Oh hot flushes !
Oh hot flushes ! Hi,
Well it seems the hot flushes have started, not going to get HRT, but sleepless nights are a struggle, let alone the sudden hotness and sweating, just wondering how long this will last as not given much advice.
Sue and Joanneph hope you are both keeping fine.
From a very hot and sleepless
Courtney
Hi Courtney Sorry to hear the flushes have started - you were doing so well!
I’ve been getting them too. I’ve had them since chemo but they seem to be quite a lot worse since my oophorectomy. I’ve had long discussions about HRT with my lovely GP and a menopause specialist, and both agree that it’s not a good idea.
My GP has now put me on Prozac for a trial of 3 months as that’s been proven to reduce hot flushes. I’ve only been on it since Friday and it can take up to 6 weeks to start working but I’ll let you know how I get on.
I’ve also bought some Magicool spray from Boots and carry that around with me - really helps when I get a particularly bad lot of flushes.
Other that that I’m doing fine since my oophorectomy . We’ve just bought a house & are moving over bank holiday weekend so really excited.
Good luck & keep in touch
Love
Sue
x
Phew ! I need to chill !!! Sue, Glad to hear you are doing fine except for having bad hot flushes, good luck with your house move bank holiday weekend. Have you had you bone scan yet ? I am still waiting for an appointment for mine and still taking calcium and vitamin D tablets. If If you have had yours any chance you can give me an idea whats involved or does anyone else know ?
Well spending most nights awake, tossing and turning and throwing covers on and off and laying there awake is driving me crazy, still reluctant to see GP, did get a letter saying they had my test results ( news to me ! as I haven’t had a test since start of last year 2005 and that was done by Addenbrookes hospital so probably my BRCA1) the GP wants to see me, but they will have to drag me there as I have only seen this GP twice because he requested it i.e smear test and that has been all I have seen him in over three years and on both occassions he was rude, rushing and had no time to listen also could not get appointment when I needed one and all the GP’s round here are overflowing with waiting lists for people to join other surgeries, thankfully I have Addenbrookes hospital looking after me and keeping a watchful eye so reasured by that. Have considered taking black cohosh but have been told little is known about long term effects.
Thank you both for the replies, guess I will have to just put up with it !
Old age seems to be happening 20 years to soon but at least I will have had the menopause out of way by the time everyone else my age is just starting, so that just leaves all the other getting old things to worry about !!
Hmm, I sound like a moany old bid already, but as they say pratice makes perfect !!
Courtney
GPs Hi Courtney
I remember you telling us about your GP on the old site - it must be awful to feel you can’t go to him about your flushes.
I had a terrible GP who didn’t have any time for me. Just after I was diagnosed, I had to see a woman GP during an emergency with my blood count and she was fantastic - the complete opposite of my normal GP. I wrote to the surgery and asked if I could change to be under her and they agreed so now I see her all of the time. Not only does she have as much time for me as I need, but she also genuinly seems to care about how I’m doing mentally and physically. She’s really helped me through the last year and I know I’m really lucky to have her.
Are there any women GPs at the surgery you go to? Maybe a woman Dr would be more sympathetic to what you’re going through?
I do know what you mean about old age - sometimes I feel so old too. But I do still think I made the right choice about the oophorectomy - if I wasn’t worrying about the menopause I’d just be worrying about ovarian cancer…
I’ll let you know if the Prozac works - maybe you could mention it when you go to Addenbrookes next?
Hope you manage to get a good night’s sleep tonight.
Love
Sue
x
Hi Suefab Have already tried asking about the women GP and yes there is one, but apparently she has no room to take on any more patients, thankfully I am under the care of Addenbrookes Hospital otherwise I would never have recieved any medical care. I have no regrets about having the oopherectomy, I could never live with the risk of ovarian cancer as Addenbrookes call it “the silent killer” . Just found it strange that I went 7 months without hot flushes then just suddenly appeared and cannot put it down to change of lifestyle. Had the usual night but I know I shouldn’t complain after what you and so many have been through I have had it easy. Did feel tearful the other day when I saw a woman holding a cute little boy and it did cross my mind I wonder what my child could of been like and every now and then I do think about how different things could have been, but soon kick my backside and tell myself I am extremely lucky to have I do have and not what I don’t have. Awaiting date for bone scan, so will be up Addenbrookes then, so will see how I go and if I think I need too see someone will try and see them while up there. Thanks for your support and hope your house move goes smoothly.
Courtney
I done it !! Suefab,
Just got of the phone to GP surgery, curiosity got the better of me and I want to know what they are referring to about test results as I have had no recent tests only Brca1 start of 2005 and MRI which was back in January 2006, so I phone and reception said the Dr had heared it all before and I had to see that particular Dr , so I said I would not see him as felt uneasy and would leave it and suddenly I get offered an appointment for a female Dr, ( although previously told I couldn’t) I took your advice to give it another go and got given an appointment with her for a weeks time, but still have no faith in this GP’s pratice, unlike the GP pratice I use to have previously who arranged for me to get all this screening and medical care. Really nervous and anxious now and know I will have a week dreading it, but not because of the test results or whatever they are refereing too, but just having to speak to a Dr when I have no faith in them, guess I will just have to wait and see how it goes !
Courtney
Good for you! Hi Courtney
Really glad you put your foot down - I know you don’t have any faith in the practice but there are good doctors out there - maybe the one you see will be one of them. I completely lost faith in my old GP but my new one is brilliant - every time I see her, I leave feeling positive and as if someone is looking after me.
Let us know how you get on - and be sure to have a chat about the hot flushes.
xx
Hot flushes Hi Sue,
well after getting in a right state before going, I had worked myself up and was soooo stressed and tired beyond belief after yet another night without sleep. The GP was a very pleasant woman and she took time to explain that some people go suddenly into menopause even with the tinius drop in estrogen level, but she thinks I have been gradually dropping hence 7 months of normality ( why did it have to end ?). She was not sure what tests the GP letter refered to and could only see a letter from Addenbrookes regarding an appointment to be made for bone scan. She explained loads and really felt it would be an idea to try livail tibolone 2.5mg to see if it helped as she was concerened about my lack of sleep which is now causing other problems. She also suggested nytol for a few days until the HRT starts to work. She has given me 3 months worth of hrt plus I already have a months worth to take and GP says to take it a day at a time. I mentioned I was taking calcium and vit D (my choice) and she said to continue with calcium and Vit D along with HRT due to osteporosis.
She feels HRT is now necessary as menopause is affecting me physically and mentally and says that poses more of a risk than the slight risk of uping my cancer risk. She said to see how it goes and if need be experiment until I am over the worst. Still felt embarrassed and uncomfortable but then I guess it is just I was bought up to not discuss these types of things i.e period, s-x, etc. Will try if for now, but mostly need sleep as everything has become difficult due to this sleep deprivation, GP says it should all settle once HRT kicks in and normal sleep pattern returns.
Good luck with you house move, hope you are well.
Courtney
Hi Courtney I’m so glad you managed to speak to a doctor that had time for you and went through it all in detail. It makes such a difference to feel you’re being listened to!
I think she’ll know best about what you should and shouldn’t be taking so give the HRT a go - let me know how you get on as that’s the one my Gynae recommended before my oncologist said they’d rather I didn’t take it. Of course our situations are completely different - because I had BC at such a young age, they just don’t want to take any chances.
My flushes seem to be a bit better this week so maybe the prozac is starting to work. I’ve definitely noticed a difference and have been sleeping better too.
Know what you mean about getting embarressed - but remember we don’t mind talking about anything here so ask anything if you need to!!
Right - better go and do some more packing! Thanks for the moving house card - was very sweet of you to remember.
Love
Sue
x
hello Courtney
dont know if this is any help but i have bought myself a chillow its like a really thin pillow that keeps cool all night its great and really works
i bought it after my rads to help to keep me cool , wish i had it when i was going through my menopause it is lovely
(www.SOOTHSOFT.co.uk) i keep mine in bed now because i get restless legs and its great for them .
xx
Hot flushes/cold sweats Well along with the hot flushes I have now started getting cold sweats and wetness in weird area’s of my body, which was never previously a problem I suffered from and I have become incredibly concious of this and my moods due to being over tired and have started isolating myself. These hot flushes / cold sweats are really increasing daily and I am finding them difficult to cope with at the moment along with the sleepless nights, but I still have no regrets about having the operation. I have been on hrt 6 days now and have no idea how long it will be before it takes effect, if at all. I have shaved/ clipped my hair round back major short ( No 1 which is virtually non existant) right up back and sides and cut the rest extremely short yesterday ( mad moment of depression and really on a low and to be honest I couldn’t care less if it dosen’t grow back !!) it had gone so fine and straw like and looked awful. Maybe it will help keep me cooler !
Any suggestions on dealing with these hot/cold flushes appreciated.
Courtney
P.S The nytol has not worked and was making me feel even worse in the morning, so given up on that. Will look at getting chillow, thanks for the suggestion.
Courtney
poor thing you are going through it but i am sure once you get your meds sorted out things will get better have you thought about having a small fan beside your bed i bought one of those small clip on ones and had it clipped on my bedside cabinet so i could use all night if i wanted , i do sympathise with you take care
xxx
Hi Courtney So sorry to hear you’ve having such a bad time with the flushes, it really sounds awful.
Something that’s helped me out, especially last summer, is a product called Magicool. It’s a cooling spray that you can carry around with you or keep next to the bed - really refreshing & cools you down nice and quickly. You can buy it at Boots and I’d definitely give it a try if I were you.
I’ve been on Prozac for my hot flushes for about 2 and a half weeks now. My GP said it can take up to 6 weeks to start working, but I’m definitely noticing an improvment already. I’m still getting flushes, but not quite as bad. Maybe you should mention it when you and see your doctor again?
Hope you managed to get some sleep last night and are feeling more yourself today,
Love
Sue
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