HOT FLUSHES - Mainly ladies but lads too if you have anything constructive to add.

[julesapple]

Last year my (then) GP had me on far too much Levothyroxine for my under-active thyroid. It caused depression and I was seriously not myself; in tears constantly, losing my hair, and I very nearly committed suicide. It was that bad. Depression was diagnosed, prescriptions for nasty pills given out but not taken. I didn't want pills I wanted my problems solved rather than masked. I thought it was the usual things; money, fighting with the DD, etc etc. Indeed, had I listened to one of the locum GPs, who wanted to increase my dose, I would probably be dead now - I kid you not, the suicidal feelings were unbelievable.

Anyhoo, because I wasn't myself I wasn't taking the Levothyroxine correctly and accidently halved the dose. After about eight weeks I started to feel better, my hair stopped falling out and I felt like I could cope with my life. But, in all the time I was taking too much Levothyroxine, I didn't have a hot flush once. I had the most god-awful periods but no hot flushes.

So a dodgy thyroid seriously mucks up your cycle whichever way your thyroid goes. It's been my experience that GPs are pretty useless at diagnosing thyroid problems unless they are dancing right under their noses wearing a bobble hat, hi viz jacket and doing the cancan across their desks....Everyone's thyroid is individual to the person, like fingerprints. What's 'normal' for me isn't normal for the next person.

If you fit any of the many symptoms for hyper- or hypothyroidism keep nagging at GP for blood tests. You do have to lean on them really hard, mostly.

I know I'm approaching the change and I'm looking forward to getting shot of the monthly horrors, but I'm not looking forward to it screwing with my thyroid after last year's experience.

[marchogaeth]

.as I am too young apparently to have them. Sigh.

At 33 I had "a menopause" even got grey hair. At 33 I was told I couldn't possibly have kids, at 33 and seven and a half months later (I was 34 but you get the idea) I was a mum after a full term pregnancy. Grey hair went (despite having a second child), body started working again. At 54 it was "suddenly" discovered that I must have had the menopause a couple of years earlier and someone in the doctors had mis-read the results so I'd taken the pill for 2 years when I didn't need to. I had had that one almost un noticed.

The thing that really worked for me was acupuncture. I am a bit aware that this is in danger of becoming a "medical" thread so if anyone wants more info, I'll leave you to PM me.

[zazen999]

It is unbearable in this extended summer, all these flushes. Honestly, there have been times I didn't think I was going to make it through the next hour, particularly when teaching outdoors. And I sleep under a fan all year round. I can't wait for this to end!

[Plot10]

Wow, all these posts in less than 24 hours. Really strikes a cord with a lot of us.
I'm really wary of taking anything that might interfere with the pill and as it works for me I don't want to change it for something like the coil. I was told by one doctor that the age your Mum went through the Menopause has a bearing on when you go through it and as my Mum was in her mid 50s and I'm 45 I could have a while to go yet. My mum was 43 when she had me so pregnancy is a real fear for me.

Another question, for those who are or have been on the pill, how do you know when you are going through the menopause and when you are "safe" to come off?

[marchogaeth]

Another question, for those who are or have been on the pill, how do you know when you are going through the menopause and when you are "safe" to come off?

As I understand it, when you get to 50, you can have a blood test every 12 months and they can tell from that when you've had the menopause, then you can stay on the pill for 12 months after that, then you need to take other precautions for 12 months to be safe apparently. Just make sure the person at the end of the phone when you ring up for the results is giving you the right info (see above).

[binley100]

I always thought they wouldn't prescribe the pill after a certain age and as to the grey hair .... I wish my grey had gone after having the second one

[Dorothy rouse]

I do sympathise with you ladies, it's awful! I went on HRT, for a couple of years, cos I thought I can't cope with these hot flushes, was working then. Then I thought , age 52/3 ish, oh I'll come off them, it will be ok! But it wasn't and they returned with a vengeance, returned to GP, who refused ( nicely) to prescribe again, as he said would still have to go through it at some stage, and as I had already been off the for a couple of months, best stick with it !

Tried herbal stuff 'sage' pills I believe, cotton sheets, no duvet, fan, avoided caffeine ( not alcohol) , did eventually ease, but did take time.


DottyR

[marchogaeth]

Has anyone tried Star Oil? I've heard it is amazing.

[Verinda]

I take Tamoxifen which hopefully will prevent a re occurrence of breast cancer, I've been taking it for a year now and got four more years to go. It makes hot flushes even worse, but for some mysterious reason, while I suffer all day I'm ok at night time which I think is something to be thankful for!

[julesapple]

Has anyone tried Star Oil? I've heard it is amazing.

Is it just called Star Oil? Gurgle just comes up with diesel and kerosene. Much as I love the smell of anything oil-based, I'm not sure I want that for my menopause.....

Star Flower Oil comes from Borage. You can make an infusion from the fresh flowers which helps during your period or with hot flushes, or you can buy capsules. It's good for other things too; renal, cardiovascular and respiratory problems.

[veggiechicken]

Try Starflower oil

[Glutton4...]

Just popped in to report a decrease in caffeine consumption today, and a decrease in hot flushes! However, since I came home, I've had coffee and now a G & T and the flushes have returned.

I know the menopause is different for everyone - my Mum, for example, was horrid, but her Mum sailed through it. It is also different if you've had a natural one or a surgical one. I knew mine was approaching, when they changed my pill to the 'mini' pill when I was about 45. The flushes started, and my childhood eczema returned. I believe this is due to the reduction in male hormone. I have actually had hot flushes since puberty, but nothing like these, and I'm sure the warmer summer is making it worse, just as the colder winter made the cold flushes worse. I don't actually believe there's anything wrong with my thyroid.

Hope you're all feeling fantastic today!

[marchogaeth]

Try Starflower oil

Sorry that is what I meant.

[mothhawk]

I used to drink REALLY strong coffee - 2 heaped teaspoons of instant per mug, in the days when it was powder, not granules, and I was a huge chocolate addict.
I also found with caffeine that it gave me really bad period pains. (That's why I suspected it was connected to flushes too) Once I'd worked that out, and watched dates so I had nothing containing caffeine the day before or the day my period was due to start, then I had no more pains ever again.

[binley100]

I've got some Menopace tablets to try ....... now all I have to do is actually remember to take them