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

[kathyd]

I've had flushes for about 5-6 years now, although they're not so bad as they were. My brain dissolved too, I'd be driving along and suddenly have to start ripping my jacket off or lifing my hair up ... was OH who had the panic attacks at that time . But my brain just wouldn't function at the time at all. And I'd sleep on a towel for a while because of the night sweats. Horrible horrible horrible . I bought a book called 'Healthy Eating for the Menopause' by Marilyn Glenville - lots of really interesting info about which foods do what and why and how, and some lovely recipes. Needless to say, I tried some of the good things but failed to give up the baddies (life without chocolate or wine?? nah). So I can't really say for sure what helped if anything. But the woffly part of the book does sound very credible, and it's worth it just for the recipes . I still drink soya milk and eat chickpeas and beans and other yummy things, but I still get flushes too sometimes - I sometimes wonder whether my 'flushing phases' link in any way to when I would have had a period previously? I avoided black cohosh too after I read up about it, but a colleague found it really helpful.

[kathyd]

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.

Brain? Er... care to clarify?

[KittyColdNose]

FF, I think I know what you mean about switching your brain off. If mine is whirring away and I can't settle I go in the garden and pick myself a herbal tea. Always has mint and lemon balm in it then a bit of this and a bit of that, depending what I fancy. If I have a sore throat in goes sage, a headache then feverfew and a bit more lemon balm. I am drinking one just now with orange thyme and honey

I think I am perimenopausal, a bit young for it at 40 or so I have been told but that's my theory. I start with being so cold I get miserable, then I get the shock and warm up. Not a flush in the way some get them, but definitely on the hot side. I have always run on the hot side and love being hot to the point of melting when in the sun so I can cope with this mild flush.

I am a strange contradiction for a veggie. Not the healthiest I could be, Ieat/drink lots of soy, there is half a jar of tempeh in the fridge waiting to be eaten. Good so far. I love coffee, chocolate and wine... that's the bit I can't give up. Boo.

[Two_Sheds]

(mid-late 40s) starting to get bothered by hot flushes etc.

I was getting them, esp at night in bed. It's not like being hot hot, it's like an internal boiler firing up isn't it? The heat starts inside your body and radiates out, it's not like lying-on-a-beach hot.

I started using soya a bit more (the whole bean, in soups, salads etc) and I take Evening Primrose capsules, I cut out caffeine & alcohol. The flushes have gone

[KittyColdNose]

I get clumsy too. I need to go buy a new dinner service as I managed to smash four plates this afternoon. That's on top of dropping stuff at work and bumping into things.

[Laine21S]

Phyto Soya High Strength Menopause capsules - 60 capsules - Boots

Not cheap, but I found that they do work, so worth it :-)
Laine

[lettucegrow!]

I've been plagued with assorted perimenopausal symptoms and like lots of others here just wish it would all go away! Whats worked for me is high dose Evening Primrose Oil, 3000mg daily, and (dont laugh!) this Ladycare magnet - Boots
Ther's a couiple of us at work use this and it will make things worse for a couple of days but things are now so much better.
Just watch out for what you may attract!!!

[Glutton4...]

Well, just to update anyone that may be interested; I've just stuck on my first HRT patch.

We'll see.

[alldigging]

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.

Have tht feeling twice a day sometimes!
It is people dependent though.

[Glutton4...]

Have tht feeling twice a day sometimes!
It is people dependent though.

Only twice!? You're lucky!

People-dependent? Most DEFINITELY!

[julesapple]

I get clumsy too. I need to go buy a new dinner service as I managed to smash four plates this afternoon. That's on top of dropping stuff at work and bumping into things.

Do you know, I thought it was just me. I'm so glad other people are clumsy with it too. Also, finer motor skills suffer. Jings Kitty, I can't tell you how much better I feel knowing it isn't my imagination

I've been plagued with assorted perimenopausal symptoms and like lots of others here just wish it would all go away! Whats worked for me is high dose Evening Primrose Oil, 3000mg daily, and (dont laugh!) this Ladycare magnet - Boots
Ther's a couiple of us at work use this and it will make things worse for a couple of days but things are now so much better.
Just watch out for what you may attract!!!

Don't shove any chip & pin cards in your front pockets either, and be careful sitting with laptops near your tummy.

[Kitchen Gardener]

I am 61 and sadly still experiencing hot flushes through the night. Nothing I have tried has worked until I discovered a cream from serenity in Guernsey. Apply just a dab morning and night and it really does work. Just moved on to their 20-1 cream but not used enough to comment.

[Glutton4...]

KG, I have a chum who is 64 and still has them. She had a Hysterectomy in her mid/late 40s but they left her Ovaries in. She was on HRT but when her Sister died of Breast Cancer she was advised to stop taking it, and the flushes returned. She say's they're not as bad now, but still catch her occasionally.

I'm only on day five of the patches, and I'm still getting them. I'm also still waking in the night, but not soaking wet and feeling like I'm on fire, and I'm also sleeping a little better.

Fingers crossed...

[Glutton4...]

Okay - today is day nine.

I am sleeping quite a lot better, and although I am still waking during the night, it's not for as long and I'm not having trouble going back to sleep. The hot flushes are much less severe and much less frequent, and I haven't had any of the 'shock/panic' type.

Also, I'm waking earlier in the morning, and am ready to get up - yes, me, wanting to get up - unheard of! I have noticed that I don't have the almost constant tiredness, in fact I've been working longer, and walking the dogs further and more frequently, and I'm not getting out of breath. I've also noticed I don't yawn every five minutes, and I'm no longer looking for excuses to sit down!

Think I'll keep on with these patches...

[MrsCordial]

G4 they sound great - long may it continue!

This post is fascinating. I'm early 40s with a non-hormonal coil and a strong suspicion that I am both perimenopausal and have an under-active thyroid, despite blood tests to the contrary. I won't list out my symptoms but I have so many of them that started all at the same time last year, for no apparent reason. I know the blood test is a very blunt tool but I just don't have the fight in me to insist on different tests until I get a diagnosis and treatment. I'm surprised to see so many women 'of a certain age' on the pill. I was 38 when I had DS and the docs wouldn't let me go back on the pill afterwards as I was pretty much too old. I didn't fight them as I don't think it's a panacea, though I took it happily from 16-30.

Atm I take evening primrose, something else (I can find what it is if I rummage around but can't remember off the top of my head - might be starflower) and a B complex multivit. I didn't bother for a few weeks and had PMT from hell last month - seriously negative thoughts and just awful tearfulness and all that jazz - so now I take them religiously every day. I'm also ridiculously clumsy, get foggy head, was freezing cold all last winter (even driving with a hot water bottle on my lap) and also have the odd panicky moment, which makes me very cross with myself.

It's so hard to know where to go with handling the menopausal symptoms and dicky thyroid. Generally I eat well (I'm a big believer in fats so eat a fair amount of those but don't eat a lot of carb, usually), try to keep busy physically and mentally and not dwell on things too much. I don't know how long that approach will be enough to more or less keep things together - fingers crossed!