OH Those Hot Flashes!

[Aries]

Hi there...join the club! I am going to be 50 in 4 months and these hot flushes are just the worst and so embarrassing, because they arrive at the worst moments. It is like a in-built heater and when that is switched on, I just sweat profusely. I believe that Vitamin B is good for hot flushes as well as Primrose Oil. But, I just seem to think that it is something that we are just going to have to cope with until it does its time. But, I can certainly sympathise with you. We are in summer at the moment and the temperature hits 30 degrees, so you can imagine how I feel. Winter will be better and the consolation is that no matter how cold it is outside...inside it is really warm. Well, we have to see the funny side of it otherwise it will drive us insane! So, just know that you are not alone! Keep smiling

[flautodolce]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum and new to hot flashes. When I started having them a month ago, they were coming every 15 to 20 minutes. Not only did I feel like I was in an oven, but I perspired so much! Sweat would drip off my face and hands (very embarrassing when I was out in public!). My clothing absorbed the perspiration from the rest of my body. To make it worse, I couldn't even put two thoughts together. When I figured out that I wasn't going crazy - that I was in the throes of menopause, I made a mad dash to the nearest store and bought the first thing I saw that was supposed to help - which was Celestial Seasonings Menopause teas, and some Dong Quai tea by Yogi Tea. They have helped with the frequency of the flashes, but not the intensity. After reading Susun's website and these forum postings, I can see that I have a lot to learn about what are good herbs, what are not so good herbs, and how to determine what herbs will be effective for me. Menopause sounds like a long journey, so I think I have time to explore my own personal combination of remedies. One thing I found today - a Chinese 'scent' fan. It is a a cloth fan that you put your favorite 'scent' on (today, mine is jasmine). When I use it to cool myself, it becomes an aromatherapy delight! My friends think I am blowing these hot flashes all out of proportion and being over dramatic - especially with the fan. I think that's been about the hardest to handle - going about my daily routine and TRYING to pretend that nothing's wrong. It's a bit like trying to pretend that water isn't wet.
flautodolce

[Aries]

Hi there,
Please could someone out there tell me exactly what symptoms I should expect once the body starts shutting periods down. In December I had 2 periods and I have been spotting ever since...is this normal? I also have hot flushes but not all the time...and my mood swings are swinging...
So I look forward to be hearing from anyone out there who understands this metamorphosis. I am going to be 50 in 2 months and only started my periods at 16. I thought late start...late finish???? So, this is really such a pain and I wonder how long this will go on for 'cos I am not clean for 1 day!!!

[lindasu]

ah. the delights of menapause. one thing i've noticed is that the duration of perimenapause differs greatly among women. for some it's just a couple years, others (like me) take 10 years or more.

i sort of jump-started into it at age 38 when my mom died suddenly. my periods just started coming and going all over the place (previous to this i was a 28 day regular from the age of 12). then when i was 41 or 42 my first hot flash hit in the form of a tsunami-force night sweat. woke me right up and soaked my side of the bed. of course i had to wake brni and tell him what happened. he said, "what's a night sweat?" so i shoved my hot dripping body right up against him (i just like to share ). he's been very understanding every since.


anyway, my flashes have been true power-surges. not much helped me except cutting my coffee and alcohol consumption, drinking lots of water and yoga. (oh, and i learned never to wear silk.) the yoga had a wonderful side-benefit of curing the stress incontenence that sorta accompanied the whole experience.

for me, the lack of adequate sleep was the worst thing. i doubt i've had a full nights sleep since that first flash . constantly up and down with the flashing and the peeing and the crazy, obsessive thoughts. it's not so bad now, dunno why.

after i was finished around 48 or so (i'm 53 now), i sorta realized that i'd been a bit difficult to get along with. an out of control, raging lunatic is not easy to be around. when i realized how awful i had been, i took the time to go to every person i interacted with on a regular basis and apologize for any distress i may have caused them. i'm amazed how understanding (and relieved) my family, friends and coworkers were.

anyway, i've found the experience very interesting. even tho' it's been intense, i've never been so overwhelmed as to go running for the hrt. i think attitude is important. i remember how intensely interested i was in the changes i underwent during puberty and then in pregnancy. i kinda find this just as interesting, but i'm a little wistful too. i'm a bit sad to realize that i'll never be pregnant again, but i also feel a building sense of freedom and strength in the whole process.

so, my advice is to focus more on the actual experience and less on trying to erradicate the symptoms. do things to nurture and comfort yourself, but don't deny yourself the experience of moving through this major change in your life.

[Molly]

Hi, everyone.
I came upon this forum when doing on a search on "herbals and menopause." It came as a real suprise to me to read Brynne's post and her links on "Soy."

What a disappointment - and how frightening, in a way, it was for me to read the links Brynne referred us to about the possibly harmful effects of soy products.

I have been taking two supplements for menopause recently, one of which contains Black Cohosh and the other of which contains Soy Standardized Extract and isoflavones. The HOT FLASHES I was experiencing stopped completely after taking these two products regularly for about four days. What I did get, though, was very sore breasts and some moodiness which I am not sure is attributable to PMS (my FSH is 43, so I may still get a period or two) or to the black cohosh and/or the soy supplement. I haven't had a period since January and the hot flashes and night sweats started in earnest right about that time.

I got desperate and started taking the above-mentioned supplements, never thinking they'd have such an immediate affect on the hot flashes and night sweats.

My thoughts were that I had discovered a real goldmine in these supplements and that others could benefit in knowing that relief could be had "safely" and naturally. I guess, after reading the articles on soy's safety - or lack thereof - I was dead wrong.

Thanks for listening - and sharing any thoughts you all might have on the matter. Happy Easter to everyone.

How many drops of black cohosh do you take and how many times a day?
I started taking black cohosh about a week ago and I am still having hot flashes about every hour on the hour (hmmmm I must be really healthy)
molly

[LadyB]

*BUMP*
grumble, grumble, grumble.....

After going quite a long while being flash-free, they've STARTED again and it's gotten SOOOOO obnoxious that I re-read Susun's entire chapter on Hot Flashes and was ashamed of how I can't hold much of any thought other than I HATE THIS!!!!!!!! Here I am, flashing away, during the SECOND HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD for New York.

Mistress Meltdown, at your service......

I spent a week in Oregon recently where, in the summer, it is MUCH drier than one might imagine. It felt as though, as the week went on, the these flashes became less and less frequent (now maybe that's because you don't STAY hot and clammy when the humidity is LOW as compared to here, where it's 97%. But as soon as I got back, they started up again.
Ugh.
So tonite I self-tested with all four Hormone Helpers (for anyone curious, Self-Testing is on my web site) Vitex, Dong Quai, Black Cohosh and Mugwort......ohhhhh WUNNERFUL, got a total "Get AWAY from me with that stuff" on every last one. BUMMER. I got a resounding YAY on Motherwort, so I'm taking a dropperful of that when I get EvilCranky.

I KNOW they're 'Power Surges"....just sometimes it doesn't FEEL that way. I was trying to explain it to my 21 year old male gardening assistant. I told him "Remember how we felt on Monday? When it's so hot and sticky you just can't move? Well, I can generate that FROM THE INSIDE with no warning......in the middle of the night......"

If it is, as Susun says, HEALTHY women who FLASH more, then I'm just GLOWING.......grumpf.
LadyB

[Holistic Menopause]

Hi everyone,

Those "power surges" are a symptom of both estrogen dominance and estrogen deficiency. So, it's important to figure out which one you are!
This is why Black Cohosh just simply doesn't always cut it.

I'm happy to send Day 21 of my 28 Day Online Retreat to anyone who requests it. The symptom of that day is "hot flashes and night sweats" and the corresponding topic is "Confidence".

This is a 28 day unfolding, experiencial workshop, but the information on hot flashes is good and relevant for all.

Just email me and I'll send it as my gift.
Michelle

[Holistic Menopause]

Hi WhiteAsh,

"To soy or not to soy" is a big question with plenty of dispute around it. I think it's important to consider a few things when contemplating the use of soy. The most important thing to remember is "moderation in all things".

1) If you're in perimenopause, when estrogen dominance is behind your symptoms, soy can do more harm than good. I always suggest avoiding it until later, when actual menopause is upon you.

2) Thyroid issues are so common in midlife women. Soy works against thyroid function, and can therefore affect ALL hormones.

3) If you're in menopause or beyond, (a full 12 months without a cycle) a little soy is good. Be sure it's organic, NON-GMO and fermented. More is not better!

Hope this helps a bit. It's a decision we all need to make and the research is conflicting. Consider the sources carefully. Many are motivated by sales of products.

Michelle

[syd]

I am wondering is there any way to lower these levels through alternative meds? I am 46 and my fsh level is 57. ideally to have a child the doctors need to see 6. all thoughts are appreciated.

[GrannySam]

Interesting; my hot flashes have started up again after months of being totally gone. While the day-time hot flashes don;t bother me too much (they are pretty mild) my biggest problem, like LadyB, is the hot flashes at night, along with the insomnia and omg those night sweats!

I haven't started the major sweat thing YET...but if/when I do my ally for those is the Sage infusion suggested in Susun's book. I went thru all the other steps and when I got to the Sage infusion it worked in three days. Amazing! Just turned em off for months.

I remembered a post by Gr8hands (I think) about using Cranio-Sacral massage to stop hot flashes. It just so happened that my monthly massage was yesterday so I asked Debra to do C/S on me. I have to say there was a bit of improvement last night. I slept better and didn't wake up kicking covers off or freezing. Better! Thanks Gr8hands! I'll post if they go away again.....


Blessings,

[LadyB]

WEll, I just have to add to this....

We had a HORROR of a day today.....hot and MUGGY. Hurricane parts, rain, sun, STEAM, more rain......YUCKERS.

I go roaring into the post office announcing that I HATE it when I get out of the AC in the car and my GLASSES steam up. Anita behind the counter agrees. She puts tape on the envelope I'm mailing as my brain had turned to mush and I totally forgot to do it. The woman next to me agrees that this is DISGUSTING but at least I have the right DRESS for it. (I'm braless in a short sundress) and then I add...."Yeah, and then have a HOT FLASH in the middle of it!" All THREE of us let out a Group ~Arrrrgggghhhhh~ and collapsed on the counter. Anita moaned about taking off her sweater, I went through the motions of FLAPPING my dress and we all LAUGGGGGHED!....and then laughed some more. I have NO idea who the other woman was, but for the moment, we was Sistahs in FLASH.......

VERY funny....
LadyB

[Tamara]

yes....those flashes....I work around ice now and that's a good thing. I shave ice. It's light and fluffy like snow. In fact we get extra piled up and have a summer snow ball fight......

[GrannySam]

Hi,

Reporting on the Cranio-Sacral work. It did help, a little, on the hot flashes but I still started in on the night sweats.

I made myself an infusion of sage and have been drinking about 3T of that in a glass of water every night for the past four nights. Almost gone now. I'm thinking another night or two and things will be peaceful again. I also slept better last night than I had in awhile.

Blessings,

[Refela]

Hi,

I am new to the forum. I had a total hysterectomy when I was 36 (I'm now 48) for endometriosis. I was so bad that I almost lost part of my colon and bladder. Had several surgeries to get it out but it would grow right back. After reading all the posts about hot flashes, I have a question. I took natural HRT for a few years and then gave it up. I have gradually adjusted to no hormones (mine don't even register on the lab test) but now my blood sugar is acting up. My doctor wants me to try a low does of estrogen and progesterone cream for awhile to see if this will stabilize the blood sugar. I also have osteopenia. The weird thing is, when I started back on the HRT, the HOT FLASHES started back again. This has been going on for 2 weeks. I have not blown any transformers yet, but it's coming. I have gotten Susun's menopause book just a couple of days ago, so will read there. Anybody got ideas about why they started back?

Hot in Alabama,
Karen aka Refela

[Tamara]

I don't understand the technical things about hormones. They do seem to effect us. I have been learning about some herbs that may help with blood sugar. Devils Cub bark is one I am reading about and using. I am learning more about wild yam root for hormone balancing. It's good you got that book....it's great!