I should be post menoopausal by now, but I'm not. I just had a period when I turned 53 a couple of months ago. Anyway, the hot flashes stopped COMPLETELY for the last two weeks, then today I had a typical hot flash. I had mostly night sweats, then noticed that for the last two weeks I had not thrown my covers off once during the night.

I can't believe I had any estrogen surge at my age (and having been in peri for 10 years already, you'd think I'd be totally out of estrogen) and have no indication of another period coming, so why would the hot flashes stop for two whole weeks, then return? I know, fluctuating hormones and all of that, but for this past year the hot flashes were very consistent (many every night, expecially). I never had them go away for a day, let alone two weeks, only to return.

So my question is: Has this happened to any of you?

Thanks.

I used soy to keep hotflashes away for about 5 years. Then it stopped working and they came back. My hotflashes never went away on their own once they started.

Perhaps you are still making enough estrogen to keep the flashes away. Even though our ovaries stop making estrogen our body fat and one of the glands (adrenal?) still continue to make a bit.

You must be still making progesterone if you had a period a couple of months ago--plus your ovaries must still be working.

Why do you think you should be postmenopasal if you are still having periods? You're not postmenopausal until you haven't had a period for a year. Everyone takes different amounts of time to work through this.

I was 49 when I had my last period. You must be getting close to the end now.

BTW, I've read on the hystersisters site that lack of estrogen and lack of progesterone can both cause hotflashes.

Miss Tibbs

I used soy to keep hotflashes away for about 5 years. Then it stopped working and they came back. My hotflashes never went away on their own once they started.

Perhaps you are still making enough estrogen to keep the flashes away. Even though our ovaries stop making estrogen our body fat and one of the glands (adrenal?) still continue to make a bit.

You must be still making progesterone if you had a period a couple of months ago--plus your ovaries must still be working.

Why do you think you should be postmenopasal if you are still having periods? You're not postmenopausal until you haven't had a period for a year. Everyone takes different amounts of time to work through this.

I was 49 when I had my last period. You must be getting close to the end now.

BTW, I've read on the hystersisters site that lack of estrogen and lack of progesterone can both cause hotflashes.

Miss Tibbs

Me too, I would like to know if this is common or not. I have not had a hot flash in 5 days, I am not taking soy unless it's in the foods I'm now eating since starting the South Beach diet ( lots of fiber, no sugar, no carbs, plenty of omega 3, flax). I was having the worst of the worst flashes, then nothing.

I was going to start a topic with this exact title, but then found one existed already. I used to have hot flashes a year ago---very, very bad ones. I had one memorable episode where I was out to dinner with hubby and another couple and I had the mother-of-all-flashes. My face, neck and arms got beet red, and the sweat was dripping off me. I felt faint and had to leave the restaurant.

Then...the flashes went away for over 6 months. The other symptoms didn't; as a matter of fact, they got worse...but the flashes stopped completely.

Now, in the past week, they are BACK with a vengeance. Last night I had a total of 20 episodes...my poor husband finally gave up and slept on the couch. I'll be so hot I cannot stand it...tear off my clothes, open windows (below freezing here), turn on the fan (I won't let my husband move it to the basement), rip off my socks. Five minutes latter my teeth are chattering and I'm freezing cold. About 20 mins later, the whole cycle starts all over again. Hubby looked at me with a newfound respect this morning and commented "I don't know HOW you women suffer like this---I'd be out of my mind!" He finally gets it...he can see me drenched in sweat, and then freezing all within the span of five minutes.

I haven't changed anything--supplements, diet, nothing...ideas?


Anyone have any theories about why this happens? Not the flashes themselves, but their re-emergence.

I am another one that had a stop of the flashes. Mine stopped for several weeks, I actually thought...maybe that is the end of them!! But alas, a few days ago, they have returned...oh, joy.

I do have a theory, and I think we do have fluctuating hormones, whether we are post or peri, doesn't matter. I am 9 months without a period, my FSH numbers show I am post. But Miss Tibbs is right on the money, we still have estrogen in our bodies. It is stored in fat and our adrenals will produce some as well. I also feel.....well, like I have PMS sometimes....but that isn't what it is....but I believe it does have to do with fluctuating hormones. I think our stress levels play a part in it as well.

I think this is totally common!! Happens to most women and not something to be concerned about particularly....other than it is uncomfortable and inconvenient!!!

Happy flashing, ladies!!

happy flashing? lol.. what's to be happy about? the only time the flashes stop for me is if i am about to have a period! hasn't happened for 9 months now, but in the past couple of years, i have stopped and started a couple of times.. i'm only a couple of months off being 55, still waiting to be officially post! my husband has learned to put the ceiling fan on before he thinks to be at all amorous in the bedroom! lol.. the flashes have been the worst ever lately..

I had night sweats bad about 2 years ago, but still had periods...I thought it was because of a somewhat stressful job I had, but alas even after I left the job they came and went periodically. Earlier this year I had some over a month or so, then they stopped after seeing my chiropractor/kinesiologist, who also does acupressure, then they returned late summer, again I went back to my k guy, but they returned sooner after about 2 months...now they are back to every night and sometimes in the daytime...I was reluctant to go back to my 'k' guy, but I guess I will have to if he can get rid of them again...even if whatever he does it only lasts a couple of months, I'll pay for that! (he charges about $70 a visit)...

I'm now about to start drinking soy milk - even though I hate the taste, just to see if it has any effect!

Why is it that everyone I know my age (48 almost) doesn't ever mention hot flashes or any other problem??....It makes me feel like a real moaner!

Caz

Hi Caz

Maybe other women your age don't mention hot flashes because they don't have them. At 48 I was still having regular periods and had no peri symptoms at all. Everything started four months before my 50th birthday for me!!

Interactive...

what a bummer for your 50th birthday.....yeh, you're probably right, I am a bit younger than my sisters and Mum when they apparently went through it.

p.s. isn't it like 2am there?

LOL Caz yes it is late here but it's not insomnia - I'm just on a late sleep routine.

caz-art!! I am presently 47 years old, and stopped having periods at 46 years old! I started have hot flashes at 44. I started having peri symptoms at 37 - although I did not recognise them at the time. You are certainly not too young, just a little younger than "average"...but all an average is, is the median age...so you can be younger and you can be older than the average!

Even my doctor said I was too young and called my menopause "premature" but really I am 5 years under the average.

During the 44 & 45 years I only had the hot flashes sporatically...but by my 46th birthday I was getting them daily and nightly!! I had a slight reprieve here for a few weeks and now they are back!!