Heat & severe facial sweating - 54 and menopausal

[DazedConfusedBewildered]

Hi everyone, I’m struggling with menopausal symptoms at the moment but the hardest thing has been general heat in my body and excessive facial sweating whenever I do anything.
If you’ve experienced similar, has anything worked for you?

TIA

I understand that not all women get on with HRT and it doesn't 'work' for all their symptoms, but the medical statistics say nothing works as well as it for flushes and sweats. (It's not just 'me' I'm talking about here.)

You said you couldn't try HRT because you have high BP and it needs sorting. Has your GP diagnosed high BP but not given you any treatment? Or are you on treatment now and it just needs time to work?

There is a UK Blood pressure charity online which is very helpful if you need advice above what your Gp has said.

Hi @HundredMilesAnHour, sorry to hear that. Can you pinpoint any change that could have caused the recent change?

No, nothing at all. 😓Just looking forward to winter. 😬

I know how you feel!

A neck fan has been helping me a lot

Someone mentioned that to me before @mrsbyers and I keep meaning to look into them. Thanks for the nudge!

I havd it and these days I also look permanently red/ruddy - HRR has done absoloutly nothing for it unfortunately. I can’t even bear to look in the mirror any more. I’m 47

I am on HRT and it has helped a bit but not anywhere near alleviating the problem. I have requested a review of my HRT type and dose etc.

I have also tried carpe which was very expensive and did nothing at all for me.

sorry @Oldtiredfedup, I know how awful it is so you have my sympathies. I’m starting to get that red/ruddy complexion I think- simply because I’m always boiling. Travelling on the London tube was a pleasure today!
I took Sage tablets for a while and they were helpful (I think) but nothing works now.

having said all that, I’m sure we don’t look as bad as we think we do, we’re probably struggling with all the changes we see.

I’m going to chase up my GP tomorrow and see what they can recommend. They recommended anti-depressants for the sweating when I first spoke to them but I didn’t go that route (my GP is generally pretty good).

I take Clonidine for migraine associated vertigo. My specialist precribed it for my migraine variant as it helps reduce hot flushes and I am menopausal. It also reduces BP. I think Effexor also helps with hot flushes but may not be suitable for those with high BP. Perhaps if you take BP medication you could think about changing to one that deals with the hot flushes too. I do still sometimes get the sweaty forehead and night sweats but not as bad or as often. I carry a small portable USB chargeable hand fan with a pull out stand everywhere I go and keep it stood up by my bed ond on my desk and give my face a blast when I feel the sweat start to happen.

Thanks @SapatSea, that’s really interesting. I’ll discuss with GP.

If you aren't interested in trying HRT @DazedConfusedBewildered that's fine, completely your choice. But just to mention that other treatments that may help with flushes are only for women who can't use HRT, because of serious contraindications. This is in the NICE menopause guidance. You mentioned your GP offered ADs as an option and again, NICE states very strongly that these are not to be used (except in particular circumstances.)
Bear in mind that if you have had an early menopause, you might benefit from a check on your bone density and that might give you information on whether you try HRT or not.

All the best with whatever you decide.

I have one of these: https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-handheld-and-foldable-desk-fan-4-inch/white/p5873998?s_ppc=2dx_mixed_technology_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg6a2ut_vgAMVzO7tCh2OSQlhEAQYASABEgKx4PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds which sounds similar to @SapatSea ’s. It folds in the middle allowing you to stand it on a desk. It’s quit powerful on the highest setting and each charge lasts ages.

I definitely do look as bad as I think. I sing in a choir, and I have had someone in the audience come up to me afterwards and ask if I was OK! I need to take piles of tissues with me and constantly wipe my face, because the stage lights and/or the room gets hot. I also find that my eyes are very irritated, because I seem to react to the sweat getting into them. I have several anti-histamine eye drops that I've tried, but it doesn't stop the stinging and redness.

I'm not sure it's hot flushes, partly because it's gone on for a long time, and partly because it isn't just random like the hot flushes are. This comes with heat, humidity, or even minor exertion. And with any sort of more major exertion, like actual exercise, I sweat for several hours afterwards. I'm very unkeen on the summer!!

I tried the neck fans last year, and they were great while they worked, but every single one I ordered (about 5) stopped working within 1-5 days, and they all went back to amazon. If there was a more reliable brand that kept working for longer, I'd consider it. However my hair also got caught in it, which doesn't help.

Ikea has a cool gel pillow that I wondered about, but the reviews were mixed - some thought it helped, others didn't find it made a difference. I didn't try it in the end, as it's not particularly bad at night - I'm just generally hot then, but not the specific facial sweating.

HRT has helped a lot for the night sweats insomnia and restless legs also Hot flushes. Aches and pains. Low mood. Itchy ears.

It hasn't helped much with sensitive skin , urinary issues, loosing muscle tone.

I get it too, haven't tried HRT because I haven't had much else in the way of meno symptoms but I am used to carrying a cloth hanky or flannel everywhere when it is hot or I am exerting myself, rarely wearing make-up in summer and I also carry one of those paper folding fans in summer, I'm on a hot holiday now and the latter has been a huge help, lots of women here are using traditional fans.

@BrunchBunch Hot flushes and sweats can last for decades. My mum had them still in her 80s, and my consultant has told me that it's not unusual for women in their 80s and 90s still have them, and who are still using HRT for that reason.

@cushioncovers Are you adding vaginal estrogen to your systemic HRT for urinary problems? If it's frequency and discomfort, Vagifem and Ovestin often work really well.
1 in 4 women use/need both.

they could last for decades, but they shouldn't have started when I was in my 20s and 30s, though. I think it's primarily facial hyperhidrosis that is the problem, possibly made worse now by hot flushes.

Thank you jingling. I will look into that. Currently I have the mirena coil in and just use the HRT gel applied to the skin.

@DazedConfusedBewildered - I use these when I go to the gym. Don’t ask me quite how they work, but I sling them around my neck, and it seems to cool my whole head down.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooling-Towels-Blanket-Instant-relief/dp/B0844FGSNL?th=1

I have just spoken to my GP about this as I am on Everol 100 plus lenzetto 2 sprays, progesterone 200 (12 days) and vagifem but, still the night sweats, hot flushes, minimal exertion and I am soaked and feel awful. I am struggling as I work 13 hour days and am so tired I feel like giving up.

My GP has said she will do blood tests to check my absorption, and will possibly start testosterone. I have had a mirena previously, which has again been suggested but, I had such an awful time with it previously, I cannot consider another one.

I have done all the usual things cut down caffeine/stopped drinking/stopped eating spicy foods and increased my water intake.

Fwiw in response to another poster re migraines and HRT I get migraines with an aura and have been told it's perfectly safe, I cannot ever have the oral oestrogen but that was the same with birth control. My migraines are very much affected by hormones. I have been on HRT for 18 months and have not had any problems with migraines.

Decades? Oh flippin' marvellous

I thought I was reaching the pinnacle of mine, recently being very much as the OP is describing.

OP, I do a yogic breathing technique when I feel one starting, which helps reduce the severity. I look a bit of a daft lass if I do it in public though!

I have been taking sage tablets and they have worked for me to reduce hot flushes and night sweats. Hope you find something that works for you