Overheating!

[glasscompletelybroken]

I'm really struggling with this at the moment - well for a few months now so it's not just the hot weather. I don't really have any other menopausal symptoms - periods have stopped but had endometrial ablation last year and they stopped after that. I am 49 by the way.

I am having serious night sweats which is really affecting the amount of sleep I am getting. I am also having day time hot flushes - sometimes only a couple of times a day and sometimes lots. I have two daughters getting married this summer and have visions of me melting in a puddle of sweat in my posh frocks!

Does anyone have any hints on how to help with this or do I just have to put up with it? I have read that good diet and excercise help but I do eat well and am a fanatical keep-fitter anyway.

buy a dyson fan worth every penny, it will really help at night,everyone going through the menopause should be given one.

oh and go and see your GP, there are things that can help.

Thanks quote - are there things GP can do that don't involve HRT? I'm not dead against it but would like to hold off for as long as possible so as not to be on it for too long.

Perhaps think carefully about the material you wear, ie cotton rather than silk - wear something very light with a pretty cardi, ie layers. I am 49 too and experienced the same as you...but am so fortunate the heat flushes and sweats only lasted for a couple of months - I found after the heat, I would suddenly feel very cold and shiver - and therefore resorted to layers.

Perhaps also for the week of each wedding make a menopause cake - google it - some of my friends have sworn by it - it contains very specific ingredients to help with the heat symptoms and sounds quite tasty - I did not try it as I am not much into baking - but would have considered it if the heat symptoms continued. I am now using 'mind over matter' to ensure the symptoms don't return ; ) - if only that would work - but yes am willing them to stay away as felt quite desperate when they were around.

Thanks - have googled it and will give it a go!

I get cold after aswell so in the night I spend my time throwing of the duvet then grabbing it back again 5 minutes later!

Is there any reason why you won't consider HRT? It really is the best way to stop this. This website gives impartial advice and you will see that for someone young like you, the experts consider it beneficial up to the age of 60- look at the charts etc for HRT.

www.menopausematters.co.uk

Thanks for the link amelia - just been on it and has some suggestions I will try. I only worry about HRT because I'm only 49 and don't want to be on it for years.

Interesting to see your post glass. I am 52 and having exactly the same symptoms and, like you, I am not keen on the idea of HRT unless it becomes absolutely necessary.

Off to google menopause cake.

Glass- couple of questions- have your periods stopped? If so, then you are under the average age for meno- which is 51-52. If you start HRT at any age under 50, then it doesn't " count" risk-wise.

The other point is that starting it at 49 doesn't mean that you will be on it any longer than anyone who starts it when they are older! My dr suggests that anyone on HRT winds down from it very slowly over say 6 months so that the body re-adjusts slowly. Some people don't get bad meno symptoms again , some do- no one can predict.

How long you take it is up to you- so if you wanted to take it for one year only you could. The point is if you are having symptoms you need the benefits now- not in 5 years when they may have gone - so I son't really know why you say you want to wait- wait for what?

Tranquil- I was like you too re. HRT but waking several times a night ( not hot just waking) and having hourly hot flushes all day was enough to make me try it. I also have low bone density so taking HRT is a "plus" for those, although that is not the main reason for taking it- i was just sleeping very badly.

I think it's fine if you have made an informed choice that the benefit is greater than any risk for you, sleep deprivation would certainly make me take it but, as yet, I have no real reason to try it. My symptoms are all minor inconveniences.

My periods stopped around a year ago (first time I've ever done anything by the book!) but have had some very light bleeding yesterday and today so guess I am back to square 1 again.

amelia - my priods have stopped but that may be entirely down to having endometrial ablation last year. I was having increasingly awful periods so had this done last August. I had 2 periods after having it done then nothing since (heaven!).

I guess I'm reluctant to take anything thb - not logical I know! I will look it up on the internet and see what the pros & cons are.

I decided to go the HRT route as I couldn't cope with the night sweats but my GP did say that some of her patients had had good results with evening primrose oil so that might be worth looking at.

Glass- I just don't see the point in suffering when you don' t need to.

I see an eminent gynae privately , who is an expert in menopause. He'd be the first to say try other things if yu want- such as Menolieve or Menopace ( from Boots) but he also thinks that HRT is safe for most women for a few years.

I seem to have just started this malarky with a vengeance, am 47, periods have been erratic for a year or two but over the past few days I have been having these monstrous hot spells. How long are they going to go on for?

I am 34 and get the night sweats ALOT and now occassionally the day time ones :( period are not erractic though actually they are more heavy than ever and more painful :(