Forum Discussion
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.
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.
29 Replies
- Hi All, for those of us that get absolutely soaked at night due to nights sweats, I just wanted to let you know that a friend of mine in the United States has told me about a company that designs sleep wear and linen that helps with the hot flushes and night sweats. Apparently the material they use wicks away the moisture very quickly meaning you don't get as cold and have less sleep disturbances. She recommends them but I haven't tried them. If anyone is interested see
http://www.cool-jams.com/ . This company ships to Australia. There are other companies that sell them in the States but do not ship here. A quick google search shows there are companies in Australia that sell similar. Has anyone tried this? - Ooh. Feeling for you. Sounds familiar with the hanging a leg out the bed. do that quite often . I was getting really bad leg cramps and started on low dose magnesium tablets. Got rid of cramps. Don't take now but cramps haven't returned touch wood. Hope you get some relief soon. All the best. Maz.xx
- Christine!!!
I couldn't stop laughing! haha!! That is soooo true! I'm guilty too of the leg out the bed and YES it does help LOL.
Melinda x - How does the saying go? We are all in this together!
Yes a silly thing like hanging the leg out of bed, it is amazing how it cools the body down. I think sometimes when we see the medical profession we tend to suffer a little bit of white coat fever and I think they are so busy that they appear dismissive with our concerns and yes that is where this forum helps!
Just think of the hokey pokey song - You put your left leg in, you put your left leg out, shake it all about - it all helps!!
Take care everyone from Christine xx - I'm also going to say thanks for all the good advice thay has been posted here because I'm also living this dream ;) xx
- @primek You've set off a chain reaction of leg sticky-outing! ( @iserbrown :lol: ) It doesn't sounds stupid at all, I'm a chronic blanket kicker-offer hahaha :heart: Thank you.
It looks like Magnesium is a top pick, I'll try it out @"Michelle R" .
@melclarity I can feel that you totally get this struggle too, like @Nadi. It's just more life-altering messy mean adjustments to make. It didn't help that - as you mentioned, doctors seem totally dismissive.
@Robynw Thank you for taking the time out to comment! Ouch, six months of this. Well I hope that's all it will be. :heart: Okay. Fan, spray, cotton, iced water activate!
Thank you all so much. - Hello!!!! I just read your post,and even though I don't comment on posts much any more,I felt that maybe I could help:) I have been on Tamoxifen for a little over 3 years now.My hot flushes were absolutely relentless in the beginning....all day and all night!! And not just your usual hot flush,but the really severe ones,just like you are experiencing.I spoke to my oncologist,and she told me that they would pass.She was right as usual,but it took about 6 months for them to ease.The things that helped me through were as follows...I took 2 Blackmores mag-min each day.( magnesium) I STOPPED drinking anything hot.....l slept with an oscillating fan next to my bed,in hot and cold weather. I ALWAYS slept with one leg out of the covers.I used a chillow pillow,and I kept a spray water bottle next to my bed.I only used cotton sheets,they are SO MUCH cooler than polyester,and I only wore cotton t shirts when they were at their worst.I drank ICED water all day long.... Just keep sipping it.It cools your core temperature.Carry a small fine water spray bottle in your bag when you go out.You can mist your face at any time.I hope these things might help a bit.It will improve,Give it a bit more time:) Cheers Robyn
- Ohhh Inkpetal!!!
I totally agree, through Chemo mine hit hard!!! its been relentless ever since...it absolutely SUCKS!!! My Oncologist even brushed over it a bit which annoyed me, he also prescribed Effexor, I tried taking it on two different occasions but it made me so incredibly sick uuugh!!!! So I have found ZERO works, tips tricks, nothing. Ive even tried taking Arimidex at night as suggested but I find its actually worse. I think Ive just got to the point, where I put up with it as theres nothing I can do. I'm seeing a kinesiologist, so Im going to ask her tomorrow and see what she thinks!!!
Ive been taking powdered magnesium in water for a few months, hasnt changed the symptoms at all though for me strangely. Though it has helped cramps LOL. I didnt know this, but apparently Magnesium is one of the MUSTS for us all, as it benefits over 300 Enzymes in our bodies.
Hugs Melinda xo - I find leg out of bed works a treat!
- Hi Nadi,
I remember when one of our ladies had terrible night sweats, fan beside the bed, etc. She tried magnesium tablets and they improved things a lot. It might be worth a try. Michelle x
