Hot flushes - what do they feel like!? Think I’ve hit early (???) menopause

[QueenoftheNowhereverse]

Yesterday I was at home talking to my DH on the mobile, suddenly felt very hot and dizzy. Hot enough that I felt the need to strip off my top (Uniqlo thin merino wool), but not before putting my hand on the radiator to make sure they hadn’t come on unexpectedly (DH is great for fiddling with the central heating).
My periods have always been erratic but in the last 12 years when they have come, they’ve been incredibly heavy and lasted anywhere up to four months. The last one finished in early December, which is supposedly an indicator I’m not in pre menopause.
I have an under active thyroid which I take a replacement for.

So what do ‘hot flushes’ feel like?

Well, I never actually had a hot flush, I just felt much warmer than usual all the time, as if my internal thermostat was faulty. I would sleep under just a sheet at night even in winter and never need a coat outdoors.

A friend who got them very badly described it to me as feeling like heat starting in your core, then building up until you suddenly break into a sweat. The skin on her upper chest, neck and face would flush red and her head and face would sweat a lot. It sounds horrible and I'm very grateful I never had anything like that.

Try reposting in the Menopause section as there are some very knowledgeable posters there. You don't say your age, but if you are in early menopause you might need HRT.

I can't really describe mine other than an all over hot feeling, with prickles of sweat - often seems to emanate from my hip, weirdly enough, but in general quite a 'surface' heat.

I had a surgical menopause (at a time when I was still having regular periods) and had my first hot flush within 24 hours of my ovaries coming out - it was very obvious what it was!

You can still have periods and be in peri menopause. How old are you?

To me they felt like being embarrassed. You know, when your cheeks are prickling almost? As they got worse the feeling spread to the whole body. It never felt like actually being too warm.

FoldyRoll Yes, that's a good analogy. A sort of all-over blush.

I can be walking along when it's cold out and suddenly have to take my coat off before I pass out and still feel too hot. My face goes bright red and it feels like my cheeks are on fire.

What you describe is very much what I experience with a hot flush. It's like you are suddenly being handed a very hot water bottle on my chest with the heat radiating everywhere. I'm having one right now and my chest and stomach are wet with sweat. In my case, it very rarely affect my face.

I had my first ones when in perimenopause but the scale of them really started when my periods had stopped.

I literally felt like if I didn’t take my top off, I was going to pass out.

I’m 41, which is why I feel it’s early. I was classified as having PCOS when I was 20, and we unfortunately weren’t able to have kids. We couldn’t get on a government funded waiting list for fertility treatment, but that’s ok, we just accepted it. It just seems really unfair if my body is kicking me further. Erratic heavy periods, I have psoriasis and an under active thyroid, so early menopause would be the icing on the cake. I’ve seen it increases your risk of dementia, and that’s been a factor in the deaths of 3 out of 4 grandparents, plus 2 great grandparents (no idea about the other# as they’d passed before I was born). I know I’m overthinking it, but now I feel like I’m sitting on a time bomb.

I’m due for my cervical smear so I will mention it then and see what is said. HRT, does it help if I need it?

That sounds exactly like a hot flush. I started having them about 8 years before the menopause.

I had an early menopause, around 39.
If you get another one , make a non urgent appointment with your dr / nurse practitioner and ask for a hormone blood test . That would give you your answer.

I was having hot flushes at 40 but no menopause until 51. I'd suddenly feel myself getting hot and then my skin would prickle. Night times were worse.

GP said it was probably stress at the time. Blood tests showed normal hormones.

The heat radiates from your core, it feels like and you want to strip off your clothes. At nighttime, I wake up sweating like a pig, throw off the covers then wake up again half an hour later freezing. My gp has prescribed me some high BP tablets which are licenced for this and I'm seeing some improvement.

It is early, but most of my friends (including me) were through the menopause by 45! My periods just stopped at 43 and that was it. Best friend was 40.

Does sound like a hot flush although I never had one. I understand than unless it is premature menopause (under 40) blood tests mean nothing really as your hormones are fluctuating daily.

It's surprisingly not that unusual. Get to the GP and get on HRT to protect your bones and heart. Good luck and read up in the menopause section, has been utterly invaluable for me

Sounds like one to me.Put wet wipes in the fridge to help you cool down and freshen if it causes sweating.
Sounds like perimenopause with your periods as they are to.
Once they become troublesome and interfering with daily life see your gp about her,may take a bit of tweaked Ng to find one that suites but well worth it.

I had them, although not that badly - and also went through early menopause. I had a bit of warning with mine as about five minutes before one would start I'd fell slightly nauseous and then it would start. I'd only get hot from chest to top of head, they were fairly brief but in the summer when it was already warm I'd be visibly hot and sweaty when having one. They'd go again a couple of minutes later and would respond well to taking off a layer, or my shoes or anything fanning air even if very brief. Had a few epic night sweats but generally they were just during the day as described. GP and blood tests weren't much help. I decided against HRT but that's just me and now they'd be more likely to push me to take it.