The 'normalness' of hot flushes Options

[XIII]

Well ladies I am 52 and am fully menopausal. I am about to enter my third year with severe hot flushes.

I understand that hot flushes are normal at this stage of life and have always been willing to try and battle it out with industrial sized fans and determination. However things are wearing a little bit thin.

Things have been very difficult lately. I suppose I should be grateful that the horrendous power surges that almost made me faint seem to be over but the lower level flushes just carry on.

I have been half heartedly tested for thyroid problems by my doctor who says that everything is, wait for it, 'perfectly normal.'

Last night I counted 52 hot flushes from going to bed at 11pm until 3pm. Their frequency then tailed off and I had about 15 more. I have come down this morning with completely numb hands and pain on the inside of both forearms. I have a weird headache.

I would just love my clueless doctor to spend just one night in my body. I just wonder if he would be quite so keen to use the word normal then....................................


XIII

[kar4242]

((((((XIII))))))))) I know how you feel. I'm going on 2 years of hot flashes and night sweats. In the beginning I had a hot flash a few times an hour. Now I have them during the day but not as often and at night too. I'm sweaty all the time now too. I sweat way more than I used to, even after light housework. I have not had a period in over 2 years now. I tried HRT and BHRT last summer/fall but I didn't feel well on it. Nothing seems to help. I sure hope we get through this quickly.

Hugs again,
Karen

[nc53215]

ive had them since i was 33- im now 49 !!!! although its not as much as the first 8-10 years, they do slow down but not until you put your time in !!! sorry

[caz-art]

I notice them more when I am stressed and have a lot on my mind...I only get them at night now, although I wish it would reverse, as I'd rather get a good nights sleep and have none and have a few in the daytime instead!

I HATE this disrupted sleep....it's the worst for me (that + the anxiety).

Caz

[XIII]

Thanks all. Needed the hug Karen. I have now been suffering debilitating symptoms from Peri/Meno for 14 long years so I think that I have done my 'time' really. The hot flushes went away but have come back along with pain and swelling of the thyroid. I expect to have the odd flushes for the rest of my life but I consider 60-70 severe hot flushes per day on the high side and it does make me wonder whether the thyroid/hypothalamus is now playing up. Trying to get my doctor to do do the correct tests is another matter.
I have come to realise just how lucky I am not to suffer the horrible anxiety that plagues so many women here. My heart goes out to all of them.


Cheers,

XIII

[janet c]

You poor thing-having that many a day! Yes 60 or 70 a day is ridiculous, especially after they went right down! I hope you can find out what is going on!
I did have them like that after my surgical menopause and terrible anxiety too but things have calmed down now three years on. I sometimes wonder if all these things take longer to resolve with a natural menopause because the ovaries tend to kick back in at random, long after it seems to be all over, and then of course the hot flushes can start up again.
I have almost got rid of mine but I find that because I am still dabbling with testosterone and estriol it brings them back again.
I could stop everything, which my acupuncturist wants me to do and then I would have no hot flushes but no sex life so I have to choose.
janet c

[XIII]

I sometimes wonder if all these things take longer to resolve with a natural menopause because the ovaries tend to kick back in at random, long after it seems to be all over, and then of course the hot flushes can start up again.
I have almost got rid of mine but I find that because I am still dabbling with testosterone and estriol it brings them back again.
I could stop everything, which my acupuncturist wants me to do and then I would have no hot flushes but no sex life so I have to choose.
janet c

Thanks Janet. The hardest thing about all this is that we have no idea where we are in all this and that makes it scary. If someone could say that I will have severe hot flushes for another five years and then things would improve, I think that I could cope. I think that it is the fear that this is the thin edge of the wedge and this stuff will go on forever that makes this so uncomfortable. I suppose the lack of proper sleep doesn't help things. I can't remember when I last slept adequately.
I do think that there is definitely a stop start element to all this. Sometimes I feel as if things are getting better and then, bam! It all starts again.

Today I visited a place where we spent a lot of time in about 10 years ago. My daughter was training as a figure skater at the time. It was lovely to be back and all the fond memories flooded back but then I suddenly realised that 10 years ago I was still fit and vibrant. It suddenly made me realise how much I have lost personally because I always feel so poorly.
I couldn't help shedding a few tears for the life that I have lost.
I do try to be positive but this has now gone on too long and the hopes of feeling better one day seem to be fading away.

Ah well! Tomorrow is another day and I am helping to clean the student house that my son is moving into. That should keep me busy. I am better when I am busy.


Cheers,


XIII

[Helen48]

(((XIII)))

Good Lord!

Thats a rediculous amount, and I think Im out of control on the days I get a dozen or more. Ive been getting them for a little over 2 years now and in the beginning I would get what I call "peaks and valley's" a few weeks I would get them all the time then a few weeks just here and there. But for almost a year now they are on a daily basis. some days more than others and some days worse than others. I rarely sleep more than 2 hours straight. I take ambien about 3-4 nights a week and even then I dont get a good nights sleep, but at least when I wake up it helps me fall back asleep fairly quickly.

Seems my thing is,I get a flash, t wakes me up then I have to pee. Never fails.

A few nights had a night where I did sleep about 4-1/2 hours straight went back to sleep for about another 2 and Ill tell you I could feel it, I just felt so much better. It dosent happen often but when it does it feels great. I just keep hoping someday it will be the norm.

I have to say thought suffering with as many as you are I woulod definately look into hrt or bhrt. ( if you havent already) I mean when there's no quality of life you have to do what you can. Some days I think Ill try some kind of therapy and then Ill have days that arnt to bad ( they are almost never good days ) and think Ill try And stick it out a little longer. For me time will tell.

But I feel for ya, I cant imagine having that many flashes a day.

I hope they get better for you and for all of us.

Keep us posted, Helen

[Medium at Large]

Holy Moly...........u will NEVER hear me complain about hot flashes again!!! 60-70 a day? Good lord you poor thing.......and I have the nerve to bitch about my 10? Wow.............you deserve a trophy. And you deserve a break!!!

Holy Moly...........u will NEVER hear me complain about hot flashes again!!! 60-70 a day? Good lord you poor thing.......and I have the nerve to bitch about my 10? Wow.............you deserve a trophy. And you deserve a break!!!

Whoopsie Daisy.......sorry gals. They did not bleep out my "b" word there.

[Crazy in CA]

XIII - oh you poor kid - how miserable - and how frustrating for the doc to tell you this is NORMAL!!!!!!


Wish you could drop a chili pepper in his shorts!!!!!!

[joyceveronica]

Well ladies I am 52 and am fully menopausal. I am about to enter my third year with severe hot flushes.

I understand that hot flushes are normal at this stage of life and have always been willing to try and battle it out with industrial sized fans and determination. However things are wearing a little bit thin.

Things have been very difficult lately. I suppose I should be grateful that the horrendous power surges that almost made me faint seem to be over but the lower level flushes just carry on.

I have been half heartedly tested for thyroid problems by my doctor who says that everything is, wait for it, 'perfectly normal.'

Last night I counted 52 hot flushes from going to bed at 11pm until 3pm. Their frequency then tailed off and I had about 15 more. I have come down this morning with completely numb hands and pain on the inside of both forearms. I have a weird headache.

I would just love my clueless doctor to spend just one night in my body. I just wonder if he would be quite so keen to use the word normal then....................................


XIII

Dear 'X111
This is a ridiculously high lot of flushing and flashing.No wonder you feel so run down.
Am going to be really frank here.Some ladies continue to get hot flashes for the rest of their lives.Perhaps not as frequently but neverthless they are draining
I think you are a perfect candidate for BHRT or a low dose HRT,if you are open to these.If not how about consulting an Alternative Practitioner for advice on Herbal Supplements..

If the Doctor thinks it is all so 'normal' tell him to try living with next to no Testosterone and see how normal that feels!
Have said this to a few of them myself!

Good Luck
Be pro-active about your health
Do not give up till you get the right combination of Meds. or whatever you need to feel better

Best Wishes
Eliza beth

[XIII]

Thank-you all for your kind words. It makes such a difference when you can chat to friends who really understand what you are talking about. As you know until they arrive on your doorstop no-one truly knows what impact they have on your life. I think my husband now understands but my children don't. When I have had a bad day/night with never ending flushes I feel like this:
On a positive note their intensity has improved greatly. For six months it was difficult to go out because their intensity was so fierce, I collapsed on several occasions. ( A lift, an electrical superstore and a hot car were the triggers.) I certainly did not venture out without my husband. I seem to be over that, which is good. I did go through a period where they stopped and I thought WOOOOOOOOOO!

Then they returned after an episode of flu last November. I have to keep the faith that they will lessen. However I will keep supplementation in mind.

My Mum had a horrible time in menopause but she did not have hot flushes like mine. I just think that my hormones are and always have been totally OTT. It was great for the old sex life and fertility but boy have I suffered for all that pleasure! Perhaps the migraines I had were a punishment from the Gods for liking sex too much!

I just wonder if my oestrogens used to be sky high, I certainly had boundless energy. I suppose it is only natural that I am going to feel it acutely, when my ovaries quit. I do feel as if something is draining the life force out of me. It is very disconcerting.
I am trying to look forward to the time when I am over all this and I can come back here and assure those 'going through the mill' that it definitely does get better.


XIII

[surreallife]

Thank-you all for your kind words. It makes such a difference when you can chat to friends who really understand what you are talking about. As you know until they arrive on your doorstop no-one truly knows what impact they have on your life. I think my husband now understands but my children don't. When I have had a bad day/night with never ending flushes I feel like this:
On a positive note their intensity has improved greatly. For six months it was difficult to go out because their intensity was so fierce, I collapsed on several occasions. ( A lift, an electrical superstore and a hot car were the triggers.) I certainly did not venture out without my husband. I seem to be over that, which is good. I did go through a period where they stopped and I thought WOOOOOOOOOO!

Then they returned after an episode of flu last November. I have to keep the faith that they will lessen. However I will keep supplementation in mind.

My Mum had a horrible time in menopause but she did not have hot flushes like mine. I just think that my hormones are and always have been totally OTT. It was great for the old sex life and fertility but boy have I suffered for all that pleasure! Perhaps the migraines I had were a punishment from the Gods for liking sex too much!

I just wonder if my oestrogens used to be sky high, I certainly had boundless energy. I suppose it is only natural that I am going to feel it acutely, when my ovaries quit. I do feel as if something is draining the life force out of me. It is very disconcerting.
I am trying to look forward to the time when I am over all this and I can come back here and assure those 'going through the mill' that it definitely does get better.


XIII

XIII,
I am 52 also and post meno for over 2 years. I to had very bad, disabling hot flashes about 5 years ago that lasted for a good 2 years or more. I was housebound with these and panic/anxiety for those couple of years. They were so intense and so many (on on top of the other) and sleep was almost impossible (took a lot of 'naps'). They were so strong it hurt. They did get better and I've had periods where they went away completely. It seems to be a cycling thing at this point but when I do get them now they aren't as intense as they were. I just went through a month of having them back along with the shaking, etc, they weren't as bad as I use to have them, which I am grateful for, but its frustrating that they keep cooming back at all. Everytime they go away for awhile I think this is it, I'm done, then wham they start again. Just wanted to let you know there is someone else who suffered with the same disabling hot flashes and they did get better, haven't gone away yet but certainly less often and less intense. Lets hope they go away for both of us soon.

[XIII]

Thanks Surrealife,
I need to know that there is life at the end of the tunnel.
The one thing that I have found is that I have never had a hot flush on my bike!
Just a question. Do you get strange feelings in your nose when you have the really severe flushes?

Crazy in CA

The chilli pepper in the shorts sounds a good idea!


XIII

[surreallife]

Thanks Surrealife,
I need to know that there is life at the end of the tunnel.
The one thing that I have found is that I have never had a hot flush on my bike!
Just a question. Do you get strange feelings in your nose when you have the really severe flushes?

Crazy in CA

The chilli pepper in the shorts sounds a good idea!


XIII

I haven't noticed anything special feelings in my nose but my whole body is trying to turn inside out so I'm guessing my nose in involved too!

[janet c]

QUOTE (XIII @ Jun 23 2009, 04:47 PM0
"The one thing that I have found is that I have never had a hot flush on my bike!"

Was that a witty play on words re- cycling? lol very good

janet c

[PamelaLynn]

This is my first post on this forum.

I'm 50 and have gone 10 months without a period. I've had hot flashes and night sweats for the past two years. They've been extremely bad for about the past eight months. They happen every 2 hours and I can feel them coming on because I feel nauseous. I sweat profusely and can't focus on the task at hand. I take a break but find it difficult to re-focus. I can't remember the last time I had a good night's rest. I wake every 2 hours dripping with sweat and once I cool down find I am wide awake and it takes me another 30-40 minutes to go back to sleep. I occasionally take a sleep aid but they make me feel groggy in the morning.

I've changed my diet, cut out caffeine, had my thyroid tested, tried every over the counter product available and no relief. About three months ago I started having weekly acupuncture treatments coupled with herbal supplements. I trust the acupuncturist and feel he's trying everything possible to help me find relief but he's not being successful. I've seen no improvement at all and am almost ready to drop the treatments and the supplements. I'm on so many different supplements that if I did start getting some relief how would he even know which one or ones were helping?

I've been adamant about not going the HRT route but the hot flashes and night sweats are effecting the quality of my life. I'm not my best at work or at home. I feel I've exhausted all the resources available and that I have to just ride this out. I just want to scream and run away.

[XIII]

This is my first post on this forum.


I've been adamant about not going the HRT route but the hot flashes and night sweats are effecting the quality of my life. I'm not my best at work or at home. I feel I've exhausted all the resources available and that I have to just ride this out. I just want to scream and run away.

Hi Pam,
A very warm welcome to PS. I understand your feelings very deeply.
From my observations, I just see this as is a process to be endured. I have little faith in 'treatments.'
If someone could assure me that it would all become tolerable, I would be confident enough to battle it out but the uncertainty really is very unpleasant.
I have little doubt that HRT would bring immediate relief if I took something like Premarin but I see it as prolonging the inevitable. I do not fancy suffering all this in my late sixties.
Trying to balance BHRT stuff looks like a nightmare and if you add the risks to that equation, I do not think that I could bring myself to tread that path.
I do think that if I did not have other unpleasant symptoms from other health issues I would cope well but the combination of menopausal symptoms and my underlying condition is pretty awful.

Try to hang in there. I really do think that you will see a marked improvement within the next 18 months!


Take Care,


XIII