Hi Everyone, I'm new here and I wanted to share my horrible experience with Hot Flashes/Anxiety. This started 2 years ago when I stopped smoking, I just couldn't figure out why I was profusely sweating like I just got out of the shower. Before a flash came on I felt this horrible doom/anxiety attack, it came to be so hard I felt like crying. I jumped up and went to the frig for popcycles and ice packs. I lived on popcycles and ice packs for 2 solid years I was eating so many popcycles to cool off, and was making me sick from the vitamin c in them. There just was no relief, as soon as I cooled off another one could happen at any time. Make up was impossible to keep on, I could feel it sliding off my face. I thought with the high heet here in arizona I would end up dehydrating from sweating so much. So I drank tons of water. I was just beside my self then on top of all of this my mother died. I'm like this is it called the doctor got a script for xanax and in that time my hotflashes were going away, he only gave 15 to calm me down since I had to fly back to Illinois when my mom died When I stoped the xanax back came the hotflashes.That told me it was all anxiety related, and I thought what have done in that time frame of getting these god awful sweats thinking it was all Menopausal related. Auha! Smoking! I thought 2 years of quitting, it has to be out of my system by now, why am I still sweating. Then I did some reading and they say people who have smoked it can change the chemical in your brain permanetly. So I started smoking again, I don't want to live like that so it just wasn't worth quitting. I thought I was gonna loose it. I feel normal again, I am actually cold right now, I haven't felt that in long time. All I ever felt like was a thermometer going hot to hotter. Every once in a while it trys to come on and it goes away doesn't even get to the point of very an anxiety it stops. Thanks for listening and I hope this helps someone with there situation.
Dear 'mel t'
Hello and welcome to the greatest Forum in the World.
Anxiety plus fluctuating Hormones do cause the high levels of sweating and flushing.
I do not know your age or if you have had a full Gyno. and or medical check-up.
I was a smoker but finally quit after I could no longer tolerate the smell on my hair,clothes and furniture.Just threw the packet away suffered withdrawals for almost three months but stuck it out.The result was a better level of energy plus I could smell perfume and plants,which I love, much more intensely so would never go back.The other bonus was some extra money saved as the price of cigarettes here is very high.
Have never heard that cigarettes change chemicals in the brain but eventually over time can spoil your health.So may be one day when the time is right you will quit permanently.
Please accept my condolences on the death of your dear Mother.One of the hardest things in life is losing a parent or a child.
Anyway hope to see you often.
This is a great place to exchange and share views and advice
I swear I have learnt more from this great set of ladies than any Doctor I have ever seen!
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Melanie