to what others have said. I get this adrenaline rush feeling in my head---makes me think I am going to pass out Then at the same time my hands will sweat--i know odd. My face does not get red my face does not perspire. My neck, chest, arms feel like someone took a mist bottle and lightly sprayed me. My hands are a different story. I can point my hands downward and the sweat trickles off my fingers and onto the floor! I also wish all this was over but boy it is a relief to know that I am having hot flashes! When this all started last year I thought my heart was acting up! If I would have known it was due to hot flashes I could have saved time and money at the cardiologist office. I guess it was good to get my heart checked out though just in case.

Take care,
Jill~

Posted by: chefmarr Feb 2 2006, 02:22 AM

I got home from work tonight and finally figured out what those people were looking at.

I have a seven minute walk from work to home. It is -12 degrees outside. I didn't button my coat, and I considered taking it off on the way home!
When I walked into the house, I walked into a wall of flame! Came in, dropped my coat and walked out the back door! Honey stuck his head out to ask if I needed anything.
Two minutes later I was in a scalding shower, to take off the chill.

I was sitting quietly doing the crossword puzzle, and suddenly I was sweating to death. I asked the waitress if it was unusually hot in the place, she said no, she was actually chilly. I took her hand, she wanted to call an ambulance cause I was burning up!
Mostly, I heat up after any activity. Walking home, it starts within minutes, so I don't do up my coat. Working as a cook, I have been reluctant to blame the heat on ME, but, same kitchen, less volume, more heat=oh, my bad! And when I am sitting quietly reading the paper and suddenly the temperature shoots up, and I am the only one to notice=oh my bod!

Thanks for the place to whine!

I'm getting sick of it!

Posted by: oncourse Feb 2 2006, 07:08 AM

When I was getting a lot of hot flashes I was always asking other people, is it hot in here or is it just me? I would go out into the cold without a coat constantly. I wore summer clothes in the winter (sleeveless shirts) and even now I wear summer nightgowns year round. I even stuck my head in the freezer at times at home and at the grocery store.

Posted by: chefmarr Feb 5 2006, 02:48 AM

Finally got fed up with a year and a half of putting up with the heat and chills.Broke down and went on-line, talked to friends. etc.

I started here, at Power Surge, found recommendations for vit. suppliment, can't find it here in Canada, wrote down the ingreds. and went shopping.
Oh, my goodness, the local grocery store carries suppliments comparable (herbals only), I still have to do my own mag. etc.
Started taking them three days ago. Yesterday at work, I was a bear, like I have been.
Got home, had my shower, blah,blah, blah, hopped into bed and sat back to wait for the heat surge---turned to Honey and said "I'm NOT hot!"
Woke up this morning, surprised that I slept through the night.

Just sorry I took so long!

Posted by: lynsi Feb 5 2006, 04:31 PM

My husband says, about the hot flashes.

"Great, now you're pre-heated!"

Posted by: oncourse Feb 15 2006, 08:30 AM

I started drinking soy milk (about a half gallon per month, maybe a little more) and I don't have any hot flashes right now.

Posted by: dodop May 9 2006, 06:55 PM

First of all, I get this feelilng of bad anxiety, like I have butterflies in my stomach. Then I feel this rush of burning in my skin--usually from my waist up to my face and head. I am also really awake and hyperactive and can't rest. I have horrible insomnia as a result of this. This seems to get worse when it is in the middle of my cycle, or what's left of it. Here is another thing--my blood pressure goes through the roof during this time. I can feel the burning and then I check it with my blood pressure monitor. It can be elevated for a couple of days while I am going through this phase. I am 52 and I really wish this would end.

Isadora

Posted by: ballroomdaysareoverbaby May 9 2006, 09:58 PM

I've only really had night sweats.......no hot flashes......I'm 52 now...my LMP was in February. Are hot flashes a prerequesite for menopause?

I hope not.

I need relief real soon, while my life has some semblance of being intact.

Posted by: Peribelle May 10 2006, 06:29 AM

Before each hottie, which I really only get in the evenings, I get a sort of mild electric shock feeling in my head, hands and arms and to a lesser extent in my chest. I then just wait for the heat which affects me from the waist up.
Last summer I got them much worse, then they stopped completely, but made a reappearance in February

Posted by: lucsmom May 11 2006, 09:34 PM

I was getting hot flashes constantly then all of a sudden they stopped for about a month or so. About four days ago they started up again. I began getting hot in the middle of the night along with waking up about three to four times a night. Now today I could tell that it was not going to be one of my better days because I have been feeling "out of sorts" and "wierd". While eating dinner I suddenly for about thirty seconds to a minute got a fuzzy feeling in my face. When that stopped the anxiety began to kick in a bit more than it has lately. I finally got the hot spell in my face and torso area for about three minutes with the anxiety kicking in a little bit more. It is an awful feeling to get and have, hoping and knowing that they are not going to go away for a while. What is worse is that when you are going through them it is scary and no one seems to understand, so you come to this forum and know that you are not the only one!

Posted by: Peribelle May 13 2006, 02:45 AM

The problem is that we get the anxiety because something strange is happening to our bodies and we don't know what it is, this then makes everything worse. Tell yourself it is "only" a hot flash and that it will pass, although we all know that we will have them again. It is due to our hormones fluctuating...it's as simple and as difficult as that.
I sound a right smug b***h don't I, but with practice, the anxiety can be lessened by telling ourselves that what is happening is, for us, normal.
I sympathise lucsmom, I know what you are going through and so does everyone else here, that's why it is such a helpful and friendly place to be

Posted by: moonlight Jun 11 2006, 08:36 PM

Lately i have been having just "face" flushes where my face turns red and feels like it is on fire.It isn't the same as my usual hot flashes where my body gets hot and i sweat,it's in my face only and it makes me feel like i have the flu when it happens.It is also ermbarrassing.anyone else get this?

Posted by: rmg Jun 21 2006, 11:50 AM

My hot spells are more like 'flushes' than flashes. They can last anywhere from less than a minute up to 2-3 minutes. Lately they are brought on by exercising or just working around the house. Sometimes I'm a bit out of breath. Last night, I had to turn off my overhead fan (b/c of the chill) but ended up turning it back on. Mind you it's 80 degrees inside my house!

Posted by: Foster's Mom Jun 29 2006, 08:06 PM

Hello, Everyone. This is my first posting. I've been reading about the variations of the hot flash. Up until this week, I had not experienced a "hot flash" per se, although I've had night sweats for years since my early 40's - I'm 51 next month. But two days ago, I began having a very interesting what I refer to as a "bun warming" sensation on the back of my right thigh about mid-way up the thigh. It just heats up there in that one area for a few seconds, kind of like ET's finger when it glows, and then it goes away. No sweats, no tingling, nothing. But it does happen several times a day. My periods have been very sporadic over the last year and I have been weepy (which I'm usually not) over the last day or two as well, so I'm thinking it may be hormones (or a lack thereof). Anybody else have these warming experiences?

Foster's Mom

Posted by: Oak Leaf Jun 30 2006, 07:00 PM

Hot flashes for me were rather atypical. It took me a while to recognize them as such. By the time I had figured it out, my periods had quit for good.

They would often start as a tingling around the mouth. It would spread to the chin, under the jaw and cheeks. Then warmth would begin at the frontal portion of my skull. It would slowly roll down toward my eyes like someone was pouring a warm syrup on my head and it was running into my eyes. This sensation was always confined to the face. Now that the periods are gone, this phenomena is more infrequent. I am now getting hair popping out around the mouth and over the areas that experienced the tingling.

Posted by: hot&60 Jul 21 2006, 11:14 AM

[font=Comic Sans Ms]

QUOTE (jadebear @ Jul 29 2004, 04:12 PM)

Posted by: Peribelle Jul 22 2006, 02:55 AM

Hot&60, hi. Poor you, there's no doubt that HRT just prolongs the agony when you have to come off it. Drs insist that the menopause just carries on "in the background" while you are taking HRT and you won't suffer when you come off. Load of rubbish! My girlfriend suffered like you, with the addition of developing fibroids - which disappeared after she had been off the HRT for a few months.

Migraines/headaches are so common at this time of our lives, take time to check out the boards and the rest of Power Surge, you will find encouragement and a few remedies! Good luck and welcome to PS.

Posted by: Pat01 Aug 5 2006, 08:24 PM

Well as you can see I'm a veteran at this peri thing. In the beginning my hot flashes didn't start out so bad if at all. I only sweat from my neck up and lately its been driving me crazy. I'm ready to use anti-perspirant on my upper and lower lip! I HATE SWEATING!
You have heard the saying "I'm sweating my b_ _ _ ls off" well if I had them, they are history!
I have doubled the black cohosh, primrose oil since I wasn't taking the max doseage anyway. I take red clover and you can't increase that. I need to use the progesterone cream again.

Burnin down the house,

Pat

Posted by: Winks Aug 5 2006, 11:13 PM

Burnin' down the house.. oh man, that nails it. I was barely experiencing anything peri wise until after new year's, then it hit me hard. The flushing lasts all day and night for three days in a row at the beginning and midpoint of my cycle. Before the doctor had me on anything stronger than tofu wienies, I felt dizzy - as if I was seasick without the nausea. Too weird. But the worst part was being unable to concentrate to read the newspaper and wandering around the house, then finding myself wondering why I'd gone into some room. I was worried I'd switch on the stove, then wander off and leave the house to burn down.

This is ghastly.

Posted by: signgirl Aug 6 2006, 03:19 PM

QUOTE (Pat01 @ Aug 5 2006, 08:24 PM)

Well as you can see I'm a veteran at this peri thing. In the beginning my hot flashes didn't start out so bad if at all. I only sweat from my neck up and lately its been driving me crazy. I'm ready to use anti-perspirant on my upper and lower lip! I HATE SWEATING!
You have heard the saying "I'm sweating my b_ _ _ ls off" well if I had them, they are history!
I have doubled the black cohosh, primrose oil since I wasn't taking the max doseage anyway. I take red clover and you can't increase that. I need to use the progesterone cream again.

Burnin down the house,

Pat

Posted by: denise520 Aug 6 2006, 08:03 PM

hi... i have a question????? when all this peri stuff started i was having major hot flashes... sometimes 10 a day... now i have not had one in a month.... is this strange or is it getting better? my period also started on day 26... but i spotted on and off from the 21st day.... last month i strted on the 20th day.... month before that on day 31.... so i think that something is going on... any one else have the hotflashes go away or subside???? denise

Posted by: Pat01 Aug 7 2006, 09:15 PM

Hi,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this flashing thing is intermittent. I thought I was doing great and my GYN said "oh just wait it isn't over yet" and she was right. I went from occasional hot flashes to one or more and hour. I up'd my black cohosh, evening primrose oil and started using the progesterone cream again. I also carry a fan!!!!!!!!!!

Pat

Posted by: RedFox Aug 7 2006, 09:19 PM

Hi Denise,

I began having rather intense hot flashes a dozen times a day or more last October. It lasted for a month, then they gradually subsided. I thought, cool, that was easy. Flash forward (pun intended - haha!) to April, and I started having night sweats, but no hot flashes in the day. Then in May I started flashing a dozen times a day again, but they were moderate and I tolerated them well. That lasted a couple of weeks. In July, they came back, then went away. Now, here it is August... oh oh, here comes another one as I type this. I feel this uncomfortable tingling in my face, and then get HOT all over. Ooh, not liking this. I'm under a ceiling fan, so it's okay. It lasts for about a minute, maybe a little more. It's moderate to intense, and though I haven't been counting how many I'm getting each day, it's a lot, several an hour. I had to stop typing until it left. My head is all stuffy and I feel kind of achy all over, slightly nauseous. The flashes seem to be all over the place, just like my period. I can't find any correlation between them. This is the first time I have considered herbs like Vitex or black cohosh -- just thinking about them. I'm sure the summer heat isn't helping!

RedFox

Posted by: denise520 Aug 8 2006, 08:36 AM

thank you!!!! my hubby thinks that they are stressed related or when i am hurried or worried about something.... could be... not sure... but i dont like it... no matter how many times i have had them they still scare me... it make me think that smething is wrong... i get the tingly feeling too... in my face head and neck... thne sometimes my arm... its like a pins and needles effect... yesterday i wanted to rip my clothes off... first time for that...

Posted by: alice3 Aug 8 2006, 12:10 PM

My period free year was up in June. Since Friday I have almost constantly felt nauseous accompanied by hot flashes!

You seem to get a break and feel heaps better, then back they come!

(Officially post meno?)

Posted by: CSugarGrove Aug 8 2006, 05:24 PM

Yes, Alice! Congratulations! You're in the Post Meno Club. It should now get easier, but that may take a while (like another year). However, the only direction in this is forward, so here we go....

Have any of you noticed that your flashes increase in warm rooms or if you're in a warm climate? Last winter I started thinking I'd never flash again. Wrong. This summer there have been some doozies. I don't get nausea and dizziness anymore, thank goodness. But I get WET. My face gets wet and the front of my neck. AARGH! The good news is that there are only two or three doozies per day, down from every five minutes a couple of years ago. I don't know if I'll ever get to no flashes ever. Probably at age 90. Should I hold my breath?

Posted by: momzoffour Aug 8 2006, 06:10 PM

Hi ladies,

I haven't as of yet experienced a full fledged hot flash and when I hear how bad they can BE, I think I'm going to pass on this one LOL....

honestly, they scare me worse than anything becasue I'm a flusher anyways (blush easily my whole life) and everyone knows I'm either mad, excited, anxious or highly worried if the area on the front of my neck turns blotchy bright red.....quite a conversation starter:

"So, were you born with that port wine stain or were you burned in a fire?" (both comments made over the years )

Anyways, I have a sneaking suspicion when they show up, I'll be spending a lot of time on this board getting some invaluable support from the sisters that have suffered before me!!!!

Hugs to all,
Momz

Posted by: RedFox Aug 8 2006, 07:56 PM

CSugar, yes, I flash more in warm rooms and definitely in the hot summer here in the South; during our heat wave last week, I had an increase in flashing. I attend a light exercise class in a very well air-conditioned room, and we use hand weights for upper and lower body toning. As the workout progresses, I naturally get warm, then I seem to ALWAYS get a hot flash or two. I'm like you, CSugar -- I practically went the whole winter without having any, but as soon as the warm weather kicked in, here they came again.

I've also noticed that any slight stress will trigger one... even something as small as, for example, a little startle I get if I notice a bill is past due, or I'm running a couple of minutes late.

Today I had several, but they were less intense than yesterday. This whole process is very interesting, to say the least!

Alice, So this is what I have to look forward to??!! Somehow, I thought that when I reached that magic one year mark, all would be fine. Good thing we have these forums to keep us in a reality check!

Momzoffour, I'm just like you! All my life I've been a beet-red blusher, though I seemed to be able to tame it during my 20's through 40's. I'm 51 now, and when I began hot flashes, I was VERY dismayed to realize the red face was back! I still remember some cruel remarks when I was a sensitive teen in school. My hair was parted down the middle and kids laughed at my beet-red "part". Funny how you never forget stuff like that. I am so grateful for everyone here -- just talking about things like this make me feel normal. Thanks for posting your experiences.

RedFox

Posted by: CSugarGrove Aug 9 2006, 10:38 AM

Redfox, I know I should look in the mirror when I'm flashing, to see if I'm red. Problem is, no convenient mirror at the right time. Or maybe I don't want to know.

It's funny, but I used to actually get really depressed when I first started flashing. Most of the depression was due to having to face the fact that I was entering meno. Until then, especially when still having periods, I could tell myself it wasn't so. I actually remember one of my first undeniable flashes. It was so bad I had to sit down, sick to my stomach and dizzy. Fortunately, I was home at the time. Then I had this unbelievable wave of depression; this gray, hopeless feeling washed over me. I thought, "You're getting old." I had to sit there for about 20 minutes. Finally the depression lifted a little, but I still didn't feel right for the rest of the day.

I don't know what to say if you turn red when flashing. I always break out in a sweat, but if I just wait it out, it passes and no one knows (I'm sure I'm in dential; they probably can tell). Not that it's bad if people know, but I'd think it would be embarrassing if a roomful of people were staring at you.

I always flash when I get stressed. Not long ago I was in a nice department store, looking at perfume and just enjoying myself. I glanced at my watch and realized I was really late. And I was consumed with flashing and sweating. Or Red, when I get a bill that's higher than expected or anything, FLASH!

Hey, I've got a question for you. I used to have really mild flashes (just one or two) before and during my period. Did this ever happen to you? At the time, I told myself that this is what it would be like in meno, only much worse. I was right.

Posted by: RedFox Aug 9 2006, 09:24 PM

CSugar, I'm still in perimenopause, although my periods are very irregular. Right now, I should be having one, but it appears I'm skipping it... or rather, I'm spotting so very, very lightly, I don't even need a pantyliner. I checked back in my notes and found a couple of other instances where hot flashes occurred right about the time of my period, whether I actually had a period or was skipping it. But then, there are many instances where I had a bout of flashing that didn't correspond to a period.

When I had my first hot flash last October, I was kind of excited really. They were pretty profound, though I wouldn't label them as severe. I found them very interesting. I had this really great plan for my winter wardrobe -- wear tank tops beneath button down shirts, so I could peel off the shirt when a hot flash struck. I left our summer fans in place, so I could quickly switch one on. Since I'm home all the time, this was all a neat plan, I thought. It worked well for a month, then I went all winter and didn't have any! haha! I pulled my sweat shirts outs. In reading Dearest's article on hot flashes, it says most flashing is done in warm weather, and I'm right on the mark there. Around April, they started up again.

My flashes are pretty mild to moderate, but as with everything peri and menopause brings, I expect anything. I'd like to ride this whole thing out naturally, and have so far. I'll try herbs if it gets too uncomfortable. If I remember correctly from your posting, you're not taking any kind of HRT, right? Are you taking any herbs, black cohosh, vitex, etc?

I can certainly relate to your paragraph where you related your first flashing and the depression you felt. I'm 51 now, and have finally, just in the last year or so, accepted the fact that I am in fact a middle-aged woman, and feel okay about it. But a couple years prior to this, I had a pretty hard time. I dealt with the depression of not wanting to get older and pining away for my youth. "The Change" is not an easy time.

RedFox

Posted by: CSugarGrove Aug 10 2006, 11:29 AM

Redfox, I can so relate to your entire post. You and are are almost on the exact same schedule, except that I'll be 55 in September. But I was where you're at when I was 51. I had a couple of "phantom periods" when you bloat up and get all the good old PMS stuff, but then nothing happens. Other times, I was surprised to see my period because I'd felt fine and had no PMS.

So I always had to have supplies with me, since I never knew!

I get a kick out of your GREAT attitude about flashing! You're the first person I know of who said she was excited about it. As time goes on, they become routine and no big deal, but my first flashes were depressing. I just didn't feel good.

I know what you mean about pining away for your youth. I've had episodes of this. One of my worst stumbling blocks is that I work with a lot of people who are in their twenties. I'm 30 years older than they are! It never used to bother me when I was younger and I hung out with older women. But now it really DOES! We go out to lunch and I'm the oldest one at the table. Many of them have an automatic barrier up, because I'm like their parent and they shut me out. Actually, I don't really like being with them, either. I'm so much more comfortable with people my own age. But since I work with these younger people, I can't exactly avoid them. I've also noticed a change in the way people react to me in the public, now that I look older. Sometimes they can be downright rude, as if I'm not worth the bother of courtesy. But I don't get as much garbage in other ways, I guess. Men used to say things sometimes, but now they look the other way. Good! I don't miss that.

Have you had any experiences like this? How about when you hear a song that you used to love when you were young? Do you feel sad for a moment?

Sorry, I forgot to answer your question. I'm not on any kind of HRT, but I do rely on Revival every day. I know it has helped me.

Posted by: RedFox Aug 10 2006, 10:48 PM

CSugar, I feel much more comfortable with people my own age too. I sure feel for you in your work situation. Enjoying the people you work with is so important in job happiness. Since you've worked there as long as you have, it's not like you're keen on quitting and going elsewhere! One can get stuck in a job because they're looking forward to a retirement package, and I would imagine that's where you're at. On a hopeful note, every day presents something new, and sometimes good surprises happen. Things may change in some way for you at work, and you'll feel more content. We can hope, right??!!

I'm a stay-at-home mom and wife with my retired husband and homeschooled teenaged son. I'm lucky that I don't have to be in an office during all these changes that menopause brings. Maybe that's why I felt a little excited back in October when hot flashes hit! *grin* I often imagine myself in my old office (back in the 80's), and I give myself a hot flash just thinking of the stress, wondering how I would be able to get through a work day, feeling like I do. I admire you and other working women. I know we "do what we have to do", but I still admire the heck out of ya!

Haha, you mentioned not having guys notice you and not missing it. Same here!! I'm glad they ignore me. I didn't even like the wolf whistles back then, and especially stupid things guys would holler out their car as they passed. Creeps! But even the nice ones, guys that would just notice you and stare a little too long -- I really don't miss that either. Maybe it's because I never did like being "in the spotlight".

I guess I don't notice people ignoring me more since I'm older now, as you described, but I think it's because of where I live. I live in a small rural community where lots of people are my age or older. I'm not originally from here, so I don't have a lot in common with them. Small towns can be pretty stuck up, as people are so set in their ways. I would think if I still lived in the city where I moved from, I would experience what you've described.

Posted by: CSugarGrove Aug 14 2006, 05:27 PM

Redfox,

I always thought Robert Redford was knock-out beautiful (think the "Sundance" years). Now look at him. I wonder if he ever felt a little sad about looking older, but I applaud his lack of cosmetic paranoia. I think had I looked as good as him, I'd try to hold on to it!

I admire YOU and I've always wondered what was involved in home schooling. Can't be easy at all! Do you have school every day and you can't get sick or anything, or what? Forgive me if I sound dumb. My next door neighbor has five children and all are home schooled. I have no idea what this entails, but it sounds like an awesome undertaking.

You're right--I am counting the days until I can retire! I will complete my 22nd year here in just a few weeks, and start year number 23! I do like my job and enjoy some of the stuff, but find that I'm getting a bit tired and irritable with the other same-old crap! It's so predictable sometimes and I've seen it so much. But I'm too old and it's way too late to look for something else. I did that in years gone by, but hoping now to just do the best job I can here and retire ASAP!

Posted by: RedFox Aug 14 2006, 08:20 PM

CSugar -- Oh, I hear ya about Robert Redford! All the girls were ga-ga over him, me included! Like you, I admire him for not going for cosmetic improvements and just being himself. When you think of millions of people talking about you, it does take some kind of courage to let it all hang out, eh? Those of us who aren't in the spotlight don't have to worry about it (which I'm very grateful for!).

Homeschooling is so easy with all the educational materials available. We use a curriculum, and supplement it with Public Television shows, textbooks and other books bought from Internet and second hand stores, educational resources on the Internet, and just plain ingenuity, all based on what interests our son. My husband is strong in math, science, and history; and I'm strong in Engish, reading, grammar, spelling, etc. -- so it all works out. We're also fortunate that our son is very self-driven. He takes a test at the end of the year and has always scored high. Although he's in high school and it sounds difficult --basically, each year is only a tad harder than the previous one. We live in a very poor, depressed area of the South; the public schools are disappointing, and the private schools are too expensive. I'm so grateful that the laws allow us to take responsibility for our children's education. Wow, your neighbor is homeschooling five kids! Whew, they must be VERY organized!

You mentioned taking Revival and how you're happy with it. What symptoms has it helped with? Has it helped decrease hot flashes?

RedFox

Posted by: CSugarGrove Aug 17 2006, 04:04 PM

Hi Redfox,

Revival has not helped me with hot flashes (or maybe it did and they'd be really bad without it). It did help me with my energy level and depression. I had a really dry mouth and dry eyes, and those are gone, too. I don't really have a great feeling of wellbeing all the time or anything, but I can get out of bed now to face the day when before, I just didn't feel I could face it.

So what is a normal day for you like with the home schooling? Do you have classes like they do in school, different subjects at different times and so forth? Do you assign homework? What if your son needs help with it? You said he takes a test at the end of the year--who administers the test? Sorry so many questions--I just find it really interesting. Do you think there is any social advantage for kids attending public schools, or does your son have friends of his own?

When I leave for work in the morning, I sometimes see a little boy playing by himself on school days when I thought the kids should be in school. I've often wondered if he's home schooled. He's not the son of my next door neighbor, and is near a home farther down the block.

I don't know my neighbor very well so I can't really ask her too much about it, but you're right--five kids! That must be some achievement for her.

Posted by: RedFox Aug 18 2006, 08:34 PM

Hi CSugar,

Thanks for the information on Revival. I've been reading about it and considering taking it. I know it's helped many, many people here.

I don't mind your questions about home schooling at all. There are more home schools starting every year, so of course people want to know about it. There are many different methods, and we're pretty relaxed and easy going in our learning methods. We know what subjects our son needs to take, what he needs to know, and go from there. Like I said, we use text books and other books, the Internet, curriculums we buy or download, educational programs on public television and cable, etc. An advantage over public schools is we don't have to conform to rigid time constraints, so we don't! We belong to a homeschooling group in our area too, and they're a magnet for educational resources, as well as providing a social network. As far as any social advantage for kids attending public schools... well, that depends upon the area in which you live. Here, public schools are pathetic. In the county where I live, only 50% of the kids graduate from high school. That tells you something, eh? We teach our son at home because this is where he gets the best education. He has some very good friends too, for which I'm thankful.

Most people think home schooling is a very daunting task, but we don't find it that way at all -- it's very enjoyable!

RedFox

P.S. Oops, forgot to add: we buy a nationally standardized test (not cheap!) and administer it at the end of the school year.

Posted by: nic Sep 18 2007, 03:15 AM

QUOTE (jadebear @ Jul 29 2004, 11:12 PM)

Posted by: Susan T Sep 19 2007, 08:24 AM

Hi Nic, My "flashes" wake me every single morning between 6 and7am and are really a tingling shocky type feeling, sometimes with heat and sometimes without heat. I also start feeling apprehensive and nauseous with it and can't go back to sleep following it. This has been going on for over six months now. I don't think its a brain thing, but am seeing a neurologist Friday due to cervical neck issues I have going on and will ask her about this. My arms feel weak a lot of the time too. She was addressing this after my first visit with lots of muscle relaxers which made me sick, so I had to stop taking them. I'm trying to help my daughter with her new infant and just holding this tiny ten pound baby can send pain into my back and pressure up my neck and head. I'm starting to feel helpless and don't like this at all.

Posted by: moonlight Jun 10 2009, 10:19 AM

Just wanted to bump this old thread back up.....been having major flashes lately which seemed abnormal to me....but after re-reading this i realize it's normal....

Posted by: MaryBeth Jun 10 2009, 10:26 AM

QUOTE (moonlight @ Jun 10 2009, 10:19 AM)

Posted by: MaryBeth Jun 10 2009, 10:36 AM

QUOTE (moonlight @ Jun 10 2009, 10:19 AM)

Posted by: Laxgirl Jun 10 2009, 11:05 AM

wondering if thats what im having.i was in work today when this surge of heat hotness cam eover me and then a feeling of real doom insise.Then i had heart palps so strong it all lasted about 10 minutes but then i was left with anxiety all morning.Is that a hot flush or is it an anxiety attack.I wasant breathless or anything i was clammy and sweaty but then i was cold afterwards.I was working at the time and didnt think i could manage but i did. just glad no one talked to me at that moment...I posted this question on am i in peri and just seen this so hopefully this is the right place to find out.My mum and gran both started at 37 im 41 /42 almost and ive just been to the gym and done an hour of cardio and havent sweated like i did this morning so i know they are unusual but just need confirmation that this is what it was or was it an anxiety attack as i was left anxious about it happening again and not being able to work....if it was will anti anxiety meds help them im not going to ask for them if they wont help but i think i could manage if i knew thats what it was...

Posted by: menopaused Jun 10 2009, 11:09 AM

QUOTE (jadebear @ Jul 29 2004, 05:12 PM)

Posted by: joyceveronica Jun 10 2009, 11:18 AM

QUOTE (MaryBeth @ Jun 10 2009, 06:26 PM)

Posted by: Ann61 Jun 11 2009, 09:53 AM

Hi all;
I just had my very first hot flash last weekend! I'd been having night sweats for years, but this was my first, official day-time flash. Two, actually. I was getting ready to go out for dinner. My house was rather chilly and I was wearing a light, gauzy top...suddenly, I was filled with an intense heat. I began pouring sweat (just what I need- to pit out my fresh top right before I head out the door!), but I had no emotional symptoms or palpitations. The whole thing lasted about three minutes. Then, I had another one a few minutes later in the car. I haven't had any since, but I'm assuming I'll start having them more frequently as time goes on. Oh, the joys of peri...

Posted by: cathylynn Jun 13 2009, 03:33 AM

My hot flashes started 4 years ago, i'm 53 years old, and was sure I would be done by now, but no, not even close. My hot flashes sometimes come every 15 minutes and last a few minutes. My face gets so hot, and red, and I start sweating, mostly on my face. I feel really weak when they come, my heart starts racing and I get really nervous. If i'm in a store, I want to run out and leave, I keep moving to get a little breeze on my face. I'm awakened all night with these darn things. Its funny I wake up before I have one, its strange, like 30 seconds before the waive of heat hits. I have fans every where in my house. As i'm typing this, I have one blowing in my face. I don't go anywhere with out one. I absolutely hate the attention I get from these, everyone always knows when i'm having one, I get so frustrated. These hot flashes have affected my life so much, I don't like to walk anymore, because I dont want to be away from my fan, I had one the other day while I was out for a walk. I was walking up a hill and one hit. I felt so awful, my heart started racing, I felt so weak, dizzy, sick, I wanted to lay on the ground. It reminded me of the time when I use to play tennis, and got heat stroke. I don't like social gatherings because its embarrassing to start sweating, and I don't want to pull out my portable fan in front of everyone. Also I feel like its aged me too. I feel like its preventing me from doing things, I always think, I don't want to have a hot flash there. My husband is so understanding, he has to live in a ice box with all of the fans running, he never complains. Hot flashes are basically the only symptom I have from menopause, even as stressful as the hot flashes are, i'm a pretty mellow person, i don't have mood swings, but I do have to have my fans available or I get cranky.WHEN WILL THEY END.

Posted by: cathylynn Jun 13 2009, 03:47 AM

QUOTE (Maria612 @ Feb 4 2005, 12:18 PM)

Posted by: choco Jun 13 2009, 10:25 AM

After being post for 3 years next month, I'm 51 my hot flushes/ sweats/ and night flushes/sweats are worse!! I have to keep changing the meds I take which are natural at least every 6months because my body gets used to them. Now we are in winter it's a pain in the backside because as soon as I put a jumper (sweater) on I have to take it off because I become hot within 5 minutes. Today watching my son play football I put my jumper on and off continuously the weather was cold but I kept changing. Many people laugh and say, you having hot flushes not realizing what a nasty symptom it is. Men always joke about it, but my hub knows and son, to run for the hills if I'm flushing because my temper goes up as well, I don't understand that!! I've recently started night sweats maybe because we now have heavy coverings on the bed.
I'll be soooo glad when this is over!!!

Cheers choco

Posted by: lumz Sep 25 2009, 11:41 AM

Help me understand feel bad in the morning.Hot tingling up my back and head get flushed.Upsets my stomach gives me the runs?!Sometimes feel hot on the inside but cold on the outside wipes me out in the AM.

Posted by: cathylynn Sep 25 2009, 12:23 PM

QUOTE (lumz @ Sep 25 2009, 07:41 AM)

Posted by: nc53215 Sep 25 2009, 01:37 PM

one word- h,e,l,l

Posted by: beth from va Oct 8 2009, 08:57 PM

Does anyone get full-headed, a little dizzy, tense, and tingly before they have a hot flash? Until I was diagnosed as having perimenopuase, I panicked like crazy when these sensations happened to me earlier this year. I am 49. My doc went ahead and gave an echo cardio sonogram and my hear is fine. I lost 25 pounds over the past 6 months and am healthier than I have ever been, but dang I hate these feelings! I am seeing a therapist for anxiety and am dealing with it much better than when this started. I love this message board and thought I'd toss in my hot flash symptoms to see if anyone else has this. Misery loves company I guess

XXOO, Beth

Posted by: cathylynn Oct 9 2009, 12:12 AM

QUOTE (beth from va @ Oct 8 2009, 04:57 PM)

Does anyone get full-headed, a little dizzy, tense, and tingly before they have a hot flash? Until I was diagnosed as having perimenopuase, I panicked like crazy when these sensations happened to me earlier this year. I am 49. My doc went ahead and gave an echo cardio sonogram and my hear is fine. I lost 25 pounds over the past 6 months and am healthier than I have ever been, but dang I hate these feelings! I am seeing a therapist for anxiety and am dealing with it much better than when this started. I love this message board and thought I'd toss in my hot flash symptoms to see if anyone else has this. Misery loves company I guess

XXOO, Beth

Posted by: wisevixen Oct 11 2009, 06:21 PM

Hi all--

Mine are wimpy things -- as though breaking a fever & I don't even sweat. Also, they are not daily occurances. Kept a diary of them not long ago -- maybe have a week or more without them, then have a few over the course of a couple of days. Nothing to write about.

I will say I feel more weepy & fatigued when they occur. Feel good on flashless days. It seems to me they go in about a 2 week cycle -- as if they are trying to start ovulation etc. I did not like them so much during the summer (when they began to happen), but now that it is cold I don't mind. However, they are more absent now that it is cooler. Maybe I was just hot during the summer rather than flashing...

I also been having some mild vertigo, but my periods have been very irreg since last Dec. I am probably nearing postmeno....WV

Posted by: enough Oct 22 2009, 01:08 PM

My hands get hot and then my face. Sometimes my feet feel hot too. I am just feeling flushed alot, my face and lips feel warm, sort of feverish, then cooler. I am usually warm all the time. Years ago, chilly, no more turtlenecks for me. The nights? Awful. I get into a cool bed and then, bam, hot within minutes and it's hot and sweaty and chilly all night long. That just started a week ago, the night sweats. I guess 6 weeks off the birth control pills are kicking in. I am not happy, I love bedtime, but not lately.

Posted by: didgens Oct 22 2009, 02:00 PM

QUOTE (wisevixen @ Oct 11 2009, 06:21 PM)

Posted by: frombc Oct 22 2009, 02:24 PM

I've only ever had a few 'classic' hot flashes where you feel the heat come up from your chest and you feel like you're on fire and start sweating. These only lasted a few weeks.

I usually get what feels like a sun/wind burned feeling on my face and my eyes burn. My face will become visibly red and feel hot to the touch. This can last for a few hours a day for a few months then they're gone for a few months. I asked my Dr. about it and he said it's most likely just a different type of hot flash.

Posted by: endless Nov 1 2009, 04:26 AM

QUOTE (matoaka @ Jul 29 2004, 06:45 PM)

Posted by: soul survivor Nov 1 2009, 11:42 AM

Hot flashes for me have been the bane of my existence for way too many years.(13yrs)
Suddenly I get the most horrific feeling like the world is coming to an end or something
really bad is going to happen then the heat creeps up all the way from my toes to my head.
I feel dizzy, nauseated and my intestines churn and growl and I break out in a head to toe
sweat. My forehead drips with sweat and I feel like dropping to the ground. Sometimes I burst out sobbing..It slowly ebbs
away and then returns much to soon to repeat the never ending cycle.
At one point I had moved my bed right next to the window in the middle of winter to get the cold air...
The temperature dippes to -40 degrees in the winter and I loved it....
Sometimes it was snowing and it would blow through the window to land on me while I slept.
I swear I could feel the snow sizzling on my hot clammyskin...My room used to get so cold I;m surprised I did
not die of hypothermia....I could be standing outside in this frigid weather sweating buckets....
At one point this used to happen about every 20 -30 min day and night...needless to say
this affected so many aspects of my life the most difficult was having to go to work like this
and deal with people on a one to one basis, when I could no longer think , type, or talk,wanting to puke,
and feeling like running very faraway....that was the worst..I no longer can work because of this...
I have spent the last 10 summers or so cloistered in my house because I cannot handle the
heat of the day....I swell like a balloon in the humidity and can barely walk...air conditioning does not help...
I even get them in the shower...that has got to be to grossest feeling...I can no longer take baths
because soaking in water gives me hot and cold rushes and I want to throw up...swimming is out also...
I could go on and on about the hot flashes but writing all of this is giving me one and I have to go lay down...

god bless this mess

Posted by: cathylynn Nov 1 2009, 01:54 PM

QUOTE (soul survivor @ Nov 1 2009, 07:42 AM)

Posted by: enough Nov 4 2009, 07:58 AM

Usually my chest and face get hot but last night I had the pleasure of a quick surge of tingle from my toes up to my head, with the feeling of being sick to my stomach and then heat, then sweat, then cool, all within a minute or two, then my head felt funny then heat again. it is so unpleasant, it's getting old.

Posted by: lizardlover42000 Dec 7 2009, 09:23 PM

QUOTE (jadebear @ Jul 29 2004, 03:54 PM)

Posted by: buffy123 Jan 6 2010, 11:08 PM

QUOTE (Maria612 @ Feb 23 2005, 01:04 PM)

Posted by: karenwest1961 Jan 9 2010, 11:46 AM

QUOTE (Gia_Johnson @ Aug 2 2004, 09:54 AM)

Posted by: mrsbuff Jan 9 2010, 11:52 AM

mine are usually feeling of being like a furnace burning from inside then getting cold. So it is like if my inside thermostat goes up and down all day long. Sometimes I simply get really hot from the face and jusst the odd feeling that something bad is going to happen, then intense heat like right now!. At night it is more getting sweatty and just not wanting to have anything touch my skin then feeling cold cold tingling sometimes just in one leg or just full body.

Posted by: Sunflowerhill Jan 9 2010, 02:32 PM

This is one symptom I don't seem to have yet. (Knocking on wood!) I am soooo very cold natured. I stay bundled in the winter and in the summer most homes and businesses are way to cold for me! I wonder, if when I'm flashing I will just feel normal?? LOL... Really though, I've not had any to my awareness. In the summer I may have had some nights where I got too warm and threw back the covers on the bed, but that was very unusual for me.

So.. I say all this to ask~ Do some women not have flashes?

Posted by: andy1fields Feb 14 2010, 08:04 PM

Hello, I have just started having them, I become very hot from chest up and under arms get wet. I become agitated, I get more during the day. I also sometimes get followed by headaches. I have this strange thing going on where I feel my heart beat thru out my body, just some strange feeling I can't get rid of, thinking it is palpitations.

Posted by: timeless Mar 2 2010, 01:46 PM

I am having something that keeps happening at night but I am not sure that is what I am dealing with...is this a hot flash/ night sweat/power surge///HELP

I get very hot and have what I call a "surge" that goes through my whole body...and it continues sometimes for hours..and last night I got very scared as i felt like I was going to pass out. this has been going on ..off and on now for months .....it happens mostly at night but sometimes it happens during the late afternoon.

My stomach starts to churn, my back pulsates, I feel very uneasy and scared like doom. Not much sleep when this happens.

Could it be something else? I really can not handle much else right now. I know my body and know that something is not right.


PLEASE SOMEONE TELLS ME THIS IS GOING TO BE OKAY.....

Posted by: lumz Mar 2 2010, 04:05 PM

Hey Timeless I'm your age and somethings got to be going on.I know when I was told I had thyroid issues it got confusing.My "hot flashes"are weird too.I had a brutal one last night woke me up at 2:30 Ahhh!I felt it in my feet first then my torso felt burning like from the inside,my chest and back sweat and I lay there clammy and headachey.So that's were all my energy goes.I want to get up to get water but am afraid to wake my husband.In the morning I had a headache and felt nauseous and hate feeling so cold when I get up.I thought I'de be in bed 1/2 the day but I got on my feet once more and got on with my day.I also have a lot of crazy dreams when I night sweat.Maybe it's all that extra energy going to your head.I can't imagine dealing with those at that intensity during the day.

Posted by: slo66 Mar 10 2010, 02:59 PM

Hey you guys..

I am curious if what I experienced the other morning was indeed a hotflash? I was woken up early, freezing! I had chills and thought, O no, Im getting the flu! I then had an urgency to pee so I got up, did my thing and when I went back to bed I was overcome with being so hot! I broke out in a sweat and had to throw the covers off of me. I just lie there waiting for it to pass. I felt the strangest sensation of tingling? up my back? Only way to describe it. Then after a minute I guess, it was over and I finally fell back to sleep. WTH?! Is it normal to get cold before a flash? I have heard of women getting cold afterwards. Now mind you I have had this "flu" feeling off and on for months now. It comes and goes. I had tests done in Dec/Jan. and everything looked good! Wierd....

Posted by: lumz Mar 10 2010, 04:56 PM

Slo I have had the feeling of coming down with the flu on and off since peri.I would be fatigued and nauseated and the next day it was gone.I think you probably had more than one flash in the night though I do have chills sometimes .I still find it all confusing as my flashes don't seem texbook.Last night I rolled over on my back to see if my chest and face sweat and they do.In the morning I feel chilled go in a bath and come out sweating again.Just feel tingling up my back and head anxious and a little weak. Yuk

Posted by: buffy123 Mar 10 2010, 09:56 PM

QUOTE (timeless @ Mar 2 2010, 09:46 AM)

Posted by: joyceveronica Mar 12 2010, 08:26 AM

QUOTE (timeless @ Mar 2 2010, 09:46 PM)

Posted by: DizzyD Mar 12 2010, 02:35 PM

QUOTE (jadebear @ Dec 2 2004, 05:29 PM)

Posted by: DizzyD Mar 12 2010, 03:05 PM

My hot flashes can be completely overwhelming - hot flashes from hell, I call them:

extreme anxiety, dizziness and sometimes vertigo, heart racing, flushing of face and chest, churning of stomach, tremor in my hand and sometimes my legs shake, tightness in my chest, a complete feeling of gloom and doom. Sometimes I'll want to burst out crying, too. I get very weak and sick and sometimes feel like I'll pass out. I often have to lie down. I'll feel like I'm burning up and need to get cooled off immediately; other times I'll get hot then cold, or just feel very cold.

This can last from minutes to hours.

I'm noticing lately that stress can bring it on. I can't cope with things as well as I used to without having physical responses. Even small things that wouldn't normally upset me can send me into one of these episodes. It's so frustrating!
I have some extreme life stress, too, so that doesn't help (for example, a disabled child to care for who has physical and mental problems).

I'm 45 and have been going through this for almsot 6 years. Sometimes these episodes happen all throughout the day; other times I don't get them as often.

Posted by: lumz Mar 12 2010, 03:15 PM

Oh DizzyD you are a super woman.Thats alot to handle along with peri.I pray you get some relief soon. [[[Hug]]] Lumz

Posted by: MsWiggedOut Mar 15 2010, 06:11 PM

My hot flashes and night sweats feel like there is a little flame in the core of me, and then someone throws on some accelorant and lights it with a match and I explode into flames inside. My head and face get especially hot and I sweat like crazy. I can always feel it coming on and sometimes I can feel my heart starting to beat faster and I just feel overwhelmed and have to rip my clothes off and I usually go outside where its cold for a couple minutes. For me this has been going on for over a year, some days are worse than others and every once in awhile I get a little reprieve but not for long. I don't know how my insides can handle this much heat. I sure like winter better, I was a mess last summer when it was so hot here! Uggg!

Posted by: angseu May 10 2010, 10:39 PM

I usually get my worst hot flashes right around the time I'd be ovulating... depending on what my body is doing that month.

I'll be going along my day as usual then all of a sudden, I'll get a short squeeze in my chest, like 1-2, squeeze, release, then it's like the hormones surge through my body. In no time, my face is beat red and so hot. Sometimes I'll get the dripping sweat on the forehead, but not always. The heat never seems to bother me anywhere else except my neck and head. After the chest squeeze though, I feel panicky. I've been to the ER 3 times, had 2 EKGs and they've even drawn blood and I'm told everything looks good.

Between that and the palps I get for 3 days before my period shows (and sometimes, 3 days before my mid-cycle squeeze) some months I feel like a basket case.

It is helpful knowing that I'm not alone in this though. When I asked my Mom about any peri symptoms she could remember, she said she had none she could think of except that her period got heavier before it totally disappeared. OH, I could only dream it was that easy

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's comforting in knowing that I'm not going crazy.

Posted by: MsWiggedOut May 10 2010, 11:50 PM

QUOTE (angseu @ May 10 2010, 10:39 PM)

I usually get my worst hot flashes right around the time I'd be ovulating... depending on what my body is doing that month.

I'll be going along my day as usual then all of a sudden, I'll get a short squeeze in my chest, like 1-2, squeeze, release, then it's like the hormones surge through my body. In no time, my face is beat red and so hot. Sometimes I'll get the dripping sweat on the forehead, but not always. The heat never seems to bother me anywhere else except my neck and head. After the chest squeeze though, I feel panicky. I've been to the ER 3 times, had 2 EKGs and they've even drawn blood and I'm told everything looks good.

Between that and the palps I get for 3 days before my period shows (and sometimes, 3 days before my mid-cycle squeeze) some months I feel like a basket case.

It is helpful knowing that I'm not alone in this though. When I asked my Mom about any peri symptoms she could remember, she said she had none she could think of except that her period got heavier before it totally disappeared. OH, I could only dream it was that easy

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's comforting in knowing that I'm not going crazy.

Posted by: hiker529 May 11 2010, 01:52 AM

Hello
I had to go off birth control (estrogen) which I was taking for control of hot flashes because I was diagnosed with DCIS (stage 0 breast cancer) and my cells are estrogen receptor positive. I have flashes every hour or so unless I am exercising (isn't that funny?) or I am in very cold air. Lately my body has been staying very warm all the time--like I am sitting near an oven. If I sit up against the couch, my back gets very hot and it may trigger a flash. I don't have periods anymore since the past 6 months or so....

I get flashes when I think of something stressful like my upcoming surgery or worry one of my kids has. I get flashes at work when I feel stress there.
When I have a flash my entire body is hot but more so in my head, trunk, arms and legs. I will wet a washcloth and wipe down under the fan while lying naked in bed at night. This helps alot. I get low grade anxiety at night...enough to keep me from relaxing. Drinking very cold water helps as does a cold cold shower.

Posted by: geoff628 May 12 2010, 06:10 PM

I know you're going to think I'm crazy but I find my hot flashes almost comforting. It's like the one thing in this menopausal horror that has an explanation and doesn't scare me to death. My hot flashes remind me that the rest of it, like the anxiety and heart palps etc, are all a part of peri and not some awful disease.

Posted by: MsWiggedOut May 12 2010, 06:26 PM

QUOTE (geoff628 @ May 12 2010, 06:10 PM)

Posted by: geoff628 May 12 2010, 06:56 PM

I know, I know, my hot flashes are lame. (I don't know how to use the emoticons so just pretend there's a smiling one here.) I had a couple in Feb. 09 and then they started regularly in Nov. 09. I do not wake up soaked, I just have to throw the covers off for a few minutes. My sil used to have to change the sheets every night so I know they can be bad. Mine are not bad and lots of times when they come my horrible anxiety fades which is another reason I welcome them. If it was just the hot flashes I'd be cruising through this experience. (another smile). It does sound awful for you. How long have you been suffering with them?

Posted by: MsWiggedOut May 13 2010, 02:00 AM

QUOTE (geoff628 @ May 12 2010, 06:56 PM)

Posted by: MsWiggedOut May 13 2010, 02:20 AM

QUOTE (hiker529 @ May 11 2010, 01:52 AM)

Posted by: geoff628 May 13 2010, 08:59 AM

QUOTE (MsWiggedOut @ May 13 2010, 02:00 AM)

I have been tormented with hot flashes/night sweats for 1 year, 8 months and 19 days. I use to have bad anxiety as well but finally that has calmed down, but the flashing has not. Everyday when I wake up, I just hope that yesterday was the last bad day of it all, and I am not going to get anymore hot flashes. I just HATE it, its exhausting. MY anxiety was at its worst when my estrogen was high. I am feeling alot better now, I was almost suicidal last year this time. All my other symptoms are pretty much gone, its just the HOT flashes still. GGrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Posted by: MsWiggedOut May 13 2010, 10:16 PM

QUOTE (geoff628 @ May 13 2010, 08:59 AM)

Posted by: KimD May 26 2010, 04:39 PM

I'm 56. I've been on bio HRT for several years. I decided to go off of them two months ago. I've been having hot flashes ever since. Does anyone have experience with this. I thought I wouldn't have hot flashes after being on the HRT for so long. They are very disruptive to my very active life!! Do they go away soon? Thanks

Posted by: snowflake51 May 26 2010, 05:29 PM

QUOTE (KimD @ May 26 2010, 05:39 PM)

Posted by: little lil May 26 2010, 06:02 PM

Mine sound like thje rest of you ladies, I get butterflies, anxious, head feels strange, just want to cry then bang heat to my chest going up my face and I<m dripping wet the hot weather makes them worse!!! Then right as I start to fall asleep without fail The butterflies they leave and I,m dripping and this will go on all nite long I will wake in the morning and lay there in sweat. Without HRT they can last foeverer I know a women in her 80,s { my Aunt} that still gets them on and off!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: janet c May 26 2010, 07:11 PM

QUOTE (KimD @ May 26 2010, 09:39 PM)

Posted by: geoff628 May 27 2010, 08:09 AM

Did you wean off? My doctor said that if I were to go on them thy would wean me off eventually.

Posted by: KimD May 27 2010, 12:56 PM

QUOTE (geoff628 @ May 27 2010, 05:09 AM)

Posted by: Zee Aug 21 2010, 04:34 PM

I thought my hot fushes were strange until I read through the posts on here. and see im not alone in some of the effects. I had them very intensly in peri but now 4 years post and they havent been to bad until few months ago when another phase of them started. Had full bloods done and also thyroid and all was ok.
My hot flushes happen mostly in the morning and have anywhere between 2 and 10..Sometimes they pass within about 10 seconds just making my face perspire and I feel a bit panicky.. Then sometimes I get flushes which seem to last a few minutes, again soaking my forhead mostly but they also make me jittery and my head gets a bit shakey too until the flush is over with.

Posted by: hotflash_mama Aug 21 2010, 06:20 PM

I think I'm paying the pied piper now. Sailed through peri with no symptoms except for irregular periods, brain fog and weight gain(not a lot but enough). But once my periods stopped for good (15 months now) the hot flashes started .... sometimes every hour. Oh when does this end?

Posted by: MsWiggedOut Aug 22 2010, 12:23 AM

QUOTE (hotflash_mama @ Aug 21 2010, 06:20 PM)

Posted by: MsWiggedOut Aug 22 2010, 12:31 AM

QUOTE (Zee @ Aug 21 2010, 04:34 PM)

Posted by: Ann56 Aug 22 2010, 12:45 PM

QUOTE (jadebear @ Aug 2 2004, 12:57 AM)

Posted by: futurmil2b Aug 22 2010, 05:31 PM

QUOTE (matoaka @ Jul 30 2004, 09:48 AM)

My flashes are usually worse in the afternoon and early evening. This is my second or third bout with the flashes. They last a couple of months and then go away. Each bout is less obnoxious than the previous, so hopefully they will go the way of the dodo bird soon. I just ordered some Revival Soy and I'll let you know if that helps me.

When I was having anxiety/panic attacks, I used to have those "near fainting" feelings. Really spooky when you're driving!! I finally figured that that feeling was just the way they started up for me... feeling faint and flush and feeling like every pore in my body was about the size of a quarter! I used to fight those feelings, get mad and cry about it, stomp the floor. Eventually, the best way for me to handle it was to just nod, accept the feelings, and go on about my business. They went away faster that way. I know that is easier said than done. But anxiety won't hurt you, it's just a temporary imbalance of brain chemicals or hormones that will soon even out.

Treat yourself well.... this, too, shall pass.
Hugs,
Susan

Posted by: savvy1960 Aug 29 2010, 10:19 AM

QUOTE (futurmil2b @ Aug 22 2010, 04:31 PM)