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.

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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:

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

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

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)

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

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..

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!

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?

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.

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

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.

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...

Chefmarr:
After reading your post, it looks like I have already posted. I couldn't have said it better. I go through EXACTLY the same thing. Nice to meet you.

This is totally new to me. For what seems like forever I have had my temperature in the house turned down to between 62 and 68 depending on how hot I was that day or night. The good part is my heating bill is wonderfully low (a good thing meno has done for me).
Today I am freezing. I thought the heat was not working at first because in the mornings my house is unsually at 62 or so and it doesn't bother me but after about an hour of being up I will turn the heat up a little. This morning i turned it up right away and i'm still freezing cold. My hands are like ice cubes. I have the heat up to 70 and I should be sweating but I'm really cold. This is a new one for me. It might be that today I am just being normal but normal to me now is knowing that it's cold in the house but I can't feel it.

Hi all--am new to the board here. I am Mimi. I have had perimenapause since my late thirties I guess. I had a retained placenta after my daughter was born in 85 and stopped having periods. Not sure why might be fron the D&C's ....but I started to go into a menopausal state where all my hormones became low. I had the flashes thing for many years. I am 52 now. I havent had hot flashes for the last couple years. Maybe here and there. When I do things I get sweaty usually my head. Vacuming is a riot. My head is soaked when I am done. I have no clue if I am over menopause or not.

But just this past month I started having cold chills. I cant put my finger on it. I started getting cold and having to pee like every 5 min. This happened several times in a month. Doc cultured my urine and there was a small bacterial infection so she treated me for a UTI. Once on the antibiotics the urge to pee every 5 min went away but I am now getting cold most nights. I'll be fine all day maybe and then at night I start to get chilled. I never have goosebumps nor a temp. I just get cold almost from the inside out, if that makes sense. I feel like my insides are shaking. Almost like if you have an infection. Doc has tried me on three different antibiotics and did blood tests that were all normal. The urine culture tested normal this past week. So I am not sure if I am dealing with an infection that cant be located yet or if it is a menopause symptom.

I hate this feeling of being so cold. I cant warm up. I get under the covers and still am cold. I tried an electric blanket but it just makes me clammy. ANd I noticed my feet or hands arent cold. Just my torso mostly and my arms and legs. HELPPPPPPPPPPP!!! I am going crazy! Have another doc appt monday.

Anyone else have this?

The cold is so exhausting. I'm 54. Just hit one year without a period (knock wood), but have had every symptom under the sun, plus some that are rarely heard of. So first my ears start ringing, then I start having these really weird cold episodes. They're not like 'flashes', as I get cold all over and often have to crawl into bed in the middle of the day in the summer and turn on the electric blanket. Then, after a few hours of this, I get hot. Like a really slow hot flash, but the skin on my face and lips burns like a sunburn. Often I'll wake at night to find my nose is as cold as an icecube, but the rest of my skin feels okay to touch. On the inside, however, I'm shivering and freezing (does that makes sense?) I keep taking my temperature, but it's always normal. This just doesn't make sense. I'm so glad there are others who understand. I've had full blood workup, thyroid test, cholesterol etc. The only thing a little off is my iron - too much. So am having a test for hemochromatosis. Still, this wouldn't cause the ringing ears or the cold/burning sensations. I'd just like to wake up one day and feel 'good' again.

Just a note to say that yes, there are other's out there that are dealing with the cold from the inside out feeling. I too have had test done for my strange body lately. Nothing so far. The cold body is back. I had some relief from it for a few weeks and now I am suffering again. I do not get goose bumps, and I rarely shiver and it does not follow a heat flash. It is just days and days of cold. My body temp tonight is 76.1 and it feels as if ice water is running through my veins. I am 48 and sure that I am peri. My periods are just starting to become irregular and different. Might call my family doc again, just to check in about my low temp. More blankets and hats and anything else that might help.
If anyone has a suggestion on how to survive the chilly-ies, please write.
Thanks, Gina

I have replied about this in another post just now..my solution was an electric blanket.

I too went through a period of Freezing cold. I have 4 "Bed Buddies", the type that you get at Walgreens or wherever. Filled bean bag type of things you warm in the microwave and put on your back, legs, feet, neck...wherever it helps you (normally, pulse points!) I can't get enough of them...now my Dear Daughter got me a microwave for the upstairs Den, where I can heat them during the night without going downstairs to the kitchen! I LOVE em!

~Cheryl

Hi Everyone -

I am currently 44 years of age and I am still having normal periods every 28 days. The other night, I woke up and had to use the restroom; however, I was so chilled, my teeth were chattering and I didn't want to get out of bed. This lasted about 5 minutes total. Has anyone experienced this and is this normal?