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[chicken]

Hi Taz - think they were called Estradot - only one month supply in the box. Patches had to be changed twice a week. Have been back to the doctor this week and going for a blood test with a view to going back on them for a year. She said they don't like to prescribe it women over 50 years of age (turned 50 in April) but there may be an underlying cause to all my symptons other than menopause - maybe thyroid? Got a bigger problem taking my mind off all of that anyway - have Cellulitis on my foot! Had an insect bite 2 weeks ago that  wouldn't heal - so itchy that I tore my foot to pieces during the night and then it swelled up huge - and have huge blisters all over it. They drew a line around my foot to see if it spreads and now on two lots of antibiotics! Funnily enough - not had a night sweat since all this started!!! lol

Chicken x

[Bette]

She said they don't like to prescribe it women over 50 years of age - if she says that again, see a different gp! Mine says that "the clock doesn't start till 50" and then you can take it for 5 years without any concern. Mind you, she's happily prescibing it to patients in their 70s. So many of us on here are frustrated by the fact that gps can't seem to agree on this.
Hope that your foot is better soon. 
Bette x

[Taz2]

I agree with Bette - 50 is when you start taking it not when you stop!! Hope the foot gets better - it is not something to trifle with so make sure you follow any instructions carefully and rest if you need to.

Taz x

[silverlady]

"She said they don't like to prescribe it women over 50 years of age"

that makes me so mad over 50 is when you need the ****** estrogen!!!

I am not one to curse but honestly

silverlady x

[cuddlycaera]

I first had flushes two years and they weren't too bad, but I wasn't working at the time which took the pressure off. The worst thing back then were the mood swings although once I realised what was going on it helped a lot. Like many people, when they stopped I did think blimey what are people moaning about I'm ashamed to say    
Well that'll teach me won't it, they've come back with total vengeance and are getting worse by the day it seems. I wake up at least 5-6 times during the night and today I've had at least 20. I'm drenched every time and definately not looking forward to going back to work next week! I'm lucky enough to be able to have a fan on at night which reduces the drying off time. I also sleep on a towel and wear cotton t-shirts to bed.
Even though I hate them the worst bit for me are the chills that follow especially the one I have every morning where I literally just freeze, its truly awful, i'm someone who hates the cold anyway.
I'm only two days in to taking my HRT so I know it will be a while before they kick in and (hopefully) sort them out. At the mo I have a berocca every morning (Vit C drink) and also take EPO with Starflower oil, Zinc, Flaxseed oil caps & Vit B complex. I don't take them all the time and have stopped while I get into a routine with my HRT, also I wasn't sure if it was ok to take them at the same time.
The best thing about this is that I found this forum, which is a mine of information and the peeps supportive, informative, funny and very welcoming.
So a big    to you all

xx

[carmel]

I have been taking Starflower Oil for over a month now and I have to say that it has really helped with the night sweats and hot flushes.  In fact so much so that one night when it was a bit cooler I actually had to put a blanket on the bottom of the bed.  If you had told me that six weeks before I would have thought you were mad.  I feel so much better now that at least I can sleep at night and know that I'm not glowing every so often during the day.  I also take B vitamins and Chromium but it definitely is the Starflower oild which has made the difference.  I'm not on any type of HRT and although I have mood swings I can cope at the moment.  Thanks for the tips here.

[SushiFee]

My flushes started in May aged 51, with maybe 4 or 5 a day and although I didn't have night flushes I had to have the electric fan on my at night (I live in the Middle East so night temps are not naturally cool)!
I purchased myself a fold out fan and just got on with it!
The flushes got worse as I felt as though I was sitting on heated chairs at times! Not easy when flying and demanding my husband change seats with me as mine was definately heated!
Just about when I'd had enough (2 weeks ago) and was wondering what I could take for them, they suddenly stopped a month after my 52nd birthday. I can tell you it's a real relief. I don't know if it's my lifestyle that helped, I'm vegetarian and exercise 4 times a week and jog twice a week. My periods also stopped 2 months ago. Feel I've got through menopause much easier than expected.

[Taz2]

Hi SushiFee - welcome to the forum.

I don't want to cast doubt on the fact that you have got through menopause but if you have only just stopped your periods then it is a bit early to celebrate. Some women find that their hot flushes stop when a period is due. You have only missed two periods and it is quite usual to stop for up to six or seven months before starting again. Let us know what happens - it will be wonderful if this really is the end of the menopause for you. My flushes started at around the age of 51 and I went 10 months without a period before the flushes stopped and then the periods started again. I am 57  now but am on HRT so I am not sure when my periods would have stopped totally. I was still having them at age 53 when I began HRT.

Have a good look around the site - there is loads of information on here.

Taz 

[lel123]

Oh Dear! Im 46, started missing odd periods the last couple of years, then one in december, and nothing until June and nothing since. Not getting many headaches which is a real bonus for me having suffered from severe headaches for as long as i can remember....BUT the hot flushes, OMG, they are driving me crazy! I dont sleep, seem to sweat all night, I can feel the sweat on my face head and chest, and during the day seems to get flushes at least once an hour much to my families amusement 'Oh Mum, she's off on another one!'
I will go and order some starflower oil right now and hope they may help me.
I must also add to lots of other posts how great this forum is, and nothing seems to be a no go area, thank you ladies.
x

[Rivadan]

The thing that's helped me most at night is covering myself with a sheet under the duvet and keeping the duvet no higher than waist height! That seems to keep me warm enough not to get the shivers, but cool enough that the hot flushes come and go without disturbing me too much.

I'm currently taking 2 sage capsules and a starflower capsule with my evening meal and I do think its helped a bit.

[kate]

I began with seriously bad hot flushes about nine years ago and they are still really affecting my life. I have never suffered badly from anxiety, but in the middle of a flush, I could run and hide at times. I feel very embarrassed because I can feel and see sweat dripping off my face and it runs down my legs. It is equally bad during the day and night - I have changed pillows several times and had to buy a new mattress. I cannot take HRT and have tried numerous alternativ remedies, but to no avail. I can honestly say that, at times, I would not have cared if I had died in my sleep. Talking of sleep, the flushes wake me regualrly during the night and I have an urge to dash to the toilet also.

I feel that the hot flushes have changed me beyond recognition - the lack of sleep and my appearance have led to me feeling less confident. I used to work at a senior level some miles away from where I live and used to have bags of stamina. I took early retirement as I felt that to continue could have ended in me leaving work in a coffin. that sounds dramatic, but it is how it felt sometimes.

Overall, they have now gone on for 11 years and I sincerely hope that they don't go on for another five years; it feels like part of my life has been stolen.

You know, I am not a miserable person or a moaner and what I write is how I genuinely feel or have felt. I still have a sense of humour fortunately, but am often so tired I just stay alone. The thought of a new relationship terrifies me as I can't imagine having the energy for a sexual relationship and the sweats well...................

[mortarmonster]

Kate, sorry to hear you've had the flushes so bad for so long and  that you can't take HRT for them.

There are a couple of things which helped with mine.
One was taking fluoxetine (prozac). Within about 3 days of starting to take it, my flushes were less intense. (It wasn't prescribed for the flushes but the Dr thought I was depressed. However, helping with the flushes is apparently a known side effect.)
For me, 10mg was enough to help with the flushes, and there was no benefit from a bigger dose.

The other thing that helped a bit was soy.
(I used soy milk and yoghurt, but of course you can get supplements too.) It wasn't a dramatic improvement, but enough to be perceptible.

With the 2 put together, my hot flushes are now copable with. They were pretty bad, but not as bad as yours. Sometimes I felt like my head was exploding, and claustrophobic like I just had to get out, and sometimes had to lie down. Now that is v rare, mostly when I get them I just feel hot.

But there are also other prescription medications - I havent tried them but I think Dixarit is one. They're on this site in the green menu I think. So you need to see your Dr (again?) maybe. Also, is it absolutely definite you can't take HRT? Cos they reckon most women can, but if you have contraindications your GP would not be able to prescibe it but would need to refer you to a specialist menopause clinic - they even sort out HRT for women with breast cancer I think?

You are having a very hard time with this and you need to insist your doctor take it seriously!

[Magda]

Hello Kate. 

Oh I feel for you. I don't know if you've read my thread on Citalopram? I, too, cannot take HRT because I had a DVT the other year.

I did take Prozac once (20mg) and yes, it helped me with flushes too but could not stand the increased anxiety and insomnia that the drug caused...oh dear!

I din't know you could get it in a 10mg dose?

[channel]

As the temperature is rising, so are my hot flushes.   I wore a nice cool cotton short sleeved blouse and linen trousers to work this morning - but still felt too hot.   I was the only one in the office with a fan on and the others started to mock shiver!   I love this weather normally, but could do without it at this time in my life - roll on the cool autumnal days I say!   

Nel x

[2cats]

Started taking black cohosh and after 7 days the number of hot flashes was halved and after 10 days they'd gone completely.  That's been just over a month now without a single instance of a hot flash.   Just the mood swings, crying and migraines to sort!!!!!!!!!!