Hot flushes and alternative therapies

Hello there, yes niim.com.au

They basically helps you to get the best from this sickness mainly by boosting your immune system, etc..

what does NIIM stand for and do they have a website? I am in country NSW

Hello there, if you are in Melbourne check at NIIM a wonderful institute with the best doctors in Australia...I am like you, I prefer natural life..Get well soon,

I've been on Tamoxifen for 1 year now.I'm 56 and through menopause but am still getting hot flushes.When I first started Tamoxifen I felt quite depressed,hot flushes cranked up and couldn't sleep at night- not to mention being super irritable with my husband.So I was prescribed a very low dose antidepressant called Endep(10mg)The usual dose is about 75mg.Anyway,it really helped with sleep,mood and hot flushes.I haven't experienced any side effects.I still get  some hot flushes during the day-mostly when I have a hot drink or I walk into a warm room.I get the odd one at 3am -5am but not as many as  I used to.

I did try quite a few natural remedies but nothing really helped with those darn flushes.My doctor said that it can take awhile for your body to get used to Tamoxifen.It may depend on your age too.I stick to the Genox brand cos tried another brand once and it gave me a headache and a rash. Hope some of my "waffling"on helps you.

                                  Tonya xx

Thanks for that info. I have started taking Remifinin for the hot flushes. It is black cohosh based -not natural oestrogens-but 3 weeks in doesn't appear to be doing any good. I couldn't find anyone who would say don't take it-just medical people saying there is no proof it works.  I will persevere for a bit longer. I can cope with the 6-8 a day I am having- but as well as having one before I fall asleep and one that wakes me in the morningg ??I? ?h?a?v?e? ?3?-?4? ?d?u?r?i?n?g? ?t?h?e? ?n?i?g?h?t?-???I? ?a?m? ?s?o? ?t?i?r?e?d? ??I? ?u?s?u?a?l?l?y? ?f?a?l?l? ?b?a?c?k? ?a?s?l?e?e?p? ?a?s? ?s?o?o?n? ?a?s? ??I? ?h?a?v?e? ?c?o?o?l?e?d? ?d?o?w?n? ?e?n?o?u?g?h? ?t?o? ?p?u?t? ?t?h?e? ?b?l?a?n?????k?e?t?s? ?b?a?c?k? ?o?n

Also started glucosmine and fish oil about 3 weeks ag?o?. Some days I am fine, others not so good. Sitting in car for any lenght of time  is the worst.

hi rose,

i had lots of hot flushes and sweats, plus stiff, sore ankles/ feet when i had chemo in 1998. i was 42 and it hit me like a ton of bricks. along with chemo brain and body image to adjust to, plus aches and pains and worries about lymph drainage, work issues, relationships, children, it was a scary time. so many things to adjust to.

i felt like my body had no control over itself. there was no site like this then, so no one to really ask. unless you are going through it, you do not know how bad it feels.

 i had nothing for 12 months, then told doctor, " i cannot stand this any longer ". i tried a few things,

 1. clinodine.. ( for high blood pressure, small dose...but it did not do anything for the flushes )

 2.  HRT patches, but i had a new cancer in other breast, in 2003, so stopped.

3. i have heard of black cohosh for night sweats. but not sure of long term effects.

4. i think it is best to research things and discuss with doctors/ breast nurse, etc. before taking alternate therapies.

 5. diet perhaps.. lentils/ beans with phyto oestrogens, but not too much.

i take zoloft 50 mgs. it does help with flushes i think and perception of pain..so maybe could help with stiff / sore feet/ ankles also. 

i also take tibolone.( google it)

it took some years to settle. i did have a reactive depression.

you can feel your body is out of control and so many things to deal with and adjust to. it can be a scary path.

  now at 55 i do feel ok, although still have ageing issues to deal with etc.

all the best, kathy.

hi rose,

i had lots of hot flushes and sweats, plus stiff, sore ankles/ feet when i had chemo in 1998. i was 42 and it hit me like a ton of bricks. along with chemo brain and body image to adjust to, plus aches and pains and worries about lymph drainage, work issues, relationships, children, it was a scary time. so many things to adjust to.

i felt like my body had no control over itself. there was no site like this then, so no one to really ask. unless you are going through it, you do not know how bad it feels.

 i had nothing for 12 months, then told doctor, " i cannot stand this any longer ". i tried a few things,

 1. clinodine.. ( for high blood pressure, small dose...but it did not do anything for the flushes )

 2.  HRT patches, but i had a new cancer in other breast, in 2003, so stopped.

3. i have heard of black cohosh for night sweats. but not sure of long term effects.

4. i think it is best to research things and discuss with doctors/ breast nurse, etc. before taking alternate therapies.

 5. diet perhaps.. lentils/ beans with phyto oestrogens, but not too much.

i take zoloft 50 mgs. it does help with flushes i think and perception of pain..so maybe could help with stiff / sore feet/ ankles also. 

i also take tibolone.( google it)

it took some years to settle. i did have a reactive depression.

you can feel your body is out of control and so many things to deal with and adjust to. it can be a scary path.

  now at 55 i do feel ok, although still have ageing issues to deal with etc.

all the best, kathy.