topic Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes. in Wellness

Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

viviantheone — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 21:52:43 GMT

Hey. I am in desperate need of help for hot flashes. I am estrogen sensitive and have tried several different estrogens and can't seem to take it. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated and will try. Thank you in advance for your help.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 21:59:38 GMT

Why aren't you discussing this with your MD ?

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

straykatz — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 22:21:27 GMT

I've gotten some relief taking Evening of Primrose...I take 1000mg per day....nothing else I tried over the counter worked

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

straykatz — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 22:23:36 GMT

On 6/10/2014 Tinkrbl44 said:
Why aren't you discussing this with your MD ?

Maybe she doesn't want to be put on hormones?.....that seems to be what doctors push for....I mentioned it to my MD only to be told that I should try HRT....I opted not to and have looked for natural remedies/relief.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

Desertdi — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 22:23:43 GMT

I got it for this hot climate.........a Frog Toggs neck wrap. It really cools you down.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

kdbrown9 — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 22:30:06 GMT

Hot flashes are a result of estrogen dominance as your grow older. All your hormones decline, but the progesterone declines faster than estrogen, leaving you dominant and causing all sorts of annoying symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats. Progesterone cream applied days 14 thru 28 of your cycle can help. Also, Vitex, is very good with boosting progesterone production and helping balance hormones for women who have PMS symptoms (like sore breasts, cramps, hormonal acne, etc.), fertility, and perimenopausal symptoms like hot flashes. There has been a lot of research on it, and it's very safe. It will take longer to have an effect than a progesterone cream but is a more natural approach since you aren't adding any hormones to your body (vitex is an herb). A lot of doctors prescribe low dose estrogen bc pills, but though they may help you feel better in the short term, they will cause more estrogen dominance in the long term. Conjugated/synthetic estrogens are never good for the body despite what those crummy TV commercials would have you believe! Best wishes! I know they are annoying.

Also, if you are not of perimenopausal age, get your thyroid checked. A wonky thyroid can cause hot flashes because it inhibits your internal thermostat from working properly (you may get hot easily in a warm room or be sensitive to cold).

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 22:34:09 GMT

On 6/10/2014 Tinkrbl44 said:
Why aren't you discussing this with your MD ?

First, she's already tried hormones, so I'm thinking she has talked to her MD about it. Second, maybe her MD is a man. Those doctors might know a lot, but they haven't lived it and sometimes you need advice from someone who has been through it.

I don't normally have issues with male doctors or younger doctors, but last time I went in for bronchitis, the doctor asked me a lot of questions about birth control pills, which I told him I wasn't using at the time, and then he went into a whole speech about how the antibiotic he was giving me might interact with birth control pills. Again, I had already told him that I wasn't on birth control pills and I've made it to 44 without having ever gotten pregnant, something the 30 year old male doctor couldn't say for himself.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

Love orchids — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 22:41:36 GMT

Someone told me a few year ago, when you first begin to feel the hot flash coming on start taking slow deep breaths in and out until you feel the hot flash subside. This may take several deep breaths. I found this does work to a degree if you start the breaths as soon as you first feel the hot flash.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

Shelbelle — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 22:43:20 GMT

I Cool supplement from the drugstore. Contains Genisteen, are you sensitive to that too?

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

viviantheone — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 01:20:50 GMT

Thank you for all of your responses. I am working with my doctor, and we just can't find anything that works yet. I have had a complete hystorecetomy and am in menopause. I am 48, and just need some help and advice, and I thank you all for your time.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

adelle38 — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 03:08:34 GMT

I know several people who find Evening Primrose Oil helps. I always keep a fan next to my bed and use a cool wrap on my neck. I know this is very frustrating and I hope you find some relief soon.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

151949 — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 03:36:12 GMT

On 6/10/2014 viviantheone said:
Thank you for all of your responses. I am working with my doctor, and we just can't find anything that works yet. I have had a complete hystorecetomy and am in menopause. I am 48, and just need some help and advice, and I thank you all for your time.

I was post hyster and lumpectomy for breast cancer at age 37. I still had one ovary.When i started into menopause I was really having effects from it - horrible hot flashes that were so bad I was having difficulty caring for my patients because i literally was having trouble breathing. Then i started into a depression so bad I was contemplating suicide - and I had never been depressed before. So my gyne put me on a bioidentical hormone via a skin patch. These are plant hormones, not animal, but i was warned they could still cause cancer but I was DESPARATE. He put me on a very small dose and every year when I went to see him he decreased the dose a little until after 5 years he took me off it. I did have some bad hot flashes when I first stopped using it but they pretty quickly diminished to being very mild and quite tolerable. the depression went away the first day on the patch and never came back. I recommend asking your doctor about a bioidentical and see what he says.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

pitdakota — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 03:42:47 GMT

On 6/10/2014 ChynnaBlue said:
On 6/10/2014 Tinkrbl44 said:
Why aren't you discussing this with your MD ?

First, she's already tried hormones, so I'm thinking she has talked to her MD about it. Second, maybe her MD is a man. Those doctors might know a lot, but they haven't lived it and sometimes you need advice from someone who has been through it.

I don't normally have issues with male doctors or younger doctors, but last time I went in for bronchitis, the doctor asked me a lot of questions about birth control pills, which I told him I wasn't using at the time, and then he went into a whole speech about how the antibiotic he was giving me might interact with birth control pills. Again, I had already told him that I wasn't on birth control pills and I've made it to 44 without having ever gotten pregnant, something the 30 year old male doctor couldn't say for himself.

Your 30 year old male doctor got pregnant? Sorry....couldn't resist, I know what you meant. It was a funny line though....and provided a well needed laugh this evening!!

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

151949 — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 03:43:24 GMT

PS i drank a lot of ice water and my doctor said to avoid caffeine and alcohol so I did that too. i know this sounds crazy but anyway - I also find if I have to pee but can't immediately and have to hold it - it seems that will put me into a flash - still does. So if I'm going to be somewhere that I may not be able to go ie:church - I always go before i go in because I don't want to get a flash. i don't understand it but there it is. We recently had to go to a funeral and i think I walked a mile looking for the ladies room before we went in.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

aubnwa01 — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 06:20:47 GMT

I had a hysterectomy in 1993 & had so many problems, my Dr. put me on oral estrogen. I tried several different types & none of them agreed with my liver, so my Dr. put me on an estradiol patch. I've gradually decreased the dosage to the point I'm now on the lowest available dose.

I get all my regular stuff done & have an annual mammogram & have never had any trouble. I've tried to stop using the patches, no hot flashes or anything anymore, but I just feel better in general on them, so I'll continue as long as I can. My Dr. knows this & she's fine with it, just so long as I keep up with my tests.

I think being on the estrogen patches might be part of the reason that at age 63, my Dr. said my bone density was a +2, which is apparently unusual for a woman of my age & build, & so far out from a hysterectomy.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

LAllyR — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 07:31:33 GMT

I am 51 and in perimenopause. I recently started having the hot flashes that were interrupting my sleep. I had heard that Black Cohosh was supposed to help so ordered some to try and I can honestly say that it has helped so much that I don't even notice the hot flashes anymore! I am definitely going to keep taking it since I don't want to go the HRT route. Here is a link to the one I tried https://www.swansonvitamins.com/natures-blend-black-cohosh-160-mg-120-caps and another that I'll probably try next time I order (the reviews are really good & has a higher dose) https://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-premium-black-cohosh-540-mg-60-caps

Take care ... I hope you can find some help!

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

Sameolmollysmama — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 08:03:30 GMT

I've heard Botox injections help hot flashes. My doctor put me on Angelique, an oral estrogen. It's the only thing that's helped my hot flashes, which were so bad I didn't want to leave the house. Good luck.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

Fona — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 08:52:55 GMT

Vivian: I was over menopause and hot flashes for years but suddenly last year the hot flashes returned, just once in a while. Like you, I had no wish to start on menopause medication and decided to just tough it out. However, while on vacation in England last Fall I was hit by a succession of hot flashes so decided to go to a big drugstore to see if they had anything that might help. The woman there explained that anything over-the-counter would probably take a few weeks to kick in (which was useless to help me over the vacation) but she then recommended a magnet. Now I must say that I had absolutely no opinion either way about people using magnets for healing, but this woman swore that this one worked so (in a sort of desperation) I decided Why Not? Believe me, it is the best thing I could have done. To explain: the magnet is called the Ladycare Magnet. It is quite small and you wear it 24 hours a day against your bare stomach (it sticks to your underwear). Honestly, the very next day I started to feel good. I'm still wearing it and I still feel good ten months later. I realize that this may sound bizarre and may not be for everyone, but I am telling you this just as another option. The woman in the drugstore (which was in a large mall) said that many of the women who worked in the mall had tried it in desperation, and as word got out about it being good they would buy it then come back later to let her know they were feeling much better. So, please Google it and read the information. It is a bit pricy, and I don't know if any stores sell it here in the US, but it is certainly for sale in the US over the internet. Vivian: Hot flashes are horrible and I truly sympathize, and I hope you get some ease soon, whatever remedy you use. Best of luck.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

Gimmea Break — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 09:45:54 GMT

Effexor. It is an antidepressant (I wasn't depressed), but it also helps with anxiety and, for some reason, hot flashes. My doctor prescribed it for me several years ago because my hot flashes were so bad. It didn't eliminate them, but it helped greatly. However, it is very expensive. There is a generic available, but I haven't tried that. I have heard it can be very difficult to stop taking it (you can have sort of a rebound affect), but I haven't tried to stop since I still have flashes and anxiety. I tried black cohosh and other things which helped me not at all. Everyone is different, so maybe the black cohosh , or something similar, will help you. I would avoid estrogen (just my opinion) because I had estrogen sensitive breast cancer twice. I believe the estrogen I took for about 9 years contributed to that--but again,that's just my opinion. As I said, everyone is different. Many people don't like Effexor, but my hot flashes were so bad that for me, it is a godsend.

Re: Desperately needing help for hot flashes.

CalminHeart — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 10:56:49 GMT

Avoid over the counter drugs. They really messed me up and my gyno told me to never take OTC for hot flashes or menopause.

A few ideas....

I kept cool, damp cloths in my desk and a fan on my desk at work.

Keep a fan in your living space. I bought one with a remote. LOL

Dress in layers so you can take off and put on as needed. You will find that changing how you dress will help. I used to wear sweaters and layers all the time. I dress a lot lighter now.

Put a ceiling fan over your bed (it's the best!)

There are cooling cloths you can buy that you keep in the freezer and put around your neck or wrap around your head.

Get a cooling mat to put inside your pillow case.

Remember that hot flashes are normal and just go with them. I didn't take any HRT during all mine either and it was just fine.