Chills and shivering? Options

[Madge]

I'm pretty much through menopause, but still get night sweats at times. The thing that puzzles me is that I've been getting episodes of chills and shivering (goose pimples on arms and legs too) along with fatigue and sometimes a feeling of lightheadedness. After an hour or so I feel normal again. Doctor says I'm fine... blood tests are okay. Have any of you ever experienced this? I'm wondering whether it could be hormonal. Thanks.

[Jenniffer]

Hi Madge I have had this too, I feel cold and weak and a bit lightheaded, I also actually look pale when I look in the mirror(guaranteed to make you feel worse). I did tell my GP a while ago about this and she said this can be caused by anxiety and not breathing properly (although I told her I didn't actually feel anxious at the time). But one day when I felt like this I sat down with Dr Claire Weekes book concentrated on breathing properly and then had a sandwich and it worked! within about 1/2 an hour I was back to normal, hope this helps luv Jenniffer

[Madge]

Thanks for replying! After a few hours of the shivers and waves of fatigue, I took some Xanax and fell asleep. I woke two hours later with shaking chills and that off-balance feeling. (No fever or any other sign or illness. So strange.) Maybe it was anxiety, though, but I'm wondering why the Xanax didn't help. At least I felt okay the next day, for the start of our son's wedding weekend. I felt good for the next three days, so I was thankful for that...no dizziness or fatigue. I was able to have a really good time from Friday night to Sunday night. We only have one son, so this was a big weekend for me. Sure had a good time.

[Madge]

Hi again...Thanks for the tip about breathing properly. I'll try that the next time it happens. You also mentioned that you ate a sandwich afterwards?

[Jenniffer]

Hi Madge Yes I did have a sandwich because doctor also said can be due to needing food. I usually get this feeling when I would be due for a period, although I don't get them anymore, I do still get some of the symptoms and when I used to get regular periods one of my main symptoms was this horrible feeling before I started to bleed. I found then that eating something used to help. Also I am the worlds worst for shallow breathing and I found on PS under recommendations the Panic-breathe! page, this was wonderful for me I do hold my stomach in and breathe all the wrong way, so I now practice and do it properly with my abdomen and this works! I'm so glad you recovered and had a really good time at your sons wedding, I have just one beautiful daughter too, so I know how you feel, maybe your feelings were to do with that as well? quite an exciting and tense time? although very happy. I can't believe the things we ladies have to go through, thank goodness we have each other:D Luv Jenniffer

[didi]

I've been having this problem lately, too, and logged on here looking to see if it was a "reverse hot flash!" I'm 46, had hot flashes for a few months about 20 months ago, then they stopped. Right now I have to be very careful how I dress, since any little bit of exertion followed by resting can launch me into something that feels like hypothermia - I just can't get warm. I often get to feeling chilled a few days before my period starts, which isn't where I'm at in my cycle now - so I'm assuming this is perimenopausal amplification of the usual symptoms. Has anyone else noticed it? Also feel tired and lightheaded when I get this, as Madge said. And when I heat up from walking, I REALLY heat up - last week it was 3 degrees when I went out, and I came home with my coat flapping open and no hat or gloves, sweating. At that point I wasn't getting the chills. Just seems like my thermostat is all out of whack.

[jadebear]

I have been getting cold flashes more than hot flashes.(not compalining though)When i have a cold flash,i get this cold tingle all through my body and then i feel like i've been sitting out in subzero weather or something and i shiver and shake.

[Eliza]

So good to know I'm not the only one feeling cold. Feel really miserable at the moment. Feel really freezing most of the time. Strangely too, I may get one cold arm or leg, but when tat area warms up it feels like its having a hot flush. Anyone feel like that??????? Help!!

[jadebear]

I get like that too Eliza....as a matter of fact,right now my hands are ice cold,my feet were a minute ago,but now they are sweating...i've noticed that alot of times i get the cold before the hot.

[Eliza]

Thanks for that Jade Bear. Sometimes you feel as if you are shouting in the middle of a big field with no people in it. This site is good isnt it. Do you ever get hot and cold bits elsewhere i.e arms legs. Eliza

[jadebear]

Eliza,yes,i get cold/hot just about everywhere on my body,it's never in the same spot it seems.One time it may be my arms,next time my legs,sometimes just my boobs,sometimes just two fingers.....it's really kinda weird.Really weird when it's just my boobs...I like the hot better than the cold on them.LOL:P

[AngieSW]

For the last few days I have had very cold feet and hands in the evenings and chills throughout the day. Tonight it was really bad, some of it probably brought on by anxiety. I was sitting at my computer and all of a sudden I had this awful stabbing pain in my lower right side (I do have a couple of cysts on my left and right ovary). The pain actually made me jump it was so intense and would continue off and on for several minutes. Of course, I am the Queen of catastrophizing and started hyperventilating... before I knew it I was getting extremely cold like I was running a temperature. My feet and hands had turned into ice cubes. I got shaky, nauseated and dizzy. I took my relaxation tape, planted myself on the floor and started with the breathing technique. Then I proceeded to work my muscles by first tightening and then relaxing them beginning at my feet and working up to my head. About 10 minutes later I got warm all over. I still have this pain in my right side, but it is by far not as intense as it was. It's about 13 days after my period and I am most likely ovulating. I just never had the pain be so intense before. I had an pelvic and vaginal ultrasound done in late October last year. Nothing to be concerned about... that's what the doctor said anyway. I wish I could get this overreacting under control... I always see myself having some terrible disease. Lord have mercy! Anyway, it's good to know I am not alone out there going through this perimenopausal journey. God bless you all! Angie

[MyFaith]

I've read several posts and list of symptoms for perimenopause that listed chills, but my doctor is thinking that this might be related to my thyroids. I've been checked in the past and everything came back negative. Are there other women like myself who experience horrible chills about 10 days before their period? I've been dealing with this for about 7 years. Hopefully, this means that I'm towards the end of perimenopause. I hope that someone replies.

[WhiteHorses]

Hi MyFaith, I went to see a doctor recently and told him about waking around 3 AM with a lowered temperature (35.9 C) and shaking all over. He immediately said a "cold flash" and is testing my thyroid. I started having severe chills after my last period and only had them occur a few times, probably less than 6 times total, as far as I can remember. So your theory that this happens towards the end of of peri may be true. When my periods stopped they went every two months, or three months for a while then stopped. I think that getting very stressed brings this on. I doubt that it will turn out that my thyroid is low. I keep a hot water bottle, thermometer, food and water handy to help recover from these and middle of the night episodes.

[WhiteHorses]

MyFaith, by my "last period" I mean the last period that I had, when I started the one year count down to being post-menopausal.

[jadebear]

I have been having ALOT of cold flashes for the past few months....some days i have hot flashes,other days i have cold flashes.The cold ones are not anxiety or illness related,i am assuming they're just hormone related and i'd much rather have the cold flashes than the hot.

[hopeful49]

It's weird because although I've had a long list of peri symptoms, hot flushes hasn't been a problem. And night sweats seemed to disappear after abandoning the nightly glass of wine. I do however become freezing cold FREQUENTLY - and very easily. In the heat of summer this past season I had to keep a sweater in my car because every time I walk into an airconditioned room I would eventually get chilled. Forget about drinking a cold glass of something. That makes it much worse. I didn't know if this was meno related, but guess it could be.... Interesting... and so opposite of pregnancy many moons ago when I couldn't cool off in sub degree weather.

[Kathy46]

Right now as I'm typing this I am freezing. I have a heat pad on my neck and my feet are like ice! Then I will get hot and take the covers and all off. I sometimes get so cold at night that it makes me nauseated and light headed. It goes away then will come back. Today I wish I was a man!

[ILaff]

Well, not chills so much as a sensation of coldness; mostly involving my hands and feet. This from what most who know me would describe as the"world's hottest human!" I have thought that Spontaneous Human Combustion would be my fate...I have ALWAYS been too hot. My hands and feet are cold right now. I do not even own a pair of socks...good grief I will branching off into a whole new line of clothing..socks and closed toed shoes...when will the madness end? :roll:

[gladyslajara]

Hi Ladies:

I'm so relieved to hear that I'm not the only one going thru these cold flashes. Like most of you ladies I am experiencing this symptom along with light headedness and fatigue. I also find that either drinking some hot tea and eating
something helps.

Take care.

gladmommyof4@aol.com

[MaryO]

I believe that this was meant to be posted instead of sent to my PM box:

Smack said:

Yes, I've been getting the chills also for several years now. It's usually about 10 days before my period. In the mid to late afternoon and when I go to bed, I am freezing. Almost shaking..My teeth are chattering.

It goes away when the period comes and returns again at that same time.

[Lady Tique]

Hi, brand new to board......... age 52, still getting my period.I am chilled all the time...glad to hear that cold flashes are common........... but now after a long time of a break in PMS stuff menstrual cramps and breast tenderness has returned. I think I had cramps for almost most of last month and now they re back again.
Chilled, cramps and sore breasts. I exercise, eat healthy and careful about salt. Do others have something to share about PMS that seems to contine for longer and longer periods of time (no punintended)

[boyzmom]

OH YEAH!!! I've had it for a month. Keep thinking I'm about to start & haven't. It sux!!!

[insane]

I get these cold feelings too. It's a fairly new problem for me. I suppose it's easier handled than the all of the other nasty symptons. Weeeee, what a ride..

[leanne0721]

It seems that all I have to do is crawl in my bed, and I'm either sweating profusely, or freezing my buns off!! Hot... cold... hot.... cold.... It use to happen a few days before my period, but now that I haven't had a period since December it happens every night. I agree insane, it's easier than some other symptoms we could be having!

[lilbuddy]

Hi Ladies,
Thank goodness for this board. Every month it's something different for me, so it seems I am in a different topic all the time. Ten days before my cycle, MIGRAINE! Like clock work! This month was a little different though. After taking Maxalt for my migraine, I went to bed only to wake up about 3 am with flu-like body aches and chills. I got up and put my my feet on the floor and my feet were achy too. Thought maybe I was getting the flu....but no temp. Took some Tylenol and I felt better. Went to work today, and got achy and chilled again....no temp. only light-headed, and fatigued. Anyone else experience anything like this?

[iampixie]

HELLO EVERYONE, THE ONLY THING NICE ABOUT WISCONSIN AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IS THE WEATHER. WHEN I GET A HOT FLASH I CAN GO OUT ON MY BACK PORCH AND COOL OFF A BIT. THE SWEAT KINDA FREEZES ON YOU BUT WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT. I REALLY THOUGHT THAT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE WOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN IT IS. MY HUSBAND IS A GEM BUT STILL CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL I AM GOING THROUGH. MY DOCTOR IS AN IDIOT (MALE) AND I AM CHANGING THAT. NOT THAT I CAN CHANGE THAT HE IS A MAN OR AN IDIOT BUT I CAN CHANGE THAT HE WON'T BE SEEING ME FLAT ON MY BACK WITH MY FEET IN STURRUPS. WELL GOTTA GO GOOD WISHES TO ALL YOU LADIES.

[Slim]

iampixie, where is Wisconsin are you from.? I'm in New richmond near the Minnesota boarder. I dont know which is worse hot flashes or getting these cold chills. This whole thing goes in streaks. I'm pretty good for a time and then it hits me again. It all makes me feel like I'm going to die any minute.
Diane

[dicannon]

I get cold flashes where I shiver and shake more than I get hot flashes. I have had two or three hot flashes. I get the cold flashes about once a week. I am only 43, to I'm not looking forward to when I'm in full blown meno.

[chefmarr]

go to bed fine...throw off covers ..too hot...sweat cools...pull covers back on...throw off covers...too hot...sweat cools...pull covers back on....still freezing...steal covers from partner...still freezing...snuggle partner...he finally responds and puts arms around...throw off covers AND partner...repeat.

This has been my nightly routine for about three months now. Tonite I'm giving him a break by sitting up all night at the computer. It's much easier with 2 blankets and a comforter on the back of the chair, honeyed lemonade at my side and only the cat bugging me!
I do need to get some sleep tho...