Question for the older ladies

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Sorry to ask this here but I need help.

I am having a terrible time with hot flashes.... can anyone reccomend something I could buy over the counter that would help... I also get mood swings but its the hot flashes that are bothering me the most....

night time seams to be the worst... it wakes me up and I feel all agitated and hot, it then takes me ages to get back to sleep...

I cant take HRT because of history of DVT in my family, but I have seen loads of thing advertized on the net but I am not sure if any of them actually work...

Kez

[munchkins 0]

kez

I wish I could help you out here, but I had a hystrectomy years ago and once I started going through the change it did not seem as bad. I was on HRT for a while but came of it and basically just got through it as best as I could. I believe there are natural remedies that you can try, if I can find any out, I'll let you know

Val

[munchkins 0]

kez been looking at a few sites and from them I am gathering that light clothing, to help with the flushes, sleep in a cooler room, exercise during the day, stay away from caffiene if you can and if you can drink herbal teas, especially chamomile, is good, and to try to help you sleep, try valarian. Do you have a good herbal shop near you, they could give you some good advice and products.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

kez been looking at a few sites and from them I am gathering that light clothing, to help with the flushes, sleep in a cooler room, exercise during the day, stay away from caffiene if you can and if you can drink herbal teas, especially chamomile, is good, and to try to help you sleep, try valarian. Do you have a good herbal shop near you, they could give you some good advice and products.

Thanks Val for the info... I am finding it hard to wear light clothing with it being so cold... I am having to wear lots of layers... we have the temp in the bedroom set for 64F during the night.. I will try cutting out the coffee I have in the evening and I am searching for a herbal shop near me... I am so desparate I will try anything...

Kez

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Look into black cohosh, I have read a little on this as I suffer with early signs of menopause. I have been meaning to get some myself. A good herbal shop should be able to help you out with what is best for ya! Wish you well!

Bethanie

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Yes thats what i was going to say a good health food store has many things to offer actually here in the pharmacy section of many groceries there is a variety

[mmb 0]

Soya based products can help too.

[KarenCee 3]

Yep, soy is excellent for menopausal symptoms. I think there's a soy based product in the pharmacy section that one can take for hot flashes and such (darn it, can't remember the name). Still, anything natural is always better for the body. JMHO.

ETA: Here's the name of it. Estroven. http://www.estroven.com This might be helpful.

Edited February 6, 2007 by KarenCee

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Ok I have read all about the estroven and I am going to go to the pharmacy after I have had dinner.... thank you so much for all your help....

Oh does anybody know how long you need to take estroven for before it starts to work??

Kez

[Reba 2]

here's the webite http://www.estroven.com/ also check out WebMD they might have some info http://www.webmd.com/content/article/33/1728_84459.htm

Also, drink a nice tall glass of cold water when you start to get hot. This will cool you down a bit. And/or try a cold cloth on the back of the neck.

Have your hormone levels tested to be sure its peri-menopause and not some other problem. I was having a helluva time with heat, and it turned out my thyroid has gone berserkers. Thyroid problems can lead to all sorts of problems, (which will also set off other hormone levels into doing crazy things) including heart malfunction and death if left untreated. So a quick blood test to be sure its what you think it is can't hurt.

If you've already done that, great! Try some soy drinks. Apparently they work well. I've heard good and bad things about some herbal remedies, just like any drug, read the label, and make sure what you're taking is from a reputable company. I take herbal and other supplements myself for various things. There may be side effects that are not generally known, and they can also counter affect any prescription medications you may be on, make them not work as they're meant to.

[Girona40 0]

Zyrtec - a pill that helps with allergies. Sounds crazy, I know, but my doctor prescribed them for me when I was having hot flashes, particularly at night. They helped me a lot. Not only did the sweats diminish considerably, but I slept like a baby!

[KarenCee 3]

Zyrtec - a pill that helps with allergies. Sounds crazy, I know, but my doctor prescribed them for me when I was having hot flashes, particularly at night. They helped me a lot. Not only did the sweats diminish considerably, but I slept like a baby!

Interesting! I'll have to file that tidbit of information for a later date. Thanks!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I can vouch for the estroven. It will take a few days for it to build up sufficient in your system - (you will notice it starting to work, though) and by the same token a few days to leave your system. It didn't stop them totally but definitely lessened both the severity and the number. It made them bearable and much less of a bother. I highly recommend it. Generally, read the ingredients because a lot of pharmacies offer their own store brand of the same that is just as effective. As long as the ingredients are the same - and the more the better (sorry, but it is so) - you can safely purchase the cheaper store brand over the more expensive estroven. Fortunately, I seem to have passed beyond that stage now - or maybe they will return come summer heat - but I don't think I would have survived without the estroven. Thank god they are over!

Edited February 7, 2007 by Kathryn41

[Ban Hammer 13,191]

ah i finally get to use this one i stole from aussiewench

[Heartland 0]

There is a book that I loved that dealt with many issues. It's My Ovaries, Stupid!

by Elizabeth Lee Vliet . It deals with all things from puberty to menopause. It helped me greatly and I gave a copy to my doctor!

Wendy

Good luck