<p>Ugh…I stopped taking the pill 2 months ago and discovered that I am having hot flashes. It started at night, but now it’s happening during the day. It’s happening right this second. They don’t last that long, but at night I’m having trouble sleeping because I’ll be all snug, then roasting so I throw off the covers and turn on the fan, then a few minutes later I’m cold again. How long will this go on for? Will it stay steady like this, get dramatically worse? Anyone have any non hrt things that help?</p>
<p>Welcome to the club that nobody wants to be in!
Sleep under a lightweight down personal-size (little) comforter or throw (not a bed spread) that can be thrown off or on as the need arises at night. On, off, on, off, on…off…no,…on…you won’t even wake up eventually. I’m not going to tell you how long I’ve done this…it’s become my norm.
My internal thermostat is still broken…but hey! I’m good about 40 per cent of the time…a huge improvement over the 10 percent from a few years back.</p>
<p>You have my sincerest sympathies. Mine went on for about 6 years. Night, day an in between. I think some of it depends on how old you are when they start. I was pretty young going through menopause so my symptoms went on longer. It was horrendous. I never found anything that helped but I did keep a glass of ice water by the bed at night.</p>
<p>There was a recent thread about this that you might find helpful. Try the search bar for menopause.</p>
<p>What did you consider “pretty young”? Just curious… :(</p>
<p>EPTR–I kept a glass of ice water by my bed also–to pour over my head…LOL.</p>
<p>My Gyn recommended Estrovera by Metagenics. Non-hormonal dietary supplement. It is not a quick fix, but I committed to a 90 day supply and was pleased. It is not a dramatic difference, but it seems to smooth out the rough edges of several side effects, including hot flashes and irritability. My hot flashes have reduced in frequency and in severity, and I am sleeping better at night.</p>
<p>After buying the first batch from my Gyn, I found a 90 day supply on Ebay for about $79.00. It feels weird to buy pills on Ebay, but I have been satisfied with my purchases. </p>
<p>So sorry you are struggling, and hope you find some relief.</p>
<p>From my favorite refrigerator magnet: I’m still hot, it just comes in flashes now.</p>
<p>Gouf78,
I was 42 when I had my last period and had been irregular for over two years. My doctor told me that the younger you are, the more intense your symptoms. Yup. I’d say that was about right.</p>
<p>Well I’m 48. I don’t know where that falls on the spectrum. The upside to the kids being gone is I can wear some pretty skimpy light weight pajamas around the house and not scare them half to death. I have a drawer of winter weight pajamas, I think I’m packing them away.</p>
<p>I sometimes have hot flashes that are bad enough to soak my sheets. I’ve found that black cohash helps, as does cutting out wine (gin does not seem to be a problem. ;)) Another thing that’s helped a lot was getting a XL Patagonia tech tee to sleep in. I know other companies make wicking PJs but I figure Patagonia is really a specialist and I have always been a fan their clothing. I no longer sleep in anything else. </p>
<p>I used Evening Primrose as a suggestion from a friend - it may have helped or it may have all been in my mind - my hot flashes were pretty heavy but for only about 3 mos - after 6 mos they were completely gone. I didn’t go through menopause until 54.</p>
<p>Just starting, and I turned 52 this week. Hmm…here’s hoping for a short duration!</p>
<p>Ugh…I haven’t had a hot flash during the day , but at night I feel like my neck and chest are cooking me from the inside out. My poor husband…I sleep with the fan blowing on me and he said it’s like sleeping in a wind tunnel.
A few months ago, I arranged a mini reunion with my two childhood best friends ( they hadn’t seen each other in 18 years ) I joked with my mother that we were all going to discuss out menopausal symptoms since we all went through puberty together. I found myself a little jealous of them because they apparently are done with it….we are 51 and 52. I suspect I have a ways to go :/</p>
<p>48 is about average. My hot flashes were preceded by an acute feeling of extreme irritation and agitation. Like I wanted to HURT someone. When i felt that feeling for no reason all, I knew I was in for a beaut of a hot flash in about five seconds. It was awesome. Just ask my family.</p>
<p>My mother is 65 and still having hot flashes, having started at 42. I started at 40, and am not looking forward to the next 20 years.</p>
<p>I use to keep a damp wash cloth near the bed. It helped.</p>
<p>My mother had a horrible time, flashes for years and years. Major flooding type periods. She had a hysterectomy at 50. I think she started hormones in her early 60’s because things were not getting better.</p>
<p>I’m 55 and still have a period. Not regular, not like in the olden days, but something. I was starting to feel flushes and major major major irritation. I’ve started on a bio identical Estrogen patch and a bio identical Progesterone cycle. It has helped. I also started taking Estrovan again. </p>
<p>I’m thinking of getting a latex mattress pad. We got the pillows a little while ago and they are much better at keeping temperature within normal range than the down pillow I was using before.</p>
<p>I was so lucky, I’m 54 now, and never had them.</p>
<p>I’m 57 and have been in menopause for 3 years. Hot flashes happen most nights. Recently I bought a mattress topper at Sam’s that has a gel surface on one side. (Sharper Image Brand $100). It has made such a difference in my ability to sleep because the gel keeps the mattress cool. (It is the same material that you find on gel shoe inserts). If I wake up hot, I can just move a few inches over and cool down again to go back to sleep. Bless the genius who thought up this idea. </p>
<p>hot drinks (coffee, tea, etc) and alcohol can provoke as well as hot spiced foods (Mexican, Indian)</p>