Hot Flash Forum!
Comments
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Hi everyone,
This is my first post on this forum although I have been reading this thread for over a year now. I am thinking of going on Effexor to treat my hot flashes. I have been trying to "suffer through" them but recently I got a good job working in palliative care in a local long term care facility. This place is HOT and STUFFY and my flashes are SEVERE and I cannot think when they creep up on me. I just want relief. In addition I find I have a lot of anxiety when I go to work due to the flashes. I am going to make an appt with my Dr. to see if she will prescribe the Effexor. I am worried as I do not want to add more to my drug regime. Currently I just take tamox, and I am on a clinical trial for metformin.
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Timer, I am the same. The flashes give me anxiety. I have been on Effexor for a year. Was great the first couple months, then they came back again.
I am weaning myself off as I want to see if there is a difference. It is not fun to get off of. Lots of side effects with brain sensations.0 -
Hi Fluffqueen,
We are in the same chemo group.
Taking the Effexor is an extreme move for me, I do not take this lightly! However I cannot stand these flashes any longer. May I ask what dose you started with? I am asking for 37.5 and then if needed the 75. Now the trick is to get a Dr. Appt. just placed a call to my Onc, hopefully he will just phone in the script. Oh the joys of living in a small town with no Dr.'s
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Hi Ladies - Sas told me it was time to come here - I will give you some ove my background - Signature tells you my dx, I just found out both my older sisters have IDC - all, including me ER/PR+ and one of my sisters has Hers2+ on top of everything. With this being said, I have tried all the AIs and ONC took me off all of them because of severe SEs that he thought were over and above what I could handle for 5 years. So, I have had the tamoxifen bottle on my headboard for a year and then my sister called 3 weeks ago to tell me she had BC.. I decided it was worth the try.. ONC says to start half dose (knowing all my sensitivities) for 2-3 weeks then go to full dose.. I'm on week 2 of half dose and between the inner child playing with matches, and the insomnia I'm not sure what I'm going to do - especially for 5 years. Can't take Effexor - it lays my flat for 48 hours and get med induced apnea. Sleep doc has me on trasodone to try to get me some sleep - at a quarter lowest dose - I'm hungover still 12 hours after taking it, headache, and still get up 5 times a night. My cool pillow from Costco doesn't work with my side sleeping with a CPAP mask on - Bummer. I have my foundation waterbed heater turned all the way off and I make the water warm by just laying on it.. It is very important and this med seems to be my last ditch effort to keep BC away - Both my sisters are the age, if I were to get a recurrence that's how old I would be. I am watching all my diet for things that enhance the estrogen and stay away from them..and am working with an ONC nutritionist that helps me when I'm not sure about something. She is up to date on all the guidelines for keeping cancer away. What to do.. what to do..
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Hi All,
Just an update on my Effexor experience. So far NO HOT FLASHES!!! I cannot freakin believe it! Before my flashes were crippling. I had huge anxiety as I am starting a new career path and whenever I was a least bit stressed I was hit with a hot flash. Not cool trying to act like you know what you're doing and all the sudden start sweating.
The Effexor has also has helped with my over all moods, that's a bonus.
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Hi folks dropping in with some links that you might find useful. Store away to pass around:) sassy
Someone mentioned CancerandCareers on the financial forum. GREAT web site for all things employment Thanks. I added it to my thread for newbies Just diagnosed -get prepared. Also, found another web site today, that I have included the link for, it is evrything you would like to know about saving money on drugs. The question and answer below the links are in regard on how to make the system work for you re: meds received in a cancer center.
Edit:6/6/13 Found two new web sites that are a must to review. One is on saving money on drugs. Start with 'home" page , then the really helpful page is the "About Us" Pg. Link is to home pge.
This next link is dedicated to most of the need to know info regarding work and cancer. BCO has much information on the main borad, but this link is much more expansive
HAVE A CALL OUT TO MY RESOURCE PERSON:If you bring in the coupon taken from the web site to the cancer center, will/can it be utilized to help pay copay ANSWER to question NO.
Per my resource: This is how to make the website work or other resources work for you while receiving cancer meds in a cancer center, SPEAK UP and let them know you need financial help, best to do when you have initial contact with CC. What they then do, if they are connected like mine, they go through their resources the same we would, but would be contacting as a a provider. Grant money or assistance can be available under all kinds of circumstances. Do not assume you make too much money or b/c you have insurance, money is not available. If say you get turned down initially, recheckin should circumstances change.
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Hello Flashing gals,
Just wanted to share what has worked for me. I also have decided not to do the Effexor and have been flashing 10-20x a day since chemopause and Tamoxifen started in 2009. Fans are terrific, as we know, but sometimes not available.
I bring a standard lunchbag frozen cold-pack wrapped in a bandanna in my tote bag. If I feel a flash starting, I put the cold pack between my elbow and my side and clamp it firmly with my elbow/upper arm. It seems to create a cold spot in my circulation which somehow stops the flash.
At work, I am blessed to work in a lab with a really cold water faucet. Running ice cold water on your wrists/forearm will also stop the flash.
These tactics plus dressing in (cotton) layers of course are helpful.
Hope this will help someone!
Sue
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I've not posted here but today I reached what feels like my breaking point. My quality of life is affected by hot flashes. Effexor worked for a time and now it is very hard to get off, but I am doing it. I work in patient care and I sweat til my face drips, my hair is wet, my clothes stick to me, and I just want to cry.
Can ER+ people take over the counters such as Remmifemin? Does losing weight help? Give up coffee help?? I miss my HRT and I hate Tamoxifen. I hate all of this.
Sorry, I just had to vent. :-(0 -
Had a rough evening/night with hot flashes so I thought I'd wander on over to this forum (hi Beckers!) Oy...I'm really over this crap.
I tried Effexor when I first started taking Tami, then stopped Tami but have been weaning myself off Effexor over the last three months. I think I'm finally off of it - but it was horrible! The Effexor helped at first, but after a few months the flashes came back with a vengence.
I notice that I "flash" when I drink - wine, beer, liquor, whatever. Someone above mentioned sugar, which I hadn't thought of, so I'm going to use that as my excuse for giving up refined sugar (been trying, just not doing very well).
I notice my hot flashes also seem to bring with them a physical feeling of "anxiety" - almost like that adrenaline rush you get when startled or have a "close call" with something dangerous. My heart pounds and my system feels "heightened" - not sure how to describe it, just hoping someone understands. It's that feeling that wakes me up in the middle of the night, not the flash itself. Does anyone else get this?
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Hi Nancy! Small world ;-)
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I've had good luck w/ daily easy exercise (a 30m walk) and acupuncture--The chillow is great at night...
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I am fully menopausal and I've never had a hot flash in my life. I attribute that to the antidepressant Paxil, which I've taken for years for anxiety.
However, my aromase inhibitor is waiting for me at my local pharmacy, so I think that is all about to change now. Yipes!!!
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Pbrain..I had a hysterectomy in 2006. I started Arimidex 2 weeks ago. I have never had a hot flash. I do feel my body heat up once in a while but not often. I guess that might be considered a hot flash. Maybe you will have the same luck or maybe I haven't been on it long enough to have all the SE from it that others do.
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Hi folks, I'm one of the old gals in this thread. Please, consider going back and reading from the beginning. We learned allot, that may have value for you now. Here's to keep dry:)!
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I will definitely go back and read. Thanks!
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I've been on Tamox for 2 years, 3 months. The hot flashes are bad but I have learned to live with them. Putting my hair up in a pony tail def. helps. I get about a dozen a day. During the day when they hit I suddenly feel like I'm about to implode. At night, I get the chills and I can't get warm, then my skin gets so hot it feels like I've been sitting in the sun. Hot flashes suck! I will be stwitching to an AI in October, since I was perimenopausal when I was diagnosed and haven't had a period in over 2 years and my hormone levels show I am now post-menopausal. My onco said it is more important for me to be on an AI now than to stay on Tamox for the full 5 years. (The study that came out recently re: staying on Tamox for 10 years vs.5 was on younger women who were not yet in menopause.)
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Timerdog...sorry, I missed your question from a month ago. I was on the lowest dose. It was great for about two months, as Nancy mentioned, then they came back. Once said I could go to 75, but I just decided the same thing would probably happen and then it would take longer to get off of. I stuf with it for a year and then weaned off.
Now that I am off, I don't really notice much of a difference between when I was on and off in quantity. A couple of them have been really bad.
I do think that Effexor helped with the anxiety feeling that I get during a flash. it is exactly as Nancy HB described. so far, not enough to send me back to taking it, but if there was something that didnt require such and awful experience when weaning off, I would consider it. I'd like to go back to cymbalta which really helped with joiint pain and the anxiety feeling, but I can't take it with Tamoxifen.
I found a product the other day that I kind of like. It is called Clearly Natural Hot flash relief Spray. Made up of menthol and Oil of peppermint. smells like Listerine. When you start to have a flash, you spray one squirt at the base of your neck at the hairline. I don't know if it is the menthol or the peppermint oil, but it seems to help stop the flash more quickly and cools the body. Don't use too much. I tried two or three sprays on one flash, and it started to burn. and don't get it near your eyes.
I picked mine up at walgreens on clearance, but have seen it online.
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Hello. I was taking Effexor for 6 months ......i think it worked for a little while.....then nothing. I say I think it worked....although I was not rid of them completely. I stopped taking Effexor about a month ago. Went down from 75 to 37.5 every day for two weeks then 37.5 every other day for two weeks. I have off and on dizziness, lighted headed , nausea, feeling anxious,,,,,could these be signs of weaning off Effexor? And wondering how long it lasts? Any input would be muchly appreciated. Not sure if these symptoms are related to the weaning off Effexor or something else. Thank you!!!
Ps.......now I've started estroven. Hope this stuff works. I'm desperate. Lol0 -
Hi Cindy,
The symptoms you describe are related to the coming off of Effexor. Very difficult drug to get off of. I tried but couldn't stand effects so went back on. They are working well for me now. Less hot flashes. Less depression and anxiety.0 -
Cin, yes it sounds like Effexor withdrawal. I'm currently stuck on 37.5. Tried taking every 32 hours instead of 24 and can't even do that. I get same symptoms you describe. I'm going to try removing 2 balls from capsule per week. May take years at this rate!!! Good luck to you.
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Hot flashin' it! Come on, let's revitalize this thread. Up two nights in a row with night sweats and blazing HFs. Eating tons of watermelon! Just wanted to reach out to my sisters in hot flash. I've got an ice pack in my prosthesis bra right now..
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I'm with you! When 51% of the population are women and will go through hot flashes of some sort, don't you think there would be some better options?
I get them about 1x/hour round the clock. Sheesh!0 -
Me too! I get at least one per hour. And for the past two nights they've been all night. BTW -- I'm 42.
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Oh I'm so sorry. That's waaaay too young for hot flashes. Mine started compliments of tamoxifen when I was 49. I'm 57 now and long done w tamox, so I think they're my own. How much longer? It would be great to just know how much longer. lol
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That's right. How much longer?
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Well, not that I am glad that anyone else has the number of hot flashes I have, but it sure good to know I am not alone. I have them every hour, day and night. Haven't slept through the night in over 6 years. Finished Arimidex 13 months ago. I sure expected improvement by now. It's hard not to struggle with discouragement. It just amazes me that there no one has come up with a way to relieve them. It's a crazy life!!!!! I'd love some ideas!!!
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Dont' know what happened to that post!
I, too, have hourly hot flashes, day and night. It's been over 6 years since I slept through the night. When I finished Arimidex 13 months ago, I never thought I'd still be dealing with this. Nothing has changed, and it is a bit discouraging. Any new ideas? Sure wish someone would come up with a "miracle" for us!!!!!
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hi ladies
i was wondering if any of you felt this way...when i feel one coming on i actually feel sick to my stomach and dizzy - almost like a vertigo aswell (like the walls are closing in on you) i know when im getting one with these symptoms and lo and behold the flash flood follows. I am going to try cutting out sugar - these are getting unbearable
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I often feel sick to my stomach and light headed just before the hot flash begins. I also have "prickling skin" and sometimes a rush of anxiety. Then I know what is coming. Pull out the hand fan and throw off anything possible. And about 10 - 15 minutes later I freeze!!!
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Yes, I feel a bit sick right when they're coming on, too.
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