topic Hot flashes! Can we talk? in Wellness

Hot flashes! Can we talk?

KCDiva — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:47:01 GMT

I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 40 over 20 years ago. I started using an estrogen patch and I never stopped. I was told by that doctor, who I no longer see, that at about age 62 I could probably start weaning myself off of it. Any doctor I've seen since has said it's fine to continue using it. I am now 64 and I have a terrible time sleeping. I noticed when I put on a new patch I could not sleep so I tried leaving it on longer than week to see if it was the patch. It was. I started cutting them in half and eventually stopped using it about 5 months ago. I've been fine until just recently. I have a few hot flashes a day. It's not horrible but I don't think I want to go back on the patch just for that. Anyone with experience with this? I didn't even know what it was as I'd never had one but all of a sudden I find myself feeling like I'm on fire and then I'm fine. UGH.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

SilleeMee — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 16:06:42 GMT

I don't know what to say about estrogen patches but I do suffer with hot flashes and periods of feeling extremely cold often. I'm past meno at age 66 but I have scleroderma and with that I get hot flashes quite frequently. It's so difficult to regulate my body temp. I've got small fans all over my house and I keep a heavy sweater close by, too. For me it's having those small fans around that help especially at night when I sleep. I've got one with a remote control in my bedroom and it's really a big help with the hot flash thing. I just can't sleep without it.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

Meowingkitty — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 16:12:18 GMT

I wasn't on the patch but took Femhrt for several years. I got off of them about 8 years ago by cutting a pill in half and doing that for about a month, then cutting a half into a half and doing that for a couple of weeks, then taking only a quarter of a pill every other day for a couple of weeks until I finally just stopped. I'm 66 and don't have many hot flashes (I live in Arizona so it can be difficult to tell a hot flash from hot weather). I sleep pretty good most nights.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

Kachina624 — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 18:08:03 GMT

I had a complete hysterectomy at age 42 and took the estrogen replacement therapy (Premarin) for over 20 years. The day the news broke that it was thought it could contribute to the development of cancer, I quit cold turkey. My doctor called me a couple of days later and advised me to quit.

I never had a single symptom; have never had a hot flash in my life. Made me wonder if I really needed to be on the pills.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

RespectLife — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:25:23 GMT

Just to clarify....Premarin and Prempro, both made from horse urine....were discovered to put women at risk for cancer.

"A government study of Wyeth's hormone replacement drugs, Prempro and Premarin, was discontinued in 2002 when it became apparent that taking Prempro heightened the risk of breast cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolism, and that Premarin increased risk of stroke."

NOT all estrogen replacements were taken off the market. Those made from plants and other naturals, those bioidentical are available.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

Growing — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:30:53 GMT

The best information for women on their health and menopause is a doctor named Christiane Northrup, MD. She has several books. They saved me when I was going through perimenopause. She has a website also. She uses a lot of alternative medicine but she tells you honestly what is going on in your body and mind.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

itsmagic — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 18:24:40 GMT

@KCDiva I could have almost written your post! I think I was 42 when I had a complete hysterectomy and was on the patch over 20 years. My doctor advised me to quit when I was in my 60s and I also cut patches in half before I quit. I was fine for several months after quitting and at first thought - wow this is going to be easy but then I started getting hot flashes especially at night or during a hot summer day the heat would bring one on. Hot flashes are very uncomfortable but I didn’t want to go back on the patch either. My doctor said the hot flashes would go away eventually and they did but I think it took about four years!

Hang in there!

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

chickenbutt — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:31:10 GMT

I had a complete hysterectomy at age 28, in 1983. I started going through it in the hospital room the next day! That was weird. The nurse figured it out right away and I was put on estrogen (oral tabs).

I took those for 18 years, until I learned about the animal cruelty involved in manufacturing it so I stopped right then and there, cold turkey. Never went back.

Since then I haven't had any more of the hot flash symptoms. I tend to run hot, but I always have so it's nothing new. It's not the same as 'hot flashes'. I think some people might not know how awful that feels, but it's not like just getting really hot. It can be brutal.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

Shelbelle — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:38:33 GMT

Dr Northrups book, the Wisdom of Menopause is wonderful, she was on Oprah quite a bit and also did lectures on PBS TV. Excellent source for info.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

ALRATIBA — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:45:23 GMT

I was fortunate ... no symptoms. One month, no period - and that was it. Doctor said it wasn't unusual.

I was in my early 60s - same menopause age as other women in my family. (grandmother, mother, mother's sister, my sister.)

None of us ever took any hormones before or after.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

ECBG — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 22:20:34 GMT

My complete hysterectomy was due to an ovarian cyst the doctor was concerned. I was on the estrogen patch until I hit the max time then he weaned me off. He didn't think I would go through any part of the "BIG M" and I didn't.

@KCDiva

Black cohosh was said to help many, many ladies!!!

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

Shelbelle — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 23:15:12 GMT

My doctor wanted me to use Premarin Cream, I refused. It is classified by the FDA as topical, but the first thing i saw on their website was that it can still travel into the bloodstream in small amounts. No thanks!! I found more natural ways to help with my dryness. Are they as effective, probably not but works well enough for me and safely.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

Shaunac — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:14:10 GMT

Andrew Lessman's Ultimate Women's Wellness on HSN. Wait until he has a sale, though.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

Skyegirl21 — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:35:15 GMT

It's a phenomenon that is medically still a mystery- Hot flashes "vasomotor symptoms". There is so much variation between women and even within each woman, the cycles can just keep going and changing! I suspect that's what you are seeing. Talk to your doctor, but it sounds like you may still need a small dose of the patch, if you can't tolerate the symptoms-
I have been on a patch also, for 10 yrs for horrible, constant nightflashes that prevented sleeping. But over time I have been cutting them smaller as my body needs less estrogen. But I still have flashes, when I try to wean off, so not sure when I will be done ( I'm 59).- Best wishes.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

Duckncover — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 01:46:01 GMT

I didn't ever want to take estrogen since my sister developed a brain tumor that the dr was sure was a result of so many years in birth control pills back in the 60s%70's when they were high estrogen. I started using yam cream that our school nurse told me about when my hot flashes began. Had about a weeks's worth of them and then they stopped after I started the cream. Can't recall the name as it has been years now, but if you google it I am sure you can find info on it. I never want to use estrogen if I can avoid it.

Re: Hot flashes! Can we talk?

KCDiva — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 14:59:12 GMT

Thank you ladies,. Unless they become unbearable I am going to deal with them. I don't want to use the patch anymore. I don't think it's safe especially after using it for so long. It's just an inconvenience at this time. It's winter so I'll use it to my advantage and turn the heat down. LOL