Hi
i counted the hot flushed I had in one day worst was 50 average 20 have calmed a bit now.Seemed worse when stressed.
do any vitamins help?
does anyone take vit D for joint pain?Does it help?
yoga helped flushes but had prolapse so had to stop.
Been on tamoxifen for 4 years now and battled with sweats day and night. First I took venaflaxin which worked great for night sweats but made me sweat profusely in the day. Now started gabapentin and on 400mg a day but not been much change as yet. Will increase dose to see if it helps. Being on steroids makes my weight go up so this will add to problem I guess. My cocktail of drugs amazes my friends and family!
Did the Onc say it was ok with Tamoxifen?
I’m starting to get frequent hot flushes, just now almost 2 months into taking Tamoxifen 
I thought I had got away with few SEs to begin with so it is a little disappointing… Also my head is feeling fuzzy frequently. And all just as I’m going through rads, not a nice combination. Will try some of the suggestions on here - sage, evening primrose, magnets. Thanks ladies. Funny thing today though, I thought I was starting another hot flush, but then realised I had left the heating on all morning owing to my fuzzy head… I hope this fug will pass.
I’m taking vitamin D ampoules twice weekly. Your normal level should be 50 something or others, mine was 15. So that’s why onc wanted it prescribed. Having read Mandy12345’s question and all the comments everybody has put about the number of flushes averaged in a whole day. I’d say yes vitamin D probably does help decrease them. I’m experiencing none in the morning @ 2 in the afternoon and 2 in the evening and 1 big one at night that I haven’t ever slept through but regardless it’s still less isn’t it? I’m freezing in the morning which I don’t mind at all ?
What is that Ruth, and how does it work?
Use a lady care magnet it’s the best thing I’ve had for reducing the flushes, mood swings etc, you can buy them o line or in boots
Hi,
if you are struggling with hot flushes during and post active treatment or are on Tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, such as Letrozole - you may want to download and read this publication in the first instance.
breastcancercare.org.uk/information-support/publication/menopausal-symptoms-breast-cancer-bcc18
It is very comprehensive and covers a number of ways to manage hot flushes, should they not decrease over time. In my case they were awful throughout chemotherapy. I have now been on Letrozole for 5 months and they have reduced dramatically. I still get 2-3 per day, but they are managable and do not leave me completely soaked - I just get very warm for a few minutes. The night sweats have also gone.
For those of us, who have a hormone positive diagnosis - herbal supplements are generally not recommended, as they very often contain high doses of phytoestrogens, which mimic estrogens.
Research has, as yet, not been able to establish whether a such an intake of phytoestrogens may be harmful to that group of women. I personally rather avoid, than increase my risk of the cancer coming back - until it has been proven that it is safe to take them. My oncologist also advised me against taking them, as I had a highly estrogen receptive cancer.
As to Evening Primrose - you may wish to read this- livestrong.com/article/548301-does-evening-primrose-oil-cause-high-estrogen-levels/
Sue x
Hi ladies I have started taking Nutrition FX menopause 3 which has made a big difference to flushes. It’s made out of mung beans & green tea etc. All natural stuff. I wouldn’t worry about phytoestrogens too much, because they are in all of our food & some research shows they occupy oestrogen receptors & stop the bad oestrogens attaching i.e. Are helpful. Another BC thing that no one can quite make their minds up about. xx
Hi Delly. No megastrol isn’t an antidepressant they really worked for me at the beginning would only take 1/2 a tablet a day. It’s now 5yrs since being on tamoxifen and with me I hardly ever get a hot flush now, what I do find is I am always cold now, we are all different though.x
Hi Arl
Do you mind me asking whether you were HER2+? I was, & was told you can’t stay on tamoxifen if that’s the case. Funny how treatment is so dependent on who you get! xx
Hi Bibi,
Yes I was Her2 on herceptin for a year had 17, then got told would be on tamoxifen 5yrs at first then changed it to 10yrs, I am 44 yrs old now, just completed 5yrs of tamoxifen now. Are you supposed to be changed to something else for the other 5years? Thanks for replying back, my next visit at hospital is in August.x
Hi Flush Girls,
Bare in mind mind, I’m NOT taking any hormone treatment tabs, am so far 10 yrs clear despite not taking Tamoxifen, having had an oestrogen +ve with both boob cancers, so am only interested in the reduction of hot flushes.
Bibi - Thanks, I’ll look into your suggestion of Nutrtition FX Menopause 3. I can understand and am with you on your attitude to natural phyto-oestrogens. Anything natural is better for/with me, girl. Please would you let me know where you buy it from - thanks in advance lovey.
Evening Primrose isn’t being as effective as it was, flushes wise, now we’re into naturally warmer months, but shall continue to take for it’s skin, hair and nail benefits, to help battle the effects of those womanly losses of oestrogen benefits!! Not that I’m vain, but am always interested to stave off or slow the ageing processes (trained in Beauty Therapy, and last profession was medical, so have that much more of an interest in skin, healing of etc.). In which case, I need to start adding “it”, or “one” of your suggestions to the wine !!!
Arl - Thank you. Got you on Megastrol, it being a steroid. Only asked because some of the antidepressants can and do help with hot flushes, espesh night sweats.
Smudge - Am deffo gonna have to look into your recommend of the “Lady care magnets”, due to your RAVING about them :smileylol:
Thank You so much girls. Not only have you given me extra ideas and recommends to try in my/our “battle” with/against hot flushes, you’ve given me a feeling of cammeraderie - friendship. Yey for that, my fellow BC women!!
Much love to you all
Dellywellydingdong xxxxxxxxxxx
Hey Delly lovely to hear from you Chuck!
I try to stay with natural stuff wherever possible & I got it from the internet after a friend recommended it. Case in point, I have just been diagnosed with osteoporosis in my lumbar spine & osteopenia in my femurs thanks to BC chemo. Really hard to stomach ?. I look like a 50 year old on the outside, but some 80 year old woman has climbed in & taken over the interior. What did we all do to deserve this ??
Arl I was told would be moved onto letrozole after 2 years, something about tamoxifen resistance with HER2+, but obviously doesn’t apply in your case. I did google it after I met the onc & it is a thing, but in view of the above, I need more bone thinning medication like a hole in the head (or lumbar spine!).
xx
Delly I read this the other day, which you might be interested to take a look at products.mercola.com/lignans-with-lycopene/ xx
Hi Delly I’m not from Yorkshire, although my grandparents were from Richmond N.Yoks. I think I picked the expression up when I was training as a nurse in Leicester, many years ago. Re osteoP my sister got diagnosed last week, so I had a DXA & bang I’ve got it too now. I had a bad reaction to my first FEC, puked for England & lost nearly a stone in the first week. I think it was a combination of family susceptibility, the dramatic weight loss & the chemicals. On hot flushes, it feels so lovely not to have them after 18 months of about 10-15 a day. My friend used that Nutrition FX stuff because she got some menopause related bladder trouble & getting rid of the flushes was just a bonus. Shame it costs a lot, although worth it to be flush free I think xx
Hi Delly,
Sorry to hear about you now being diagnosed with osteoporosis is that the medication now caused this? As if you’ve not had enough. What did you mean with the tamoxifen? Should I find out if they should change the remaining 5 years to letrozole? I thought because of age they have you on tamoxifen and if older get letrozole? I’ve been quite lucky with the side effects but have always had to stick to the teva make and every year always have difficulty in getting it because they stop making them, then they re start making them again. x
Sorry that last message was meant for Bibi sorry I’m all new to this.x
Arl my initial understanding was if you we’re premenopausal at the time BC struck, you get tamoxifen until 2 years after your last period & then convert to an AI like letrozole. I said I didn’t want to change & then she said if you had HER2+, it was better to change because a certain % of those people develop a resistance to tamoxifen & then it can have an adverse effect. It may be because you are younger than me that your treatment is different. I was 51 & premenopausal. Thanks fluffer r your kind words on the osteoporosis. I am quite devastated, just as I was starting to feel a bit more normal again. I know if I take bisphosphonates that I will never get out of this ill health spiral. Xx
Sorry not sure why the spell checker put the word fluffer in there. It’s got a mind of its own! x