Hot Flashes!

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   Cheri Schultzposted 14 years ago

   Does anyone have any suggestions for hot flashes?  They have been coming every evening.  I never thought I would reach the age when I would be asking this question... where does the time go.

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      sneakorocksolidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You don't look near old enough for that!(does that help?)

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         Cheri Schultzposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you your comments - but it is true... I will be turning 50 in a few months

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            sneakorocksolidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Your welcome! Hope it all passes soon.

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      tmmypttyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      
      I have found that what I eat or drink will bring them on.So I try to eliminate the things that do. Good Luck

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      healthgojiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes - Goji Juice is very effective.

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      MrsMoeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I used Black Cohosh VERY effectively. But do be careful.  You can't stay on it forever.  It is processed through your liver and anything processed through your liver should be done in moderation.  What I did was this:  Black Cohosh for two weeks at the LOWEST dose possible.  I found a very low dose product at Walmart.  Go off for a week, back on for two and so on until you realize that when you went off for one of the weeks you didn't get any flashes.
      
      At that point, don't stop completely, but make yourself a weaning schedule and see if it works.  I am 56 now and totally off any kind of hotflash supplements.  I still do get "warm" flashes every now and then, but it is so manageable I don't do anything about it.
      
      Also, during a hot flash:  If you can, close your eyes, breathe evenly and deeply through your nose. Take sips of a cold drink, preferably water.  Think pleasant thoughts.  Sounds goofy, but it works.

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2. 64

   Gemsongposted 14 years ago

   Well, for what it's worth I use herbs like cohash. When I'm low on time/interest I use Estroven. It's over the counter. The store brand works just as well as the name brand. Doesn't eliminate them completely but it makes them easier to deal with.

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   gracenotesposted 14 years ago

   When I was first having hot flashes, I found that drinking a glass of soy milk every day was very helpful.  That's because of the phyto-estrogens in soy.  Or you could eat other forms of soy, such as tofu or tempeh or even the little crunchy soy nuts.
   
   Later on, this wasn't quite as effective.  I still have some problems, but usually only in warm weather.  Winter is usually the best time for me.
   
   Oh, I keep fans around the house and drink ice water too.  And I try to avoid stress, which seems to worsen hot flashes.

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   dianacharlesposted 14 years ago

   yoga and meditation can really help.

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      Gemsongposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I hadn't heard that. I may have to give that a try.

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         Jane@CMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I hadn't hear that either.  Interesting.  Currently I'm my husbands personal heater.

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   Marisa Wrightposted 14 years ago

   I always thought hot flashes were just that - flashes.  The reality for me is that I'm warm all the time: I'm the one wearing short sleeves when everyone else has a sweater on.  If the weather's hot, or when I exercise, I overheat and start sweating. 
   
   Remifemin helped me.

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      rmcrayneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I was hot all the time.  Symptoms pretty much disappeared on my program from my Naturopath, which is comprehensive for a lot of things and expensive.  Before this I did Progesterone cream.  It's over the counter.  It's good for lots of things like cholesterol, blood pressure and osteoporosis.  You can learn more from Dr. John Lee's books and from Sherrill Sellman's Hormone Heresy.  I have links on my Books hub from Healthcare HubMob if you're interested.

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6. 57

   atomswifeyposted 14 years ago

   I would try a cold cloth placed on the back of your neck and soaking your feet in cool not completely freezing but cool water. When I was pregnant I would get horrible hot flashes and my doctor recommended this treatment, worked like a charm!

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   LEWJposted 14 years ago

   Barlean's flaxseed oil can help decrease hot flashes.

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   Miss Markaylaposted 14 years ago

   Fish Oil.  I am only 29, but have suffered from hot flashes all of my life, even as a young child!  I get hot very easily, and every time I would start playing with my brother or friends, my face would get very red and hot.
   I learned from a friend of a friend, about a year ago, about Fish Oil.  I was at her house, and her sister was complaining about how cold it was.  And this woman told her sister to go get a blanket, and that she was not turning the air down!  When I went to give her a high five in the air, the sister said "If you would just take the damn fish oil like I told you, you wouldn't be so hot all of the time."  So I asked her about it, and she told me how it helps with hot flashes, and even if you are just a hot person in general.  I absolutely love the winter time because I am such a hot person!  So of course, I have been taking it every since, and it has helped in a big big way.  I wrote a hub about how I started a step-aerobics class.  And, if it wasnt for the Fish Oil, I don't think I would have ever made it through the workout.  So I now have lost a lot of weight because of it too, and it is also very good for your heart, and no side effects!  Food for thought~I hope it helps.

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   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   People I've known who say they haven't been awfully bothered by hot flashes (associated with age) are either women who eat soy products (like "fake" sausage, bacon, or hamburger/veggie patties) or else women who eats lots of fresh vegetables and fruits.  (With the latter, I'm assuming the variety of vegetables and fruits probably means they hit on the ones that can be helpful.)
   
   Here's one link to some basic info, but if you do a search on something like, "natural estrogen fruits/vegetables" or "plant estrogen in food" you'll probably come up with lots of fruits/vegetables that may help some.
   
   http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/ … d_diet.htm

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    Paradise7posted 14 years ago

    Two things that helped me:  Stay away from caffeine or alchohol (I'm sorry, having a good slug of your favorite adult beverage DOESN'T help), and wearing loose, cool clothing.  Bring extra layers with you in case you then experience a cold flash afterwards and need to bundle up.
    
    The ice on the back of the neck and the cool feet sound like excellent advice:  all the advice on food and staying away from additives and excess salt and fat sounds reasonable and good, and healthy on general principles, too.
    
    Get distracted from the hot flash as much as you can, either by work, or a book or a crossword puzzle--anything that refocuses your concentration.
    
    And OF COURSE!  If you're really, really having a very bad time, don't hesitate to SEE A DOCTOR, honey.  They have some medicine which I've heard mixed reviews from women our age.
    
    But the doc knows a lot more than I do.

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    elayne001posted 14 years ago

    I'm a believer in hormone replacement - but then I had a hysterectomy when I was 30 so I had a very early surgical menopause. You can read more about it on my hub:
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Controversy … ast-Cancer

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    samiaaliposted 14 years ago

    Hi there, I know exactly what you are going through.  I was known as the "queen" of hot flashes.  It was horrible.  I really think that the changes I made in diet made a different.  I cut down drastically on coffee.  I tried not to drink hot beverages.  I cut down on fatty foods and my cholesterol went down and that seemed to make a big difference.  I quit smoking - that was a biggie!  And I tried and even now, I try not to be overdressed because actually being overdressed or in a hot room or area triggers the hot flashes.  Also, no hot, spicy foods.  I believe these are all triggers!  Good luck!

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    Mezoposted 14 years ago

    soy beans, tofu, sesame seeds, oil seeds and drinking worm anise might alos help

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    Joni Douglasposted 14 years ago

    Have your blood pressure checked often. If the hot flashes are really bad, your pressure may be up.  Although doctors are not willing to make an association between the two, I've heard many women say that when their blood pressure finally got under control, the hot flashes were lessened. Stress and caffeine play a role in not only the blood pressure but the hot flashes too.  Drink plenty of water every day.

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