I just discovered this site and am learning how to navigate it. For the last three days I have been freezing my buns off. I am 47, soon to be 48. Am on low dose birth control pills. Period due tomorrow. Was lying in bed with major indigestion, pounding in ears, tightness in chest covered up with many extra blankets while my partner complained that he was boiling, so I how have the extra comforter folded and just on top of me. Got up to search the net because I took my temperature yesterday and it was 97.5. Thought that was wierd and maybe I am getting a cold. Allergies also bothering me (sneezing). Since I couldn't sleep I got up and was going to read but then decided to do web search and came upon this wonderful site. This is the first time I have ever heard about cold flashes and I am sure I have not read all the relevant comments from the others yet though I will get to them.

I realize from some postings that some people have been getting chills just before their period. Suddenly I don't feel crazy and alone. I have never had a hot flash though I have had a few palpitations. I just thought maybe I was getting a cold but I have been freezing for three days now though the thermostat says my place is at 72.

I wonder why we never hear about cold flashes in the media. My friend who is 44 has been having hot flashes for about five years so I am used to hearing what she goes through. I have often been freezing when she is hot, and I just assumed it was her having a hot flash and me being fine. Now I think that sometimes when I was visiting her and she was having a hot flash, I was having a cold flash.

Guess I am in for a long journey of discovery. So grateful to have discovered this forum.

Hi Chillygirl and welcome. This is a great place to be.

Yes, I had cold flashes too - along with hot flashes and sometimes everything in between. I don't remember exactly when I got cold flashes, but I remember they usually came after hot flashes and alot of emotional turmoil. I just learned to trust my body and go with the flow (no pun intended!) as best I could. It's different for everyone.

Hope you have a nice day.
Take good care,

nj

I hardly EVER get cold anymore - at least not like I used to. I remember always being very sensitive to the cold (why I left England too)!!!!!!!
It was always that I froze hubby to death at night with my freezing cold feet and buns!! Nowadays I get a little chilly if I get out of bed to go to the bathroom, but after 2 minutes under the covers I'm sweating again - now I keep hubby warm at night. Rita

I might get something similar. It's really so hard to say.

I'm 36 and had my first "night flash" at around age 29!

My "flashes" are very odd. It's like I'm cold, but my skin is sweating. I feel clammy all over. I don't get the sensation of HEAT like others are describing. It's more like a COLD sweat for me. It's really baffling. I mean, why am I sweating if I'm cold??? I try to get under the covers to warm up, but it makes me sweat more. So it's either sweat more under the covers, or freeze more with the covers off. I also feel very shaky and anxious when it's happening, and feel like I need to use the bathroom but I get nervous that I'm too weak to make it there (which I never am, it's just a feeling of weakness--not actual weakness).

Also, this feeling doesn't just come and go quickly for me. Once it starts, I can have it ALL night long, waxing and waning until I get up, exhausted in the morning. Usually after I'm up for an hour or two, it subsides, and I'm left feeling shaky/anxious for hours after--and wondering if it will happen again "tonight."

I've even taken my temperature during an episode thinking maybe I had a fever. It's always normal, or even on the low side.

I'm still trying to figure out if these are "hot/cold flashes" or "anxiety attacks." They tend to happen at certain times of my cycle (hormonal), and when I'm stressed (psychological).

But to make a long story short (too late, I know!), I, too, feel cold (but sweaty).

Karen.

Karen;

Sometimes the Cold Sweats can be signs of low blood sugar. If you were Diabetic and did not know it, lots of them out there, you could be experiencing Hypoglycemia. It's always good to go for a full blood work series if you have a strange symptom for a longer period of time.
Hope you get warm !

Linderful

Hi all, Chillygirl here. Am thrilled to see that you listened and responded. After my three days of being cold, I finally seemed to start warming up this morning about 6 am. And now I am fine. The house is down to 69 and I am not running to take a hot bath. That was an interesting comment about the possible relationship to low blood sugar. I recently had full blood tests and didn't hear back from the doctor so assume I am fine.
...I have not had the cold sweats that were mentioned, just a feeling of being "cold to the core".
...Thanks again for your comments. I am looking forward to checking back to hear of others' experiences and track when I get my next cold spell.

I have been having the feeling of being "Chilled to the bone" for several years noe ( I'm 46). I'm very sensitive to heat and cold and can safely say my body temp. has gone totally mad. I get cold patches too ... cold arm or leg. I think a lot of people experience this, but you never see it on any lists. My Mum has just bought me a huge fleece dressing gown to keep the cold out while watching TV, but guess what... TOO HOT!!!. Anyone relate to this?

Hi Eliza;

Yes I can Relate. For comfort in the house throughout the year I tend to Layer. I wear summer loungewear first, {Tank Top and Leggings}, and then I add or subtract layers according to my needs. I find that my feet are a major contributor to either excess heat or cold, so it is a constant game of Slippers on / Slippers off, Slippers On / Slippers off. If you get hot while trying to sleep, kick the covers off of your feet for a little while and you generally cool down enough to fall asleep. For the rest of the night your body will pretty much automatically push blankets away, or pull them closer.

Keep Cool;

Linderful

Dear Eliza , BINGO, yep...very common with alot of the gals on here too hun... or should that be ?

I've often wondered about low blood sugar, but I've had my fasting glucose tested several times and it's always normal, as is the Hemoglobin A1C. I swear I'm "this close" to buying a glucose monitor and testing myself the next time I feel this way.

KB; I think you had best identify yourself a little more clearly or we're going to have to take you through the nickname forum, Cause all I come up with is {Sorry Gal} Kibbles & Bits. There I said it. I Believe that DaMomma Can do better.

Now; RE: Glucose Monitors - Most companies that have Diabetic testing supplies, test strips, lancets etc... also provide a coupon for a free Glucose Monitor so long as you buy a box of Test strips. If you have a medical plan, a prescription would be required for the test strips which match the Glucose monitor you want. Most glucose monitors also have Computer Software and a Link Cable (USB or Parallel) so that you can download your glucose tests.

Re: Hemoglobin A1C test. This test seems to be the most reliable/accurate of glucose tests. Seeing as Hemoglobin holds the history of your blood sugar over a 3 month period, it levels out your peaks and valleys and gives you an average. I believe an average of under 0.070 is still acceptable, though I do know that the Diabetic Associations are aiming for 0.060.

Linderful

Chillygirl, when my peri. symptoms were mild I use to get the chills on a regular basis. I use to notice that it came two weeks before my period, then I started having the chills whenever. My chills had me feeling deep down to the bone freezing . No hot tea, socks, blankets, or extra clothing helped once the chills began.

Another weird thing is that the majority of the time they would occur at night time while I was sound asleep. What a way to be awakened...brrrrrrrr.......

Since my estradiol level dropped below the minimum and my fsh is now in the postmenopausal range I don't get the chill anymore. Now I've switched to hot flashes.

I've read where doctors claim that these chills are a result of first having hot flashes then the chill would occur...that might be the case for some, but in my situation that was not the case.

Stay warm .

Sorry, my name is Karen.

Yeah, my HgA1C is always fine. I was thinking of the glucose monitor just for peace of mind--to take my sugar reading during a bout of cold sweats to see what it is--so I can rule out another "worry." I also had complete blood work last year, and all was fine in terms of thyroid, etc. Guess it's good old hormones.

Over the past year and 1/2 I have been having chills, I guess cold flashes. My teeth chatter. Usually along with this is adrenaline surges, sometimes a racing heart. The chills I can have for days, even sometimes sweat even though my teeth are chattering.

I've given up on complaining to my reg. doc. Have been through the mill with cardiac testing and nothing shows up that I did not have already. I have mitral valve prolapse and sinus tachycardia,,,aka, fast heart rate at times. Tried the ssri route, but had too many side effects early on.

Noticed in the beginning that most of these symptoms happened mid-cycle or the day of or before my period. The gyn tested my blood during day 4 and took ultrasound day 9. Blood was fine though she said my estrogen would be considered a bit low for the part of the cycle I was in, but low normal. Ultrasound showed a cyst and follicular cysts.

So left to battle this on my own. Switching to new gyn next month and have an appt with an endo who hopefully will have some clue!

Hi Ladies,

I too have been getting cold flashes.
Mine feel like a wave or chill sweeps up thru my legs and then goes back down.
Several times a day, and usually when I'm standing.
Dismissed it as hormones

This past week I was put on BETA BLOCKER Toprol
The chills were worse, my hands were cold and fingernails looked pretty blue.
Found out this is also a side effect of beta-blockers, so if any of you are on them, Tenormin, Toprol, etc. they might be the culprit.


Hot or Cold? I guess I don't get to choose, but if I could I would take cold.

Hope we all find our comfy temperature soon!

Hey Lynsi,

I get the cold flashes also. They seem to start at my knees and go up and then come back down. I get these more than hot flashes, but lately they seem to be even.

My question is, why did they put you on beta blockers?? Anything to do with the chills??

isthisforreal,


No, I was put on beta blockers because of bad palpitations. 130-140 bpm, and it's about the 3rd time I've had a long episode. Also, i have migraines and this could help.

Not sure i'll stay on them when i'm feelling better, but at least for now, the "ticker" has calmed down, and i'm feeling a little "safer".

Lynsi,

I posted on the other msg about the beta blockers. They can make you cold like that. Reduces the circulation. I had that already but it does make mine worse in the winter.

Glad the toprol seems to do the trick..Hate those racing heart episodes too.

Hello everyone, I've been absent for awhile. Feeling good - lulling myself into believing that I had gotten past the worst part of peri and I could do it alone. But NOOOOOoooooooooooo. Tonight after a stressful weekend (nothing bad) I started feeling dizzy and my BP - that has been fine (earlier today 116/75 HR 67) - went up to 150/80 and I got my first cold flash. At first, I was hot, ripping off my sweatshirt, then I started shivering. I came running back to PS to see what you gals are experiencing and if this sounded "normal" to anyone and I see others are experiencing this cold stuff. Does anyone get dizzy, too, maybe BP elevation? I just had a check-up and I was fine. Every test is fine - sugar, cholesterol, thyroid - everything and just estrogen shows peri. I felt bloated all weekend and heart was flip floppin' a couple times. I feel like I'm getting my period, but nothing. I never know if I am. I had 4 periods last year, then 4 months without and then had one a month and a half ago. I was ready to run to the ER tonight panicked, but took a half of Xanax instead. I usually get a hot flash in the middle of the night, then go back to sleep and then have one when I wake up. I'm taking Norvasc 10mg and Toprol XL 25mg for hereditary and hormonal hypertension, but it's been under control for months. I power walk 4 -5 times a week and am not overweight. Is this an anxiety attack?? I need support, please. I've been feeling so good and I feel so bad right now.
Thanks! KGB

thanks, mom4cem,
I am doing a lot better, after a horrendous migraine on my period "due date" .
Heart rate is back to normal, and after prayer yesterday, I'm feeling ready to move on...

KG Bell,
sorry you're not feeling well. Your description sounds so familiar to me...I would say it was combo of hot/cold flash and anxiety attack..I don't really know the difference they are all so HORRIBLE. I"m trying to get thru by reminding myself "this too shall pass", and /or I've had this before, and I survivied...Found good advise about breathing thru elevated heart rate on this site..sorry I can't recall where right now...I will get back to you on that >

The troprol seems to be working for me, but like i said, i've had cold chills....My NP wants me to take just 25 per day in the am, but I have to say I'm scared to change any routine (I've been on 1/2 tab in am, and1/2 tab in pm).

Also keep telling myself my tests are okay...this is just a symptom of the change....i'm a struggling caterpillar in the tunnel...and soon will be a butterfly.

Hugs to you!

Thanks, lynsi, Ya know, on one level I know this is all peri. But when something new starts, the fear and anxiety comes back. My BP is the thing that scares me most. When all this crap started, I had spikes of 195/110 and I ended up in the ER and I get scared when my BP rises that that will happen again. It didn't last night. I had a couple hot flashes through the night and then this morning, the BP is back down and the cold flash, dizziness, and shivers are gone. I have a feeling, I'm going to get my period again and that's what caused the symtoms yesterday. I keep hoping it will go away forever and I will move into menopause and beyond! I was such a be-otch this past weekend and I'm normally like Mr. Rogers. This morning, I feel like I should call people and apologize. When I got my period in my younger days, I had one day of pre-menstral symtoms then boom. NOW, it's like a week of hormonal holocaust with a new "twist" every time. I wish I could find a good gyn who actually knew what peri and menopause was about instead of one who justs wants to hand me a pill and hope I go away for a year. If anyone out there is from the Tampa Bay (central west coast of Florida) area specifically Pinellas and has a good gyn, PLEASE, please write me with a name. Or does anyone know of a site you can find good gyn's in your area with meopause knowledge?
Thanks for listening. KGB

KGB your story sounds so like mine. After thinking I was over the worst, and only 1 period in 10 mths, woke up in the night with the 'surging' sensation - no sweat, or cold, but slightly dizzy. Same thing next night. Next day sure enough a period started. Blood pressure (which I take Atenolol for) has been like yours, very erratic. I really believe, we've been made too sensitive about BP, as it can vary so much even in one day. I have become more convinced than ever that hormones can wreak havoc, with people who are perfectly healthy causing them to worry without need. How many times have people on here said everything checks out okay - apart from hormones.

KGBell, Huney, maybe you could PM ... rsgreen.. she knows how to locate a MENOclinic closest to your area.

I dont recall now if she got it from Power-Surge or not, but she would be able to direct ya about how to go findin a location. Shes is great for finding some resources...

-cold- flashes? here i am in the middle of a horribly humid, hot Australian summer, with hot flashes and sweats, thinking a cold flash or two would just be blissful!!

Thanks, everyone. Hopefully, I can get ahold of rsgreen on the chat line on Thursday - I see her there many times when I've gotten on. Lydia52, I know what you're sayin'. My GP says to stop taking my BP - it becomes a self-fullfilling thing, but yet when the weird feelings and anxiety hit - I give in to my stupid fears. I'm better tonight. A big front is moving in, too, and that always affects my sinus' or something and makes me dizzier. I bought a ring at the gift store in my church that reads "fear not" and I'm trying to use it as a reminder - this, too, shall pass....
Thank God for all of ya'll's support.
KGB

KGBell,

I found directions for breathing thru rapid heartbeat attack. I've tried it and things did slow down.

SORRY i can't give credit to the lady who posted this- I typed it out partially. If the wonderful saint who wrote this out sees this, please let us know who you are again!

Okay, will attempt to add directions here:

WITHOUT taking a breath in first.......release the breath you already have in your lungs.....just purse your top lip over your bottom and breathe it down toward your feet....keep blowing out until you literally are convinced that your lungs have completely deflated....its an odd feeling trust me.....once you reach the end of that breath do not do what your body expects you to do.....do NOT take a gasping breathe back in. Simply close your mouth and breath back in through your nose......do not fully inflate.....just take enough in to make you feel "better" and repeat the steps again. It will work. Today at work I felt my pulse quicken. I quickly grabbed the pulseometer and clipped it to my finger. My pulse was 120......I then did this breathing exercise three times and my pulse dropped to 84. Proof that yes.........this does work. Try it and let me know how it goes okay? It does take practice......its like learning how to really breathe all over again.

Hello everyone, I had to write. I could be you KB! I started with peri at 29 and will be 36 in a few months! Nice to see someone younger, nothing against anyone else, it is just nice to see that the docs aren't right and it isn't all in my head because 'I'm too young!'!!

I don't remember when I started having cold flashes. I used to be cold all the time when I was younger. I had low bp because I was soooo small (5' 1/2'', 95lbs.). Then I started having hot flashes and was more warm blooded, I also had put on weight due to three pregnancies in three years!

Anyway, I have now started skipping every other month and doubbling up on other months. Doc tells me this is NORMAL!#$!& I have found that one month I will have a hot 'flash' that lasts a full week right before my period. I don't get all sweaty, I just feel like I'm suffacating (sp?). I can't cool down! Then the next month I can't get WARM!!! I just finished my SECOUND period this month and the week before it I was ALWAYS freezing!!! I live in the south and it has been very warm this winter but I was sooooo cold!! I would take a super hot bath to try to warm up and then jump into bed in flannel jammies with socks and a thick blanket and in just a few I would be shivering again!! Poor hubby is so understanding! But I think he thought he had me figured out and I up and change things!LOL!!

Funny thing is, I was about halfway through my period and I stopped being cold. I was now warm again! Not too warm though. We were sitting in church and it is always very cold there, I had a sweater on and took it off because I got too hot. My hubby looks at me strangly, after all I had been complaining of being too cold for more than a week! He said what are you doing? It is cold in this room and you are hot? I was the only woman in a short sleave blouse. I just smiled and said "hot, cold, get used to it." ! It is good that he had learned to just let me be and ignore my weirdness!!LOL!!

It sure is good to talk to you ladies!
De

Do cold flashes come for the same reason as hot flashes? Is it vasomotor instability? I was getting hot flashes for the past few mo. my face would all of a sudden feel wind burned...recently I am freezing, granted it is winter, but my husband teases me cause I walk around with a blanket around my shoulders all night dragging it through the house like linace and his blankie( the peanuts, I'm sure the spelling is wrong) I am literally chilled to the bone so I go to turn the heat up and within a few mins I'm like UUAAAGGHH I can't breath too stuffy and hot and I'm cranking it back down, meanwhile my husband is sitting calmly giving me the look wondering if he should call for backup...poor guy . Sometimes I get both my face will be hot and the rest of me like a block of ice.

I know what you mean sunflower! But instead of my whole face getting hot, my left ear will start burning! I mean it turns beet red and will feels like it is on fire! But the rest of me will be cold! Go figure. The poor men in our lives, they just have to learn to ignore us!! I had never heard about cold flashes untill coming to ps. I asked my mom about it, she is post at 58, and she had never heard of them. No one ever talks about them, just the hot flashes. Our docs just want to throw hrt at us so we will shut up! Oh well, I guess I'll start dragging around my blankie too!
Take care
De

OOPS! Still trying to figure out this quote thing!!

De, Both of my ears burn and turn beet red. In fact, just yesterday they were swollen. Are we having fun yet? LOL

Drea

Wow! I thought I was jut weird! Drea, I never thought others would have burning ears too! No one I know here has that.
De

De,

You know one now! When I start flashing, I look at my ears...even my hubby has been made to look at them!! He'll be like, "OH, they ARE red!"

I go from hot to cold in nothing flat...hot, not, hot, not. But the ears stay red for what seems like hours even when I've cooled down.

Hmm, maybe people are talking about me?? lol

Drea

That's it Drea, they are talking about us both! "Who is that chick with the really RED ears?!" I'm glad I have long hair, I can just cover it! I've had people ask what's wrong, no one will believe I'm in peri because I'm only 35. I just smile and say, maybe it's allergies. That they will believe!
De

Hi all,

Well, here I sit, at the computer, in my long sleeved flannel night gown, long thick socks, shoes, with my thick house coat around me. I also have the electric heater blowing toward me , hitting mostly my legs. I mean, I am cold!

In just awhile, (who knows when it will hit me), I will be tuning off the heater, throwing off the housecoat, fanning myself, (I have misplaced my little fan I keep setting here). Sometimes I feel like ripping everything off.

That is the way it is the entire night. Hot, cold, hot cold, uncover, cover up, uncover, cover up, etc.

But as uncomfortable as this is, I consider this to be mild compared to the other hideous symptoms and feelings I get.

Take care,
Kassie

I know what you mean Kassie! I can go from hot to cold in a flash, no pun intended! I guess I'm lucky though. The hot/cold thing is one of only a few major symptoms I have. I have a lot, don't get me wrong. The others are moslty mild. I don't know if that has to do with the fact that as a teenager I never got cramps and didn't have much in way of pms. Now I have much more pms, some days I spend all day just yelling at the kids for anything and everything! But I don't have the anxiety a lot of the women talk about, and I'm thankful! But I just can't stand being cold!!! This whole thing with putting the sweater on, taking the sweater off, putting the sweater on, taking the sweater off, etc., etc., etc. I guess we just have to grit our teeth and stoak the fire (then put it out! )! Just remember, this too shall pass!
Keep your chin up!
De

Hello all

WOW!! this site never ceases to amaze me! Just last night when i told my husband that i found this place so fantastic and giving him all my raves about it and how happy i found it and knowing i am quite normal afterall even if i do seem like a nutcase at times lol He asked me to find out if there is such a thing as cold flashes, because I get them a lot! well looky here you all do too lol. So i told him and he smuggly looked at me saying, "See, I told you it wasn't me" ughhh MEN! lol

Anyways, yep, i get cold flashes also hot flashes...but cold flashes i never really thought existed i just thought it was me...I have had all my blood work done last month so i know i can rule out many things that it could be. EXCEPT my hormoane levels, i havent asked for those yet which i intend on doing.

I agree with this is one of the milder effects of our wonderful new journey we have all found ourselves on.

Hey Shannando! Like you I had never even heard of a 'cold flash'. I asked my mom who is now post if she had ever heard of them and she hadn't either! All I knew was that some months I couldn't get warm no matter what I did! My dear hubby would tell me to go take a hot bath or turn up the heat. He was just trying to help, but that only worked for a little while. I would get in bed and have my flannel jammies and socks on, be under blankets and WHAMO! I would be shivering! I didn't know if it was just me getting sick or what untill I came here and read the hot/cold flash post! What a Godsend this site has been!
De

I had my first cold flash last night. It hit just as I was almost asleep. I was freezing, fully-clothed plus comforter. I sat up and took my temp--I was shivering so hard that I had to hold the thermometer in my mouth or it would've fallen out. My temp was 95.4!! This all lasted about a half hour--very, very uncomfortable. I also had really bad cramps (period-free for 2 years now) but my daughter (whom I live with) was on her period and usually when she's on her period, I have a phantom period. I hope this doesn't happen often. I HATE being cold! Give me hot flashes anytime!

I seem to get hot flashes in the morning then I'm fine most of the day. We I sit down to watch some TV at night I suddenly get the chills, so off I go to get my flannels, warm housecoat and socks and wait to warm up. After I'm in bed awhile I feel warm again. Fall asleep and get woken up with a night sweat. UGH!
This is one ride that is not fun. Like a lot of you I thought I was just coming down with a cold or something, didn't know about cold flashes until I read about them here. Man, this site is great.
Although, I would rather go through this than the horrible palpatations.

Okay, it's been comforting reading this thread! I just had my SECOND cold flush last night and I DON'T LIKE IT.

I moved into my house 11 years ago (when I was 31) and it has always been a kind of cold, drafty house. I can never get warm in this house. My friend who lives down the street in the same house has the same problem. The older I get, the worse it gets.

Anyway, I'm now 42. My periods are as regular as clockwork but, of course, I'm a wreck but no one will ever test me.

Back in November 2005, I had my first cold flush. I didn't put a lot of stock into it because I had just had surgery two days prior (excisional breast biopsies) and I thought that it was due to the surgery. But, what happened was that it was VERY cold outside; hence, not overly toasty in my house. I was home all day and just kind of laying around recuperating (not moving around much or cleaning). I felt normal in the morning, but as the day wore on, I got chillier and chillier. Finally, I was so cold that I just started shaking and my teeth were chattering. Thinking I was sick or had an infection from surgery, I took my temperature. It was 96.7. I freaked out. I spent the day shivering and taking Xanax. I could NOT get rid of the cold. Finally that evening, I filled up my soaking tub with the hottest water I could stand and sat in the tub for 15 minutes. That did the trick and I was fine. Temperature got back up in the 98.0 range and never another instance...until last night.

Now, I frequently get chilly in places. My office is cold, but I have a space heater, and I always get chilly in my house. But it never moves past that. Yesterday, I got up not feeling overly great. I got on my treadmill though and did some very light strength training. I was VERY warm most of the morning. But, as I said, I didn't feel great and pretty much lounged around the house (same as before). I started feeling chilly. It wasn't overly cold outside. I kept checking my thermostats but they were fine. I had on a turtleneck, jeans, socks, and slippers. Then I started the shaking. I don't know why but it freaks me out. At this point it was dinner time and we had to go pick my daughter up. I thought "great, I can get in the car and turn the heater on." The car is the one place I'm warm. Well, not so. I had the heater cranked and my poor husband and son were miserable. Finally, I told them to just turn it off because it wasn't warming me up. I was so cold and shaking I could not go out to dinner so I had them take me home. Temperature was at 97.4. I quickly did the "bath trick" and some Xanax after that and all was well.

So, what do you think of this? I guess my concern is--if it's not hormonal what other "bad" thing could it be. I was talking to my mom about this last night. She hit menopause at about 55. But for YEARS before that, she was freezing. I don't know if she went as far as me with the shivering and shakes, but she said she was always cold and even had "summer gloves" for when she was in the car. She said that now that menopause is over, she never has this happen anymore.

I just feel like since my periods are regular, I should not be having this. Also, I don't have a thyroid gland but I am supermedicated (TSH is always close to being hyperthyroid) so, if anything, I should be HOT!!
Christine

Hi Christine,

My guess is it's hormonal. I am the same way. I've been "freezing to death" for years....teeth chattering, shivering, bone-chilling freezing! I am forever wrapped up in a blanket. My hands and feet are never warm. I do have hot flashes also. Last summer the chills were replaced with one long hot flash. Now, it's back to the chills. I can also do both...one minute freezing...next minute burning up. These hormones make our "internal thermostats" go wacko sometimes. Right now this is a way of life for me. But like all the other hormonal things that we do or have endured, this will pass, hopefully never to be bothered with it again.

I'm hot, I'm cold, covers on, covers off.
When Honey is cold and asks if the heat is on my reply is "your guess is better than mine" or "Do you want to know now, or should I wait a few minutes!"
I have hot flashes that wake me up soaking in the middle of the night, throw off the covers, fan like crazy, get cooled off, then TOO cold!
I hate the cold more than the hot, cause the cold seems to be coming more from within and nothing you can do will get rid of it (and me, the "take a hot bath" queen, must give thanks to Eva, I hadn't thought of a hot bath for this particular symptom )
I also hate these temperature fluctuations more than any other symptom I've had, I think mostly because I get wakened every 2 hours (set your clock by me!) so sleep is pretty much nil.
I blame the rest of my generally grumpy demeanor on lack of sleep.
Maybe I just need a bigger hot water tank so I can spend the next two years soaking contentedly in my romantic, candle scented bath. Do you think I could get a medical leave for this?

Thanks for that tip! That racing heart doesn't happen to me often, but when it does, I'd like it to slow down. Btw, sorry, had a computer hiccup and ended up sending an empty message.

Am 45, skipped my first period nearly 2 weeks ago, and was absolutely freezing to death since yesterday afternoon, thankfully seem to be warming up again.

Started getting first symptoms about 3 years ago, I guess, but no one around me recognized them and somehow wanted to blame ME for my symptoms, it felt (like I was a little kid that instead of putting on a different sweater whined about feeling cold - I was already wearing 3 sweaters and it was not cold in the house at all). Then when I had a 2-week period, sort of, a friend said it reminded her of what another friend had told her about perimenopause. I started checking into symptoms on the web and bingo... Knowing what is going on, helps a lot.

Anyway, a few years back I was frrreeeezing all the time too. That is the one symptom I really hate (and the one 'they' seem to ignore most). I can deal with bloating, I can deal with moods (they sometimes make me laugh and some of the moods actually make me feel quite powerful) and waking in the middle of the night and what have you and I can take a painkiller for a headache (new development: killer headaches), but there is so very little I can do about freezing (which had not happened in a long time) and it makes my muscles ache as well.

TIP: sometimes it helps to eat something warm. Not always. Running on my treadmill helps very briefly: I quickly go back to freezing again. But still, moving around seems to help too.

Spotted a message from someone in a hot climate who wishes she had a cold flash (can't find it anymore). I don't think so. I used to live in Florida. I am sure I'd be frrrreeezing there as well.

Off to make some nice hot (non-caf) tea now!!!

New Woman

[i] Hi I can identify with this especially super surgette's description of cold surges up the legs. I get them right to the tops then onto the buttocks. Am at the moment having panic attacks too and quite a bit of acid reflux. Life is fun isn't it?

Girls,

Do any of you shiver? I never shivered much in the past but now I find just out of the blue I will shiver. Weird....

Teejay

I have indeed shivered, (many, many, many times), from the cold flashes and, also, from what I call a nervous chill. But, just the other night, I awakened and I was having a different kind of shivering than I have ever had before. It was like lighter waves of shivering rolling over my body over and over. I can't really explain it. It was just different. I have never felt it quite like that before. It was very strange, but then, I have been having a lot of strange and awful feelings.

Kassie

Hi Kassie,

A nervous shiver is a great description....like something made a chill go through you. I shiver frequently and as I said before never had this problem. Of course there are lots of things that my body and mind are doing that they never did before and you're right they are awful. Take care...

TeeJay

Dear new woman
I'm am glad I found you. Have been searching this site to find someone who is cold all the time...not just surges. I have been cold for a couple of weeks now. It first started in my left arm. It is now my upper body, chest, arms, neck, face, gums, eyes. Crazy stuff. Sometimes I am cold to the touch other times my skin doesn't feel as cold, but the freezing sensation is there. I've also have been is a bundled up sweat, still feeling cold. The craziest is that the air I breath in even feel chill'in cold...Anyone else out there with this???