Hot Flash Forum!
Comments
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elimar, everything you said is right on!!.....except for the statement about sending the family off on a 5-yr holiday and....I went through peri-menopause for like 2 yrs then hit menopause and the flashes were all the time...not just sometimes.....I have been in this thing for 8-9 years now...when will it end :-(
send them on a 10-15yr holiday LOL
I guess you are talking about induced menopause from drugs and not natural menopause.
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Linda54, I haven't had drug-fee menopause yet, not really. I had perimenopausal flashes before starting Tamox., with my natural manopause occuring during Tamox. use and that is where I am at now. Others have written that the flashes can continue on for years due to regular menopause, and I'll have to see if that is going to be the case with me in a few more years when I am done with Tamox. But not everyone keeps flashing, so maybe my body will get a clue and will understand that no matter what kind of flashy tantrum it throws, it won't be getting any more estrogen!0
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Ooooops! Deleting a glitchy repeat post.0
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Hi ladies,
For some reason I hadn't run across this particular thread in the forums, but wanted to jump in and say hi, since i'm now experiencing hot flashes. Been on Tamoxifen since 8/25. So far some great information. I've been debating effexor for about 10 days now, and I really, really do not want to take it, mainly because of the withdrawal effects. i have first hand experience with those brain zaps, having weaned off lexapro a few years back. They are brutal, and a physician friend of mine told me effexor's are the worst. Just spoke to my MO about black cohosh and she told me that its been found to be no more effective than a placebo, but she doesnt mind if i take it. So, in order to bump this discussion back up, would anyone like to chime in with their opinions on black cohosh?
Thanks!
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Susiell - Welcome aboard!! I can't speak to the black cohosh but wanted to recommend a remote controlled stand fan for the end of your bed with a timer if you have hot flashes at night. It makes a world of difference for me. Actually I have fans everywhere. I don't take anything for the flashes. Other ladies will come along with more thoughts - (c:0
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kayb - You have a better memory than me! I looked back at my notebook and I tried 'Menopret'. My note says 'didn't help'. Ha! I also tried clonidine, which didn't help either.0
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Thanks kayb. Good to know that a low dose of effexor may not cause brain zaps. I'm still on the fence about it. If I'm going to take an anti depressant, then I want it to be one that will also prevent the anxiety attacks I was taking prozac for (up until August 25). My onc just called in the prescription, but I'm seeing a new pcp next week so will discuss the general efficacy of effexor as anti depressant with her. In the meantime I am going to pick up some remifemin (sp?) today and give that a shot, since my MO says she doesnt mind my taking it.
FYI, I have a fan going all night long, always have as I like to sleep in a cold room. That, plus the ac blasting has kept my bedroom at subzero temps. DOesnt help!
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Susiell - It sucks doesn't it?? Typed as I sit here one big sweat ball.0
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Susie...I am on the lowest dose of Effexor, and went a few days without it recently. You will have the brain zaps. I take 37.5. I'm going to wean myself off for the winter. I did that last winter, when I weaned off Pristiq. Same zaps for three weeks. Not fun, but onceI knew what they were and about how long they lasted, I was ok.
Elmira, you are right on the money. I don't have night sweats, but if I wake up and have to go to the bathroom....instant flash. Lol.
I was off tamoxifen for ten days before fat grafting surgery. After four days, no not flashes. It was wonderful. Started back up, and here they came again. I was peri menopausal when I was diagnosed and am now fully menopausal. Have been for a year.0 -
My hot flashes are so much worse when I eat badly; especially sugar. Much better when I eat well and exercise. Anyone else notice this?
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Ginger48 - Linda54 noticed the link between eating well and less flashing too.0
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Eating well = less severe and fewer flashing
But I was really surprised while spending several days in Vegas (went on the 4th TaTa Sisterhood Reunion in Vegas) that I did not have many flashes and believe me I did not eat clean...LOL
If you have never been to the reunion make plans to go next Sept...we had several new ladies this year. It is a blast!!!
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Hello. I didn't see this discussion board so I started a new one to ask some questions. Oops. So I am pretty late in joining the conversation. I went thru menopause way before I was diagnosed and did treatment. I used to take estradiol ....loved ittttt. I miss it so much. These hot flashes are getting to be too much. I have been sticking it out all this time. I too have tried Effexor and neurontin and herbal remedies and nothing worked. I was wondering if anyone is doing hrt even after having breast cancer! Thank you for any info you can share.
Cindy0 -
cinrae123 ! Did you know that the thread you started in 2007 is still going strong!!
"taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin" It has helped so many!
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Omg.....I am so glad. I haven't visited these forums for quite some time but have kept them on my favorites. Maybe because it is breat cancer awareness month....I had this urge yesterday to revisit a couple of the forums. Wow....what a time that was. I got choked up reading it. I am still in contact with several ladies from the Starting chemo in 2007 thread .....one gal started a facebook page for us so we keep up on each other there. It has been a special bond with us that's for sure. I have evn met a couple in person.
May I ask....were you on the TCH thread? And if so....how are you doing?
I am hoping someone can shed some light on my question. I really want to go back on estrogen. My onc doesn't really want me too but my thinking is if I was er-pr negative.....why couldn't I? Besides the terrible hot flashing....my hair is very thin (everywhere), dry dull skin and belly fat. I am thinking that hormones play a big part in all of this.
Thanx again all!
Cindy0 -
cinrae - Yes, I did TCH. I am still kickin so far. I know those of us who are ER+ can't take estrogen. I know how you feel though, I went into chemopause with TCH and we thought it was permanent so I was switched from tamoxifen to letrozole. Well letrozole woke up my chemopaused ovaries and they started making estrogen again. For about 2 weeks my hot flashes were cut in half and I slept 5 hours in a row. I I went back on tamoxifen right away and my hot flashes went back to 'normal'. Those few days with estrogen were great though. Did you ask your doc about estrogen for ER-?0
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Hi Cinrae,
Yes, I am taking Estradiol after breast cancer. I was diagnosed at age 45 with stage 2B her2 positive (er/pr negative) breast cancer. I am now 52. After 7 years of hot flashes (that started when chemo started at age 45) I could take it no more. Because I wasn't er/pr positive, I decided that hrt therapy was right for me. I now feel like a million bucks. Hot flashes are GONE. :-)
Mary Jo
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Omaz.....I go too see my onc the end of nov....so I will ask her again then. In our previous visits....she was not too keen on the idea.
Marejo.....that's very cool for you. Glad you are feeling much better taking estrogen. Like I said.....I miss my estrogen very much. Besides the hot flashing....I firmly believe the lack of estrogen has some big effects on women. My thinning hair has been a thorn in my side ever since it started to come back after demo...
Thanx ladies for your feedback!!!
Cindy0 -
That was supposed to say after chemo not demo. Sorry
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Hello old friends, haven't been here in awhile. Think of you from time to time. One of those times is now.
have written a new thread.
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Hello all, just a pop-in to announce a new thread---"INDIVIDUAL TO DO & REMEMBER LIST/CALLENDAR"have been trying to figuire out how to do this for months. Duh , then it was so easy. MODS MAY CHANGE FORUM, BUT SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS IF IT'S IN YOUR FAVORITES.
Link to NEW THREAD :
community.breastcancer.org/for...
Seasons Greetings to All, have a blessful and blissful New Year. Sheila/sassy
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Hello all. Well I went for my follow up with my onc and she is definatly not for me taking estrogen. She suggested me trying Effexor again. The first time I took it I only took it once and took it in the morning and I just didnt feel like myself in the head, like I was in a fog some where else ( if that makes any sense?). so I didn't take it again. She told me to take it at bedtime this time. I've been taking thm for about two weeks and I think that my hot flashes have gone down in numbers. She said it takes a few weeks. Needless to say.....I still miss estrogen for other reasons too. She said she wouldn't prescribe it but if I was dead set on it...to ask my gynocologist. So for now, guess I'll keep with the Effexor and in the future talk with my gynocologist.
Thank you all for your input and your own situations. Happy holidays to all!0 -
Happy Holidays cinrae and sas!
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KayB, Hello my friend. To add to your info which is highly appreciated, there is genetic testing avaiable for 2D6, 2C9,2C19. They have been available for several years. I first started studying the cytochrome P450 pathways as research became available over the last two decades. My interest became intense when I failed chemo and Arimidex/Femara. Also, DH's lymphoma had returned and he was headed for new chemo.
The CP450 pathways are numerous. 25% of all drugs/chemicals take a first pass through 2D6. Other common pathways are 2C9, 2C19. Many more. Testing will show if a pathway is present, slow,intermediate or fast metabolizer. Each will alter drug use or choice of drug. Better able to identify drug interactions b/c pathways can be blocked or altered by a drug as seen in kayB's article above.
*The FDA Federal Drug Administration has required drug manufactures to identify pathways for > a
decade. .
*The inclusion of pathways has been required to be in drug information for > a decade.
*Development of testing for other pathways is ongoing.
Insurance companies have progressively come on board as to paying for testing. Reason: economics versus care for the insured. The testing allows drug prescribers to avoid drugs that can't work b/c the pathway is absent,slow,too fast,or interacting with meds patient already on. Thus, avoiding a drug with no chance of working or complications created by a drug interaction that could have been avoided. The spectrum of considerations of this subject are HUGE.
*Medicare covers testing
*Insurance carriers that don't cover it may be cajoled into covering it with a letter stating "I have been
recommended the following medicine by my Doctor to treat the following_________. The genetic
testing will allow my Doctor to forsee the drugs ability to work in my body and or prevent forseeable
complications. By taking medicines without knowing the above, is more costly to you the insurer
because you will be paying for the drug(s) as part of my coverage. Also, the potential cost of treating
an avoidable complication is an economic benefit that offsets the relative small cost of testing".
This type of letter, also, puts the insurers on notice that if there is an untoward outcome that can be shown that is related to these pathways, there may be a legal recourse for patients. The legal term would likely fall under "Constructive Notice". Money talks.
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Thanks so much for update kayb. I will discuss this with my oncologist. Just when we think something has come along that is good, it is then discovered to be bad
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OMAZ---yoohoo (hooting and waving) L&H's sheila
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SAS - Waving back at cha!!!
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What Causes Hot Flushes During Menopause? Link to article
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Omaz a seminal research article to be sure. It has implications that goes beyond hotflashes that will spur research and influence drug research, for along time to come. Does the influence of the KNDy cells on vasodilation have any impact on hypertension control or treatment, heat stroke, neurogenic shock, septic shock? Four that come to mind. The key thought being, centrally controlled cells that cause peripheral vasodilation at the arteriole level. For those that have studied clonidine/Catepres this is what this drug does. Clonidine, a centrally acting receptor blocker, which causes the relaxation of the arteriole. The arteriole is at the end of an artery. The tightening/constriction on the arteriole causes BP to rise, relaxation causes BP to reduce or fall. Direct use of the drug was to reduce blood pressure. Once the arteriole was relaxed and blocked from constricting, then an indirect affect of the drug was noted to be a reduction in hotflashes. This is b/c the vasodilation was constant and the cooling was ongoing versus episodic. This has been discussed much in these pages. Use by members with success varied. Why is unknown.
Drug development always has sought to target a specific "Problem Source". That source may be a body part or an invader like a virus, bacteria, or fungus. Many drugs not only influence the direct body part, but other body parts. We preceive the influence on other body parts as side effects. Pure drugs that don't have side effects, don't exist, but science is trying to develop them all the time. This research will help in that regard.
May all of many faiths rejoice together in this time. sassy
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omaz, that article says that the hot flashes last 4-5 years....I had to laugh at that statement.....I had perimenopause flashes for several years then full blown hot flashes now for little over 6 years. Everytime I visit my mom (she is in another state) she always ask me when are those things going to leave you alone...LOL...she only had mild ones...what I want to know is why some women suffer so bad and others never experience a flash?....we are all women with the same female parts....
Merry Christmas....flash away flash away flash away on Donner on Blitzen...and etc..
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Linda hello haven't seen you since the "C" thread. How long before BC I don't remember, I read a study that said that 10% of women will experience Hotflashes permanently. ERGHHH. I was researching it b/c the Flashes seemed to go one forever with me. Did not calculate length by documentation.? Asleep . now awake. Be back later.
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