A question for the ladies.

[Daisy Dukes]

And so it has come to pass, the moment I have been dreading for some time now, yep, the horrible menopause is upon me, and I have to say, I am not coping too well with it at all. It's the sweats I am seriously struggling with. Now I know how my poor mum felt, and the fact that she dealt with it for almost 20 years is filling me with absolute terror.
Now about these hot flushes...except they are not just hot flushes, they are seriously mind boggling body burn-ups, I feel like I am on fire for about 10 minutes each time, and they occur several times a day...then as soon as I am stripped of any excess clothing, I am suddenly freezing, which, at the moment is ok and managable as I just throw some clothing back on...but, and this is beginning to be a really big fear, what do I do in the summer, when there is no escaping the heat...I am terrified of burning up and no amount of nakedness will help??

So ladies, please share with me any and all of your remedies for these dastardly flushes. Home made, organic, or pure chemical...I really don't care, if it works I will try it...summer will be here soon and I am as miserable about it as I possibly could be.

Waiting in anticipation for all of your advice.

[Heaven]

Go and visit Dr Jinomer in Girne. She will help you

[MnM]

Daisy i'm not a lady but one of the M's in MnM and i thought i'd reply anyway as Mandy, my wife and the other M, has had the exact same hot flushes for the past year or thereabouts, detail for detail. It can also have a knock-on effect on other people. Understanding is very much needed on all sides and it ain't easy. What you have described seems to be a common factor but I've no doubt there are others too and each person is different. Some go through it for a few years, some more so and some for the rest of their life. Some respond well to HRT, my Mum had a hysterectomy in her early 40's and i think the menopause was the reason why but don't quote me on that.

Try not to assume that because someone has had a bad experience then you will too, only time will tell. One other reason for replying is that while Mandy in the beginning absolutely didn't want HRT, she eventually had to give in and was prescribed 50mg Estradot patches twice a week. Estradot is in short supply in the UK and we were lead to believe this is a worldwide problem, however we visited a pharmacy in TRNC when we were out last week and was able to get something called Clinara , (i think it was or something like that), pharmacist advised it was the same ingredients just a different name on the pack, so we bought a few boxes in case the supply problems persist over here.

Obviously i'm not suggesting you go to the nearest pharmacy and self-medicate, as always with any advice and as Heaven said above, see a GP. HRT has worked for Mandy who hasn't had a hot flush since shortly after starting it, so there is that and no doubt other things that can help you, but again, everyone is different.

[helendj]

Agee with you MnM everybody is different and we all experience different symptoms. For many the menopause is no joke, for some not so bad. I took HRT for about three years until I asked my doctor what would happen when I stopped, she said the hot flushes would come back, even if I was 80, so that stopped me taking them. But whatever happens Daisy Dukes take the advice of a specialist Doctor. Although you can buy anything you want over the counter here, you need specialist advice, don't just go to a pharmacist. I do wish you all the best, I hope you are lucky enough to be one that has minimalist symptoms; but read up about it, check out alternatives, in fact look for anything that will make your life easier.

[mrsgee]

I agree with helendj, HRT is very good but really seems to just delay things, I was on it for about 12 years, and felt great, no flushes, nothing, so really good as I was working at the time, and it can be quite debilitating. Once I came off though, yep, the symptoms started and lasted 7 or 8 years. ok now though, but it can just delay the inevitable I am afraid.

[alphamike]

Get some peppermint essential oil and some small spray bottles. Fill spray bottle with water, preferably bottled and add about 4 drops of peppermint oil (for 100 ml bottle). Shake before use and spray face/neck, anywhere on the body for an instant cool down. Keep one in your handbag, one by the bed and another elsewhere in the house. Use as often as needed. You can keep in the fridge for added coolness.

Use pure cotton sheets and pillowcases, and same for night wear.

Put a damp hand towel or face flannel in the freezer or fridge, in a ziplock bag. When it comes to summer, put one inside your pillow case at bed time, or now, if need be.

[stellasstar1]

Yes HTRT can work really well, but I also didn't know that when you came off it you then got all the symptoms, which you do not esxpect when you are in your 60's. I remember I was horrified and to be honest annoyed with my doctor in England that it was not explained to me. So, if you are thinking of going down the HRT route, think, do you want the symptoms now, or later (that is if you do decide at some time to come off it ) . After I came off the HRT(when I was living in Cyprus) the hot flushes must have lasted about 5 years, drove me mad, especially as you say in the Cyprus summer heat. If nothing else works, then it's just a matter of sitting under the air-con. Good luck whichever way you decide to go.

[Daisy Dukes]

Many thanks to all you lovely ladies, and gent....I have read everything you have to say, and am taking on board all of the advice. Although I have only heard great things about HRT, I have never heard of the delayed effects, so I will most likely not actually go down that route. The peppermint spray sounds perfect for when out and about and I shall definitely look out for the oil.

I can only hope that this doesn't last as long as my mothers did, I would go crazy to have to suffer this for 20 years!!

Again, thank you all very very much for offering your much needed advice.

Sam x

[johnerebus]

Both my wife and a sister found great relief with CBD oil. It's not sold here but is available from Amazon in the UK where it is legal.

Here's some info... https://hellomd.com/blogs/articles/mari ... -menopause" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You may want to Google to find out more.

[mikea11]

I used soy isoflavones that I bought from Healthspan, about three a day, seemed to help me.

[alphamike]

You can get the peppermint essential oil in pharmacies and Erulku, I think the brand name is Olimpos, but there may be others. I save small spray bottles from insect repellent and other toiletries for re-use with essential oils. A nice handbag size.

[come_on_aylin]

I found these quite good in bed, for the heat in summer and hot flushes.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JML-Chillmax-N ... 272&sr=8-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've got 2 as they don't stay cool all night so I can swap them over, you can put them in the fridge beforehand but it's not really necessary. They just slip in between pillow and pillowcase but when it's really hot you can lay them across your body .