General Chat

I didnt know what was happening when I first had these during the night. You wake with your neck soaking wet, dont you. I have to say I think I have come off lightly with the menopause really. I get the insomnia which is a real pain and the hunger which has put on a lot of weight. But the flushes I have been getting during the day are just like its a very hot day, so reasonably bearable. Yes, not a lot of fun is it. I got the meno tabs that are Boots own but found they gave me tummy ache. I guess I shall just try and ride it out for now. HRT didnt help me, got splitting headaches although my sister tried various sorts and found one that did work for her. Good luck.

Thanks for the phone call Kim. xx Please, can you all keep your advise coming. It is helping me and also others are interested. I must admit, that I do like a 'drop' of wine, or cider. Lol. This is twice now that I have heard that alcohol makes 'hot flushes' worse. I only have about three cups of coffee a week, but a big tea drinker. I have to admit that I am a heavy smoker too. I have also been told, that if you have suffered from PMT badly in the past, 'which I have, terribly' that depression could rear its ugly head. Thank you all for your messages. I will answer all, tomorrow. Jenny, now sitting without a top on. Lol. xx

Jenny nothing wrong with sitting with your top off but make sure your neighbour doesn't get an eye ful

Oh poor you Mommy Jenny. I went through a few of those hot sweats during the day & yes it was worse at night, it's a few years ago nothing like what you are going through though. I was lucky and escaped with not much bother I do hope it improves soon for you. Lots of good advice but definitely your Doctor should be able help you. Its good to see you by the way ;-))) Take Care Pat x

Jenny Mary suffered like that, some years ago, when she was young like you. Our GP gave her some pills which helped enormously. I think it helped that the GP was a middle-aged lady. len

Annie, you get palpitations too? Did they say that was the menopause as I am getting more and more lately.

interesting reading .....will be trying some thing off here .....some times i feel like being a topless barmaid when they start and im at work.......on go all the fans twin sis is standing there freezing .....cool down turn fans off then she starts.......so on go the fans again ann xx

Once again, thank you for all your replies. Re -Palpitations. I do not get those, well I do not think I do. But I am finding that when I try to get to sleep, I cannot actually 'drop off' I have dreams, but know I am only half asleep. Then everything 'just drops' I have a terrible feeling that I have stopped breathing. Sometimes I do not know if I have to take a deep breath or exhale. It is very alarming, actually terrifying. Mentioned it to my Doctor at least a year ago, and it seemed as if she was laughing at me and could not understand, what I was going through. I have even thought that I will eventually have an adult form of 'Cot Death' Sorry to be so terrified, but that is just what I am going through. Jenny x

I grt that too - I suddenly have to take a huge breath and I panic. I think it is the hormones though, so try not to fret as that probably makes it worse. Its a form of panic attack I think.

God, thought that i was going mad about the not breathing at night, and thought it was only me, so glad it isn't. Burgen bread in Australia is called Shelia's slice, because it is so popular, it contains Soya and Linseed, to help with the hot flushes, it's a bit pricey at around 1.15 a loaf, especially when the old man makes his sarnies out of it. Red Clover tablets and Black Kohosh are very good also, you can get them at H & Barrett. Hope this helps someone. Love Belle.

I have been getting hot flushes really bad for a while now, but put it down to taking steriods. So bad last week, I nearly fainted twice, I honestly feel like I am going to explode on times, makes me really breathless too. M.

Kal, The doctor suggests anti depressents because the menopause causes a hormone imbalance that affects the serotin take up (spelling?) in the brain. One of the affects of anti depressents is that it repairs the damage caused. Anti depressents only appear to start working after 6 weeks or so, thats because they repair rather then treat the side affect. Jules

Doctor put me on Prozac and to be honest Ive been taking it about 4 months now and still feel very low. In fact I ran out a couple of weeks ago and after a few days of splitting headaches I felt just the same without taking them as taking them. And they made me so tired, I was going asleep for a couple of hours every afternoon.

So glad you put this thread on here, I am 38 (is that too young or what?) and everytime I am due to come on my periods I get hot flushes for about three days before, I was wondering if it could be the start of the change, sounds like it could be, never had them before ever! but the last six months have been terrible at times, I think I will have a go and get some of the things recommended and see if they help. Hope you feel better soon! Marie

Hi Thank goodness I am past it now but I used to get terrible flushes and also, which was even worse, my skin used to feel as if it had ants craawling all over it, not itchy, just a horrible feeling. i also used to get the 'sinking feeling at night and bad dreams. And I was not pleasant to live with. In the end I took HRT for nine years (this was before all the warnings re breast cancer. I did have a small cyst which was aspirated and OK and then decided to come off the HRT. I was very well all the time, I was getting a few headaches, not very many and bearable, and I did put on weight. When i came off HRT I 'lost' the headaches, kept the weight but didn't have more than a very occasional hot flush. (my Mum went on getting occasional ones until late 60s). While on HRT libido was excellent, since coming off (6 years ago) nil!!! Ann Glos

Hi all, Having had my last period at 47 (now 55), I can at least reassure you all that there is life after menopause! When you are approaching 'the change', your ovaries start producing less hormones, and the pituitary gland (located somewhere in your head, I think), starts to produce more and more of a certain hormone in an effort to stimulate the ovaries back into action. Most of the menopause symptoms are because of this high level of stimulating hormone in your bloodstream. I had hot flushes (but mine were bearable, sympathies to Mommy xx), and awful palpitations. Also a strange feeling at night where I would feel a weird sensation in my toes which gradually spread up my body until it reached my heart, when the palpitations would start! Horrible. Sometimes I thought i would die in the night! And of course there were the mood swings, anxiety, depression and forgetfulness - and I became quite a hypochondriac! It can be a difficult time of life for some ladies...but all of what has been said here sounds pretty much normal during menopause. Hope those of you who are suffering find something to ease the symptoms..but do take heart..one day you will be over it, back to normal, and feeling great again! Oh and may I recommend Redbush tea as an altennative to your regular cuppa...Usually I'm not a fan of 'herbal' teas, but I think this one is the nearest to proper tea you can get, take it with milk and sugar, or however you normally take your tea. It has no caffeine (so might reduce the flushes and palpitations), and is rich in antioxidants. Also its not a diuretic like ordinary tea, so if you are getting some stress incontinence, it might reduce the nmber of PMSL's we get on here LOL xxxx Best wishes to you all.. Dee x

LOL Dee, I have been taking real interest in those Tena Lady adverts last few weeks!

ho they are awful! I'm 41 and have been hot flushes now for 2 years!! I'm always hot, in winter I go around wearing t-shirts, never buy jumpers any more. I don't take HRT,I have been taking plenty of vitamins e.g. multivitamins with minerals, minerals on its own, magnesium,fish oils, calcium vitamin C 500mg.It takes me ages to take them all in the morning, but it's worth it, my symptoms have decreased drastically. I also get aches and pains and irregular heart beats,that is frightening. I know how you must feel, try taking vitamins before using HRT or any other alternative, good luck Cherylx

Take heart ladies... In public, do no worry about the heat etc... It is only some of the ladies that notice. I know some are worried that 'people', and I guess this often means males, will look down. They just do not know !!