Post Hysterectomy Hot flashes!

saltycandy13
saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

If anyone has any idea of what to take for horrendous night sweats and hot flashes that is not hormonal, let me know.

I was on Vivelle Dot 0075 for years and now with my Adenocarcinoma and total hysterectomy, the doctors don't want me on HRT  and I agree.

Is there anything herbal at the health food stores?

 

I am not looking for miracles, but it's just that I can't sleep at night.  I am burning up.  Sweating, changing night gowns, and today I was in a store and got so hot, I almost fainted.  My hot flashes have always been bad but the Vivelle Dot patch was the only thing that controlled them.

Now with the past cancer, it is not recommended for me.

 

In the past before HRT, I tried black cohosh, made me throw up, and some other stuff like tofu, soy.  I have a bad stomach so they don't help me.

I tried depression pills and they made me nauseated, vomitting and sweating.

I tried Estroven.  Nothing happened.  Like taking nothing.

Ambereen, doesn't work either.

 

the oncologist recommended Gabapentin but I had used that before HRT as well and it just made me very sleepy and it's a weight gain drug as well and don't want any of that.

I look at GNC.  They have Evening Primrose oil, and "flash busters."  I don't know if it's baloney or not.

Karen

Comments

  • CheeseQueen57
    CheeseQueen57 Member Posts: 933 Member
    edited February 2018 #2
    Nightgowns

    Don‘t have an answer for night sweats. I’m on Gabapentin for something else but makes no difference with night sweats. But I did get a couple of moisture wicking nightgowns from Cool Jams that helps a lot at night. Good luck. 

  • Charissa
    Charissa Member Posts: 129 Member
    #3
    I, too, was on hrt, prior to

    I, too, was on hrt, prior to my dx.  It has been a year and a half since my radical hysterectomy and my hot flashes are minimal now.  I do think it gets better, over time.  Remember, we kind of postponed our menopause by doing hrt.  So, it's kind of like our bodies will go through this phase before getting better.  And, like you, I had tried everything prior and NOTHING worked longer than 12 weeks. And, at that I wonder if it wasn't simply a placebo affect. Lol! Maybe, see if there is a diet that will help. For me, if I eat any grains or sugar, I instantly get hot flashes, whereas, if I eliminate those things I'm MUCH better.

  • saltycandy13
    saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
    #4
    Charissa and CheeseQueen:

    Thank you for your answers.  I was just thinking the same thing.  I did postphone the menopause because I had to take the estrogen.  I really didn't want to but had no luck with all the herbal stuff so the doctor told me quality of life was important.

    I was taught to believe that the worst thing that could happen would be a lump in the breast that I could find myself.  I do honestly think my use of estrogen patches for years gave me this cancer.  The gyno oncologist said my tumor is the type that was estrogen driven.  

    Gabapentin shows more recent studies in the past 2 years, that it does not work.  These doctors aren't up to date on the treatments for women.

    I will have to tough it out.  I was just wondering if my no longer functioning ovaries had something to do with it.  I was okay post op for about 1 and one half weeks but the last 3 days have been horrendous.

    could be my body just needs to adjust to the fact that I am missing my ovaries.  I kind of think of it visually like my bladder and colon is saying "hey! where did you go?"  LOL

    I better keep my sense of humorSealed

  • Northwoodsgirl
    Northwoodsgirl Member Posts: 571
    #5
    Hot Flashes

    SaltyCandy13, Don’t you feel like you have been through enough without having to deal with extreme hot flashes? I live in MN so half the year it is typically cold and I love it! I took 37.5 mg of Effexor also known as Venaflaxine extended release. Off label use. It worked for me but I weaned myself off from it a couple years ago. I think I took it for 6 years. I rarely have hot flashes now 9 years after chemo. Here is something funny- my problem list on my medical record has “mood disorder” . I have never been diagnosed with a mood disorder but my doctor probably put that down so the health insurance company would pay for it. Lord knows that each of us is entitled to a mood disorder considering what we have gone through- surgery, chemo, radiation... side effects temporary and permanent! 

  • saltycandy13
    saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
    #6
    hi northwoodsgirl

    you live in my favorite state.  Love your state.  I did try the Effexor.  As I wrote before, I was so adverse to estrogen therapy that I used everything under the sun before the new gyno I got told me I had no quality of life and gave me the transdermal patch which saved the day until this.

    I got labeled with clinical depression because I tried about 5 brands of anti depressants and that's not why they were prescribed.  Not for depression but for hot flashes.  Too this day, my medical records say I have clinical depression.  Most of them are unaware this is off label for menopausal symptoms.

  • calliegirl
    calliegirl Member Posts: 54
    edited February 2018 #7
    hi northwoodsgirl

    I can relate. I am experiencing the same, especially at night. Hot flashes come on, then I get this cooling rush feeling...sweating, have to constantly change my nightwear...it's truly uncomfortable and does disrupt a good nights sleep.

    My gyno/oncologist, did not encourage the natural pathetic hormone subsitutes because he told me a lot of those natural herbal/remedies have some traces of estrogen and other hormones ...he prescribed me effexor XR, which is actually anxiety/depression medication, but has been proven to help with hot flashes...i was already on it for many years becasue i do suffer from anxiety/depression as well...it has helped..but not 100%...

    I have now opted for a cooler bedroom temp.,.that seems to help... all in all its unfortunate, but i'm learning to just deal with it...

    I wish you much luck, strength, happiness and good health..

  • ckdgedmom
    ckdgedmom Member Posts: 166 Member
    edited February 2018 #8
    my fan is my best friend

    I have a ceiling fan going and a stick fan that turns...they run all night!

    cotton nightgowns...

    cooling pillow...(it really helps)

  • Charissa
    Charissa Member Posts: 129 Member
    #9
    Wouldn't it be nice if with

    Wouldn't it be nice if, with every hot flash, we lost a pound - like a good work out! Lol! At least we know we're not alone. I'm a little more fortunate, because women my age (55) are/have gone through menopause. Whereas, you younger women are thrown into two camps at once - cancer & menopause. Ugh!  All the women my age just grab a napkin, wipe their sweat & keep chatting. But, truthfully, after a year and half of no hormones, it has gotten much better. And, I too, believe my hrt fed my cancer.  Three months before my symptoms, I had begun inserting estrogen cream in my vaginal canal to help with minor incontinence.  I cannot support or encourage anyone to use it now; whereas before, I was a huge advocate for it.

  • Northwoodsgirl
    Northwoodsgirl Member Posts: 571
    #10
    Common story amongst us

    Thanks SaltyCandy, Charissa and CKGDEGMom for sharing your experiences. We certainly are “sisters” in so many ways. LOL! 

  • saltycandy13
    saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
    #11
    thank you so much!

    Haha!  Gotta laugh.  I've developed a new way of life without estrogen therapy.  I live in upstate New York so it is freezing here but no, not for me.  I love the snow!  LOL

    I walk barefoot on cold floors, turned my heat down in the house to 60 degrees (husband is freezing) and sit by the air conditioner where there is a draft under it in my bedroom

    I have ice packs too in the freezer.  Isn't life grand?  LOL

  • HorseLvr
    HorseLvr Member Posts: 102
    #12
    I love being a fat chick - no

    I love being a fat chick - no hot flashes! I sailed through menopause. About the only lucky thing that's happened to me!

  • Tigerlili7875
    Tigerlili7875 Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2018 #13
    I feel your pain

    When I had my hysterectomy due to endometrial cancer it never even dawned on me that I would be thrown into menopause.  But after recovering from surgery the hot flashes, flushing and night sweats started.  My poor hubby freezes all the time since I constantly have the fan on even in the winter time (it snows here).  One hot flash was so bad I had to ditch my shopping cart and leave the store so I could sit in the car with the a/c on.  Over the past 4 years things have gotten a bit better though.

  • ckdgedmom
    ckdgedmom Member Posts: 166 Member
    edited February 2018 #14
    Charissa said:

    Wouldn't it be nice if with

    Wouldn't it be nice if, with every hot flash, we lost a pound - like a good work out! Lol! At least we know we're not alone. I'm a little more fortunate, because women my age (55) are/have gone through menopause. Whereas, you younger women are thrown into two camps at once - cancer & menopause. Ugh!  All the women my age just grab a napkin, wipe their sweat & keep chatting. But, truthfully, after a year and half of no hormones, it has gotten much better. And, I too, believe my hrt fed my cancer.  Three months before my symptoms, I had begun inserting estrogen cream in my vaginal canal to help with minor incontinence.  I cannot support or encourage anyone to use it now; whereas before, I was a huge advocate for it.

    lose a pound with a flash!

    I would look like a Victoria's Secret model if I lost a pound with each flash...that would be lovely...

  • ckdgedmom
    ckdgedmom Member Posts: 166 Member
    #15
    Tigerlili7875 said:

    I feel your pain

    When I had my hysterectomy due to endometrial cancer it never even dawned on me that I would be thrown into menopause.  But after recovering from surgery the hot flashes, flushing and night sweats started.  My poor hubby freezes all the time since I constantly have the fan on even in the winter time (it snows here).  One hot flash was so bad I had to ditch my shopping cart and leave the store so I could sit in the car with the a/c on.  Over the past 4 years things have gotten a bit better though.

    shopping with a hot flash

    I have had that happen...I run to the frozen food section and cool off sticking my head in the door!

  • Mom2dylan99
    Mom2dylan99 Member Posts: 1
    #16
    Peppermint essential oil

    I used peppermint essential oil for my hot flashes. I would get a little bit on my finger and then rub it on the back of my neck. It kept me cool. Just make sure you wash your hands afterwards because you don't want to get it in your eyes. Also make sure it is 100% peppermint oil. I was originally using black cohosh after my surgery until a pharmacist friend of mine said that it is a phytoestrogen and not to use it. She's the one that recommended the peppermint oil.  Like someone else mentioned I also sleep with a fan on. I have a large floor fan that sits on top of a table in front of a window, and I have it pointed straight at me. During the winter I will even open the window. We have a window unit a/c in our bedroom and once it starts getting in the upper 60s outside we turn it on. I am hot natured anyway, but after my hysterectomy it got worse. I will be 3 years post surgery in July and my hot flashes/flushes have calmed down considerablely. I never the horrible night sweats that I've heard many women talk about. I also sleep under a 100% cotton blanket that is airy and I can feel the cool air through it. Hope this helps.

    Catherine

  • saltycandy13
    saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
    #17
    absolutely!

    thank you Catherine.  I see it's your first post:  WELCOME

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