Forum Discussion
Hot Flushes
You might already think I'm a little strange, so this may remove all doubt for you! At the risk of sounding very weird I thought I would post about this subject and what I think has worked for me just in case it works or helps someone else!
First let me be clear that i have only had what I think of as fairly mild hot flushes (no redness or perspiration dripping). Now for the strange bit. I have always been a person who feels the cold. My hot flushes began while I was having chemo in winter last year. From that very first one I have actually associated the feeling of warmth spreading through my body as a good thing (told you I was weird!). Maybe this has had an affect on how my body responds physically to the hot flush. I kind of relax and feel positive about it rather than resisting or getting annoyed by the flush. Just the same I am getting one right now in response to the anxiety of what you will think of this post!
I have never viewed my hot flushes as a problem. I have never kept count (but i know i slept all night without being disturbed by any last night) or got upset by them. I have viewed them as a positive sign that the treatment (chemo and now tamoxifen) is working and stopping the estrogen that fed my cancer cells.
From a practical point I do try to dress in layers so I can remove them during a flush. I wear a lot of natural fabrics that 'breathe'. I have layers on my bed too so that I can just kick off a blanket without disturbing my sleep (or my husband) too much.
Well, maybe I've just been lucky to not have too bad a time so far with the flushes but maybe it does have something to do with how I have responded to them from the beginning. I feel the flush and almost welcome it as something comforting (like walking up to a warm, relaxing fire place), my breathing slows and I relax into it. The next thing it is gone. So I guess what I do is associate the feeling of warmth with experiences I've had where being warm was a good thing (warm relaxing bath, sitting by a campfire etc).
Feel free to dismiss this as utter rubbish but if it works for anyone else then I'll feel it was worth writing about. Take care and good luck with the hot flushes! Deanne xxx
23 Replies
Thanks, Deanne. Home now. Feels weird. One drain site still oozing a lot which is a bit gross and I am changing bandages a lot but hopefully that will slow down. Hope the flushes are settling for you. Sonya
- Hope your recovery is going well. Maybe you will be lucky and not have any hot flushes on tamoxifen! It sounds like you already recognize that how you think about some things can help you cope. There sure are a lot of things about BC that give us practice with this! Take care and all the best with your treatment and recovery. Deanne xxx
Hi Deanne.
I think you have a great attitiude to the flushes. I haven't started Tamoxifen (and the hot flushes) yet but when I do I will remember they way you think about it when it happens and try and do it myself. At the moment I am post surgery (bilateral mastectomy) and when I get my Hepron injections into my stomach twice a day I close my eyes and tell myself this is good, it is helping me get better. All the best with your screenings.
Sonya
I have not consciously tried to relax into them like you. My approach has been to pay them as little attention as possible. I just take off my cardigan or whatever and get on with things. Maybe it's a bit of denial. I hate thinking about myself as menopausal - it makes me feel old - so I just don't pay them any more attention than absolutely necessary. I guess I can get away with this because my hot flushes are quite mild and infrequent. I refuse to count them too. I think your attitude is great too.
- Well after writing about this yesterday, I paid a little more attention to the flushes last night. Was worried this might be negative in itself, but, as I felt the first touch of heat begin, I went straight into deep breathing. This just seems to force you to relax. You can even try closing your eyes. Every time (I still refuse to count them) I was able to halt the flush with this technique and I only had to remove my Ugg boots once! No major sleep disturbance either. Will be interested to hear if anyone else has any success with this. Deanne xxx
- I am interested in how you go with hypnosis, I hope you can find some recommendations for this....let me know how you go.... Take care ... Christine:) xox
Hi Deanne
You are so positive in what you say/think - not a surprise you have studied a bit of Buddhism and meditiation etc!
Great theory to just go with the flow and love the thought of accepting hot flushes as a positive - proof the treatments are working....I kept that thought in my mind too when I had chemo.
Mine are not so bad really and I feel like they have settled down a little. Just like Fiona said, I have also discovered that my body copes pretty well with medications - something I had no idea about before.
Now I just have to try and get a fabulous mindset like yours and I'll be almost perfect! (lol)
Cyber hug to you...Jenny
(p.s. Great to hear your arm responded beautifully with the treatment you had....fingers crossed it stays that way!)
Hi Deanne
You are so positive in what you say/think - not a surprise you have studied a bit of Buddhism and meditiation etc!
Great theory to just go with the flow and love the thought of accepting hot flushes as a positive - proof the treatments are working....I kept that thought in my mind too when I had chemo.
Mine are not so bad really and I feel like they have settled down a little. Just like Fiona said, I have also discovered that my body copes pretty well with medications - something I had no idea about before.
Now I just have to try and get a fabulous mindset like yours and I'll be almost perfect! (lol)
Cyber hug to you...Jenny
(p.s. Great to hear your arm responded beautifully with the treatment you had....fingers crossed it stays that way!)
- Well there you go who knew it was a theory! I have studied a little about Buddhism and meditation and really think a lot of this being at peace with things is a good way to live. I just think that stress had a pretty big part in my getting cancer in the first place, so I try not to stress about things I know I can't change. I really believe the way we think and our emotional responses can have a big impact on our health. The one thing we do have control over in this world is how we react to things. But as you say this is the result of my experiences. It's a process and I'm constantly needing to adjust as things change.
Deanne there is a new-ish model which is called 'acceptance theory' --so dont try to fix or change but just accept what is---this is quite recognised as a therapy technique so doesnt sound crazy at all. i did something similiar where i thought 'feels like (holiday ) in asian country which when im there i just 'go with ' the hot humidity--walk slower, drink more etc but in essence just modify continue on. I really enjoyed having hot flushes decrease--maybe once or twice a week for the last month or so ...but im not bothered if they come back either. Ive got this framework that its not too bad..for me..and it passes as you say...and dont make too many future predictions either. Someone said to me'hope they dont come back' and i said idont want to say things like that --maybe just welcome them back, or make a few adjustments..i dont want my energy or focus to be 'how about if they come back'. Of course this approach works for me with my experience but not wanting to minimalise any one else's experience-- bit like going to radiation with someones experienof 'mild pink' and i ended up with red raw...
