Hot flashes

[Lark78]

I had my ovaries and tubes removed and I’m currently on letrezol but I’m still having the worst hot flashes. What do some of you do to combat those hot flashes. It’s embarrassing because I can be anywhere and I break out in a terrible sweat. At night it’s the worst I do sleep with a fan.

[PJBinMI]

Effexor, an Rx anti-depressant, has worked well for me. I take 150 mg of the long acting Effexor in the morning and 75 mg just before bedtime. It was the

"""treatment of choice' for hot flashes when I was first diagnosed and put on Letrozole. I had very intense hot flashes, several times a day turning bright red with sweat pouring down my face. Now I just have an occasional (maybe once or twice a month) warm surge.

[Lark78 in reply to PJBinMI]

Thank u I’m going to suggest this to my doc.

[Hidden]

Sitting here having one right now. They drive me nuts. Wrap up, unwrap, never know what to do. Like you, think a fan is best. I live in the UK and have been on Letrozole for a year.

[Lark78 in reply to Hidden]

Yes that’s me it’s awful peppermint oil helps but my fiancé hates the smell of it so I don’t use it

[Barbteeth in reply to Lark78]

Maybe change your fiancée?...only joking!!!

Acupuncture got rid of mine....I didn’t expect it to work but was amazing...the needles are put in your ankles which is strange

Definitely worth a try and drug free!

Barb xx

[Lark78 in reply to Barbteeth]

Sometimes I do want to get rid of him lol lol I thought about acupuncture for different things never thought they would work for hot flashes definitely going to try this thank u! 😊

[Barbteeth in reply to Lark78]

My oncologist referred me for acupuncture for my back pain....it didn’t help much for that but it was a surprise when the hot flashes completely disappeared

In fact now I’m taking different meds I’ve had a few sweaty nights (delightful!) and have been thinking about some more acupuncture sessions

Good luck with it

Barb xx

[Lark78 in reply to Barbteeth]

I’m definitely going to find a good acupuncturist.

[Hidden in reply to Lark78]

Me to. Anything is worth a try. Thanks for info.

[NPmary in reply to Lark78]

Can you tell me how to take the peppermint oil and how much of t to take and how often? Thank you so much.

I'm glad l sleep right next to a window and end up opening it for awhile almost every night. My neighbor works nights and has seen it open he must think l am crazy! It's winter, cold and snowy here in Ohio, US.

Take care, thanks for the information.

[Lark78 in reply to NPmary]

I just rub it on the back of my neck and along my forehead. I hope it works for u I live in Ohio too so I know exactly what you’re talking about 😊

[NPmary in reply to Lark78]

Thanks so much Lark, l will be giving it a try.

[Red71 in reply to NPmary]

I sleep with a window open year round because of hot flashes so you are not the only crazy one! I like the weight of a blanket so I have a light one but my husband has that and a quilt and sometimes turns on his electric blanket. Poor man...I think he sometimes thinks I’m trying to get rid of him by freezing him to death! Elaine

[Hidden in reply to Lark78]

That’s a shame. Mine hubby is so sympathetic he doesn’t care what smells I use as long as it makes me feel better. I have lavender. So relaxing. Hope you find a solution.

[Hidden]

I have them all the time. My oncologist told me Letrozole causes them. Some women have them go away after a while but it’s been two years and I still get mine. I can’t get through the grocery store without sweat running down my face. I wear as light of clothing as I can, use just a sheet at night. You can get zooming pillows but I haven’t spent the money they want for them. My Doc said there is nothing to take as we need to keep our estrogen low or nil. Some people try herbs but they can mask estrogen so make sure you clear anything with your Doc

[Lark78 in reply to Hidden]

Yes my doc told me try magnesium but she said no herbs definitely need to keep the estrogen low

[Red71 in reply to Hidden]

I take Effexor and it does help with the hot flashes that come up when I’m not doing anything physical but it doesn’t prevent overheating caused by activity. I cannot go shopping without ending up with sweat running down my face also. If I take off my coat or sweater I can put it off longer but eventually it will happen. I feel like such an idiot checking out with sweat running down my face and neck! Elaine

[Hidden in reply to Red71]

I understand completely. I’m mopping of the sweat with a tissue or two and look like I just ran a marathon. 😞. It’s so frustrating

[Bishtown]

When I went on letrozole, my oncologist told me to take two 400 mg of Vit E every day for hot flashes. Seems to help me a lot.

[stardust1965]

Hi Lark78

I am in the UK. My oncologist recommended acupuncture for my night sweats and constant hot flushes. I am having individual complementary treatment at the MacMillian Centre. Group sessions are also available and this treatment is done in the ear. I am amazed by the results and would recommend acupuncture. It made such a difference.

I am also on Levothyroxine after a total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer (diagnosed at the same time as my de novo stage 4 BC). A recent blood test showed my levels are off and that is more likely to be causing my night sweats. The thyroid issue was over shadowed by the bc so now need to get on top of that. Sometimes is hard to know what drugs cause which side effects!

Acupuncture works for me. 😁

[Godbeforme]

I take two ginger root capsules every morning and hardly ever have hot flashes. They were severe when I first started letrozole. I had read that ginger was anti-tumor as well. Hope this helps! God bless you and heal us all in Jesus name, amen!

[Lark78 in reply to Godbeforme]

Thank you so much I’m going to try that as well. God Bless you!

[Godbeforme in reply to Lark78]

I'm pretty sure I will too! you're welcome!

[Rbeth]

I also take Effexor aka Venlafaxine. I cut the pill in half. Half in the morning and half at night. No flashes. I have been taking this for many years since my lumpectomy 11 years ago. I also get acupuncture for my nerve pain once a week. Works well. They have ear seeds I get taped on my ears then I press on them to work on the pain.

Worth a try!! Reenie

[Lark78 in reply to Rbeth]

Definitely worth a try thank u!

[MJ_Michigan38]

I was diagnosed last May and put into chemical menopause overnight (I was 38). I’m a little bitter that this treatment gives us all the b.s. that comes with getting older, but without the promise of actually living to an old age! And I hate it when women who went through menopause naturally tell me it’s not that bad. Chemical/medical menopause is MUCH more intense than gradually losing estrogen over several years.

I get panicky feeling when my frequent hot flashes start. Drinking cold water helps me through it, as well as the knowledge that women who experience intense and frequent hot flashes are usually having an exceptionally good response to hormone therapy (I sometimes have two or three an hour, and then a handful overnight too). I try to make a joke about the sweat pouring down my face (if I’m around people), and then I take deep breaths and remind myself that it will be over in less than a minute. Dressing in layers that are easy to take on and off is helpful too, since you lose a LOT of body heat during a flash and will probably feel chilly afterwards.

It sucks, but hopefully knowing that this means your treatment is working helps you through the misery.

[Lark78 in reply to MJ_Michigan38]

Yes my treatment has been working well thank God. I will try some of your tips my goal is to one day sleep through the night without the fan being right on face. Thanks again and prayers to u.

[MJ_Michigan38 in reply to Lark78]

The night sweats are particularly bad, aren’t they? I think it’s because they tend to creep up on us, whereas I know when a hot flash is coming about a minute before it hits. One thing that really helps me at night is sleeping with one leg on top of the covers. It helps me keep my temperature somewhat regular. Hope you find some relief too.

Interesting side note: I read that hot flashes are caused by the brain incorrectly believing that you are very cold. It panics and causes your body to release all its heat as a defense mechanism!

[Lark78 in reply to MJ_Michigan38]

I never knew that thanks for the tip I’m going to try that too...I get them so bad sometimes they make me sick to my stomach I hope to get some relief soon...prayers to u!

[Hidden in reply to MJ_Michigan38]

Hi MJ,

I was a bit worried when you said that having hot flushes is a good indicator that treatment is working. I don't get them anymore. I had one in June 2018 a few weeks after I started treatment, a few night sweats after that and my last hot flush was five months ago. I agree that going through chemical menopause is different to going through it naturally as the oestrogen is literally sucked out of our bodies overnight (I was 39) rather than gradually over several years.

I try to look at the bright side though. I'm glad I don't have periods anymore. I used to really suffer with painful periods and PMS. I would also eat everything in sight, so it is actually a relief to have my hormones under control and to have more control over what I am eating. I just never expected it to be because of cancer treatment.

Sophie

[MJ_Michigan38 in reply to Hidden]

Oh Sophie, as soon as I posted that hot flashes are a sign that treatment is working, I worried that I would needlessly cause those who aren’t suffering hot flashes to worry. It was just an observational study, and is by no means 100% accurate. It also never specified for HOW LONG women had hot flashes upon initiating menopause. Some women don’t have them for very long. My mother STILL has hot flashes at 67, and she went into medical menopause at 46, so I guess I have resigned myself to having these sweaty episodes for the rest of my life! 🥵 😆 We’re all different though, so please don’t worry.

Have you read “The Insider’s Guide to MBC” by Anne Loeser? She has MBC, like us, and she has done an incredible amount of research about our disease. I can’t remember the exact quote, but at one point she stated that a total lack of side effects from treatment is NOT a sign that the treatment isn’t working. Our bodies will just react differently to the medicine. That made me feel better because I was worried that my lack of side effects from Ibrance was an indicator that it wasn’t working. Other than neutropenia and a little hair thinning (and anxiety from this diagnosis) I feel pretty great! Anyway, I hope you don’t worry about what I said, because observational studies really don’t take into account all the factors.

[Hidden in reply to MJ_Michigan38]

Hi MJ,

Thank you for the reassurance! I am sorry you are suffering so badly from the hot flushes though. Have you spoken to your oncologist about possible remedies? I'm not sure if dietary changes can make a difference, or maybe there is something your oncologist can prescribe that will help. Your poor mum! That's a long time to still be having hot flushes.

I printed a copy of Anne's book and gave it to my oncologist last year. But she turned her nose up at it and handed it straight to one of the oncology nurses! I should have asked for it back. I thought she might appreciate it, or at least give it to one of her other patients to have a read of. So I should go ahead and print up another copy for myself this time.

Take care,

Sophie

[MJ_Michigan38 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Sophie! My oncologist prescribed antidepressants for my hot flashes, but I already feel like I’m on so many drugs with this disease, I haven’t taken them. Maybe I’ll give in one of these days.

I’m surprised your oncologist turned their nose up at the book. I think Anne Loeser has met with doctors from world renowned clinics, and she references peer-reviewed studies. Sometimes I think oncologists are a little lazy. Maybe they’re just used to the “yes doctor, whatever you say” generation. While there’s a lot of misinformation on the web, I think there’s also a lot of good information, and doctors are feeling challenged by this new generation of patients who have access to resources previous generations didn’t.

[Hidden in reply to MJ_Michigan38]

Hi MJ,

Maybe the antidepressants will work. I use some drugs off-label, so perhaps antidepressants can also be used off-label to take care of your hot flushes, rather than for depression.

My oncologist does not like to hear of anything else other than conventional treatment. So she didn't entertain the idea of reading Anne's book. I agree that it is very informative, but my oncologist doesn't like being challenged. I don't like to fight my medical team. but I will fight to get what I need and I have done so from day one.

Take care,

Sophie

[MJ_Michigan38 in reply to Hidden]

Your oncologist sounds like mine. I understand that they don’t want us trying untested drugs, but I don’t think they know how devastating it is to live without hope. And trying new things gives us hope. Let’s keep advocating for ourselves, and maybe one day things will change!

[Hidden in reply to MJ_Michigan38]

Yes, you could be right! I can see things from their point of view too, but at the end of the day this is our lives on the line, not theirs. I will keep advocating and working hard.

[Bishtown]

When my doctor put me on cancer meds he told me to take 2 vit E a day to help with hot flashes. I think it does help.