Help for hot flushes with no HRT allowed?

[73kittycat73]

Hi, A few years ago I had a medical menopause. I had endometrial cancer so had a hysterectomy. I'm not allowed any HRT because of this. However, I get so many hot flushes a day! 98% percent of them start with me getting really anxious, and feel all doom and gloom, then that wears off and the hot flush comes. The other 2% comes with no warning. I don't suffer from night sweats. I've tried cutting out caffeine and chocolate but that hasn't made a difference. Do you have any advice that would help? I have about 4-8 hot flushes a day.

I take menopace max and sage tablets. Not saying it’s a magic cure but they’ve helped a lot.

Red Clover or Evening Primrose Oil

Clonidine is sometimes used for patients who can’t have HRT, traditionally used for migraines but it’s effective for hot flushes. You could make an appointment with your GP to see if this is suitable. I’m a pharmacist, and from the information you’ve given there are no contraindications but of course I don’t know your whole medical history.

NICE guidance also recommends some antidepressants as another thing to reduce flushes or clonidine as mentioned above
Supplements wise, red clover or black cohosh are often mentioned
Mindfulness can also have surprisingly good effects (Mariella Frostrup covered this in her documentary)
Good luck

You might not want to hear this op, but I gave up sugar in January and have not had 1 hot flush since.
It’s so worth it.

Watching with interest. Not sure I could give up sugar

Yep, not eating sugar has really helped me. Also strenuous exercise (for which there's some supportive research evidence).

Doing slow deep breathing as soon as I feel a flush coming on helps too.

@73kittycat73 might be worth you checking again on this. I have read on medical research papers online that if the cancer was very localised- stage 1- and it was 2 years ago or more, HRT/estrogen is allowed.

Have you consulted a menopuase gynaecologist?

Thank you all for your help. I looked up clonidine but don't like the sound of the side effects (I already get a dry mouth and lethargy from tablets I take already.) but I will get in touch with my GP about HRT then JinglingHellsBells. Thank you.

@73kittycat73

Thank you all for your help. I looked up clonidine but don't like the sound of the side effects (I already get a dry mouth and lethargy from tablets I take already.) but I will get in touch with my GP about HRT then JinglingHellsBells. Thank you.

This is not really GP level stuff. You need a referral to a specialist in menopause. NHS waits can be months so if you can afford the first appt privately, that will be much quicker.

Venlafaxine can help with hot flushes and night sweats.

I take evening primrose oil and menopace - may be somewhat due to placebo effect, but I have found they’ve helped a lot with night sweats and hot flushes

Hello,
I too have menopause due to a hysterectomy and endometrial cancer.
I was early 30s when my hysterectomy was done.
Within a year of my operation I was referred to a specialist menopause clinic and started on HRT.
Know this doesn't answer your question but wanted to show it might be possible for you to actually have HRT.
Have you been seen in a specialist clinic at all?
Feel free to PM me if I can help

I've never been referred to anyone or been told anything about it tbh. Apart from the DR who did the surgery, ie, can't take HRT.
It would be no good anyway, I have agoraphobia and find getting out, even with diazepam, really really hard.

Menopace worked well for me before I started HRT.

My menopause clinic is on the phone for past couple of years, would that help?
So you don't need to go out for it?

I'd honestly recommend speaking to your GP about a referral or in your surgery follow up if you're still having those.

Sage has been extremely helpful for me.

Placemarking with interest. I was on HRT which was managing all my symptoms brilliantly until I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October, and had to stop. My oncologist advised me yesterday that I can’t ever go back on it, so I’m looking for ways to manage the flushes without HRT.

@Gonnagetgoing

I take menopace max and sage tablets. Not saying it’s a magic cure but they’ve helped a lot.

Sage complex worked wonders for me but it took a couple of months to start working.

@DidoDino

Yep, not eating sugar has really helped me. Also strenuous exercise (for which there's some supportive research evidence).

Doing slow deep breathing as soon as I feel a flush coming on helps too.

Agree with this too. I used to 'fight' hot flushes but eventually, I learnt to breathe through them and let them roll over me almost. It didnt make them less frequent or any less powerful but it definitely made them easier to handle.

@raeray

My menopause clinic is on the phone for past couple of years, would that help? So you don't need to go out for it?

I'd honestly recommend speaking to your GP about a referral or in your surgery follow up if you're still having those.

That would help! Thank you for telling me. I have a Dr phoning on the 9th (March) so will come back and tell you all how it goes.

Hi, just thought I'd update: Finally got to speak to a Dr today. He was practically shoving the HRT down my throat! lol He told me oestrogen only, no progesterone and I would be fine. Said he'd send me some literature to read up and make my decision but has already sent my prescription to the chemist.
The only thing I'm worry about is weight gain. I wondered if any of you have had any experiences like that? I currently have most of my excess weight around my stomach. (Am doing something about it, so don't want to be derailed.)