Hi

You are not alone, and thank goodness we have this sight to hep each other! I am new here too, and feel so glad to know I am not the odd one out...I have also heard of all these ladies with their hot flashes, and though I have had a few smokers myself, I often have cold chills where I am actually sweating but freezing at the same time. It usually comes with palpitations and anxiety too, and can last a few minutes to on and off for a few days. Take deep breaths, cover up, and try to relax, it does pass...and good luck! XOX

Dear "Girls gone Cold".
Tonight my body temp is 96. Even my eyes feel cold. I am wearing a hat, scarf, layers, and a blanket, and it still feels as if ice water is pouring through my veins. I am 48 and having irregular periods. The lovely array of symptoms these past months have ranged from heat flashes, to hellish dry eyes, digestive issues, internal shakes, unusual pinkish spotting, and now this cold to the bone cold. I have had test, all kinds of test. Nothing. Now I am chalking it all up to peri. I have seen my gyno, but she really has not offered any helpful info. I do not want hormonal replacement drugs, but I would like some relief. How do we girls go to work feeling like this? Some days are harder than others. Any helpful information would be appreciated.
Thanks, Gina

I had one of these cold flashes just the other night. I was sitting on the sofa watching TV and all of a sudden I was freezing, and fully dressed -- shoes and everything! I know it is winter, but this is Houston. It doesn't get that cold, plus the temp in the house was 70. I wrapped a blanket all the way up to my neck and then promptly fell asleep, and it was only 8:30. Crazy.

Off to watch Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel. Nighty-night ladies!

Not sure if anyone is following this strand anymore, but I had my first COLD FLASH when I was a teen: my first symptom of PMS. When I really noticed it was after the birth of my first child (after a C-Section) and after my third and final child (when I was in my mid-30's) when I had unrelenting post-partum chills and sweats. The doctor kept telling me I probably had an infection of sorts. Now I'm in my mid-40's, and chills followed by sweats seems to be one of my main peri and PMS symptoms. But now I'm getting them mid-cycle--when my body is trying to ovulate. I know there could be worse symptoms, and I'm trying to accept it as a good sign that my body might need a little more rest--better nutrition--less exercise. Anyway, I have never heard of anyone else having hormonal cold flashes until I found this board. All my life I was hot natured--a friend told me that maybe in peri/meno that our pituitary gland sends signals oppostie to what we've been receiving most of our lives. Who knows--but it is somewhat comforting to know that I'm not alone.

Not sure if anyone is following this strand anymore, but I had my first COLD FLASH when I was a teen: my first symptom of PMS. When I really noticed it was after the birth of my first child (after a C-Section) and after my third and final child (when I was in my mid-30's) when I had unrelenting post-partum chills and sweats. The doctor kept telling me I probably had an infection of sorts. Now I'm in my mid-40's, and chills followed by sweats seems to be one of my main peri and PMS symptoms. But now I'm getting them mid-cycle--when my body is trying to ovulate. I know there could be worse symptoms, and I'm trying to accept it as a good sign that my body might need a little more rest--better nutrition--less exercise. Anyway, I have never heard of anyone else having hormonal cold flashes until I found this board. All my life I was hot natured--a friend told me that maybe in peri/meno that our pituitary gland sends signals oppostie to what we've been receiving most of our lives. Who knows--but it is somewhat comforting to know that I'm not alone.

Cold flashes were the reason I first came on this board. I had NEVER heard of this happening. Of course I had heard of hot flashes. I haven't had more than 1 or 2 of those though. I started with night sweats when I was 40 but then they stopped and I started getting cold flashes a day or two before my period started. It was like that horrible feeling you get when you have a very high fever - except no heat at all! I would dive under covers and almost cry at the thought of getting out. They have subsided a little since the Dr. put me on lamictal which is an anti-epileptic med. Apparenty the AEDs can sometimes help cold and hot flashes which I didn't know. Anyway, as always, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one suffering through these things.

This really seems to be what I'm getting. At first I thought I had caught a cold virus, then over the last few days I figured that there is a pattern to them. They seem to cluster themselves together at various times of day (mornings seem to be favourite at the moment) - and guess what? They are far worse when I foxus on them!!!

Derrr.....

I also get hot flashes as well, but the description of the cold going up and down your legs and then into the rest of your body is exactly right. Also, the other downside of them is that if you try to get yourself too warm, then the hot flashes start instead!!

I'm also getting that "fizzing", almost electric shock feeling in my body. But I seem to have no lack of energy - I'm usually fairly wired and anxious anyway, which is probably no help at all.

I did try HRT for about 12 months (I'm 47 now) but I seemed to be getting insanely depressed and was of the opinion that the HRT was making it worse. I haven't had much in the way of periods for a couple of months, and my last one was so scant it was virtually invisible. I wonder whether this will be the last I see of them.

I really don't want to get into taking HRT again because of the breast cancer risk and also what it seems to do to my mind, so if anyone has any decent suggestions about how to help the cold flashes, I would be most grateful!

This really seems to be what I'm getting. At first I thought I had caught a cold virus, then over the last few days I figured that there is a pattern to them. They seem to cluster themselves together at various times of day (mornings seem to be favourite at the moment) - and guess what? They are far worse when I foxus on them!!!

Derrr.....

I also get hot flashes as well, but the description of the cold going up and down your legs and then into the rest of your body is exactly right. Also, the other downside of them is that if you try to get yourself too warm, then the hot flashes start instead!!

I'm also getting that "fizzing", almost electric shock feeling in my body. But I seem to have no lack of energy - I'm usually fairly wired and anxious anyway, which is probably no help at all.

I did try HRT for about 12 months (I'm 47 now) but I seemed to be getting insanely depressed and was of the opinion that the HRT was making it worse. I haven't had much in the way of periods for a couple of months, and my last one was so scant it was virtually invisible. I wonder whether this will be the last I see of them.

I really don't want to get into taking HRT again because of the breast cancer risk and also what it seems to do to my mind, so if anyone has any decent suggestions about how to help the cold flashes, I would be most grateful!

I'm so glad to find that I'm not the only one who gets cold! It's not all the time, but I seem to have periods where I'm "cold to the core," as someone put it. Even layering blankets doesn't help because my body isn't producing any heat. And, separate from that, I'll periods where my hands and feet are like ice. Sometimes muscle cramps go along with that. I'm relieved to find that I'm not so weird, but a little discouraged that nobody knows what to do about it. I was hoping thyroid medications would take care of it.

Have you had any luck with thyroid meds?

I have a feeling that it's going to be that you have to deal with it in the same way as the rest of the symptoms - in other words, other than HRT there doesn't seem to be much relief.

As HRT didn't seem to suit me, unfortunately I think I have some uncomfortable times ahead of me until my body adapts.

Hi everyone! I have been having the chills and they are awful. I wish I could just have the hot flashes again. Im not even really sure they are from menopause but I am 53 so it sure could be. I had an early menopause and went thru all the hot flashes in my forties. Then it seemed to stop. But last september I started getting them but when I would get them they would last all night long. For 8-10 hours. After tons of tests the conclusion was I had gallstones and probably my body was reacting to it as an infection. Had the gallbladder removed in April. I didnt get chills for 3 months after. I assumed that was the problem and it was over. But 2 weeks ago they started again! Now when I get them they are lasting about 2-3 days. I feel like I have an infection when I get it. I just want to snuggle up with a blanket. Even if I put on extra clothes it doesnt help. The chills are from the inside out---does that make sense to you? I am seeing my doc to try to figure it out. She is leaning toward it being an esophagus thing. She said people who have gallstones generally have GERD (which I do have) and gastritis and they are all linked together. So she has me taking an extra nexium a day and a pepcid at night. SO far it hasnt done anything. I have had them all day since saturday.

Im desperately trying to figure this all out. If its menopausal I will deal with it but Id like to be sure. Most people with chills from menopause come and go like a half hour or so. Mine are constant. Its almost like I feel like its an infection. Or it feels like if I had a bad sunburn the day before and how you get so chilled the next day but again not on the outside just the inside. Which is why the whole infection thing makes sense. I havent had any blood work done yet but last year when I did they couldnt find anything wrong. I saw several docs about it and all were convinced it was menopause except my doc. She believed it to be the gallbladder. And when they stopped after ward I believed she was right. Now they are back and I am as puzzled as ever. I am so cold I just want to cry.

Thanks for listening!

Mimi

Help for Chills/Cold Flashes

When I first began perimenopause, at age 35 or so, I used to get terrible chills at midcycle and premenstrually. These are vasomotor events that happen in your skin, not in your head. During the worst one, my honey once took me to the ER because my left leg felt like something cold and dead in bed with her! The doc called it Reynaud's Syndrme, which is vasospasm brought on by (1) cold weather, and (2) stress. For me, it's also brought on by sudden changes in hormones, like when my LH peaks & drops at midcycle.

Things that helped me :

• First, I decided that I was a resilient but delicate flower, like an orchid that requires exquisite care. This attitude shift really helped! Instead of suffering and wearing layers of ugly sweatclothes, I engaged in acts of feminine self-care that were no more outrageous than giving myself a facial or painting my nails.
• For me, the chill always started, and was most intense, in my legs and feet. When I felt a chill come on, I would immediately run a warm footbath. With nice smelling bathsalts, me being a delicate flower and all...
• When my core felt cold, I would take a hot shower or soak in a hot bath. I put my bottle of body lotion in the tub with me, so it was warm on my skin after a bath -- this warm lotion would sometimes stop the cold flash all by itself. After my bath, I wore a warm robe, polyester velvet lounging pyjamas (warm, cheap, attractive) and polarfleece hosueslippers until I returned to a normal skin temp.
• What to do when not at home? I kept one of those hot packs that you can warm in the microwave (the kind one might use for menstrual cramps) in my drawer at work. I could heat it up and discreetly put it under my feet or knees, behind my neck, or even sit on it, during an attack of chills at work. I had one or two at home also, nice for warming myself in bed when my bedpartner wasn't feeling chilly.
• When outside in winter doing anything less vigorous than cross-country skiing, I still take a heat source. ThermaCare heat wraps (open them,put them against your skin and they radiate a gentle heat for up to 12 hours) are my best friend. There are little handwarmers made of the same stuff that you can buy in camping stores and gas stations; they are small enough to keep in your briefcase or purse. I kept them in the glovebox of my car and in my purse for years-- I would often get painful chills while sitting to drive or while sitting on the train in winter.

Now that I'm 45 (and STILL in peri), I get chills less often, and more often get heat. But I'm keeping the attitude -- that acts of feminine self-care are a high priority for me . It's what gets me through when I'm crabby, sweaty, bloated, pissed off and can't remember why!

-LaMiss

Hi GC: I remember the feeling of being preternaturally cold when I got my very first period at 11. Now, I do get cold flashes -- feeling chilled through and through, like there is no way to possibly get warm. I don't get them that often but I never found any other reference to them except for the chill some folks get after a night sweat, but that wasn't it. I haven't had any cold flashes in conjunction with hot flashes however.

You mentioned low body temperature. I just happened to be reading yesterday, and learned that consistent low body temperature, taken first thing upon awakening for a period of weeks, may actually indicate low thyroid function. You might want to try the daily temperature taking and if it's consistent, check with a doc for TSH, T3 and T4 values to be sure your thyroid is functioning ok. I understand also that your values can be "low normal" but may be low for YOU individually, even if they aren't outside of the range of reference values for the population at large. Just a thought.

LaMiss -- love your attitude and your ideas! Sounds like just the right way to reframe the situation and honor yourself at the same time. Kudos to you and thanks for sharing those great ideas!
Best,
Cat

Hi Chilly Girl -
I get cold and shivering all through the night. I always assumed it was the after affects of a hot flash - just like when you have a fever and then you get the chills. The chill is waht wakes me - very annoying. The hot flash I can dela with, but the chill stinks!
Daisy