Are these hot flushes?

[user1487671808]

I'm late forties and for the last 4 years have only had 3-6 periods a year. I'm a committed low carber so not had a problem with weight gain but have had moods, insomnia, cramps for months at a time and feelings of anxiety and brain fog.

I've noticed that in recent months I'm getting very hot at night but not sweating excessively and now it's started during the day too. No pattern just suddenly aware I'm very hot, only lasts a few minutes and no visible signs. In between I'm chilly so it's not that it's warm outside but I'm having to not wear a coat and just layer up so I can add/remove clothing.

Are these hot flushes? I have no one to ask about menopause so it's just what I'm reading on here really.

It sounds like it to me, but worth going to your GP for a check up and blood test to have it confirmed. It might also be worth looking around at what other women have recommended as ways to cope with the symptoms of peri menopause and the menopause itself.

Oh I have literally signed up just now to ask about hot flushes.

I do get warm glows for no particular reason, just brief ones.

Could some one let me know please does this sounds like hot flushes:

A short burst of facial heat and redness when getting stressed or embarrassed just simple things like getting flustered (today it was trying to find reverse in my courtesy car!!!)

but situations which wouldn’t in the past have affected me are causing me to flush?

For me the hot flushes didn't seem to happen in reaction to anything in particular, they would just be there and then go. It was a bit like having an internal thermastat turned up full blast very suddenly, then off again after a minute. But I'm sure different women experience it differently.

I have been having similar. I am nearly 55.I assume that's what it is but haven't bothered going to the doctor for confirmation. I figured unless its really affecting your life, then its a natural thing.

Yes they are.
PLEASE don't bother your GP to ask if they are! Seriously, there are people who are really ill and can't get to see a GP for weeks, so taking an appt to ask for confirmation of a hot flush is not really on. Also, NICE has told GPs not to waste time and cash on blood tests for menopause unless the woman is under 45 (early meno.)

If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, walks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. (Anyone aged 45-55 with these symptoms- menopause most likely.)

There is loads online about menopause, or books, or forums :)
Hot flushes range from feeling warm but no red face, to dripping with sweat and being like a beetroot. They can come every few hours, hourly or every half hour.

Yes, sounds like a hot flush. Don't go to your GP to ask if they are hot flushes, but you would be perfectly entitled to go to ask about HRT. Do some reading up about it first. There are recommendations on here on multiple threads.

I've decided on balance I don't want it as I have a bad family history of breast cancer and my only bothersome symptom is hot flushes, which are annoying but not really causing me enough concern to justify taking medication. I'm not in the least embarrassed about them, but then I don't have the sort of job or lifestyle where people expect me to look perfectly groomed and I don't wear makeup. They do sometimes disturb my sleep but I work part-time and get enough time to rest to make up for that.

As I understand it hot flushes are often prompted by subtle changes of temperature - so, going into a crowded or stuffy room, putting a coat on, or getting into bed at night. The body's temperature adjustment systems kind of go into overdrive. HRT has really helped my brain fog and tiredness. Am still terribly moody if I eat too much sugar though 😧

I imagine hot flushes start from your feet and creep upwards until you are red in the face and a sweaty mess.

I get warm feelings. After a shower, drinking tea and drying my hair on full blast in the mornings and I'm not as cold during the day like I used to, think tee-shirt, shirt, lightweight fleece and snuggly dressing gown. Summer quilt still on the bed.

I imagine hot flushes start from your feet and creep upwards until you are red in the face and a sweaty mess.

Some women's might.

Mine started at the base of my neck and crept up to my face. Once an hour, on the hour, all day long. Too embarrassing at work, working 1:1 with men a lot of the time, when they were the client.

The reason that I suggested going to the GP was the op talked about 'moods, insomnia, cramps for months at a time and feelings of anxiety and brain fog'. At least if the Dr can confirm that these symptoms are down to the menopause and nothing else, then she will be able to make an informed decisions about whether to try HRT or not.

Whilst I get that GPs are busy etc, I don't think people should be warned off going to see them if they have symptoms which are causing them concern.

I don't think there is any point going to a GP with all the symptoms of peri meno to ask 'is this peri meno'. The NHS is so cash strapped and GPs ought to deal with really important stuff not peri meno symptoms. All this info is available online, very easily and there are lots of books out there too. A GP will just nod, say yes, it's peri meno (in the absence of other symptoms) , ask about their periods and point them to information online.

Also, most GPs know very very little about HRT which is why so many women use forums to ask about it.

OP when you say you have 'cramps for months at a time' do you mean you have cramps ALL the time for months,or you are having period type pains when a period is due? (But no bleeding?) Phantom periods- pain etc but no flow- are common. Abdo pain for months on end with no link to your cycles, is not.

Thank you so much for all the replies it pretty much confirms what I thought and I just need to get on with it for now.

PollyPerky for couple of years now I've had what feels like period pain most of the time. If I do have a period then it disappears for a week or two but on the months when I don't it's just there in the background. Sometimes it's been bad enough to make me cry other times it's just in the background. It's not so bad when I'm busy and active, it's most noticeable when I sit down and try and relax or go to bed. I've had many sleepless nights and often had to use a hot water bottle. I try and avoid pain killers unless it's bad as otherwise I'd be taking them constantly.

A lot of the other stuff was at it's worst when I was dealing with some very stressful personal stuff and has eased now that's no longer an issue.

I just feel as though I have permanent pmt. Being in fairly constant discomfort has badly affected my already low libido and I'm just fed up with it.

Roll on the end of peri menopause!

That kind of pain is not normal. You need to see your GP for a pelvic check up and make sure it's not something like an ovarian cyst or a fibroid, or something pressing on other organs.

Well polly my gp certainly didn’t discourage me. I don’t think you can scare women off from using the gp.... some of us don’t go to our doctors for years, so for something like this I’d recommend going!!

Nobody had ever told me to read up online either.

I'm not 'scaring' anyone off going to their GP!
I'm making the point- as has another poster on this thread- that menopause it not an illness, even though perimenopause can be very challenging. A GP cannot DO anything for peri meno unless you want to use HRT. Most GPs have had no or little training in menopause. If you want a bit of sympathy fair enough see your GP and hope they are the sympathetic type and not- as is shown here - the sort who say it's natural and just get on with it!