hot flushes please help

hi just a line to say thank you  im on evening primrose and still up down at night time hot flushes ,the Remifemin  in which has black cohash init and l cant have anything with  it as im hormonal postive as this then can play a part  of increase risk on it again , l'll just put up with it and hope that is will stop one day  cheers rob

I will ask my oncologist.

Some that aren't hormone based can work by making your body produce more hormones and as I am ER+ not soemthing I want, as it would feed anything left.

Mine are mostly "put up with able" (Sorry chemo brain - can't think of the right word), I jsut go a lot of the time with my bald head out and on display. the hat on, hat off and doona on doona off can be annoying and the feet in the bed, feet out etc, but I seem to be mostly over the wet sheets part now (YAY) nad as I have my last chemo tomorrow (YAY!) it may not be as bad, althought my oncologist doesn't want me to havea period for another year, so we will see.

Hi robsue,

I was diagnosed 28/4/12 with 27mm ductal insitu carcinoma (L) breast.Stage 1.  I have had 2 biopsies, two surgeries. No sentinel nodes affected and good clearance was gained with surgery. I opted for breast conservation surgery and accelerated radiation(3 weeks at higher doses) as was offered to me by Professor Boyages.I have just finished radiation, with little inconvenience to me except for loneliness, I am from the Central West and had radiation at Macquarie University Hospital at Epping. The only change I have noticed is my nipple texture has changed, thicker and darker. And all credit must go the radiation technicians, as I have a very defined area of slightly pinkish skin, testament to their accuracy!! I am also taking Tamoxifen. My Dr. recommended I take Remifemin(available at Pharmacies) to manage the hot flushes. I have been taking 2 in the morning and 2 at night. It is a German formulation of Black Cohosh. I have found this very effective. I started menopause at 40 and soon after had a total hysterectomy for migraines, which worked. I am now 52 and may only have 1 - 2 hot flushes a week. When I was 40 it was an event every night of broken sleep, changing sheets, dooner on dooner off repeat. I had a friend who described her hot flushes as MOMENTS OF EMPOWERMENT, I nearly hit her. I only feel empowered now because I hardly get them, and I am not sleep deprived. I would even go as far as to say Remifemin saved my marriage. As far as I am aware it is not hormone based. Might be worth asking your Dr.

Best of luck,

Slightlylopsided xx

Hi robsue,

I was diagnosed 28/4/12 with 27mm ductal insitu carcinoma (L) breast.Stage 1.  I have had 2 biopsies, two surgeries. No sentinel nodes affected and good clearance was gained with surgery. I opted for breast conservation surgery and accelerated radiation(3 weeks at higher doses) as was offered to me by Professor Boyages.I have just finished radiation, with little inconvenience to me except for loneliness, I am from the Central West and had radiation at Macquarie University Hospital at Epping. The only change I have noticed is my nipple texture has changed, thicker and darker. And all credit must go the radiation technicians, as I have a very defined area of slightly pinkish skin, testament to their accuracy!! I am also taking Tamoxifen. My Dr. recommended I take Remifemin(available at Pharmacies) to manage the hot flushes. I have been taking 2 in the morning and 2 at night. It is a German formulation of Black Cohosh. I have found this very effective. I started menopause at 40 and soon after had a total hysterectomy for migraines, which worked. I am now 52 and may only have 1 - 2 hot flushes a week. When I was 40 it was an event every night of broken sleep, changing sheets, dooner on dooner off repeat. I had a friend who described her hot flushes as MOMENTS OF EMPOWERMENT, I nearly hit her. I only feel empowered now because I hardly get them, and I am not sleep deprived. I would even go as far as to say Remifemin saved my marriage. As far as I am aware it is not hormone based. Might be worth asking your Dr.

Best of luck,

Slightlylopsided xx

Hi robsue,

I was diagnosed 28/4/12 with 27mm ductal insitu carcinoma (L) breast.Stage 1.  I have had 2 biopsies, two surgeries. No sentinel nodes affected and good clearance was gained with surgery. I opted for breast conservation surgery and accelerated radiation(3 weeks at higher doses) as was offered to me by Professor Boyages.I have just finished radiation, with little inconvenience to me except for loneliness, I am from the Central West and had radiation at Macquarie University Hospital at Epping. The only change I have noticed is my nipple texture has changed, thicker and darker. And all credit must go the radiation technicians, as I have a very defined area of slightly pinkish skin, testament to their accuracy!! I am also taking Tamoxifen. My Dr. recommended I take Remifemin(available at Pharmacies) to manage the hot flushes. I have been taking 2 in the morning and 2 at night. It is a German formulation of Black Cohosh. I have found this very effective. I started menopause at 40 and soon after had a total hysterectomy for migraines, which worked. I am now 52 and may only have 1 - 2 hot flushes a week. When I was 40 it was an event every night of broken sleep, changing sheets, dooner on dooner off repeat. I had a friend who described her hot flushes as MOMENTS OF EMPOWERMENT, I nearly hit her. I only feel empowered now because I hardly get them, and I am not sleep deprived. I would even go as far as to say Remifemin saved my marriage. As far as I am aware it is not hormone based. Might be worth asking your Dr.

Best of luck,

Slightlylopsided xx

Those flushes etc.. can be terrible. Your body is doing things you seem to have no control over.

 I also had a hard time initialy, after the first chemotherapy.. way back in 1998. No one told me.it would be as bad.  I persevered, but I think.. try to get onto something early.

I did not try Endep, but I think they are quite good to reduce severity of flushing and other symptoms. 

 I am now on Zoloft, a seretonin reuptake inhibitor.

50 mgs.

I  might decrease to 25 mgs eventually. I am also on Livial, plus use an oesgtrogen pessary twice a week.

My severe flushes are gone now ( took a few years ) and then night sweats ( also ok now ), mood changes, ( ok ) irritability, creepy crawly skin, cognitive changes, low libido, dry vagina, urinary stmptoms ..etc etc... are manageable.

Good luck.. Kathy.

Those flushes etc.. can be terrible. Your body is doing things you seem to have no control over.

 I also had a hard time initialy, after the first chemotherapy.. way back in 1998. No one told me.it would be as bad.  I persevered, but I think.. try to get onto something early.

I did not try Endep, but I think they are quite good to reduce severity of flushing and other symptoms. 

 I am now on Zoloft, a seretonin reuptake inhibitor.

50 mgs.

I  might decrease to 25 mgs eventually. I am also on Livial, plus use an oesgtrogen pessary twice a week.

My severe flushes are gone now ( took a few years ) and then night sweats ( also ok now ), mood changes, ( ok ) irritability, creepy crawly skin, cognitive changes, low libido, dry vagina, urinary stmptoms ..etc etc... are manageable.

Good luck.. Kathy.

I have been having hot flushes since March 2009 when I was a the end of my chemotherapy.  I had them 24/7 every 2 hours.  I could set my clock by them.  Thankfully over time they have decreased and now I can get 3 to 4 hours sleep a night then the hot flushes kick in about every hour or so.  I think I have just adjusted to disturbed sleep but it does get frustrating to be woken with hot flushes.  I chose not to take anything as my breast cancer was highly oestrogen receptive and all natural products contain some oestrogen.  As for prescribed medication, I am only on Femara.  I think the less you take the better of you are.  I hope that the flushes will lessen in time.  My only wish is to stay well and be free of cancer.

I have Effexor 37.5mg once a day for this.

 It is an anti dpresssant prescribed by my Onc. and the dose is low so it has not  affected my mental health, it has cut down the hot flashes measurably as I was in the same situation as yourself.

Speak to your team about it, and get is sorted a.s.a.p.

Cheers

Cheryl

I have Effexor 37.5mg once a day for this.

 It is an anti dpresssant prescribed by my Onc. and the dose is low so it has not  affected my mental health, it has cut down the hot flashes measurably as I was in the same situation as yourself.

Speak to your team about it, and get is sorted a.s.a.p.

Cheers

Cheryl