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[lovesflorida]

Hi all! Haven't been on here for a while but thought I'd share how I'm coping ! My flushes were awful- I work as a building society cashier and the flushes would appear out of nowhere. My friend recommended menopace original so I thought sod it and gave them a go! They were brilliant- I now only get 1 flush a day on a bad day which is great! The tablets have helped a little with mood swings although I still wake up most days wanting to murder anyone that even looks at me the wrong way lol!  😳

[Taz2]

Thanks for the update lovesflorida! Glad you are still doing ok.

Taz x 

[yorkshirerose]

not very well, I have a tower fan on all night which has caused other problems like dry eyes, tried sage but no luck - GP has suggested anti depressants but not sure I want to go down that route yet....

[nothappybun]

Going to the frozen section in my local ASDA, it's heaven! I've been asked several times if I need help  My hot flashes are awful, before HRT I had one every five minutes and it got to the point they made me heave. Tried soya, isoflavones and other herbal remedies with red clover, black cocosh for three months and no improvement only thing that worked was BCP. Now I'm getting them mild in the daytime and in the evening a couple an hour. I have difficulty regulating as I have Raynaud Syndrome and if I try cooling down it triggers it! So I sit around in shorts and sleeveless tops with thick socks and gloves 

[Barefoot]

I'm on antidepressants, not for depression but for hot flushes. It's working brilliantly. It has caused some debate on another thread but it's working for me for now. I'm taking sertraline and the effect was immediate. As soon as I took the first tablet the hot flushes stopped and no night sweats. Sometimes I do still get a little bit warm, but nothing like before. ADs have side effects though and they were bad for the first week, I felt nauseous, headachey and generally mind altered. But I'm ok now and enjoying life without all that sweating!

I also avoid hot drinks to some extent as I think that brings one on, but I can't give up my cuppa teas altogether, that would be too miserable. Layers on the bed, layers of clothes, for taking on and off. Riding my bike in the cool breeze - now that's relaxing. 

[Fgreg24]

Hi Everyone.
I'm new to the site and would like some help.
I have been suffering from flushes for around 18 months or so bit recently they have become unbearable. As have the night sweats. I'm soaking wet, smelly, constantly showering or standing in the garden to cool down, I don't sleep, I'm depressed, tearful and bad tempered. All the usual symptoms.
I went to my GP last week who was wonderful. She has directed me to this site and I have another appointment next eeek to see her again to discuss what I would like to do about my symptoms.
My question is this. There has been so much bad publicity about HRT should I worry about taking it. Have many of you had good results or any side effects.
I really want this to stop but I am worrying about taking HRT.
Help please.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM Fgreg24
HAve you introduced yourself on the new members section?  More ladies will respond if you do.
HRt can be great and it sounds to me as though you need to give it a try.  You have everything to gain and nothing to loose by trying it.  Ignore the negative press - 5 years of HRT in your 50s will protect your heart and bones for the long term, it will reduce meno symptoms and can give you your life back.  The risks are very small up to the age of 60 so don't be frightened. We keep saying here on this site that ‘quality of life' is everything.
Read up all the info on this site to get clued up - you've clearly got a good GP so you should go back and ask to try HRT - perhaps Femoston 1/10 to start with as this is a good one with a kinder progesterone that suits many women well.  It is sequential so you'll get a bleed each month but if you have been more than 12 months without a period you could move to a conti version after 3-6 months if this HRT has suited you.
It is often trial and error before finding an HRT regime that suits you but once you start you may find you feel loads better within a couple of weeks.
Go for it girl.  Keep us posted DG x

[Dizzyone]

Hi ,
Im new from today and due to my recent issues, my husband and i searched and found this forum...hooorrraaayyyy
Anyway about 6 weeks ago, i had to change my Hrt as my previous Hrt had been stopped.
I have lived with SP Ms for nearly 14 years, so i started taking the replacement/ new Hrt which i was advised by the Gp,was fine, same, no proplem.
Around the same time i started getting ( they called it) restless leg syndrome.
I would go,to bed and after about an idea, my knees would spasm and twist. This went on for up to 4 hours each night.
My Gp put me on a different neuro,drug ( was using Gabapentin, put on Pregablin) .
Therefore for the first week the Gabapentin and
Pregablin were both in my system. I lost majority of my sight in first week, not much feeling in fingers, left arm, dizzy etc but the legs werecsame when i got to bed.
I was on Pregablin for 4 weeks when i spoke to Gp and was told to change times that i was taking it.
On one of my sitting downstairs after getting out of bed in agony, i discovered that one of the many side effects was  'knee jerks'
Anyway it went on with no change. No advise from emergency locom, other Gp's as my Gp was by then on leave.
By 6th, the hot flushes were getting worse, i had a nasty body odour.
Im now on 7th week and the point to my post...Hrt is fine when you have one that works but when it doesnt work, the hot flushes overheat body, the MS gets angry , really angry.
Im waiting for a Gp,to call me back today to advice of a different Hrt.
My annoyance is, myself and my sister are with the same Gp. My sister also,has MS ( RRMS) and last year she had such bad hot flushes that she fell,and broke her ankle . This was EXACTLY the same Hrt change etc, etc.

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to Mm dizzy one.
I would start your own thread so more ladies can respond and help.
If you can tell us your age, when your periods stopped and the HRT you were originally on and the new one you have been trying, this will really help us to support you better. 
Do browse around the site - particularly look under TREATMENTS at the top of this page - get really clued up about your options so you can discuss things better with your GP.  Sadly GPs are rarely up to speed on the various HRT options so it's best to bring a print out from this site so you can suggest what you would like to try. It will be a trial and error process till you find the one that suits.
I suspect you were on one of the older types of HRT that are being discontinued as newer, more natural, types are generally better.
Adjusting to a change in HRT can bring problems and as you have MS this must be particularly difficult.  There may well be other MS sufferers posting on MM who will be able to give you more advice as well.
DG x

[Lisa]

Hot flushes
The hot flush, or flash, is well known as the classic menopausal symptom and affects 60–85% of menopausal women. Hot flushes and sweats are called vasomotor symptoms and vary immensely in both their severity and duration; for many women, they occur occasionally and do not cause much distress, but for about 20% they can be severe and can cause significant interference with work, sleep and quality of life. Women are affected by vasomotor symptoms on average for about 2 years but, for about 10%, symptoms can continue for more than 15 years.
Hot flushes usually last 3–5 minutes and are thought to be caused by a change in the temperature-controlling part of the brain.Normally, there is a daily pattern of rises and falls in your body temperature, being lowest at about 3am and highest in the early evening. These small changes are not normally noticed, but a menopausal woman may flush with every temperature rise, whether these are normal changes or not – for example, moving between areas of different temperature or having a hot drink – because of a change in the setting of the temperature control centre in your brain; your body thinks that it is overheating even when it isn't. To try to cool your body down, a variety of chemical reactions cause the blood vessels in the skin to open up, giving the sensation of a rush of heat, and sweat glands release sweat to dissipate heat.
It is believed that the changes in various hormone levels that occur around the time of the menopause, lead to the change in the setting of the temperature control centre, but the exact underlying mechanism is still unclear.
Other factors that can also cause flushes include being overweight, alcohol, excess caffeine, spicy foods, monosodium glutamate and some medications. Eating a healthy diet and losing weight if necessary can be helpful. Other simple measures that can help include:
•           wearing cotton clothing rather than man-made fibres
•           wearing loose thin layers of clothing rather than thick tight-fitting clothes
•           keeping your bedroom temperature fairly cool at night – either leave a door or window open or consider a fan (partner permitting of course!).
Flushes affect every woman differently and, for many, no specific treatments will be required. When flushes are embarrassing, disruptive and affecting your quality of life, then help is available and your doctor will give you an individualised treatment plan – we are all unique!
Headaches, palpitations (sensation of heart racing) and dizziness can be associated with vasomotor symptoms. Excess caffeine can worsen palpitations, so take coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks in moderation.
 
Tell us what works for you.

[babyjane]

Hello Lisa, I see this is your first post.   

Did you want to post something about hot flushes?  Most of us have had or are having experience of this 

[Janey]

After 18 months of hot flushes which were becoming unbearable,I tried HRT this turned me into a depressed gibbering wreck - I tried 2 different sorts and never want to feel like that again, In fact I was prescribed anti-depressants to get me back to 'normal' (whatever that is in the menopause!!!)  That sorted the misery, but still several hot flushes a day and about 5 or 6 night sweats which  woke me up every night I was beginning to feel at my wits end!!!   I must admit I would try anything which will
a) SHIFT WRINKLES
OR
b) STOP MY MENO SYMPTOMS

It would not matter how ridiculous it is, I am there, headstands in the local park/ice cold showers/ tap dancing naked in the high street - I'd try it just to feel better!!
 HOWEVER!!! a friend of mine recommended high strength (1000mg) starflower oil capsules      IT HAS WORKED!!! I AM SO HAPPY I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!  Down to about 1 flush a day and that is only if I am flustered!!  Now sleeping almost through the night!!   
I know each of us are different, and it may not work for everyone, but after about 10 days I really noticed the difference and a month later all is still well!
l would also like to say that reading this forum has helped me enormously, and thank you to all you lovely ladies who have made me realise I am not alone... It has been a real turning point. Thanks once again xx



Im out to buy this tomorrow

[Suzanne123]

Hi everyone, I haven't been around for ages, but started re-reading this thread yesterday.  I saw that someone mentioned that antihistamine tablets helped her with her hot flushes.  I thought it was worth a try - so yesterday I took one, and didn't have a single hot flush that day or night!  First time for absolutely ages.

Anyone else tried that?

[Jenni]

Don't believe it when "experts" say hot flushes only last for a couple of years. I've had them for over 20 years. I'm 67 now and had a brief respite when I was on Tibolone, but had to come off it in July after I had a TIA (stroke). Now the flushes are just as bad, I can't sleep. my sex life is ruined and I'm severely depressed. I've tried everything in the past and nothing worked. Any new ideas that won't interfere with Clopidogrel or Statins???

[Dancinggirl]

Hi Jenni and welcome to MM
I totally understand - the menopause isn't something you 'get over', it's ongoing.

I am 61 and stopped HRT over a year ago now.  I do find my flushes are worse when I am stressed and a good nights sleep  is now in the distant past. I do a lot of brisk walking and Mindful Meditation which helps me with stress and fatigue but I have simply had to adjust my life to cope with the irritating things that meno throws at us.  I did do fine on HRt for many years but I found the side effects became more and more troublesome and quite frankly the side effects were outweighing the benefits.
SEX - well, do get some local oestrogen e.g. Vagifem, as this will help restore and maintain the vaginal area and help with bladder issues as well.  This is very low dose so is very safe and can be used for the rest of your life if need be. I find it is essential to use lots of lubrication when having sex as well.  Using a vaginal moisturiser daily to help maintain the flora balance in the vaginal area is also essential - I use SYLK but there are other good products e.g. YES vaginal moistursers. AS for ‘libido' - well that is difficult - feeling relaxed, desirable and in the mood is something that has to be worked on with your partner and of course if you are sleep deprived and feeling low then that is really tough.
If you are depressed then trying an AD or SRRI is perhaps worth pursuing, these might help with sleep as well, although that can be trail and error. I occasionally take a Nytol to get a better night but I often spend many hours in the night doing Mindful Meditation, telling myself that it really doesn't matter whether I sleep or not. IF I haven't had enough exercise during the day then I do find it more difficult to sleep.  Reassessing your diet can also help. Try avoiding dairy and drinking Soya milk or other alternatives instead? Eat small amounts often. For me the brisk walking is my saviour. Perhaps find a gently exercise class e.g. yoga?
I would see your GP - write down all your issues and ask what they would suggest might help. Ask for the Vagifem and enquire about any SRRI options.   Perhaps ask for some CBT as this can be really helpful.  I believe it is about learning to manage the challenging meno symptoms and having strategies that, may not cure, but may help how you feel.  DG x