Finished my chemo over 11 months ago and have been suffering since chemo started with hot flushes and sleepless nights (struggling to sleep as felt too warm even with a sheet over me, but then waking up with a crick in my neck or frozen muscles as the room wasn’t warm!). I have felt like my body thermostat is broken, flushes are not producing sweating and if I calm myself they go away, hence I don’t get many when I haven’t time to feel stressed. Oncologist told me I was in a chemo induced menopause, (possibly due to my age as I’m just over 50, and I think it’s the standard answer given to any middle aged woman!)) but the hot flushes were always when I either had hot food or drink or got stressed about something.
Anyway, an oncologist put me on amitriptyline before Christmas, very low dosage to start as I have nerve damage in hands and feet from chemo. It has had an immediate effect with the hot flushes and sleeping. I have progressed at night to having a sheet and duvet and light bed throw over me, and am sleeping almost right through every night, it is bliss! Daytime flushes have subsided to literally a couple of red cheek moments, which again if I stop myself getting flustered and take a few calming breaths, it goes away. Before the amitriptyline I was removing and putting on clothing in the house several times a day. I’m still a little too warm most days but it is a constant thing, not hot flushes as all, and just means I’m mindful of wearing layers just in case I do feel hot and odd. I also have more hours in the day where my hands and feet are freezing cold, which was normal for me and actually feels great now, as I feel more like my old self!
So ladies, if you have hot flushes after chemo and think it’s not an induced menopause, please ask your oncologist about amitriptyline, it may help you.