Ok ladies - I need help with this issue just all of a sudden. What works, what doesn't and how to survive?

My Dr recommended flax seed oil, it has helped lesson the hot flashes for me

Well, let's see..I have stuck my head in the freezer, made ice packs for my neck, sat in front of the fan when it is 70 degrees,slept with the AC on 65 degrees and the fan blasting on me, taken ice baths and.....nothing works. Face it, it is here to stay (at least for a while or you turn 80).LOL The only saving grace is that only happens when I move. No, take that back; it is actually intermittant and I never know when the flash will occur. Such is the life of a woman sliding into the geriatric ward......

Every one is different but for me I found eating Soy made a big difference. I made tofu stir frys and used soy milk. Taking a pill is not the same. I refused to be put on estrogens.

I wish you luck.

Rita

I take Estrablend I buy @ WM...... They have daytime and nighttime pills.....
Oh!!! How I wish you luck......................
PS What the other ladies said too also work...

I use fans...they only happen during the day for me, and unless they start to affect my sleep, I don't want to take any medications. I know to dress in layers...if needed, only cardigans, not pullovers for outer layers....always a t-shirt/something short sleeve on for lower layer. I can have hot flashes in winter when my house is at 64 degrees, and in summer with air conditioner on...have learned to just turn on the fan the minute I start to feel one coming on and that helps.

Black Kohosh..........helped my sister in law. Her hot flashes diminished quickly. Ask your pharmacist if you are taking other prescriptions and if there is any conflict.

I can tell you that I did not go on any hormone replacement therapy against dr. orders. I did have a couple of hot flashes but I controlled everything with herbs. Black Cohosh is the first thing I tried. Then I added Evening Primrose oil and Black Current. I put some other things in at times but if you do a search on herbal remedies you will get some idea of how I went about it. It works but you have to stick with one thing to see how you do and then add something else. Herbs don't work fast and sometimes it takes 6 weeks or more to get a result. But if you're like me and don't want to do HRT you will find a way. I sailed right through it and didn't have any depression or night sweats!

Take some vitamin E pills right after you eat a meal.

I opted for hormone replacement (HR), I work 12 hour shifts,work hard,on my feet-I felt like I needed to do what ever was constant and worked very well. I do go off it once in awhile to see how I do, usually last 2-3 months, become one miserable, bitchy woman and go back on the HR. Everyone is happier-me, my family, co-workers, and my patients! (I love fall! My favorite time of year, I love the jewel tones and lovely yummy sweaters-I have a great closet full of them, just haven't worn them for 3 years) Good luck!!!!!!!

I started early menopause this year. Black Cohash works for me....over the counter supplement!!!

I think that is what im having, but my body isnt on fire but OMG do I sweat, dont have to do much either, have drs app on fri does it sound to you like hot flashes?thank you

Nothing really works...but a ceiling fan for the night sweats is a bonus.
I have fanned myself with the freezer door while my head was in the freezer....works, but you get very strange looks from family.

A cold can of pop held between your b**bs works great to cool off!

get vitamin e caps- mixed tocopherols. I got this idea from my naturopath. You may have to take several, but start off slowly and work your way up till you get rid of them. I am a big person, so at one point I was taking 8,000 iu's a day. I would not recommend taking that much unless you talk to a doc first. Try a little and see if it helps. Soy products have a plant estrogen, would not recommend them.

Edited: I have been taking them for years, but am down to 1000 iu's each in am and pm. I believe the only reason I am still on them is due to side effects from anti-cancer drug, Femara. I am very thankful that I know about taking vit. e.

HRT isn't the evil some people make it out to be. If you are really young when you hit menopause HRT may be better for you because without the estrogen women start having issues with bone density. If your symptoms are really bad, then this might be your answer. Only you and your Dr. can decide.

I hope you find an OTC that helps with symptoms but I stick by my HRT bioidentical estrogen. Besides dealing with the hot flashes, it helps with the osteopenea.

For a lump in one breast a doctor suggested that I start taking small doses of real vitamin E, finish that bottle and go to a larger size.
For whatever reason my starting hot flashes went away, never returned.

Not so lucky me, my OB dr told me because I ovulate from both sides every month I would be very old before menopause sets in. I had nightmares for a while about being 95, having Parkinson's, and trying to change my tampon, OR worse, having Alzheimer's and forgetting to change it. Lucky me, I ended up having a hysterectomy but keeping my ovaries, no menopause, no periods, life is good!

I WAS TOLD ESTROVEN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT WALMARTS REALLY HELPS I AM SORRY TO SAY NOTHING HELPED ME BUT THE HORMONE PILLS I AM 48 AND BEEN STRUGGLING FOR 8 YEARS WITH IT .GOOD LUCK

I use a estrogen patch - had hysterectomy at 39 - dr. took everything including the kitchen sink. I am now 46 and still feel the heat. It took a few years to figure out what dose worked well - I do good with the dose now but I do have the flashes. When I upped the dose had other problems - so I just live with it.

Ditto. Love my patches!! My doctor told me she'll be on them the rest of her life. I have tried to go off them, but it's impossible for me. And even more so for my poor DH! :oops:

:D :D :D

I rub estrogel on one of my arms every night. Works great for both me and my family, lol. THEY know when I run out, too. They either have to be on their best behavior or wear lots of clothes. My worst times are the night sweats. During the day, I run my wrists under very cold water, and it helps.

Another one where Black Cohosh worked. I didn't have to take it for very long, 6-12 months. I don't use anything now, still have hot flashes but they are tolerable. My hotflashes seem to fluctuate almost like a cycle where somedays i don't have any at all or just a couple mild ones. Then I will have several all day and night that are more intense. During this short time (few days to a week) I do get a little worn down but I know it will pass.

Black Kohash worked for me. Took it 4 times a day.

I probably would be much less sane than I am if not for HRT. When you have 50-60 a day you'll do whatever works. Plus I was only 41 when it started. You will become an expert at slipping one leg out from under the covers and then and then back out, etc. Try all the suggestions given one at a time until you find one that works for you and good luck. Glenda

Because of a family history of osteoporosis, I chose not to go on HRT. What helped for me was ginseng. I tried making straight ginseng tea but didn't enjoy it much. So instead I added one ginseng bag to every pot of tea I made. Also, I found my nights were plagued with hot hands and feet. So before bed I filled the bathroom sink with ice water - what a blessing for my hands in the middles of the night!!
Good luck with whatever you try.

I'm curious if you've had a bone density test before and after the ginseng to see if it helps your bones. I understood that the HRT helped with bone density/osteoporosis. I was on the estrogen patch, then got breast cancer, off everything, so am taking Estroven Nighttime which helps me sleep and helps with the flashes. Also, I'm advised to stay off of soy since it has "estrogenic" properties. I'm not advocating any of this for anyone, just sharing my story.

Sleep on a beach towel to absorb the fluids from the night sweats. Was wringing out my nightie during the night. I can't take estrogen as I had breast cancer that grew due to estrogen.
You can get through it without hormones if you decide to. Not easy, not fun. Sorry we ladies have to go through this. One of life's many little jokes.

Had everything out at 34, had to be on HRT for years everyday....now low dose and every other day, tried to get
off but miserable, hope to one day...I am 70..boo hoo

agoldencomet wrote:
Because of a family history of osteoporosis, I chose not to go on HRT. What helped for me was ginseng. I tried making straight ginseng tea but didn't enjoy it much. So instead I added one ginseng bag to every pot of tea I made. Also, I found my nights were plagued with hot hands and feet. So before bed I filled the bathroom sink with ice water - what a blessing for my hands in the middles of the night!!
Good luck with whatever you try.

Stitchnripper wrote:
I'm curious if you've had a bone density test before and after the ginseng to see if it helps your bones. I understood that the HRT helped with bone density/osteoporosis. I was on the estrogen patch, then got breast cancer, off everything, so am taking Estroven Nighttime which helps me sleep and helps with the flashes. Also, I'm advised to stay off of soy since it has "estrogenic" properties. I'm not advocating any of this for anyone, just sharing my story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, so sorry! I meant to say that I did not go on HRT because of a family hstory of cardiovascular disease (a risk of HRT). The ginseng was to minimize the hot flashes. As for the osteopenia (which I have), I take calcium, Vitamin D and magnesium supplements. My done density is remaining constant now; so the supplements are helping.
Now I just need something to help my memory LOL!!

Black Cohosh worked for me.

Sabre Sciences Hot Flash Free Extra- Strength Menopause Formula Natural Progesterone Cream
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/sab...846076-product
i've tried everything but finally ended up with this-works for me. i had hot flashes well over 10 years, then they went away, but now are back!
they dont' usually carry this in the store but can get it for you. saves shipping.

When I started to have hot flashes I searched a lot of websites for "cures". The one thing I found is that there is no cure. I did find one website that had to have been written by a man. It said to ride your hot flash like a wave. Just lean back and enjoy it. If I could have gotten ahold of the author I would have thrown him in a furnace and told him to enjoy it.

staying away from caffiene, processed sugar, and red meat seems to help me quite a bit

I hate to tell you this, but I just turned 80 and the hot flashes are still tormenting me.

Wow! Do you have sets of twins?

I have a petite friend who gave birth to 2 sets of twins, none identical. Was afraid to get pregnant again! Twins run in her family - I wonder if this is why?

Now I get it! I'm also on calcium, Vitamin D, and magnesium and holding steady. I also do some strength training (I am not a body builder!!!) which is supposed to help.

yep< no what you mean, they laugh at me all the time.

I will have to try the some of these remedies. I am on my 4th year of having hot flashes and I think they are winning. We just moved to Texas and I am not happy with the hot temperature, hard to be when you feel 100 inside your head.
I also have osteoporosis and am taking the extra calcium and multivitamin. By the way I was only 41 when I started, It has taken me awhile to not feel "old" since I was thinking this would not happen till I was at least 50. It felt like I had lots 10 years. Then when I found out that I had osteoporosis that was another blast to my mental health. I am finally coming to grips with all of this. I just look at some of the women God has placed in my life that are active and happy in there 70's and I think that I am acting older than they do. Trying to change all of that around.