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Conference turris::womannotes-v3

Title:Topics of Interest to Women
Notice:V3 is closed. TURRIS::WOMANNOTES-V5 is open.
Moderator:REGENT::BROOMHEAD
Created:Thu Jan 30 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 30 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1078
Total number of notes:52352

195.0. "Hot Flashes????" by POBOX::SCHWARTZINGE (I'd Rather Be Shopping) Mon Jun 11 1990 15:53

    Some of you may remember me from WN2.  I am Jackie, the one who
    panicked at the thought of a hysterectomy.
    
    Well here I am again, with what might seem like some pretty dumb 
    questions, but at least here you all don't say "Oh, Jackie". :-(
    
    Can you help me and describe to me what a hot flash is?  I am not sure,
    but I think I might be having them.  I wake up at night just hotter
    that blue blazes, and in the morning when I put my glasses on (only to
    see of course, I am trying to hide the fact that I wear bifocals),
    anyway, when I put them on the glasses steam up!
    
    Am I taking not enough premarin or too much or what.  I have an
    appointment with the doctor for some blood work, (still tired after all
    this time), but would like to go in maybe understanding if what's
    happening to me is Hot Flashes!
    
    I have taken my temperature but don't have one.  It is much easier to
    ask the question here than face to face with some of the people I know,
    since most of them don't know what they are!  And my best friend,
    female, has no idea what they are like, so she can't describe them.
    
    Thanks!
    
    "j"  :-{
    
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195.1CSC32::SPARROWI love a good mythstryMon Jun 11 1990 16:2220
    ah Jackie ;-}
    
    sounds like a hot flash to me!  I also take premerin, but used to take
    estrace.  they used to be alot worse with estrace.  You definetly need
    to tell your doctor you are having hot flashes at night, it could be as
    simple as switching the time you take the premerin or increasing the
    dosage.  
    
    I get my hot flashes at any time during the day or night.  I'll be
    fine, then I'll start feeling that I just stepped into a sauna, no
    discomfort, no sick feeling, just a massive wave of heat that leaves me
    rather soggy, clothes stick to my back etc.  It usually goes away after
    awhile.   I sleep with a fan on all the time, use shower to shower
    powder(it has baking soda in it) and that helps too.
    my surgery was only 3 months ago, so they could be still adjusting hot
    flashes. :-)
    
    hang in there...
    
    vivian
195.2definitely!WMOIS::B_REINKEtreasures....most of them dreamsMon Jun 11 1990 17:3514
    Jackie
    
    Those are definitley hot flashes! I've been getting them before
    my period for a couple of years now. Since I'm only 45 and my
    periods are still regular the doctors won't give me any hormones
    for them.
    
    My husband says that I'm better than a heating pad or electric
    blanket.
    
    The woman who did my annual check up recommended tea with gynsing
    (sp) and increased excercise.
    
    Bonnie
195.3As Vivian said: too little Premarin or wrong timingRANGER::TARBETHaud away fae me, WullieMon Jun 11 1990 20:361
    It's a hot flash.  
195.4herbal blissCUPCSG::RUSSELLTue Jun 12 1990 13:3123
    .2    The woman who did my annual check up recommended tea with gynsing
          (sp) and increased excercise.                             ^^^^^^^
                                                                    ^^^
    
    Love the spelling!!  Makes me think of a woman warbling blissfully. The
    stuff is actually spelled ginseng.  It's a common herb in China where
    it is cultivated and a variety of it grows wild over most of North
    America.  (I've always wondered if it was brought here by one of the
    Indian migrations from Asia across the Aleutian land bridge.) The root
    is the active part.  A root which is human-shaped is highly prized. 
    (As you can surmise, the root is more like a carrot than like strings.)
    
    Ginseng's primary action is vascular tone and improved blood flow.  It
    also cleans the body and promotes energy.
    
    Ginseng can be bought at most herbal stores in tea or root form.  The
    raw root should look fresh (like real horseradish root).  Ginseng can
    be taken raw and chewed (and chewed, and chewed...).  If you make tea,
    steep the powder or root bit but do NOT boil it.  The powder form is
    dried and contains much of the goodness (unlees it was heat dried).
    
       Margaret (who used to science write extensively about herbal
                 medicine)
195.5True facts on herbsBLKWDO::GAFFNEYWed Jun 13 1990 02:0625
Whoa! This Chinese herbal discussion is getting out of hand.  First American
ginsengs' Latin name is Panax Quinquefolium.  Chinese ginseng is Panax 
ginseng.  They really are quite different in effect, with C ginseng being 
warm to hot and used to restore Qi (life force).  It should not be used in 
    cases of deficient yin pattern with heat signs.  This seems to describe
    hotflashes
due to a hysterectomy, since after a hysterectomy you will be lacking in Yin
(female energy) with heat signs, sweating and feeling hot.  I would recommend
herbs to build yin (in particular kidney and liver yin) to reduce the hot 
flashes. "Eight Flavor Tea" (pills) (Zhi Bai Ba Wei Wan) would be very good 
for this, this formula of eight herbs has been around for over 500 yrs.  
It is very popular so any Chinese herb store should have it.  If you can't
find them however American ginseng would not be a bad second choice as it 
tends to be cooling and will build kidney yin, it would just not be as well
balanced as the Eight Flavor Tea.  Also acupuncture can give you relief from
these symptoms.  This information is somewhat condensed so let me know if you
need more information.

BTW I happen to be a rare male that suffers from hot flashes also.  In my case
their caused by a potassium deficiency, took me 8 years to figure this out and 
in talking to a dozen doctors I haven't found one yet who can figure it out. 

                                              Paul
                                     whos' hobby is Chinese medicine

195.6HOO78C::BOARDSBill Ingual Rooles KOThu Jun 14 1990 03:1212
Hey ! This is a new one to me ...

I've been waking up for years in a hot sweat and assumed that my duvet
was just the wrong thickness for the time of year.  However, reading 
through this, I recognise the same symtoms.

Is this something to be worried about ???

At what age is this supposed to occur, if any ?

Wendy

195.7RANGER::TARBETHaud away fae me, WullieThu Jun 14 1990 07:344
    Change-of-life (menopausal) flashes typically start when women are in
    the 45 - 55 age range, but they can start earlier, later, or not at
    all.
                  
195.8HOO78C::BOARDSstrangely odd but normally strangeThu Jun 14 1990 07:5210
.... BUT I'M ONLY 32 !!!!

... and been waking up with swimming_pool_like_puddles around my collar bone
and neck for the last few years, about once a month.

EEK - does this mean I'm experiencing premature menopause before I've even
had a chance to take a break from work to have sprogs ???

Wendy

195.9worth checking up onWMOIS::B_REINKEtreasures....most of them dreamsThu Jun 14 1990 07:5811
    Wendy
    
    It is a result of hormone swings in your body. For example I
    tend to get them just before my period.
    
    I started around the time I turned 40.
    
    Given your age, I'd suggest going to your doctor for a physical
    and mentioning the flashes.
    
    Bonnie
195.10TINCUP::KOLBEThe dilettante debutanteThu Jun 14 1990 14:319
<.... BUT I'M ONLY 32 !!!!
<
<... and been waking up with swimming_pool_like_puddles around my collar bone
<and neck for the last few years, about once a month.
<
    This is very unlikely but night sweats are also one of the warning
    signs for Hodgkins disease and I suspect a few others. Seeing your
    doctor and bring this up is your best bet. Some people, my ex for
    example, just get night sweats and it's normal for them. liesl
195.11anonymous responseLYRIC::BOBBITTthe universe wraps in upon itselfSun Jun 17 1990 17:0624
    I'm posting this for a member of the community who wishes to remain
    anonymous.  If you want to send her mail, please send it to me and I'll
    forward it on your behalf...
    
    -Jody
    
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    I'm a mostly a read only here but then I found the hot flash note. I'm
    real embarassed to be putting this note in here so its anon.

    I'm almost 50 and I've been married for about 30 years and I don't
    want you to think I'm not happy in my marriage but lately instead of
    having a hot flash I have like this "HOT" flash, where I really want to
    have sex with him.  He's not always able to satisfy me that way but
    I've been learning how to help myself out there, you know?  But its
    frustrating and I never heard about this kind of HOT flash so I don't
    know.

    If there are other ladies out there who have felt this way I'd sure
    like to talk to you cause I don't want to talk about this in the file. 
    It's the only way I could think of to find someone though.
    
    anon
195.12Night SweatsFRICK::POPEFollow your bliss.Mon Jun 18 1990 10:114
    Wendy, many things can cause night sweats.  Perhaps you should have a
    check up;  get your blood sugar tested.  Do you have nightmares?
    
    Cheryl
195.13DCL::NANCYBwho feels it, knows itMon Jun 18 1990 12:5218
	re: 195.12 (Cheryl Pope)    -< Night Sweats >-

	>  Wendy, ...

        >  Do you have nightmares?
    
	That was the first thing that occurred to me, but then I
	thought that might be too obvious a cause and she would 
	know it if that was the case.  

	But maybe not.. (?).  Is it possible to have
	a nightmare and not know it?   My nightmares are usually
	accompanied by a lot of sweating; my only advice is to have
	lots of clean sheets.   Also, cotton nightwear behaves (and
	feels) a lot better in these conditions than satin or silk.

						nancy b.
195.14Sweet (As Opposed to Sweaty) ReposeFRECKL::POPEFollow your bliss.Tue Jun 19 1990 14:428
    Nancy,  what might not be obvious is that a blood sugar imbalance might
    be causing the sweats and the nightmares.  Do you also have occasional
    spells of shakiness, fatigue, or weakness?  I have found that all these
    symptoms can be controlled somewhat by diet.  
    
    Cheryl, a former sufferer who is much better, but still can't resist
    eating chocolate despite the fact that it makes her sick, tsk, tsk...
    
195.16exRANGER::WIMMERThu Sep 06 1990 17:0315
    I had a complete hysterectomy in Feb due to endometrial cancer. I 
    started with the night sweats and hot flashes a couple of weeks
    later.  I can't take estrogen as endometrial cancer is
    estrogen-dependent, but given the potential risks, I'm not sure I would
    take it anyway.  The good news, is, after 6 months, I still have the
    hot flashes, but it's getting better.  Your body does start to adjust.  
    
    You might also want to keep a log of when you have them, what times of
    day, what you have eaten or drunk just before, etc.  I've found that I
    can control the frequency better as I have learned a lot about what
    triggers the flashes (e.g., drink champagne or wine --> major hot
    flashes).  The frequency also drops if I exercise moderately and
    regularly.