Is there such a thing?, Cold Flash! Options

[ChattyCathy]

It happened this morning... Lying half asleep at the crack of dawn, suddenly, instead of the usual realization of awakening to hot and sweaty -- instead, it felt like someone sent an icy breeze from my feet to my chin - It was the weirdest feeling I've ever felt!! Is there such a thing as a cold flash?

[Nancy56]

It happened this morning... Lying half asleep at the crack of dawn, suddenly, instead of the usual realization of awakening to hot and sweaty -- instead, it felt like someone sent an icy breeze from my feet to my chin - It was the weirdest feeling I've ever felt!! Is there such a thing as a cold flash?

Cathy,

I get cold flashes too along with hot flashes. They have stopped since I started BHRT but I have noticed I am hypersensitive to heat and cold something I was never before all this started.

Nancy

[Floater]

I have had cold flashes, although mine didn't feel like an icy breeze...more like I felt cold right down to the bones. I haven't had many of them, thank goodness!! They actually scare me, make me think something terrible must be happening inside my body. I also am taking the Bhrt and haven't had much at all for flashes...I don't miss them one bit!

[lizardlover42000]

yes i get cold flashes right after a hotflash and its bone chilling.

[Tay]

Oh my goodness - the cold flashes! Boy!! Can I relate! As crazy as this sounds, I've never had a hot flash, but for those who experience the cold ones....egads! I know I looked like I was entirely nuts last summer, because it would be 90 degrees, and suddenly -wham! My teeth would start to chatter, I'd begin shivering, then I'd drench in sweat. I finally concluded that's where the old saying of "break out in a cold sweat", came from! I'm like floater - I'd suddenly feel as if I was submerged in ice water, in fact, I'd go to sleep at night with the A/C on, then have a cold flash and have to turn on the electric blanket to get warm. (now hows that for crazy??) Thankfully I haven't had one for - gosh - well, fall I guess, so they do abate.

[TidalWaves]

It happened this morning... Lying half asleep at the crack of dawn, suddenly, instead of the usual realization of awakening to hot and sweaty -- instead, it felt like someone sent an icy breeze from my feet to my chin - It was the weirdest feeling I've ever felt!! Is there such a thing as a cold flash?

I went from having hot flashes every day all day long to violent cold flashes same time every day. I would be curled up in an almost fetal position for several hours every evening in the heat of a Florida summer, with blankets piled on top of me just waiting it out.

[epdp2]

just want to echo what the others have said. the cold flashes are AWFUL - it really is chilling to the bone. i think there have been times when i have had every blanket/sleepingbag/comforter on me as well as longjohns/fleece/etc. i am so grateful i've only had a few of these, my first being last year around this time. & it really freaked me out - it was so severe & almost impossibly long & hard to warm up. that was when i was starting to realize that something really was severely off with my endocrine system. still had no idea about peri.

let's hope that these stay infrequent/brief for everyone.

ellen

[Tina]

I am having a cold flash right now....lately I have been having more hot flashes during the day, and at night as well. but I also have these cold flashes a couple times a week...they are not fun. I feel bone chilling cold and shiver and my insides are trembling and I just can't get warm no matter what. Happens at night sometimes too and I can get warm no matter how many blankets I pile on top of me... My internal thermostat is all messed up from lack of estrogen I suppose.

[pedilung]

It happened this morning... Lying half asleep at the crack of dawn, suddenly, instead of the usual realization of awakening to hot and sweaty -- instead, it felt like someone sent an icy breeze from my feet to my chin - It was the weirdest feeling I've ever felt!! Is there such a thing as a cold flash?

I'm glad to know that I wasn't just making up the syptoms. I have had hot flashes off and on, but in the past 6 months in the evenings right after dinner I get so chilled that I have to cover up with the throw on the couch until it passes. THis is wierd, because normally I'm almost down to my underwear to try to stay cool and head off a hot flash. Thanks for posting this.

[Cavalierluv]

It happened this morning... Lying half asleep at the crack of dawn, suddenly, instead of the usual realization of awakening to hot and sweaty -- instead, it felt like someone sent an icy breeze from my feet to my chin - It was the weirdest feeling I've ever felt!! Is there such a thing as a cold flash?

Wow, I just had one last night. It lasted a couple of hours and I was so cold. My hands, feet, cheeks and nose were so cold. The worst feeling of all was the shivering that was going on. It almost felt like I was really sick. I forced myself to get up and heat the herb pack up in the microwave and cuddle it close until I woke up really HOT. My cheeks were so warm and my feet were really hot. So, I had to take the socks off my feet and the blankets off of me and then try to go back to sleep.

I really hate this.

[Anna]

I am not sure if what I have is a "cold flash," for that matter I am not sure what it is... I get these times where I am cold(shivering) from about mid upper arms and shoulders across my chest(bra area) and back. That is the area it affects. It is really strange!
I have often thought it was a circulation problem...who knows???

Anna

[honeydog]

Hi all,

This is my first post on this message board, only found it half an hour ago. Anyway, about the cold flashes. I have never had a hot flash, not to my knowledge anyway but I have had plenty of cold moments. they just come out of the blue much like a hot flash must be, except I feel this wave of cold come over me like a cold draft, usually on the top half of me. It makes me shiver and come out in goosebumps. It normally lasts a few minutes. I can go days without one or I can have several in one day. I've wondered whether it could be an underactive thyroid making me cold but I think it's more likely to just be the oppostie of a hot flash.......I'm gonna look through the message board now.....nice to talk to you ladies.

for now,
Honeydog

[Genny]

Yes, I've had some of those. Haven't had the really hot sweaty ones at all...just hot and face flushes for a few seconds plus occasionally, perspiration on forehead. Cold flash sometimes follows the hot, one. Feels weird !

[corky21]

I am always chilled to the bone too. I was searching google about chills and menopause and never thought to check this link first. I wasn't sure what was going on. I also don't get hot flashes, although at times, after being chilled down I'll suddenly get a bit warm and then it stops. I keep turning up the thermostat and every time my husband opens the door to go out and doesn't close it I freak out on him. Our 7 yo also keeps telling him "shut the door". LOL. I have always had cold hands and feet most of my life, but now these chills that really do go right to your bones are weird. The other night my temperature was 96 degrees, and I looked up low temperature and menopause too. I guess its all b/c of the low hormones?

At least now I know that it must be related to the pause b/c of these postings. The last two days I have like a bad tooth ache and tomorrow I'm going to get it looked at but I was just there and everything was fine with my teeth. Is that another symptom? Achy teeth? Ugh!

Peace

[dmar]

I have had cold flashes, although mine didn't feel like an icy breeze...more like I felt cold right down to the bones. (Floater)


That's EXACTLY how I felt almost all day today! I am used to feeling cold, but today I felt just the way you described, Floater. I felt like I was cold way down to my bones! It was weird because I kept telling everyone how cold it was in the school and I just kept shivering and almost shaking. Now, I realize it was very cold outside today, but I haven't had this happen before that I can remember. Really weird...I'd much rather be too warm than sooooooo cold....(maybe this wasn't cold flashes? Oh, man, I sure hope I'm not coming down with some stupid virus or something...... )

[Floater]

I have had cold flashes, although mine didn't feel like an icy breeze...more like I felt cold right down to the bones. (Floater)


That's EXACTLY how I felt almost all day today! I am used to feeling cold, but today I felt just the way you described, Floater. I felt like I was cold way down to my bones! It was weird because I kept telling everyone how cold it was in the school and I just kept shivering and almost shaking. Now, I realize it was very cold outside today, but I haven't had this happen before that I can remember. Really weird...I'd much rather be too warm than sooooooo cold....(maybe this wasn't cold flashes? Oh, man, I sure hope I'm not coming down with some stupid virus or something...... )

hey dmar....I hope you aren't sick too! Sometimes it is hard to tell a virus from menopausal symptoms! My worst cold flash had me shivering for a good long time and I turned on the shower and sat in the bottom of the tub under hot water, and still barely warmed up!!

[Polgara]

I posted in the "Am I starting Perimenopause" forum about the hot flashes I've been having every night for more than two months, but I saw this about Cold Flashes. Goodness yes, I have these too! After the hot flash (every couple of hours at night it seems) I have the cold flash where I'm shivering. It's probably my body just trying to cool me down after the hot flash, but it goes too far. I have cold flashes during the day, too, and they seem to last a while. Another thing I find is that I get a clammy feeling during these cold flashes.

I think I trigger some of my hot flashes when I'm a little stressed or anxious over something because I can be going along just fine and then think about something that brings a strong emotion and I get that very uncomfortable warm feeling for a few minutes and then get that freezing cold flash. Maybe it's tied to blood-pressure or something.

[Janee12]

I am new to this site and so happy to read this. I have hot flashes that are so strong I feel as though I am sitting encased in a private sauna while everyone else in the room looks and acts normal, although they are staring at me soaking wet and beet red. If the flash lasts more than 20 minutes (and some have been almost an hour long!) I then get so freezing cold and clammy that I just want to curl up and cry! My clothes are soaked from sweating and to feel that clammy cold feeling against my skin is just too much. I have begun bringing extra blouses to school so that I can change if I get too wet. I amalso worried that it is having a terrible effect on my health because the change in temperature is so drastic. I feel as though my thermostat is broken.

[chocolatewoman99]

I am new to this site and so happy to read this. I have hot flashes that are so strong I feel as though I am sitting encased in a private sauna while everyone else in the room looks and acts normal, although they are staring at me soaking wet and beet red. If the flash lasts more than 20 minutes (and some have been almost an hour long!) I then get so freezing cold and clammy that I just want to curl up and cry! My clothes are soaked from sweating and to feel that clammy cold feeling against my skin is just too much. I have begun bringing extra blouses to school so that I can change if I get too wet. I amalso worried that it is having a terrible effect on my health because the change in temperature is so drastic. I feel as though my thermostat is broken.

Janee, this must be really tough. Any words of wisdom from your doc? I have been taking flax seed oil capsules for about nine months now. In the past I haven't had too many hot flashes, and those I've had have been brief, but I haven't notice any since I've been taking the flax seed. I also have not had too many night sweats, something I know more about than hot flashes.

[Janee12]

Janee, this must be really tough. Any words of wisdom from your doc? I have been taking flax seed oil capsules for about nine months now. In the past I haven't had too many hot flashes, and those I've had have been brief, but I haven't notice any since I've been taking the flax seed. I also have not had too many night sweats, something I know more about than hot flashes.

Hi Chocolatewoman (love that name!) Thanks for the info. I am now living in the Philippines for the next couple of years for my job. The doc didn't offer much help. I am going to be back home in June and will see my gync then. If it gets any worse before, I'll find another dr. here and see what happens. I have begun to take Remifemin--black cohosh and some other things that friends have recommended. I will try the flaxseed, too. It is great for my health anyway, so it can't hurt. Today was the first day in a month that I felt OK. I had 5-6 short flashes and was only cold twice. Maybe just writing about it was a release! Thanks for your suggetion!

[girlsmom]

Cold flashes here as well. Nothing takes it away. It happens mostly during ovulation (when we should be warmer) and before my period. Can barely move my fingers I get so cold.

[Laurak303]

I am always chilled to the bone too. I was searching google about chills and menopause and never thought to check this link first. I wasn't sure what was going on. I also don't get hot flashes, although at times, after being chilled down I'll suddenly get a bit warm and then it stops. I keep turning up the thermostat and every time my husband opens the door to go out and doesn't close it I freak out on him. Our 7 yo also keeps telling him "shut the door". LOL. I have always had cold hands and feet most of my life, but now these chills that really do go right to your bones are weird. The other night my temperature was 96 degrees, and I looked up low temperature and menopause too. I guess its all b/c of the low hormones?

At least now I know that it must be related to the pause b/c of these postings. The last two days I have like a bad tooth ache and tomorrow I'm going to get it looked at but I was just there and everything was fine with my teeth. Is that another symptom? Achy teeth? Ugh!

Peace

[peri1961]

yes yes yes! Noone ever told me that I would get cold flashes too! I have had odd ones when I was first peri. It would start at my feet then move up my body. profoundly odd! I had one Sunday at church. First it started as a hot flash then it turning into a cold flash. I really just try to stay patient and ride this peri stuff out. We all have been to the dr a 100 times. When I talk to them about these peri symtoms, they are clueless! Esp internal jitters.

[Jamakka50]

It happened this morning... Lying half asleep at the crack of dawn, suddenly, instead of the usual realization of awakening to hot and sweaty -- instead, it felt like someone sent an icy breeze from my feet to my chin - It was the weirdest feeling I've ever felt!! Is there such a thing as a cold flash?

I get both..."they" like to alternate and play flash tag on me.....I'm sooooooo used to them that I've stopped even caring.

Nothing like a cold flash to wake you up from the the hot flash! ;-)

[gizmokindofday]

It sounds like there are many variations on a theme, but all of them seem to go with this perimenopausal journey. (is the word perimenopause in the Webster or am I spelling it wrong?) My very sympathetic family doctor listens to all of my crazy symptoms and has confessed that sadly the effects of hormones/fluctuations on the body are not understood very well and not researched as much as it should be.
So it seems that we are all trying to seek each other out for information on a topic that has long been ignored by the medical profession.
I have so much sympathy for those of you who are suffering. I am well into year two of strong peri symptoms. At 49 years of age my periods started to become erratic, months of long periods of bleeding, ect... In these past two or three years my body has had all kind of tics and quirks---some of them scary and some just annoying.
That being said, I too have gone through the "cold phase" twice. I would not call mine cold flashes...I was cold all the time. Freezing cold!!!! I would walk around my perfectly comfortable (temperature wise) home in layers of sweaters, with a hat on my head or ear muffs on. Sometimes I would even need a blanket added to all that layering. It felt as if ice water was running through my veins. The air I was breathing in felt as cold as a meat locker.
Now I am month three into not having a period, and I am in the hot flash/sweats mode. I have them all day and all night. I am awakened by them 4 to 8 times a night and I bust out into a major sweat many times a day...a real pain the the ----at work. Who the heck knows what will come next.
I have been to both my doctors, family and gyno. I have had tons of test for some of my bizzare symptoms.
NOt taking anything at this time for my flashes...although my gyno says black cohosh or soy might be worth a try. I really think it's all hit or miss and guessing. I have a box of EStroven in my medicine cabinet...maybe I'll give that a try. Anyone have luck with this product???

[Webalina]

Yep, I've had a few of these myself. One night I was sitting on the couch watching TV (it was summer in Texas, so you know it couldn't have been very cold) and I got numbingly icy over my whole body. I was shivering like I had just been pulled out of a snowbank. I wrapped up in a fuzzy throw up to my neck and the coziness put me to sleep. I woke up about an hour later sweating like someone had set fire to my sofa. So crazy. Most of my hot flashes aren't really all that hot, although I have a doozy every couple of weeks or so. Usually I don't get so much hot as just stuffy, like I just need a breeze in my face. So I fan myself off and on for a few minutes and then I'm fine.

Peri. I keep forgetting...are we having fun yet?

[Cielle]

I am new to this site and so happy to read this. I have hot flashes that are so strong I feel as though I am sitting encased in a private sauna while everyone else in the room looks and acts normal, although they are staring at me soaking wet and beet red. If the flash lasts more than 20 minutes (and some have been almost an hour long!) I then get so freezing cold and clammy that I just want to curl up and cry! My clothes are soaked from sweating and to feel that clammy cold feeling against my skin is just too much. I have begun bringing extra blouses to school so that I can change if I get too wet. I amalso worried that it is having a terrible effect on my health because the change in temperature is so drastic. I feel as though my thermostat is broken.

Wow, I experience HF similarly. I began with cold flashes; the tongue-tasting-the-batttery-end feeling, not actually cold, more like 'silvery', emotional chilling effect. then after about five years, the hot flashes began. Every 1.5-2 hours, no matter the weather, sudden nausea and feverish sweating.
I call it my own personal August. Being a lifelong 'hot-blooded', I easily wear shorts in winter, I dress down. (Actually now that I recall, this winter was my first in the Midwest 11 deg snows and the first time I chose to wear a down coat. I "never" get cold. hmmm) My Personal August is driving me nuts.
Question: has anyone used bioidentical HRTs? my dr recommended Cenestin (sp?) and Prometrium... has anyone hear of or used these? If so, what was your experience?
Cielle "On Fire"

[OzDragonfly]

Hi Chaty Cathy
You are not alone. Boy the Hot is hot hot hot and the cold is - where is the blanket - brrrrrr. The family look at the weirdo on the lounge with a blanket round her while the sun is shining and its 29oC outside. Then I am hot - and the fireplace is on and I am standing outside in shorts and t.
Gotta luv this Gr8 stage in life huh
xx Oz

[honeydog]

What I experience is not an inside bone chilling cold but a sudden outside on the skin, goosepimple cold. does anyone elsh have this. Out of the blue, in the warm and no reason for it. It's scaring me!! It last a few minutes.

[TidalWaves]

I have the absolute worst cold chills that last for HOURS almost everyday at the same time.

I have curled up into a fetal position, coat and blankets on top of me trying to get warm and still cannot even begin to touch the cold...........and this happens in the middle of a Florida summer!!

Somedays I sweat profusely in the morning and have shivering cold flashes in the afternoon and early evening!

It may have let up for a little bit, but not for very long!

I need to know.............is there an end to this madness??