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[roseB]

Thanks very much for that Taz and Elainejh I think I may try the antidepressants as the anxiety does get me down and I know it will only get worse as Christmas approaches.

[Bibby]

Sorry, this thread is HUGE, showing how much of a problem this is, so I haven't read right through it (apologies).  I read a while ago that Hot Flushes can be provoked by carby, sugary foods and I think this could be right.  Maybe people should be observant as to what they were eating or drinking just prior to a hot flush.  If the 'cure' could be as simple as tweaking the diet, it wold be great.  I hope this helps

[Margarett]

Doesn't explain why they come on in the middle of the night though!

[Bibby]

Did you dream of a Muffin? 

[Margarett]

No. I don't like muffins, and I find that comment rather flippant.

[Bibby]

Margarett, my original post was a genuine suggestion of a possible cause of hot flushes.  There is information available on the net, here is one quote
"Refined Sugar

Consuming too much sugar or simple carbohydrates can trigger hot flashes. When you ingest sugar, there is a spike in blood sugar which then elevates the body's temperature. In addition, sugar has a vasoconstriction effect increasing the heart rate. This increase in body temperature and heart rate can trigger hot flashes. According to Rose Paisley, N.D., a naturopath at Nature Cures Clinic in Portland, Oregon, you should avoid processed products containing refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Natural sources of sugar like maple syrup, honey and pure cane sugar are better choices in small amounts, but avoid "food in a box" containing refined sugar.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/78070-foods-produce-hot-flashes/#ixzz2CEktqkQ9"

I am sorry I obviously misread the spirit of your original response and answered in what I thought was similar style.  I will think twice about any answers to you in future.  Meanwhile, I sincerely hope my original post is of a help to others. 

[catweazle]

Hi Bibby 

Thank you for posting that link. 

I agree sugar can provoke flushes, well it does in my case anyway! I am a jelly baby addict and know there'll be a price to pay if I over indulge. Chocolate is even worse but that's probably because it contains caffeine as well. I think diet plays a big part in flushes, identifying things that set them off can be tricky but once you've worked it out you can reduce your suffering.

I wonder if a dip in blood sugar during the night could trigger a flush? If your liver then releases some of it's stores of glycogen..... Just a thought!

I always sleep better if I'm not hungry when I go to bed. A biscuit half an hour before retiring usually does the trick.

I also avoid caffeine in drinks and don't touch alcohol any more.

Catweazle x

[Bibby]

Hi Catweazle7, yes, I have definitely noticed a connection between flushes and carby foods.  Your point about a crash is very interesting.  I don't know enough about the subject, but it sounds plausible.  My grandmother was plagued by hot flushes, thankfully I am not.  But she was an alcohol drinker, whereas I rarely bother.  I also know for sure that stress causes flushes in me, too.  I am about to cut the carbs, but this is mainly to lose weight and (hopefully) the spots across my shoulders that appeared about a year ago.  They are horrible, and embarrassing.

I am lucky really, my flushes arent as horrendous as other peoples, I hope they stay that way, though at least in the winter its some welcome warmth, whereas in the summer they really were a curse.

[lady57]

I too have noticed a connection between too much sugar and an increase in flushes. I also get less at night if i have a bowl of cornflakes late evening so i do not go to bed hungry which could confirm the dip in blood sugar theory.

[Bibby]

Hmm, complicated, because surely cornflakes would cause a dip in sugar levels at some point during the night. Unless it depends on the quantity of cornflakes eaten or maybe blood sugars behave differently when asleep?    I know i would get heartburn if I did it, LOL!  I wonder if keeping carbs low all the time, which evens out the blood sugars, avoiding highs and lows, would be better in the long run. Oh well, if it works for you, then that's great, eh! 

[catweazle]

I think digestion slows right down when you're asleep so you don't get the same fluctuations in blood sugar as when you eat when you are awake. Just my theory...
A small snack before bed seems to keep me on an even keel till morning. 

Catweazle x

[Buffy]

So, to summarise - to keep my hot flushes to a minimum, I have to cut down on anything with caffeine in it, sugar, fat, alcohol - does that mean I am going to have to actually eat fruit and veg now?? On a more serious note though, I have today just decided to cut out tea, coffee and alcohol for a few days to see if it makes any difference. I already eat plenty of fruit and veg and have cut down on sweet stuff in an attempt to lose a few pounds. We have some friends for Sunday lunch so doubt my alcohol abstinence will hold firm that day, but I shall continue next week. Watch this space!

[Taz2]

Mine ended up every twenty minutes day and night and what I ate didn't seem to make a blind bit of difference.

Taz x

[Margarett]

That's my opinion too, Taz. I suppose if you usually eat a lot of sugary things, then stop, you might see all sorts of changes, but as far as hot flushes go, I haven't noticed any difference.

[lady57]

Why would my cornflakes cause a dip, my mother was diabetic and if she didn't have a snack before bed she could go hypo in the night, now that really is a dip. and i don't see what the make of cornflakes has to do with it at all.