Hot Flashes: How Should You Deal With It?

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   timothy_mccorkellposted 14 years ago

   My wife is at the point in her life now where she is getting frequent hot flashes. And as a result I'm really losing a lot of sleep at night. I'm spending half the night turning the thermostat up and down and opening and closing the windows.
   
   I love her and I'm not feeling sorry for myself (well, maybee a little sorry, LOL) and I know it's hard on her also. But because these hot flash attacks can come at anytime, I feel as if we are both at their mercy. So, of course, I was wondering if any other couples may have found a way with dealing with this problem.
   
   Anyway, when she finally cools off, she has a habit of wrapping herself in the covers like a mummy, and as a result I wake up coverless and frozen. I just hope I can make it out alive till these hot flashes stop. So, please, post your solutions to this problem.

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      PrettyPantherposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Estroven is an vitamin and herb supplement that helps menopausal symptoms.
      
      I recently had a few months of hot flashes due to a medication I was taking.  My advice is to keep the bedroom as cool as possible, then she can pile on the blankets but kick them off when she's having a hot flash. 
      
      It's nice that you get up and down to adjust the thermostat for her, but can't she do that herself, rather than waking you up, too? 

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         timothy_mccorkellposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Pretty Panther,
         
         And yes, my wife could adjust the thermostat, but she does so many things, that I would like to do at least some things for her. She does all the cooking and only lets me do the dishes and pots and pans, and take out the trash. But your estrovan idea sounds good and thank you for suggesting it.

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      tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Use separate beds.

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         prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Hey T, who is that man? hehe, morning guapa

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            tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Hi Pretty!
            just a friend from Costa Rica

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               prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               guapo,

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                  tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  He's a make up artist, and not very fond of girls
                  

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                     prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     oh ok,
                     
                     sorry Mr Timothy we hijack your thread, hehe
                     
                     I suggest sir you just use separate blanket, be patient with her, it will pass soon,

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      pinkboxerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Tim, my late husband was my greatest and loving support when I went through this phase in my life. Do not get seperate beds! She needs you now more than ever. Get your wife to a doctor now for a thorough medical evaluation. Be encouraged! You will get through this together.

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      SimeyCposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      LOL solution? nahhhh!
      
      My wife calls them Power Surges...and her definition of PMS is 'Putting up with Mens S**T' - so you think I'm gonna argue with her when she's turned up (or down) the thermostat for the 28th time?!

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      caravalhophotoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Okay...totally love this question.  As you know, your wife is going through Menopause or "the change".  The length of time during this process can last from weeks to years...Aunt Ida has been having hot flashes for 22 years!
      
      My Menopause was chemically induced through chemotherapy, when I had my 1st hot flash, I was at Home Depot...since I was bald, it was raining and cold so I was wearing a knit beanie.  The heat that went through my body was so dibilitating, I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest, I ran to the bathroom and couldnt get my clothes off fast enough...then I was freezing.  This was constant...all day, 3 years later I still get night sweats occasionally and can't be cuddled or spooned for to long...(thats a drag).
      
      Anyway, food is a huge play on the changes of the body, a log of foods eaten should be written down...I found when I ate Ice cream at any part of the day, I had more frequent night sweats...taking it out of my diet helped.  Also alcohol, wine, beer will cause a hot flash instantly with me.
      Get a small fan that can sit on her night stand...to this day, my fan runs all night long including the overhead on low.  On cool evenings my husband wore a shirt to bed so his shoulders would not get cold and he had and extra blanket on his side.  With my Cancer being estrogen driven, OTC remidies were not permitted since it is the loss of estrogen that is causing the menopause.  I learned through Whole Foods, diet and lifestyle change to control the frequency.
      
      Good Luck and just be patient...this too will pass.

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   h.a.borcichposted 14 years ago

   Hi Timothy,
   
      Hot flashes and night sweats are all part of it. The hot flashes do hit a gal from out of no where. I dress in layers - a tank top and a blouse - so I can quickly adjust. I still have to stand in front of the fridge in the tank top when I have a "power surge".
     The night sweats are frustrating. I laid a big towel on the sheet where I slept, and kept a stack by the bed too. When I would wake up drenched it was easy to throw the towel and the Tshirt in the laundry, put on a fresh Tshirt and lay a fresh towel. I still stand in front of the fridge with the door wide open as needed, too.
     Taking HRT - hormone replacement therapies is not always possible. Cancer survivors are not usually allowed HRT.
     All the flashes and sweats can reduce her potassium and other labs so please encourage her to see the doctor to keep it in check. The change also made my hair feel like straw, I had skin problems and it seemed to affect pretty much everything. If she is frustrated with other aspects of menopause - send her to the spa! Holly

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      timothy_mccorkellposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you so much for that terrific advice. And I'm sorry to hear that you went through such tough times with cancer. Compared to what you went through, my problem seems very minimal. Thanks so much again.

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   NewYorkerposted 14 years ago

   Buy another comforter!

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      Sa Toyaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Welcome to hubpages...tis good fun

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   Sa Toyaposted 14 years ago

   definitely use separate covers, blankets,duvets etc.
   
   Why not get a fan, place it near her so she can just reach and turn it off...that's what I do- I'm very young but get hot flashes when aunt flo visits- weird I know!
   
   Hang in there, I'm sure she appreciates your loveliness

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   Chloe Comfortposted 14 years ago

   My hubby sleeps right through my hot flashes (tossing & turning, covers and clothing off, then on, then off again, etc....) He's really great about it. He doesn't lose any sleep over it like I do (night after night).
   
   Myself, I prefer not to take any medication or herbal supplements for the hot flashes. I'm just gonna ride it through but her doctor might be able to offer advice on what works and what doesn't.

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   donotfearposted 14 years ago

   Well honey, we just deal with it the best we can. You know, she's not getting older, she's getting better. Just remember that!
   
   
   

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   WriteAngledposted 14 years ago

   Plant oestrogens can be helpful. There are a number of recipes on the web for "HRT cake" or "menopause cake", which contains soya flour, seeds and nuts. I used to make a batch for myself once a week. It tastes rather good too and I liked the excuse of having to eat a big slice every day for "medicinal" purposes

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