Hot Flashes!!!!!

[Shar313]

Hello Wonderful Women Warriors! I'm looking for advice and I'd like to hear of others experiences. I'm newly diagnosed 1/2019 with E+ MBC and peritoneal mets. I've been taking Letrozol since 2/13 and I'm on my 2nd round of Ibrance which was delayed due to my low white blood cell count. My issues are Hot Flashes. I have them hourly and they last about 3 minutes each. I drink lots of cold water, wear wicking clothes to soak up the moisture, have wicking sheets, cool pillows, and take lots of showers. I've also been seeing an acupuncturist weekly for about 3 months, but nothing seems to help. I take supplements C, D3, B compounds, Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium oxide, Fish Oil. Other than the hot flashes I feel great, but they are really dragging me down. I haven't had a good nights sleep in months. My onc has suggested anti-depressants, but I'm really concerned about the side effects. I was trying the "natural" methods, but they don't seem to work. Has anything worked for you?

[Barbteeth]

Hi there

My friend is suffering just like you though she hasn’t got mbc

Her doctor has prescribed her a drug to lower her blood pressure (she isn’t hypertensive by the way) but it works for hot flushes...after three days they had gone

I’m afraid I’ve forgotten the name of the drug but your doctor will know

Hope helps

Barb xx

[Shar313 in reply to Barbteeth]

Thanks Barb. I'll be sure to ask her about it.

[Barbteeth in reply to Shar313]

I don’t know how you cope with this

I moan about night sweating but at least I’m unaware apart from if I wake...I have acupuncture for mine....it works

Good luck..needs sorting you can’t live like that

Barb xx

[Shar313 in reply to Barbteeth]

That's how I feel. I'm really disappointed that my acupuncture isn't working. I wonder if it's my body or do I need to change acupuncturist?

[Barbteeth in reply to Shar313]

If you know the points..between the ankle bone and Achilles’ tendon then you can put a poppy seed bead on there and massage yourself..ask your acupuncture person

I have the beads on my back for pain and inside of ears for stress and wrists for nausea..they do help

Barb xx

[Shar313 in reply to Barbteeth]

Thanks again Barb. I'll give it a try!

[Francesca10]

I went on lexapro for that and it did help. It’s trial and error which one is good for you. 💕

[Shar313 in reply to Francesca10]

Thanks Francesca10. I've got to try something.

[Red71]

I was put on Effexor for my hot flashes. I wasn’t having them every three minutes but I felt like I was standing in a puddle when they were over. I’m on the lowest dose which pretty much takes care of them except for a few mild ones. Effexor is an antidepressant but the dose for hot flashes is pretty low. I’m not depressed so I’m feeling no other effects from it. The increase in my comfort has been well worth taking one more pill for this problem! Elaine

[Shar313 in reply to Red71]

Thanks! I'm so afraid of side effects, but I've gotten to the point that my quality of life is so poor I'm willing to take a chance for some relief!

[Bishtown]

When I was first diagnosed and put on letrozole and Ibrance, my oncologist told me he wanted me to take two glucosamine chrondoitin pills daily for my joints that could give me problems, and also to take two 400mg vit E every day to help keep hot flashes at bay. I get hot flashes occasionally, but not severe. Could be worth trying.

[Shar313 in reply to Bishtown]

Everything is worth trying to me! Thanks Bishtown

[Bishtown in reply to Shar313]

Praying vit E will be a help to you. I had a complete hysterectomy 27 years ago and went thru several years of hot flashes. They finally subsided a few years ago...and then the letrozole brought them right back! Thought I was done with them! Ugh!

[Terilyn12]

My oncologist has said the same - hot flashes will go on forever and the way around them is anti depressants - but then a whole new set of side effects. I keep a small handheld battery operated fan with me . The Letrozole is working so hot flashes are now just a part of my life ♥️

[Hidden in reply to Terilyn12]

I take an anti depressant and it doesn’t help my hot flashes. I do take it for depression so maybe get only help hot flashes if you don’t have depression ??

[Shar313]

Thanks Sandra. I have the fans as well. Nice to have portable air!

[Teddielottie]

Hello ! I am lucky only to get mild warm flashes these days , and just ocassionally , mainly during the day ... when I strip off down to my cotton camisole vest for a short time ,or pop outside into the cool air . I did used to get them very badly during the night when I went through natural menopause the first time round ...my sheets would be soaking wet and I would need to strip them in the night . But fortunately when I feel warm at night now I visit the bathroom which seems to help and have a bottle of water beside my bed . Avoiding caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol is supposed to help .Hope you find a coping mechanism too x

[Lovemylakie]

Hi, I take 800mg of vitamin E and that helps some. I can tell a difference when I don't take for a while. My oncologists told me about it. She has had me on Effexor but didn't like. She knows I like the natural way better.

Robin

[Shar313]

Hi Robin. I really want to stay on the natural way, but I haven't had a good night sleep in over 3 months. I'm going to try the vitamin E and pray it works. Thanks for replying.

Sharon

[Purple60]

Hi Shar, I suffered with awful hot flashes last summer. I believe due to a combination of cancer plus Letrozole. I opted for low dose (37.5 mgm) Effexor, the only antidepressant with an FDA approved indication for hot flashes. I immediately noticed a reduction in the number of hot flashes per day and the intensity. I can’t say they are totally resolved but certainly more tolerable. Might be a solution to discuss with your doc?

[Shar313 in reply to Purple60]

Agreed. I really wanted to avoid piling on the prescriptions to relieve side effects from other prescriptions, but I also know I can’t live forever with hourly hot flashes/ night sweats. I called my onc this morning and asked her for a low dose Effexor prescription.

Thanks everyone for your opinions and experiences. This is such a welcoming and supportive group. I really feel the love! 🥰

Sharon

[Hidden]

I have wicked hot flashes. They started when I began the Letrozole. They hit at any time and leave me red faced and sweating. I wear layers so I can strip off to try and cool down. I haven’t found anything that helps. At times it feels like my face is on fire.

[msmuffintop]

I am also having a hard time with hot flashes. I'm reluctant to try anti-depressants because, who knows, whole new set of side effects may crop up. . .on another thread a person said she found relief with ginger. Has anyone else had success with ginger supplements? I'd be willing to try that - - but I'd love to hear if more than one person had success