Hot flashes help

[Nite-owl]

Any tips to help with hot flashes that seem to start as soon as I go to sleep!

[Hidden]

A fan on the nightstand next to the bed. That's what I've been using for over almost 4 years now. A simple pusshbutton on/off switch is helpful when you are half asleep.

[pjoshea13]

See:

mdlinx.com/article/transder...

-Patrick

[Tall_Allen]

estrogen patches, Megace patches, acupuncture, or venlafaxine may help.

[Deadstick]

Hi,

I keep a ceiling fan on low all night most of the time even in the winter....underwear or pjamas with more cotton content can also help. I haven't added more drugs or patches...I'm on enough meds.

It sucks...

[Gearhead]

Since they start soon after you go to sleep, are you certain that what you are experiencing are hot flashes and not night sweats? Contrary to what I thought when I started ADT, I'm now quite certain that (at least for me) they are not simply variations of the same thing. For me, the soaking wet night sweats subsided in a couple of months. Hot flashes, on the other hand, didn't start for a couple of months or so. But they continue. And for me, their frequency and severity sort of fluctuates like in waves.

So my point is that if by any chance what you are having are night sweats, they will probably go away.

[2dee]

Learn to love em. They are just to test and build your patience for the more difficult times.2Dee

[dhccpa in reply to 2dee]

You must be an MD! If not, I am awarding you that degree now!

[j-o-h-n in reply to dhccpa]

Dee is a sadist.......I can tell, I was married to one....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 02/10/2021 10:30 PM EST

[45yrsDenmark]

I will never learn to love the hot flashes. Actually, this has become (among other things) a big impact on my QoL... I have been on Eligard (=lupron) and Zytiga for15 months now and my situation is: Either I sweat like I have been running 10 miles OR I am cold. Almost never a comfortable normal "in-between". So I sit by my desk.. open the window beacuse I sweat.. 10 seconds later I need to close it because I get cold, 10 seconds later I sweat.. At night it is the same... blanket on and off every 30 seconds.. And a fan running all night. My wife cannot sleep with a fan.. the noise and the cold breeze.. So.. I sleep for myself in another room and added with my impotence, lack of libido, tiredness etc, I feel my life has been taken away. The cancer is in control, but the SEs have a severe impact on my QoL. I am 46 and my wife 44 and we can't even sleep in the same bed !!

Question: If I try estrogen patches or similar estrogen-like based treatment for the hot flashes, will that could cause man boobs?

[Sam1962 in reply to 45yrsDenmark]

After three years of difficult hot flashes, my husband eliminated alcohol, increased exercise and reduced unhealthy stress and it has helped. They are still present but have reduced in severity and frequency. Perhaps you should get your wife an electric blanket on her side of the bed and ear plugs so she can join you back in bed.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Sam1962]

And don't even try any Dutch Ovens.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 02/10/2021 10:33 PM EST

[MateoBeach in reply to 45yrsDenmark]

Yes the estradiol patches can cause man boobs. But adding Tamixifen 10 mg/day prevents this. It is worth it as you will feel so much better with the patches. Try it.

[dhccpa]

I've been very lucky on Lupron. I've always had mild sweats inside when the A/C went off and air circulation subsided. On Lupron that increased slightly but has since subsided. Same with night sweats under covers; the key seems to be making sure the A/C is on so humidity is lower. I never think of it anymore. Never happens outside in any temp.

[fish7days]

I do weights and cardio 3 times a week. Megace 20mg at night with 5HTP 200mg, Mg Threonate 200mg and Melatonin 20mg. Keep A/C fan running on constant at night and at 73 degrees. Sleep under a sheet only. Try and keep your neck open and feet also. Feeling just a little cold is perfect. Megace etc. took about a month to see results. YMMV.

[j-o-h-n in reply to fish7days]

Greetings fish7days,

Please tell us your bio. Age? Location? When diagnosed? Treatment(s)? Treatment center(s)? Scores Psa/Gleason? Medications? Doctor's name(s)?

All info is voluntary, but it helps us help you and helps us too. When you respond, copy and paste it in your home page for your use and for other members’ reference.

THANK YOU AND KEEP POSTING!!!

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 02/04/2021 10:36 PM EST

[Kittenlover50]

Those are called night sweats. Talk to doc about Megace. There is a mild antidepressant, Elavil, that helps some and it might help with sleep. Try Melatonin. Many start with 2 mg and work up to 10. If you have foam mattress, change mattresses. Foam holds heat in. Use non micro fiber sheets. Kohl’s has some that say they are cooler and can get online. Kind of pricey, but..... fans. Google night sweats or hot flashes. Some use sage tea and there are other ideas. They talk about women, but when it comes to hot flashes and night sweats there’s not much difference.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Kittenlover50]

Greetings Kittenlover50,

Please tell us your bio. Age? Location? When diagnosed? Treatment(s)? Treatment center(s)? Scores Psa/Gleason? Medications? Doctor's name(s)?

All info is voluntary, but it helps us help you and helps us too. When you respond, copy and paste it in your home page for your use and for other members’ reference.

THANK YOU AND KEEP POSTING!!!

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 02/04/2021 10:39 PM EST

[larry_dammit]

Effexor helps. Also I carried a small portable fan with me the first few months. Now after 4 years I have learned to dress light and in cloths that open up quickly to cool off. Always carry a large kerchief to wipe the sweat when I am trying to work

[braddockroad]

I got a tip from another member on this forum that seems to work for me. Squeeze one-half a lemon in warm water first thing in the morning and drink. It may simply be a coincidence, but once I started this regimen, my hot flashes reduced in frequency, duration, and intensity. Night sweats included.

[EdBar]

Estradiol patches work like a charm, and also help with bone health while on ADT, they may also be another layer in your PCa treatment. I used to get wicked hot flashes, Snuffy Myers prescribed the patches several years ago and it worked like a charm, been on them ever since. The patches don’t cause the heart issues that pills do, they are absorbed differently.

Ed

[MateoBeach]

Agree with adding an estradiol patch. Like magic for improving QOL on ADT

[Sandy752]

Starting 8th year on Lupron (every 4 months). Over time hot flashes have become less common and less intense but they still occasionally wake me at night. Fatigue, on the other hand, has increased despite maintaining same weight, walking outside every day and doing light weights. I'm 76.

[Shotgun2322]

I got a Chilipad bed cooler, I turn that sucker down to 60 degrees. It really helps. Also, my doc recommended green tea because I hate drugs. Seems to work...sort of. Also, exercise of any kind seems to keep them at bay. Everyone is different it seems, so what works for one person may not for someone else.

[Tkwham]

Since the meds drive your Testosterone levels down, I found a squirt bottle and a ceiling fan on low helped. Once you get the flash, sit up, spray your head and neck. In time your Testosterone will gradually rise and the hot flashes magically disappear. But, while having them, it’s no fun.

[carbide]

A sweat towel & fan.Best luck.

[pbaldwin]

I started off just dealing with them and using the ceiling fan. But now my relief comes quick with a good fan on my night stand. The one I bought has a remote and within seconds the hot flashes pass. I have to be careful not to turn it off too soon because the hot flash may still be going lol. I get good and chilly and I know to turn it off.

[bluesnjazz]

Oh, how I can relate. Been on IADT (off and on) for 6 years, and by far the worst side effect for me has been the hotties. During the first 6 months on both Lupron and Casodex, the were merciless, endless, debilitating 2-3 times every hour of the day and 6-8 times during the night. So bad I felt like a might pass out at times and often lasted for 3-5 minutes. Even now, doing occasional 1-month Lupron shots only, the last for about 4 months with each injection, although much less frequent and less intense.

Two years ago, I started on a Chinese herbal medicine that's used to assuage women's hot flashes when going through menopause, and while it didn't stop them, it really did make them less frequent, less hot, and less lengthy. I recommend trying it. Since I live in Japan, I know the Chinese and Japanese names of the stuff but not the English name. I'm certain, though, that if you find a pharmacy that sells herbal meds, they can get it for you.

And yes, as gregg57 says, a fan beside the bed is a life saver.

Good luck.

[Hidden]

Drink copious amounts of coffee..this will prevent you from going to sleep.

Problem solved.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Hidden]

Drink a full gallon of prune juice just before you hit the sack and I guarantee you'll be up all week.......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 02/10/2021 10:48 PM EST

[Hidden in reply to j-o-h-n]

Is this a blurb from your newest book Diet for PCA Dummies?

Can I get a pre-release copy?

I'll put it my library.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Hidden]

I have it on a thumb drive.... which you can shove..................up on the computer desk....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 02/11/2021 4:45 PM EST

[j-o-h-n]

This will not help you..... but we are all different..... After a couple of months of Lupron and Casodex the hots just left......... so did my periods...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 02/10/2021 10:56 PM EST

[fmenninger]

All good ideas as I have a cold thermal water bottle with ice and a fan that has a sensor that is attached to my skin. When my body temp increases, the small bedside fan kicks on. That with drinking cold water really helps me get they the night hot flashes. Also, sometimes I link the hot flash for a pee break and just by getting up in a cold house helps as well. I keep my thermostat at a nice 60c at night too. Good luck n stay strong!

[Hidden in reply to fmenninger]

The only sensor I have is my wife.I get to sense her elbow when I snore. I link this with a pee break too.

[fmenninger in reply to Hidden]

Ha ha. True. My wife is a sensor with her flashes as we try to be in sync but that never happens. There hot to be a better way to control body temp while sleeping. Any new inventions?

[Hidden in reply to fmenninger]

The day I'm in sync with my wife is the day I start to ponder a sex change.

It's safe to say that the day will never come. It's biology. No getting around it.

[SPEEDYX]

Dont go to sleep!!!.....I have similar situation usually last about 5 minutes..has been getting better with time.

[Wilbur77]

Dear Nite Owl,I have started taking a low dose antidepressant, Citalipram, which seems to lessen the severity of hot flashes for me. At first I did not think the meds helped much, so I stopped after a month. It was then I really noticed how bad things were previously. Like all of the others posting here, I found the hot flashes to be quite unpleasant. Also keeping the room around 60 deg at night. I generally sleep with just a long sleeve base layer on, as my arms can get cold.