I have a new symptom, for me.... and I am scared. Since last July I have been living in a peri nightmare. It would be easier for me to tell you what symptoms I was NOT having then name those I was experiencing. Then.... about 5 weeks ago, we got on a plane for vacation, and I had one hot flash....and then NOTHING for the two weeks we were on our holiday. I felt GREAT....I didn't know what to make of it....but I was taking it and loving it. The last day of vacation, I got a mini period....my first since LAST July. No wonder I felt so good....that little drop of estrogen.....

Well, here it is a month later....and most of my symptoms are back...I have begun to notice that I am now getting cold flashes, after the hot flashes...and sometimes afterward I feel shakey and weak. This happened to me tonight, and it has freaked me out.

I had a good day- I actually felt good all day. We went out for a bite to eat. I had NO alcohol, (I did have a cup of coffee), I had grilled fish, a vegetable, salad, and a small amout of potato. Afterward we ran an errand, and I noticed a hot flash coming on. Then another....and then I noticed I felt spacey-- we got in the car to come home...I was trying NOT to say anything to my husband because I am always complaining about how crappy I feel, and I had told him I had a good day, and I wanted to leave it at that-- he never complains about me, is always supportive, and he does not deserve to be living with me right now...

By the time we got home, I was shakey and impatient to get in the house....I needed to lay down. This just freaked me out. I drank a glass of orange juice in case my blood sugar was low....and then I got the cold flash...I just could not get warm. Piled on the blankets....and a half hour later....Hot flash, after hot flash, with a couple of cold one thrown in for good measure.

I am sitting here now, crying my eyes out....wondering what the heck is going on...

Does anyone else ever feel remotely like this?

Any words of wisdom will be most appreciated.

Thanks to you all,
Jonesy

Hi jonesy yes i felt like that a few times quite frightening. I get hot sweaty, spacey then my legs get weak and i can;t even walk i drink something cold and relax for awhile in bed, then the chills come on and i have to pee every few minutes. It is scary felt like i was gonna pass out.Also got this way in mexican resturant i suppose the salsa and chips brought on hotflash. my eyes felt weird and blurry my face turn blotchy. felt this weird sensation on me evey few minutes like ii was sinking then at home felt weak and got chills. So it has to be hotflashs causing this.Your not alone Hope you feel better. Terry

It sounds to me like you were having some hormonal issues, the hot and cold flashes certainly....unfortunately that can cause anxiety, which can bring on the dizzies!! Just today I was having the awful cold flashes, and those are from anxiety. The hot flashes I haven't had for sometime.

I don't think it is unusual at all, and not something to be overly concerned about....as creepy feeling as it was!

Jonesy,

The first time I experienced what you describe, I wondered how in the world I could be so hot and so cold at the same time!!

It happened at night. I would awaken in a drenching night sweat, following by an arctic chill. I would shake until my teeth chattered. And the anxiety that followed was as bad as any anxiety attack I have had.

I forced myself to get up, put on a dry anything, and then get back into bed if I could. If I couldn't, I would make some chamomile tea, and try to remember that my hormones were on the fritz, not the real me. I have not had such a sequence in a fwe weeks now. These days it is insomnia that plagues me. I simply cannot sleep more than 4 1/2 hours at a time.

Please try not to worry. Our bodies will eventually stop attacking us from within. Until then, at least we have each other.
I know I feel so lucky to know you.

Love and hugs,
Marcy

hi jonesy,

so sorry that you're having that kind of guff. it is truly awful & especially scary the 1st time it happens. i get so many variations on that theme, but what you describe sounds familiar to me. i don't have advice about the best way to handle them. i try to just get somewhere that i can be alone & lie down & then blankets on or off, liquids, a little food - all dependent on what seems to be the worst of the symptoms. & then hang on & wait for it to subside.

i hate it, too, when you are having a good run & then get suddenly whomped like that. this was confusing to me to no end before i found power surge. at the end of summer, dh & were having a great outing & then i had my worst hot flash yet - it was so severe & it came with the head symptoms & anxiety & shakiness. it was a hot day & we were driving home (no air) & i was trying to douse myself with the water from my bottle while dh looked seriously alarmed. i ran into the house & practically passed out as the cold waves hit.

also get the hot & cold at the same time (head on fire, body in the fridge). so you are not alone. i just hope that this kind is just passing through for you.

take care.
xo, hugs,
ellen

Jonesy, I get these weird feeling, too. My face will flush, legs feel weak, feel spacey, and like I might faint. Last summer/fall I had this a lot, and this winter (I live where it's pretty cold) they've subsided. A couple of days ago it was hot and I really felt a change in my energy. Weather seems to affect me a lot. Maybe the meal you ate was heavier than normal, or there was something spicy in it that you weren't used to eating? I've gone through phases where just eating soup or even a regular meal affects me at times (feel hot flushes over my face). It could even be the caffeine in the coffee was more than you're used to. I feel as if my entire body is just so sensitive to evertyhing--change in weather, emotions, food. I went through a phase where I was cold all the time and even drinking a cold glass of water would send me into bed under about 7 covers, shivering uncontrollably. I feel as if I'm just blowing in the wind, being battered by all this stuff at times.

These feelings come and go, but they're incredibly stressful. I start worrying if I'll feel that way again. I even started keeping a diary of my weird feelings. My new doctor suggested drinking 6 glasses of water a day, and it seems to help. I've posted this before, but I've read that when women his menopause they can lose their sense of thirst and I definitely used to drink more liquids before. I think once I started having the chiills I stopped drinking as much since my body reacted so much to cold drinks, and I'm not a big fan of warm drinks, other than coffee.

These weird feelings will pass. In the meantime, try not to worry.

Frisbee

I've had the cold flash follow the hot flash,also. My poor husband -- dealing with me flinging the covers off then a few minutes later grabbing them all back because I'm shivering.

Black cohash has really helped my hot/cold flashes. I occassionally still get them, but not to the degree I did before.

Hang in there. It will be OK!

Dear Lizardlover, Floater, Malkachava, Epdp2, Frisbee, and Midwestpiglet,

I am sitting here at my desk at work, and just logged on to my home email to find all of your kind and wonderful responses. I have read and listened with my heart to each of your thoughts, suggestions and stories and feel an enormous sense of comfort from each of you. Knowing that I am not alone in this and that others feel this craziness is a huge relief and help.

I don't know what I would do without you all-- you are my sanity in a time when I try to hide from my grown daughers and husband just how rocky this road is..... I am so blessed for each of you.

Thank you with a full heart,
Jonesy

JONESY HUGS

Jonesy

I've had a hot flash with the light headed feeling like I'm going to faint thing too. Then I got a cold chill that made my teeth shatter. Then it's all over.

Crazy hormones!

Lisa

Hi Jonesy,
Sorry i am alittle late with this post, i just found it. First a big hug for you ((((((((((((((((((((Jonesy))))))))))))))). I am sorry you are feeling terrible again. But i just wanted to reassure you that when i get hot flashes i get a second or two that i feel very very lightheaded and then i get freezing cold, shakes, weak, i literally feel like i am going to die. It use to scare me to death, now i just ride it out and say it will pass. I use to get so scared that i made it so much worse. Hang in there hopefully this ride will be over soon. Feel better.
Thinking of you,
Jo Ann

Thought I'd share another hot/cold flash story.

I'm at work this morning, and experienced an "aura", like something was going to happen. I immediately shut down all my computer programs, thinking I'm going to pass out and I might as well shut everything down.

Then I get the heat rush up my belly to my face and my heart RACES. I can literally feel it pound through my shirt. Dizzy, feel like throwing up. I've been having this weird tingling symptoms in my face/neck/hands the past month and see a neurosurgeon tomorrow for it. Do I run to the Emergency Room -- what if I'm really having a heart attack?? I have the disk with my brain MRI scan on it. Do I dig into my bag and hold it in my hand, in case I pass out and they can look at the scan? Wahhh -- what do I do? So, I'm not sure what do do after shutting down my computer programs, so I just lean over and take deep breaths. Can't hurt -- right?

So then my boss, who is visiting from out of state and another co-worker walk in to my office. "Umm, just feeling a little dizzy," I say as I'm doubled over in my chair. My boss, who's a man, says he gets dizzy a lot (he's got a number of health problems). They both ask me if I need anything and I respond no, thanks.

After my heart calms down (Thanks God -- that was the Mother of all heart-pounding) I get the chills, which clues me in that I'm having a massive hot flash. They come in to check on me a number of times. I tell them I'll go see a doctor if it happens again.

I don't post this to scare anyone -- just to let you know that other people experience horribly scary symptoms too. It helps me a LOT when I read that other people are going throught the same thing. I try to keep my sense of humor in-tact, which is REALLY hard sometimes. What a crazy hormone ride we're on!!

Hi,
I just found this site and love it! I too, started into the peri-menopause nightmare last April. It has been the year from hell. I can't even begin to tell you about all the weird symptoms I have experienced. The worst are the hot and cold flashes. They appear at any given time, but seem to plague me most in the evening, usually around 8p.m. When I first get into bed I'm cold with blankets piled on, then I'm awake in an hour or so sweating. Yesterday before a "sweat attack" hit I felt dizzy like I was going to pass out. I have had that happen on quite a few occasions, including while I am trying to drive! I tried the Estroven p.m. for the night sweats without much success. My newest symptom by the way, is shedding hair. Now I will be bald and sweating, Nice! Just in time for my 44th b-day Good Luck and don't take yourself too seriously for this too shall pass (I hope!)

Hugs to all who need them ----Tam

Once again, I am so thankful for this web site! It is so reassuring to read that others are having the same symtoms I'm having. I have also had the heart pounding through your clothes feeling, hot flashes, adrenaline rushes, and shakes. It often happens in the middle of the night when it can terrify you the most. Hubby is sleeping peacefully, I'm thinking, "this is it, the big one! I'll probably be dead when he wakes up"(I'd have to do some heavy duty thrashing around to wake him) I do some deep breathing and praying and choose not to let the fear win!
Then, in the morning, I log in here and read about my sisters.
love you all,
Blondie