Hot flash help please?

[Sharon in MD]

This is a cross post from the highschool board. I know it really belongs over here, but thought I'd ask in both places. ....so here's my question.

I'm starting to get hot flashes at night....not the totally soaking kind, at least not yet,:o, but I wake up feeling this heat spreading across my back. They used to just come during my cycle, but they've been increasing and now it is happening every darned night. I just feel like my internal thermostat is going haywire ....I'm hot, them I'm cold...yada yada yada.

I'm already taking a soy supplement, which does seem to help a little. But, it doesn't work like it used to. I have bumped it up to two a day instead of one, and that helped....I only woke up twice last night instead of innumerable times.

Any suggestions of a gentle, herbal supplement nature would be greatly appreciated.


TIA

[sdWTMer]

I'd look into estroven, I think that they have an extra strength version.

[Claire]

If you add any estrogen-like natural supplement to your diet, be sure to add progesterone cream also. Unopposed estrogen (meaning not balanced by progesterone) is one of the risk factors for cancer.

When I had hot flashes, I went to an osteopath who did saliva testing to determine hormone levels. He then gave me prescriptions for natural hormone replacement therapy (bio-identical estrogen and progesterone). You might want to consider doing this. The natural estrogen got rid of my hot flashes. It's easy to research NHRT on the internet -- lots of good info out there.

[Dana in OR]

"You get to have your own private summer!"

I honestly don't mind the hot flashes all that much. It's the multitude of other premenopausal delights that get to me. I don't have advice, just empathy.

[Scarlett]

I find that sugar and alcohol make the night hot flashes worse.

My mom takes a mild muscle relaxer....also used as a anti nausea...can't think of name....every night. Other wise she can't get enough rest because the hot flashes wake her up. She took HRT for over 10 years and then got breast cancer. She is fine now, but can never again take hormones. Of any kind. She just has to deal with the symptoms.

[Susan in IL]

They are not hot flashes, they are power surges.

Alcohol makes them worse - one sip and they are triggered for me. So does caffene. And sugar.

Sorry I can't be more help. I just suffer through them.

[Sharon in MD]

They are not hot flashes, they are power surges.

Alcohol makes them worse - one sip and they are triggered for me. So does caffene. And sugar.

Sorry I can't be more help. I just suffer through them.

Let's see, I'm a starbucks-a-holic, love sugar, and enjoy a glass of wine with dinner.....Susan, you're just no fun.....Sigh...but I know you're probably right!
:rolleyes:

[Sharon in MD]

I think I definitely need to take a look at what I've been eating.....As I have been reading through these, it seems to me that I've had more trouble since Christmas which is when my diet and exercise started going to pieces.....

I think my first attempt should probably be to get the diet and exercise back on track and then look into alternatives if they don't back off.

Rats, I was hoping I could just take a little pill to fix it....looks like I really need to fix me first.....

[Laurie]

Christiane Northrup M.D. wrote the book The Wisdom of Menopause, and she has a website that you might like to take a look at: www.drnorthrup.com. If you put "hot flash" into the search box you'll find some information about common triggers, etc.

[Lynnatbeach]

Hi,
My nurse practitioner, who is a women's health specialist and certified in Holistic health ,prescribed prometrium and black cohosh. This seems to help, although they increased for a few weeks while my body adjusted.
I also noticed that if I miss a day of exercise, they happen more frequently. We can never give up!

[Susan in IL]

I said I suffer through it. How else would I know what triggers them.:D:D:D

I have a glass (or two) of wine then go outside when they start to cool off.

[Cindyg]

This is the cocktail of supplements that my chiropractor recommended:

Black Cohosh
Sage
Soy
Evening Primrose Oil
Vitex (Chasteberry, I think is it's other name)
Progesterone Cream

You can get sage in capsule form at the healthfood store. The sage really seemed to make a difference.

I don't get these women who say the hotflashes don't bother them much. I am MISERABLE with them. The supplements have made a difference, and are well worth it to me.

[HollyDay]

I probably sound like a broken record by now, but the WomentoWomen program really helped me. The hot flashes are almost all gone and so are the migraines.

[Sharon in MD]

I said I suffer through it. How else would I know what triggers them...


:eek::D

[Sharon in MD]

what is Women to women?

[Sharon in MD]

When I go to my local health food/supplement place, I'm always a bit unsure about doseages.....would you mind sharing what amounts you are using?

[Sharon in MD]

:)

[HollyDay]

Women to Women.com is a health program using Supplements, Vitamins, diet and progesterone. I started the vitamins/supplements and have been much, much better. Check them out online!

[Sharon in MD]

Thanks Holly!

[Cindyg]

I use the dose on the bottle. The dose is usually one pill a day or sometimes two pills a day. I'm sure I should be able to rattle of the right amount of mgs :) but I can't. Sorry. Just follow the instructions on the bottle.

I really do feel better; I just hope it holds through the summer. :(

[ELaurie]

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause by Dr. John Lee.

Contains lots of helpful info about diet, exercise, supplements, and bioidentical hormones, all carefully researched.

link (http://www.johnleemd.com/)