Hot flushes
Hot flushes I just wonder if anyone has any ideas on how to relieve the dreaded hot flushes. I am really suffering with about 20 a day now - sleep has become a distant memory.
I was dianosed last June, had a lumpectomy, chemo and rads. The consultant said my ovaries would shut down - I am 49 - and they did so the hot flushes started before I started taking the Tamoxifen. I can’t say the Tamoxifen has made that much difference but it is wearing me down now. I am due back to work next month and not sure how I am going to cope. I am even considering going wigless - hair now at Anna Lennox stage - because I can’t bear the heat.
I have been taking evening primrose oil but to no real effect.
Any ideas?
Caroline
Hotflushes ! Hi Caroline,I finished my rads at the end of august,then my hot flushes were bad but not as extreme as yours thankfully.What helped me at night was something called a Chillo PillowIts amazing and its stays cool all the time,you can put it inside a pillow case or just use it as it is.It just kept the top half of my chilled and cool.In a way if your head is cool the rest is cooled too.I do feel that mine are at last subsiding,even tamoxifens side effects are getting less.Bet your hair looks amazing,everyone liked mine at that stage but I grew it long as a protest agaainst having lost it I think lol.You seem to be coping real well,well done,my v best wishes we have to stick together,hugs Debs x
hot flushes Hi Caroline I to was like you terrible hot flushes, got a chillow and it does help but onc put me on tablets called VENLAFAXINE AND THEY ARE GREAT. Do get some but not nearly as many and they are not as bad. She told me they were not originally prescriped for hot flushes but have found they work for them, hope you get releif soon love Val
hi caroline i have auricular acupuncture and i find it works really well
also - when i returned to work they got me a fan to stand near my desk, which was (and still is) a godsend at times.
carol
venlfaxine is used as an anti depressant but is good for controlling flushes.
i have a green tea every morning and i don’t know if evening primrose is helping or not.
sharon. x
hot flushes… Hi there
Venlafaxine made a great difference to my dripping face and neck too–added benefit is that it keeps my mood stable too!
Hope you get sorted!
cherry
am I finished with hot flushes, I have now been on tamox for a year, and used to have real bad side effects with soaks, and flushes.
But have not had them now for four months? I too used to try alsorts to keep cool including sleeping with damp cold towels.
and i too tried evening primrose with no effect so stopped them
Does this mean at 47 I am through the menopause, or do I just wait till I finish tamox in four years.
Only side effect I get now is weight gain, but doc says its cos i am not as active? mmmmm .
anyone know the answer to this, do I not have to have any blood tests to see if i am finished?
dont see nurse anymore so not quite sure.
thanks
culkie
Dear culkie You may find our helpline or ‘Ask the Nurse’ service helpful with your query. The helpline number is 0808 800 6000 and is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm. You can access the Ask the Nurse’ service via the home page under the ‘Support for you’ tab.
Kind regards
BCC Host
Hot flushes I am 46 and like you the chemo stopped everything, and by the fourth cycle (and last) I was getting lots of flushes and very severe. They felt chemical, if that makes sense, and now have settled to something more manageable (this is 2 months on). I do try to eat really well and mostly avoid the suspected triggers - coffee, sugar, alcohol. Lots of fruit and veg (good for everything!) and lots of water. I think it helps but I also feel it has settled. The oncologist told me the other day not to be surprised if my periods came back, which I didn’t realise could happen. I’m sure this is all worse because we’ve stopped suddenly, whereas with a natural menopause you may gradually get used to it and develop strategies over time. Oh yes, also clothing - layers and natural fabrics that can be whipped off and then put back on again when you cool down!
TinaC
hi i started chemo in march 06 then tamoxifen in sept. i also found that a chillo pillow helped. i tried venlafaxine which stopped the flushes but made me feel sick, so i stopped it as after feeling like that during chemo i preferred the flushes. my onc told me to try red clover which you can get from health food stores as liquid or capsules, the flushes are getting less 1 every 2 hours now and not as strong ( they were 1 every 1/2 hour). I was also told that because i had zoladex during the chemo that the flushes take a while to calm down as it wheres off.
hope it gets better soon.
emma
Hot flushes Hi, the hot flushes are the pits aren’t they? I had to come off Tamoxofin after 3 months because I found them intolerable. I had also abruptly given up HRT which probably made things worse. The oncologist feels I will only get marginal help from Tamoxifen despite the tumour being ER positive because it was so small. I’ve been off Tamoxifen 6 weeks now and the flushes are still as bad as ever, in fact getting worse. I’m 59 and have had a hysterectomy in the past so wonder when it will all stop.
I have found a little cooling neck wrap from Australia called a ‘Cobber’ to be a life saver. Goggle cobber and loads of sites come up, cost about £12.50. Couldn’t get on with the Chillow Pillow so donated it to the Breast Centre.
I’m having to resort to sleeping pills for a few nights to get some sleep! Good Luck to all!
Thanks Thanks for all your suggestions. My chillow arrived yesterday so I will give it a turn tonight, also like the idea of a cobber? sounds a bit more transportable. I can’t really have a fan because I am a counsellor and I will freeze my clients.
I am a little wary about taking anti depressants even if they are to treat the hot flushes - has anyone found it hard to come off them?
Hopefully things will calm down a bit - otherwise I may have to move to Iceland!!!
Take care all
Caroline