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

[SarzWix]

The thing with the coffee and other stimulants is something to do with the adrenal/progesterone connection I think - your adrenals use progesterone to produce cortisol, and cortisol is what's released to counteract adrenaline/stress response/inflammation. Also, your body uses cortisol to convert thyroid hormone T4 into useable T3. So, if your body is making less progesterone, and you use up what's there to counteract the caffeine-stimulated adrenaline/stress response, then there'll be less cortisol available to regulate your thyroid hormones, giving typical thyroid symptoms.

That's my theory anyway, and my gp confirmed the progesterone/cortisol link.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Damn, think I need to cut back on the caffeine! (I drink lots of coffee)

[Glutton4...]

Does anyone else get a 'panic' type of hot flush? Having read Sarz' post, above, it has got me thinking; Sometimes, when a hot flush starts, I'll get a shot of 'panic' like an adrenaline rush - it swamps me with heat, but also I get this 'shock' feeling, too. It runs down my calves, mainly. Not as severe as a proper electric shock (touching the electric fence for example), but very similar. Weird!

I'm gasping for another coffee, but forcing myself to go without.

[susieq100]

I took HRT for nearly 10 years (early menopause wrongly diagnosed by GP following laser treatment for dicky cervix, the wheel had just fallen off my menstrual cycle) and then when I moved house, changed docs and they actually did proper diagnosis. I stopped taking the tablets about 4 years ago on GP advice. Flushes were appalling for a couple of years - literally bathed in perspiration, you could have run the central heating off me I was generating so much warmth - I still do get them, but less frequently and less fiercely. I was told about the caffeine, red wine, chocolate thing and debated with myself about it, but not for long ..... at the time they were all the things that gave me serious pleasure! Now, I rarely drink red wine, rarely eat chocolate and I drink less coffee simply because I am less stressed! However, I could not give it up - not in the mornings!! I need a couple of mugs to get my brain in gear.

I experimented with Menopace and Oshkosh and decided that they were expensive and made no discernible difference (to me anyway) and so have just got on with it! Regarding the Reynaud's - sadly no! I still need to put woolly gloves on just to rootle in the freezer, and my fingers go dead and white in cold weather, if I am not careful.

What do you do with the Starflower Oil? How does one ingest it?

[Dorothy rouse]

Starflower - capsules, you get it inBoots or Health type shops, or online.

Like Oil of Evening Primrose.


DottyR

[scarey55]

Does anyone else get a 'panic' type of hot flush?

Yes, I do. Sometimes, if I have the time and I'm by myself when I feel it coming on, I can breathe deeply and calm it away if you know what I mean. My sister used to have it worse than me and she used to have a full on panic attack and sometimes she felt as if she wanted to push everyone away from her. I don't get the electric shock thing but I do think that my head is going to explode from the sudden heat.
One of the advantages of floor tiles is that when I feel a flush coming on I can slip my shoes off and stand on the cooling tiles which is very helpful.

[Glutton4...]

Aaaah cold tiles is a happy childhood memory. I'd get up in the middle of the night, creep downstairs and stand on the cold kitchen floor until my hot feet had cooled down, then go back to bed.

Incidentally, the 'shock' I mentioned earlier, only lasts about two seconds, but it must be adrenaline-linked, I reckon as it's very similar to a 'fear' feeling. Strange old things, aren't we!?

[Creemteez]

My doctor suggested Sage capsules as he is not fan of HRT. He did look at me funny when I asked if just eating more stuffing would have the same beneficial effects. I flushed ferociously for about a year. Would go and stand out in the garden and watch the steam rise off my arms! Doesn't happen so much these days.

[Creemteez]

it must be adrenaline-linked, I reckon as it's very similar to a 'fear' feeling. Strange old things, aren't we!?

I know that feeling,G4! Like a very mini panic attack. I used to get them before a flush. Sort of an early warning-here it comes!

[Glutton4...]

I'm so glad some of you know what I mean - thought it was just me going bonkers! LOL


No, don't even think it, you lot!

I've had fewer coffees today (I don't drink tea), and instead of my ritual G & T, I'm supping a prosecco with cranberry. No flushes to report so far...

[Yasai]

I was told by loads of people in Japan that Japanese women seldom take anything for menopause because they generally don't have hot flushes or anything like that. As has been said, they attribute it to the amount of soy bean that they consume. I didn't have a single period pain the whole time I lived there; they're back now, though.

Having said that, fermented soy bean is regarded -in the West, at least- to be a lot more beneficial to the body than things like soy milk and tofu. Probably, for most people, the most palatable way to consume fermented soy bean is miso soup. It's quite common to have this with every meal in Japan, but it's high salt so I guess one maybe two bowls a day may suffice. There's also Tempeh, which I've never tried and Natto which I love but which my family/friends like to cheerfully point out, whilst I'm eating it, reminds them of a bronchial discharge, lol. Some people link unfermented soy bean to dementia, amongst other things, so I've stopped consuming it.

Although it's high in caffeine, they also drink green tea like it's going out of fashion. They drink so much of the stuff that that must have something to do with their lack of adverse symptoms too, I reckon.

[binley100]

Day two of the tablets and only remembered to take it after I'd eaten .......

I get the head feels like its going to explode thing ........if I've got my glasses on they have to come off before they strangle me ..,

[zazen999]

I get a feeling as if I want to shout [scream] 'rollocks' at the top of my voice [or something just like it] for no apparent reason. I don't but that's what it is like. Just at the start. Very odd. Almost like I am doing it but in my head...like I am sneezing it though, rather than shouting it. Probably not explaining that very well.

[binley100]

I just feel like I want to kill something/someone ........but it goes quite quickly luckily .....

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Was out last night and had two coffees - proper Italian coffees and I had steam coming out of my ears all night. I think I need to get to grips with this. Does anyone have difficulty switching their brain off? My memory is shocking, I think my brain is worn out.