I’ve been suffering from night sweats for several years whilst on Tamoxifen and now Femara. Tried a Chillow but it was horribly cold and clammy to the touch when you are not having a night sweat, which is a fair bit of the time! Also tried a Climarelle duvet which was a complete waste of money and no different from any other synthetic duvet. I can’t understand how the manufacturers are able to get away with the claims they make for it. For me there is no real answer except a cool bedroom and layered bedclothes - a light summer duvet topped with one or two blankets that you can adjust through the night. This may require some negotiation with your co-sleeper…
Hello ladies, I am also suffering terribly from hot flushes and am wondering whether to try the specialist bedding. At the moment I sleep on a bath towel(!) which doesn’t feel so uncomfortable (cold/clammy) after a hot sweat and doesn’t mean changing the whole bed. However I also get dreadful hot flushes during the day and sometimes have to shower and change my clothes.I’ve had to start dressing completely differently with loads of layers which are on and off all day (fortunately I’m not working at the moment!).I’ve been having hot flushes since the chemo (6 TAC) and before I started the Tamoxifen. Do you find it a problem during the day?
Hi madkiki, I had the same symptoms you described after completing fec/tax and tamoxifen compounded it. I have cut out caffeine to a large extend, layer clothing and try to avoid stress as this can make it worse. But I felt so awful and not sleeping, I asked my GP to prescribe something to help. The clonidine/amitriptyline works presently for me and I am sleeping better! Best of luck. X
A fan, the ‘spanish’ sort, helps during a flush in daytime and wearing layers (bite the bullet and buy cardigans). I bought a cheap, thin duvet from Poundstretchers and it is only about 2 togs and I add blanket if cold but only needed to during that really bad weather period. Have the advantage (?) of not having a co-sleeper!
Thanks ladies. I have actually bought some ‘spanish fans’ - I saw them at the garden centre for 49p as stocking fillers at Christmas and have been back to buy more - they are fab at home but I feel like a real ‘diva’ when i’m out shopping/having coffee and get my fan out!! I also find i’m REALLY cold when I eventually cool down after a flush but perhaps that’s because I’m sweaty (ugh!). Next time I visit the GP I shall ask about clonidine /anything to help xxx
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Caution with fluoxetine (Prozac) as it’s not meant to be good for those on Tamoxifen because it supposedly interferes with how Tam works.
Damm shame, I found fluoxetine to be a complete life-saver a few years ago with a non-bc-related depression problem, so I was gutted to read that fluoxetine interferes with Tamoxifen and I have 6/8 Er+ BC.
Bummer. Amitriptyline took the top of my head off even when prescribed at very low dose, so I’m just going to have to “suck it and see”, as my lovely Irish mother used to say.
Posted on behalf of new user Mary
I find myself getting very hot at night. Even with the window open the heat just seems to build up.
It’s hard to escape from it sometimes, but sometimes the sheer exhaustion of the heat helps me to fall asleep eventually. I use a lighter than normal duvet and sometimes just a sheet especially during the summer months.
It’s difficult explaining it to other people as so many people suffer from the cold, they don’t have much sympathy when you complain of the heat.
I have been taking Venlafaxine (Effexor) 37.5mg 1 at night for the past 8 years and find this takes the edge of the flushes.
xx
Hello everyone
Try sage. My oncologist recommended it. I’m on Arimidex and the flushes and night sweats can be bad, but sage really seems to help. You can get sage tablets or drops, from a health shop. I put the drops into my fizzy Adcal, and it takes away the sickly sweet taste which is good!
I ran out of sage for a little while, and noticed things got worse again, so it seems to work for me!
River
Hi all
I am posting a link to the BCC ‘Menopausal symptoms and breast cancer’ publication which you may find helpful:
Best wishes
Lucy
Thanks, Lucy
A friend of mine finds Vit E helps, and I found acupuncture helped too.
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