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InkPetal's avatar
InkPetal
Member
9 years ago

Premature menopause: Hot flushes and night sweats

Please share your tips, tricks, and most effective methods for managing persistent hot flushes and night sweats?

I've taken to rinsing my (thankfully bald) head under cold water, fanning myself for a minute, and re-rinsing. While I have no problem rushing to the sink or shower while at home it unfortunately isn't something I can do on the go. The hot flushes are so overwhelming that I'm anxious about leaving the house in case one causes me to faint.

The heat consumes from the thighs up, with focus in the head and chest. They are causing my vision to lapse, my head to spin, nausea, and not only a layer of sweat to coat me but also form beads that will drip from me. The night sweats are so intense they wake me and my routine has become a matter of sleep when I drop and hope I get a few hours in. 

I've read the Menopause and Breast Cancer BCNA information booklet and am following their tips for managing these things. It's been almost a month since they started and I have taken the tips; wearing loose clothing in layers, carrying a fan, sipping water, cutting out caffeine, and I exercise for as long as the aftermath of chemo pain and stiffness will allow. But nothing seems to be working to lessen the intensity.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
hot-flushes
menopause
young-women

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  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago
    Just popping in as so much like my menopause time. I ended up wearing a cotton singlet which helped soak up the sweat and a nightie I could slip on and off. My other trick also was having one leg out. Sounds stupid but it cooled me off but stopped me getting freezing. I too know what sleep deprivation was like at this time and my flushes were always worse at night.
  • Nadi's avatar
    Nadi
    Member
    9 years ago
    I take a big glass of ice to bed which melts and then I will sip that as soon as I feel a hot flush coming on. Then if I still need to I will put the fan on which is right next to my bed (I don't sleep in same room as hubby anymore because I keep him awake all night). Problem is, because I am covered in sweat I then get freezing cold pretty quickly. So then I have to bundle up again. It then becomes a pattern of hot cold hot cold etc. The last three weeks I have been opening my window at night making the room cold. That seems to have helped as I am sleeping through some of them and the other night I only woke up twice which was incredible!!   The lack of sleep means that I have to nap almost every day otherwise I get incredibly teary with exhaustion - just like a toddler!  When I get desperate I will take the phenergan.  I have kind of resigned myself to the fact that severe broken sleep is part of my life now. I think a lot of people don't understand how debilitating this can be and how it affects every part of your life. So remember be kind to yourself. If anyone gives you grief remind them that sleep deprivation is used as a torture technique.
  • InkPetal's avatar
    InkPetal
    Member
    9 years ago
    @Nadi Yes! This is exactly what's happening. I'm going a bit bonkers and definitely have a cranky set of pants on for the entire week. So you're still getting them? What has been helping you get relief the most?
  • Nadi's avatar
    Nadi
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi Inkpetal, I too cannot take effexor due to headaches and blurred vision. I've tried clonodine since the flushes started in February but that didn't help. My oncologist told me to keep a diary of when I got them to see if there were any triggers. I get them every 20 minutes and on a good night wake 6 times a night in a sweat. I haven't recognised any obvious triggers. My doctor told me to take phenergan to help with sleep for a few days. This does help me sleep but doesn't stop the flushes.
  • InkPetal's avatar
    InkPetal
    Member
    9 years ago
    @Ne Ongoing - I ended up having to find an alternative antidepressant. I was switched over to an SSRI at the time and don't actually remember what happened next.  Frustrated is right :( There's pain everywhere and I can't focus, all just because I can't sleep. Hopefully my doctor can recommend something. For now, I'm definitely going to buy a misting bottle. :heart:

    @primek Awesome, I'll look in to paroxetine when I go. Oh that's a fantastic idea! I'm sure I've seen some mini spritzers in travel packs. Thank you!
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago
    I believe paroxetine works also. It too can have some side effects which usually resolve in a few weeks. You might be able to get a purse size atomiser...like for perfume...or even salad dressing. You could then mist yourself when out which will make the fanning more efficient.
  • Ne's avatar
    Ne
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi InkPetal...was your side effects ongoing or just within the firs week from starting on the meds?  I ask this cause I know that I was spaced out so bad from anti depressants the first week of taking them and it took some tweaking till the dose was right for me.  I know you get different doses of Effexor too.  I feel so sorry for you, cause reading your initial post I could just feel your frustration.  Good luck hun xx
  • InkPetal's avatar
    InkPetal
    Member
    9 years ago
    @Ne I was prescribed Effexor as an antidepressant some years ago and I ended up zombified in the day and with the most vivid nightmares of my life at night. Unfortunately that's not going to help me sleep :lol:. I will go to my GP and ask if there's an alternative that works similarly to try though, thank you.
  • Ne's avatar
    Ne
    Member
    9 years ago
    I hear you sister, I have been there and it was causing major anxiety for me because I could swear no one else had it as bad as me!. I tried a lot of the tips found on this website, but what ended up being my saving grace on the day I finally broke down in front of my gynae oncologist to tell him I couldn't cope with it anymore, he suggested I start taking a medication commonly prescribed as an anti-depressant called Effexor, which has proven to be effective in relieving menopause symptoms.  I was sceptic but so desperate that I took the drug and whallah!!! I can confirm that it has reduced the frequency as well as severity of my hot flushes and night sweats.  They are minimal now, down to about 4 flushes a day and maybe one night sweat in two weeks, whereas before I had debilitating flushes hourly and night sweats at least 4 times a week. 
    Apart from the medication I kept a water misting bottle on my bedside to give me a spray during the night when I felt them coming on (mixed some lavender essential oil in it).  This as well as bought myself a 'chillow pillow' on ebay which worked wonders in cooling me off too.
    I have tried magnesium supplements but didn't find it as effective.  I would highly recommend the Effexor though.  Speak to your Oncologist or GP about this.  It has been successful for many post bc women who have menopause.
    Good luck and hugs xxx