Hot flushes wake me up every hour - any tips?

[namechange0998776554799000]

I'm 43 and have been thrown suddenly into menopause following chemo. It's only been a few months so I haven't discussed HRT yet, I probably will go down that route but I'm a bit fed up of taking medication at the moment.

In the meantime, I'm getting terrible hot flushes on average every hour or two throughout the day and night. They only last about a minute, but at night they're unbearable and I have to get out of bed and run cold water over my wrists or at least sit up until it's passed. I can't stay lying in bed for that minute, I feel like I'm on fire and my brain insists I have to get out!

The lack of sleep is really starting to affect me and it's so disappointing given I'm finally free of cancer and all the other things that had affected my sleep are gone. Is there anything other than HRT that helps? I've heard of magnesium helping with sleep during menopause, but does it help with the hot flushes? It's definitely only these that are waking me up, not general insomnia. Has anyone found anything else that helps to reduce them? Or are there any things I should be avoiding that might be making them worse?

If I do go on HRT, will I start getting periods again? I'm on blood thinners for a DVT so the last periods I had were horrific and I'm really not keen on getting them back.

I'm finding it very confusing reading up online because it seems to be based on how long since your last period. For me it's only been 3 months, but I'm pretty confident that due to the chemo they've completely stopped, rather than putting me into peri for a few years.

From people's experiences, is a GP likely to be able to explain all this and prescribe me the right thing in a 5 minute appointment, or should I try and push for a referral to a specialist? On the one hand I don't have much faith in my GP, on the other hand I'm keen for a quick solution!

I've already been on vitamin D and calcium for the last year, plus a zolendronic acid infusion, so hopefully there won't have been any damage yet

Well that sheds a new light on the whole thing. I didn't appreciate you were already being treated for loss of bone.

If you've been having infusions for your bones already, that suggests that your treatment has the risk of loss of bone density.

I think you should think of hrt in a different way- it's not 'medication' in the sense of other drugs. Modern hrt is called body identical and it's exactly the same as our own estrogen and progesterone. So at 43, you're simply topping up and any risks of hrt don't kick in till you are menopause age (over 50.)

Depending on whether your periods have stopped for good or not you'd be given either hrt that has a monthly withdrawal bleed, or a no-bleed type.

If you want a quick solution, and can afford it, it's better to go to a private gynaecologist experienced in menopause and HRT. You'd get an appt within 2-4 weeks whereas on the NHS for something non urgent it could be a year or more.

Also HRT isn't 'medication ' as such it replacing natural hormones, I use a patch twice a week so it doesn't feel like more drugs . Hot flushes are debilitating and a sign you need HRT

https://healthinmenopause.co.uk/?gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAACMny9k-jSViFosw7dgCv0VVgACLC&gclid=Cj0KCQjwq86wBhDiARIsAJhuphnsDAerKlJmKYPsJRoDbYhDs4-ttuawNBy2kDcID1PPaJlcm3ffgQaAn92EALw_wcB#book

If you’re on anticoagulants for a DVT you need specialist advice and risk assessment. HRT may be contraindicated.

It's true that your DVT needs to be taken into account.

How long ago was it?

Was it connected to the chemo?

HRT is possible after a blood clot but it depends how long ago it was. The older types of hrt (using synthetic estrogen) had higher risks of clots as do tablets, so you'd have to use patches or gel for the estrogen (which has no clot risk.) And then there'd be a discussion over Utrogestan or another progestogen.

Well my cancer nurse has replied to say I need to wait at least 6 months to even have a blood test and start discussing things, so maybe this is all a bit premature! I suppose I'll just have to suffer through the hot flushes for a while. How do people cope with no sleep for so long?

The DVT was caused by the picc line I had during chemo and it's permanent, I may have surgery to open up the vein. Maybe I need to wait for that too before considering HRT, I hadn't thought about that. I've been referred to see a specialist about the surgery, but that will be a few months at least just for the first appointment...

How frustrating for you. With a current VTE HRT may not be safe, so it could be worth discussing venlafaxine with your GP.

What did the nurse mean by waiting for a blood test? Why does she think you need to wait six months? You don’t need a blood test prior to diagnose menopause, but it can be useful under 45 just to ensure no other reason for symptoms. However I’d think its pretty cut and dried why you’re having the symptoms you are.

She means wait 6 months to see if my periods come back, as this may all just be my hormones balancing themselves out post-chemo. If not then they'd do blood tests, but they won't give a definitive answer anyway. I think they'd rather wait as long as possible before taking any action because there's a chance this is just temporary due to the chemo and not 'real' menopause. Frustrating for me but I guess they know what they're talking about, they probably see it a lot after the treatment I had

what is the reason behind having to wait and what is the blood test for?

Is it to see if your periods resume?

You mentioned you were already being treated for bone loss with an infusion to presumably bone loss is a side effect of the treatment?

You do have options- you could consult a private gynaecologist who can confer with your cancer nurse and discuss this.

Also estrogen opens up blood vessels- it dilates them - so it may be of benefit anyway.

You need to see a menopause consultant :)

Evening primrose oil I think can be used

I had horrible nights sleeps before I started HRT but I did find sage supplements helped a bit. I also started ending a shower with a blast of cold water for a minute or so, I found it helped regulate my temperature so I didn’t get those post shower sweats. I still now only have a lukewarm shower.

Someone on another group recommended Twinings menopause tea, which contains a few things PPs have mentioned (eg sage). I tried it last night and it definitely helped!