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Hot Flash Forum!

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Comments

  • Rennasus
    Rennasus Member Posts: 642
    edited November 2011

    O.M.G. A woman in her 80's with hot flashes? Lord help us all!

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited November 2011

    I have some clients who are in their 70's and still flashing.....also have some clients who have never experienced a hot flash....

    The first question I am gonna ask God is "why do some women suffer for years with flashes and some women never have any?"...aren't we all made up the same way...so why don't we ALL flash.  I want to know the answer!!!!!!!!!!!......I feel as though I am being punished for something..LOL....

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited November 2011

    I think the cooler weather is cooling my flashes a bit, especially at night they seem shorter and less intense though the frequency is the same.  I wonder if anyone has ever done functional MRI studies of the brain during a hot flash and compared it to not during a hot flash - is there an area of the brain that lights up during a hot flash?

  • Rennasus
    Rennasus Member Posts: 642
    edited November 2011

    Omaz, it is interesting that with the cooler weather the flashes seem to be diminishing. (Good question about the MRI. No idea about that!)

    Is there anyone out there who is experiencing cooler weather but NOT experiencing a reduction in hot flashes?

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited November 2011
    Omaz  I had to smile reading your post about wondering if there's an area of the brain that lights up during a flash.....I pictured all of us glowing in the dark during a HF Smile
  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited November 2011
    Linda - Flashing on and off, on and off - LOL!
  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited November 2011
    we have to find some humor in these dreadful flashesLaughing
  • lulubee
    lulubee Member Posts: 903
    edited November 2011

    Oh goodness, I'm slow -- I just now got it!  hahaha!

    ~lulubee 

  • Rennasus
    Rennasus Member Posts: 642
    edited November 2011

    Hi ladies! I hope the lull here is due to cooler weather that has tempered everyone's hot flashes a tad (wouldn't that be nice?).

    Alas, mine are as predictable as ever. 

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited November 2011
    Hi Ren!
  • mpeaches
    mpeaches Member Posts: 121
    edited November 2011

    I can honestly say, and I'm sorry about this, that before I started having them, I didn't think hot flashes would be that bad.

    My APOLOGIES Ladies!  OMFG!  And from reading about everyones, mine aren't even as bad as they could be.  The itching afterward is just miserable!  

    Hot Purrs,

    Jenn

  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 471
    edited November 2011

    Hi All,  My HF's do seem to have cut back since the weather has cooled off.  I know I"ll be sorry for having said that...  I hope everyone is doing well!!

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,886
    edited November 2011

    Is it the heat or is it the humidity that makes them worse?

    I know the diet theory was popular on here for awhile.  Many of you are experiencing a decrease in hot flashes.  Do you all have different diets now?  My diet has not changed one bit, nor did it last year when I had a decline in flashes from about Nov. thru' Mar. 

    Keep the theories coming.  I'm sure someone will figure it out sooner or later.

  • sammolisa
    sammolisa Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2011

    Getting got flashes here too,  they are a bit better with the cooler weather too I am noticing.   Ice packs and fans and cool showers  are what get me thru.  I am already taking enough RX's - don't want to add anymore.  Used to get HF's every 20 mins on the clock - now they are a bit longer between but probably get around 10 or so a day still. I am getting used to dealing with them myself.  I don't hate them all that much anymore,  I just keep ice packs near me and change my clothes alot. 

  • kisxxoo
    kisxxoo Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2011

    I HATE hot flashes!! I'm am 29 and they r the WORST!!!!!!

  • mpeaches
    mpeaches Member Posts: 121
    edited November 2011

    I definitely notice that they're triggered with caffeine, and they're worse with sugar.

    Hot purrs,

    Jenn

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited November 2011
    kisxxoo - Do you have a remote controlled fan with a timer for sleeping at night?  It is a life saver for me.
  • FLwarrior
    FLwarrior Member Posts: 614
    edited November 2011

    My HFs are the most noticeable shortly after eating dinner.  I don't notice it after breakfast or lunch???  Anyone else notice that eating is a trigger?

  • orangemat
    orangemat Member Posts: 368
    edited November 2011

    Sugar and dairy have been my triggers. And I'm not even taking any of the meds. Oh, and wine too. It's like there are no vices left. Sucks

  • lulubee
    lulubee Member Posts: 903
    edited November 2011

    Okay, here's a weird trigger for ya:  if I put off going to the ladies room until I reallllly need to go... HF every time.

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited November 2011

    lulubee .....having to pee and having a HF at the same time is not a weird trigger. I do this also and have read where this happens to other women.

    hillck ....mine are worse in the evenings if I have not followed a healthy diet for the day.  It never fails as soon as I get in bed and get all comfy I have one and have to throw off the covers LOL

  • mpeaches
    mpeaches Member Posts: 121
    edited November 2011

    Absolutely about having to pee.  I can't tell if it's a HF waking me up in the night or having to pee.  What I HATE about hot flashes, is during the night when one hits, I CANNOT NOT throw off the covers.  I've TRIED waiting them out, because I know as soon as it passes, I'll be cold.  But no, something in my body is convinced I'm going to implode if the covers do not come off RIGHT THIS SECOND.  And who knows, maybe I would?  It would be so nice to get a good nights sleep......

    Tired Purrs,
    Jenn

  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 1,713
    edited November 2011

    I have been absent for a while - had BMX at the beginning of Oct, lots of complications, and just this week finally feeling like I am coming out of my fog.  I tried to catch up, but have missed a few pages of posts. 

     SAS, did you get in touch with Dr. Freedman, and will he think about that survey?

    Elimar, Linda, hilck, ren, wenweb, omaz, Flwarrior, and all, just sending you cooling breeze wishes for tonight.  My HFs have changed so much throughout the year - first just horrible flushing face with palpitations and syncopal feelilng, then they decreased, and since surgery have had drenching sweats without the flushing and nearly passing out feeling.  They still occur about once an hour - ugh - and I do get shivers afterward sometimes, but I can totally relate to the waiting to get out of bed in the morning, waiting for that personal sauna to kick in and motivate me to head for the shower!  Wink

  • omaz
    omaz Member Posts: 4,218
    edited November 2011
    Hi Linda - welcome back!  Glad you are over the BMX.  Hope you are healing up now.  My HF's are a little better in the cooler weather!
  • wenweb
    wenweb Member Posts: 471
    edited November 2011
    Linda Welcome back as well!  Hopefully you are healing well, and your current complications are behind you.    
  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 1,713
    edited November 2011

    Omaz & wenweb, thanks!  It's good to be back in friendly territory with women who "get it" and I am making progress every day.  Much better than even a week ago, and worlds different than October!

  • orangemat
    orangemat Member Posts: 368
    edited November 2011

    You know, I just read that blurb at the top of this thread, about how hot flashes occur due to a drop in estrogen. When I was having hot flashes like the plague the last two years (pre-DX), I had upped my intake of soy (edamame mostly and drinking some soymilk) when I revamped my diet. I also eliminated a lot of sugar and dairy as well. Along with 20 lbs, I lost my hot flashes and all was wonderful!

    But then I got DX'd this past February, and I'm ER positive...

    So I shouldn't eat soy, right? I'm not taking the Tamoxifen, and the HF came back on their own anyway (gee thanks). So what do I do now? Eat ice cream 'cause it doesn't matter anyway??

    Sigh. I'm 49 and haven't had my cycle in close to a year, so I know I'm at the end of all this perimenopause nonsense. The BC just made it more of a nuisance, ya know? Oh, but since I'm not taking any hormone treatments, can I still stay here in this thread? :)

    Sorry for the rant, and thanks for listening.

  • FLwarrior
    FLwarrior Member Posts: 614
    edited November 2011

    Thanks Linda and I'm glad you are doing better now.

    Orangemat, I am also 49, no cycle in almost a year, ER+ (so, I don't eat soy either), and I am still flashing...Ice cream sounds really good right now!

  • racy
    racy Member Posts: 976
    edited November 2011

    Ladies, after trying various hot flash remedies with minimal success, I started Efexor last week. My flashing has been minor for some time but the sweating on face, head, neck and back continues.



    If you have used Efexor and successfully eliminated sweating, can you tell me a) what dose you take; and b) what time of day you take it.



    Thanks ladies.

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,886
    edited November 2011
    Racy,  I know some women take the lowest dose of Effexor (37.5 mg.) and it helps with the HFs, I take 75 mg. because I take it for fibromyalgia too.  I'm sure your script is for twice daily.  I take mine 7-8 a.m. & p.m..

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