When do the hot flashes ever go away?

mom2greatkids

I had my surgery in May of this year. I was having a few hot flashes prior to that. However, now, especially at night I wake up sweating. That's with a fan blowing on me. I turned 49 in August. What has been some of your experiences? Do they ever go away?

Thanks,

Carla

carolenk

Night sweats
Dear Carla

I can't remember if you are still going thru chemo or not. I had an acupuncturist tell me that night sweats were from chemo...I learned this AFTER I had finished chemo and the night sweats that went with it.

When I think that one of the ways that the body gets rid of poison is by sweating, it makes sense to me that night sweats would go along with chemo. I had a strategy where I would have a change of clothes to switch into after I dried myself off with the hair dryer in the middle of the night. Sometimes, I would put a towel on the bed so I could have something dry to sleep on for the rest of the night.

I had already gone thru menopause before I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I didn't have hot flashes after the hysterectomy--only the night sweats. They went away shortly after I finished chemo.

Carolen

mom2greatkids

carolenk said:

Night sweats
Dear Carla

I can't remember if you are still going thru chemo or not. I had an acupuncturist tell me that night sweats were from chemo...I learned this AFTER I had finished chemo and the night sweats that went with it.

When I think that one of the ways that the body gets rid of poison is by sweating, it makes sense to me that night sweats would go along with chemo. I had a strategy where I would have a change of clothes to switch into after I dried myself off with the hair dryer in the middle of the night. Sometimes, I would put a towel on the bed so I could have something dry to sleep on for the rest of the night.

I had already gone thru menopause before I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I didn't have hot flashes after the hysterectomy--only the night sweats. They went away shortly after I finished chemo.

Carolen

Carolen,
yes, I am still in
Carolen,

yes, I am still in chemo. I was having some hot flashes even before surgery. I was also having them before I began chemo, but not this bad. And they are MUCH worse at night, so I bet you're right, it's the chemo. My legs sweat the worst. It's sure not fun. Thanks.

jbeans888

mom2greatkids said:

Carolen,
yes, I am still in
Carolen,

yes, I am still in chemo. I was having some hot flashes even before surgery. I was also having them before I began chemo, but not this bad. And they are MUCH worse at night, so I bet you're right, it's the chemo. My legs sweat the worst. It's sure not fun. Thanks.

I am done with chemo and I
I am done with chemo and I still get hot flashes and night sweats. I said it's the first year ever I am looking forward to winter. Lol! However they are not as bad as they where. I am more aware of how they feel now so when I feel one coming one I through the blanket off and the sheet on.

carolenk

jbeans888 said:

I am done with chemo and I
I am done with chemo and I still get hot flashes and night sweats. I said it's the first year ever I am looking forward to winter. Lol! However they are not as bad as they where. I am more aware of how they feel now so when I feel one coming one I through the blanket off and the sheet on.

Adrenal fatigue/exhaustion
Nobody even thinks about their adrenal glands when they are going thru menopause; however, the adrenal glands have a role in easing the transition thru natural menopause and when the adrenal glands are working properly, women usually have no hot flashes at all. When you have surgical menopause, it is quite shocking on the body and so I think it takes some time for the adrenal glands to "catch up." When there is a cancer diagnosis, the adrenal glands are really overworked and tend to become fatigued/exhausted unless you are clued in to taking care of them.

In many primitive cultures, women don't experience hot flashes during natural menopause...I think that people who live "close to the Earth" tend to have less stress overall unless there is a food shortage or a lot of conflict with warring tribes.

Anyway, I highly recommend a book called Adrenal Fatigue by James Wilson. You could probably find it in the library or request it from the interlibrary loan service that all public libraries have. EVERY cancer survivor should read this book flashes(regardless of hot flashes) because the adrenal glands are a crucial part of the immune system.

Diet plays a huge role in restoring the health of the adrenal glands. Guess what? Sugar is the enemy of the adrenal glands. No surprise there.

Carolen

Hissy_Fitz

carolenk said:

Adrenal fatigue/exhaustion
Nobody even thinks about their adrenal glands when they are going thru menopause; however, the adrenal glands have a role in easing the transition thru natural menopause and when the adrenal glands are working properly, women usually have no hot flashes at all. When you have surgical menopause, it is quite shocking on the body and so I think it takes some time for the adrenal glands to "catch up." When there is a cancer diagnosis, the adrenal glands are really overworked and tend to become fatigued/exhausted unless you are clued in to taking care of them.

In many primitive cultures, women don't experience hot flashes during natural menopause...I think that people who live "close to the Earth" tend to have less stress overall unless there is a food shortage or a lot of conflict with warring tribes.

Anyway, I highly recommend a book called Adrenal Fatigue by James Wilson. You could probably find it in the library or request it from the interlibrary loan service that all public libraries have. EVERY cancer survivor should read this book flashes(regardless of hot flashes) because the adrenal glands are a crucial part of the immune system.

Diet plays a huge role in restoring the health of the adrenal glands. Guess what? Sugar is the enemy of the adrenal glands. No surprise there.

Carolen

I had my uterus and cervix
I had my uterus and cervix removed years ago, so there was no way to tell when menopause started for me. Maybe ignorance really is bliss, because I just assumed that by the time I was diagnosed, at age 62, I was done with all that. In any event, I never had a single hot flash.

I have always been cold intolerant and used to joke that I was looking forward to hot flashes.

Carlene

Hissy_Fitz

The Seven Dwarfs of
The Seven Dwarfs of Menopause....
Itchy, Bitchy, Sweaty, Sleepy, Bloated, Forgetful and Psycho

Susan777

Hot Flashes
Hi Carla,

I am 48 and had my surgery and dx in June of this year. The hot flashes started in the hospital. It is surgical menopause and there is not much we can do because we need to avoid estrogen. I have fans in my room and they blast all night.....so i snuggle in when cold and then throw it all off when the FLASH comes. It makes me laugh because it steams up my glasses.

Susan

childofthestars

Hot Flushes
Carla
I was put in to surgical menopause after my surgery in July last year, I did not suffer with hot flushes before and they started about 5 days after my de-bulking surgery - I actually thought I was dying!!!! I finished chemo in Dec and my flushing is tolerable some days and horrendous the rest of the time. I have been shopping for my winter wardrobe recently and break out in a flush just LOOKING at the winter clothes. I think layering has got to be the answer. Who would be a woman lol!
Michelle x