Question about hot flushes

[Anonymousemouses]

I'm 54, in some stage of menopause/peri (not sure which exactly as I keep thinking I've had my last period, then a couple of months later have another).

I keep getting what I assume are hot flushes, but not entirely sure. From what I've read I should sweat and have raised temperature, I definitely don't, in fact my temperature is always slightly low, but inside my face I feel hot. I don't get reddened skin, just a horrible hot feeling in my head, as if it's burning inside, sometimes a bit pink, but sometimes white. I feel really exhausted at the same time.

I'm also confused as I started my periods early, much earlier than my mum and sister, but mum had her last period at 51, my sister at 48, so it's weird.

I was prescribed patches from my GP ages ago, but never used them after he scared me about heart problems and high BP. I also have high cholesterol (have been prescribed statins, but haven't taken them either due to reading about them causing type 2 diabetes, which both my siblings, all my grandparents and my dad had.

I'm using soya milk instead of dairy milk, which may be helping a little, but I'm still unsure whether I'm having hot flushes or it's just a weirdness in me.

If all those members of your family had diabetes then lifestyle, plus the 15% increased risk of getting diabetes if a first degree relative has it, is possibly responsible so I’d just take the statins. If your cholesterol is high enough at 54 for statins to be prescribed then, unless you are making huge lifestyle changes, the increased risk of cardiovascular disease is going to be higher, and getting even higher as you get older.
My hot flushes don’t make me sweat, but I do feel burning hot. I do get night sweats though, but that’s because my HRT needs increasing and I’m waiting for an appointment.

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/women-with-a-heart-condition/menopause-and-heart-disease#:~:text=The%20earlier%20HRT%20is%20started,can%20increase%20your%20cholesterol%20levels.
The earlier HRT is started, the more effective it is at protecting your heart and reducing your risk of coronary heart disease. It's thought that HRT can have a positive effect on your cholesterol levels, however some types of HRT can increase your cholesterol levels

They are hot flushes.

Your dr sounds as if they know nothing about HRT.

HRT taken within 10 years of your last period reduces the risks of heart disease.

Some types of HRT also reduce blood pressure.

The types of HRT that may raise BP and cholesterol tend to be tablets (which are not prescribed that much now. Patches and gel (transdermal) are safe.

As a PP has said, you could read the BHF website.
Exercise and a change of diet can lower cholesterol and high BP.

There is no negative link with HRT and diabetes and if there is one, it's looking as if it helps prevent it.

@SixFifteens thank you, that's really interesting. My GP said my cholesterol was OK, as although the total was high, the HDL:LDL ratio was good, so there wasn't a problem, it was a pharmacist at the surgery who phoned me, a year later, to say they'd gone through everyone's records, so I was left confused.

@JinglingSpringbells I will try to contact the GP again about trying HRT. I think the fact that it's impossible to see or talk to a GP, just get prescribed things, that has led me to get on with things myself.