Every.single.night I wake up between 3:00-3:30. Never mind, I’ve been tossing and turning from hot flashes all flippin’ night long! Seriously, my kids have taken to wearing sweats at night, because not only do I have a fan blowing in my face at hurricane force speed…I turn the air down so low…we might as well be living in an igloo.
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So when Nelly sings…”It’s gettin’ hot in herre, so take off all your clothes”…I obey. Help! Can anyone relate? I’ve tried different things/meds for sleeping. I don’t know what else to do…other than fill my bathtub up with ice and lay in it. Let’s discuss.
That does SUCK! It seems like ideally, you would want to sleep through the temperature changes, without being woken up by the sweat. Maybe wearing work out clothes that wick away moisture but that are super light. You said you've tried medications, are women still doing the soy thing? Sheets that are light enough to not trap in the heat but also keep you warm enough for the post-sweat chills? A time traveling machine that will gently deposit you on the other end of the “change”? Good luck!
yes…a time traveling machine! I all but strip nekkid to sleep already! it's just crazy!
Have you tried Melatonin for sleep? I get the night sweats, too, followed by the post flash freeze. I have actually thought about trying Amberen. Soy can increase your risk for breast cancer, so I don't think it's really recommended anymore. Ick. Getting older is awesome.
My good friend was awake every hour or two with flashes!! She started Black Cohash….took 4-6 weeks to get in her system and she has not had ONE SINGLE ONE since then….It's been about 6 months! Flash Free! Keep us posted!
I have also heard really good things about black cohosh. I just suffered through and bitched a lot! 🙂
It's a pretty low-risk (no-risk, even) thing to try, that I swear helped me (more than the Black Cohosh stuff did)… try adding a Vitamin D(3) supplement, and cut out as much sugar as possible from your diet. (You can always add it back in if it doesn't help, lol).
Black Cohosh has worked miracles with me, too. No flashes at all while I was taking it. I had to quit taking it for a while and I immediately started back with the flashes. I'm trying to get it back in my system now. Good luck!
I remember a friend telling me that one thing a person MUST DO when/after having a hot flash is to tell someone that you've just had a hot flash. LOL It.is.so.true and your blog post today confirms that truth. the vitamin D3 supplement sounds interesting. and remember the hot flashes don't last forever (it just seems like it). =) Might try sleeping with a light sheet that isn't tucked in. Keeping my feet uncovered is helpful to me.
I had that also at first and the only thing that helped was having ONLY natural fibers in the bedding. 100% cotton percale sheets (high thread count feels like a synthetic to me) cotton filled mattress pad (no poly fill) and wearing 100% cotton t shirt to bed. I also kept a couple of fresh once within easy reach so I could change out of a drenched one and into a dry one. I can't sleep if I'm sweaty. I don't have that issue anymore but for me it lasted for a few months and of course it was thru summer. I still stick to the natural fibers for my bedding and clothes (mostly my tops)especially in the spring and summer months. Hope that helps!
I wish I could offer a remedy to help you get through it.
I love that you used the picture of the album cover from Leonard Cohen's “Sister's of Mercy.” I still have it in my collection even though I haven't listened to it since I was in college over 40 years ago.
I tried Vitamin D3, Black Cohosh, and some over the counter crap that was supposed to help, none of it did. I finally has to resort to a very low dose estogen for a short period of time. I was afraid to take it because of the reported side effects, but it was the only thing that saved me.
A woman from my quilt group uses one of those neck tie things that has crystals in it. You soak it in cold water and wring it out. It keeps cool for a few hours. She says is is the only thing that helps.
I'm with you. AC is cranked, I have a fan and a chillow. A friend told me about how taking black cohosh helped her, so I tried these, and it seems to be helping. I have to take the PM ones earlier in the evening though, because they take more than an hour to kick in, so they don't wear off by 6 when I need to wake up.
http://www.vitacost.com/enzymatic-therapy-am-pm-perimenopause-formula-60-tablets
ha! and the other thing that makes me feel old is how darn hard it is to read the captcha things. Can't wait for the kid who invented that technology to get old 😛 Karma!
Totally agree with you about percale sheets 🙂 I thought I was the only one who did really care for super high threadcount, and prefer my 250/300 count cotton percale.
When Shabby Chic first came out at Target she had the best percale sheets – just like grandma's.
yep…i heart getting older. i have tried melatonin. my mom swears by estroven. maybe i'll try it?
the black cohosh seems the way to go. i'll give it a whirl.
yes. that's exactly what i'm doing right now! 😉
neck tie thing? with crystals? i will have to investigate this!
I was having hot flashes back when estrogen was still deemed okay to use, and use it I did. By the time it was no longer acceptable, I was through with all such problems. Not everyone has hot flashes and some that do have mini-flashes, so don't let anyone tell you that they are really nothing! Don't let anyone make you feel foolish and say you are making something out of nothing. Your situation is awful and you deserve sympathy and help, but I have no answers, except know that it is rough. And it doesn't last forever, but still. lasts far too long!
thanks so much! and i don't feel foolish at all. i had a full hysterectomy a year ago because of endometriosis…so i will take the hot flashes over that pain any day. still just trying to figure out what works for me. thx again!
I live in South Africa, on the South East coast where the summers are extremely humid. I would never have survived without Premarin, the oestrogen for women who have had hysterectomies. Been using it for 30 years, with no side effects – my family have benefited hugely from it, it's fantastic. Have never had a hot flash, but I cannot stand the heat and humidity, at my happiest in the mountains, where the climate is slightly cooler in summer with nil humidity. DO try hormone replacement therapy. You will never regret it !!
I just went thru this a couple of years ago. The Estroven contains Black Cohosh and does help a lot. While the worst of it usually only lasts while you are actually going thru the change I have found I am hot now when I used to be cold all the time. Not bad just differnt. I have to sleep with one foot out of the covers. Hang in there. It will get better. The Estroven also helps with the mood swings.
There are very few percale sheet options out there but the Wamsutta 360 Perfect Pinpoint are the ones I use. I get them at Bed,Bath & Beyond at wait till I have a 20 off coupon. In my opinion percale sheet are the only way to go!