Reynaud's & Menopausal hot flashes

[dzol]

I've had Reynaud's since I was a teenager & as a result developed in the last year with vaso-dialation issues with blood flow to my heart. To complicate matters I'm in full blown menopause and have being having in excess of 30 hot flashes a day. Is there anyone with both conditions having similar trouble?

[msdeedee]

Yes I have Raynaud's as well as full blown menopause most of my problem as far as blood flow is in my fingers. There is nothing like having severe hot flashes at the same time as a Raynaud's attack! All I can say is HORRIBLE HORRIBLE SITUATION. Hang in there. I also have Scleroderma so my body is so confused.

[dzol in reply to msdeedee]

Thanks for your words of encouragement!

[Sienna in reply to msdeedee]

I know how you feel. I asked the doctor when will this stop. His answer was, I don't know. Been going through this for 25 years.

[lollipop]

i am exactly the same as msdeedee,awful x

[dzol in reply to lollipop]

Do you have circulation issues in your heart as well?

[britty in reply to lollipop]

Me too I have raynauds erythromelgia and early menopause like living hell especially when heating on to intense I get even more awful attacks tonight just noticed a lump on bottom of my right hand pinky should I seek medical advice or hope it goes away to touch rock hard my hands are very dry never suffered with ulcers so don't know what this is any ideas .?

[Sienna in reply to britty]

It may be a calcium deposit. Have it looked at.

[britty in reply to Sienna]

Saw doctor she says looks like a clot to be careful in meantime not to exercise for now told her was worried it being ulcer she said at moment no sign of this so hopefully gel they gave me for clots should sort it out see royal free next month for illoprost again.

[dzol in reply to britty]

britty so sorry you are having such a rough time. Take it easy with the clot they can be dangerous. Ask your Dr about Brisdelle for the hot flashes. Take care of yourself! D

[Daisy23]

Yes, I also have Raynaud's and scleroderma (limited systemic sclerosis) and am having menopausal hot flushes. Not fun! For the past couple of years I've felt as though my body's thermostat is completely broken.

I keep handwarmers, gloves, hat, scarves and tissues/small towel to mop my face and neck handy wherever I go.

I haven't found anything to alleviate it so far but as msdeedee says, hang in there - the hot flushes have to end sometime.

[dzol in reply to Daisy23]

I can identify and add that layers of tank tops, cardigans and a fan at my desk are my new best friends.

[Dka48]

Hi dzol i suffer from scleroderma and where my body id confused it has put me into early menopause, hot flashes are driving me crazy ,i have had for 4 months now x

[dzol in reply to Dka48]

I got some relief from non hormone medicine Brisdelle recently I'm now down to 10 a day!

[Dka48 in reply to dzol]

Will try this xxx

[Hidden]

Hi. Oh God your post brings back horrendous memories for me when I had almost continuous hot flushes day and night at the start of my menopause. My blood pressure soared too because of the sleep deprivation and I felt life was hardly worth living! Sounds over the top but My children will vouch that I am a stoic with most everything . But not this time! My GP put me on Premique HRT and I have been taking it for very many years now. It was a life saver.

There may be posts under Menopause about HRT since recently my new Gp was wanting to review it. Also there was a link posted on Healthunlocked to a programme about. HRT whereby many of the scares about the down-side is now refuted by top professionals. One even said it should be taken for life as The loss of oestrogen is more detrimental due to loss of bone density and strength making fractures more of a health problem in the older woman. All in all I am entirely in favour of HRT. But it is obviously the individual's decision whether to take it or not.

Good luck.

[dzol in reply to Hidden]

The heart condition I mentioned keeps me from any type of HRT treatment either pills or topically. My dr said it would cause a heart attack. My cardiologist says that people with Reynaud's are more likely to develop this type of heart condition. So I have to treat each symptom of menopause separately. I'm on Brisdelle(non HRT) for hot flashes so now I only get 10 or so a day so at least it's more manageable but my sleep deprivation is starting to get to me. The unfortunate thing is I have every one of the other symptoms of menopause as well to an extreme degree and my Dr. says it's one of the worst she's seen in awhile.Thanks for responding helps me feel like I'm not alone.

[Sienna in reply to Hidden]

When I was on HRT I was fine. Had to go off 4 years ago because I had a stroke, and it has been a living hell.

[JennerLayne]

I too have raynaulds, have entered full blown menopause (I too think my internal thermostat is broken), circulatory problems and a host of other autoimmune issues affecting my liver. I first noticed the bloodflow with my heart last year and it seems to come only in vast temperature changes (heated indoors to cold outdoors and even at times stepping into a hot shower). Unfortunately, my doctor(s) have not been too much help in this area and tell me my heart is generally healthy for a 50 year old. With the hot flashes, I've just learned to layer my clothing --- mainly with button downs that are easy to slip off, as I nearly have a panic attack feeling 'smothered' at the onset of a hot flash. I'm generally up and down all night and find that the minute my body overheats, I dive into 'thirst' mode which feels like utter dehydration (I swear the skin on my hands dries quickly) and calls for a lot of water to make me feel balanced again. On top of the hot flashes, I generally get a feeling of 'vertigo' and can't wait to hear what my rheumatologist suggests when I go in early February. I feel that my family thinks I am crazy --- as I am constantly cold/hot, dressing/undressing layers and looking for the nearest glass of water. While it doesn't make it any easier, it is comforting to know that we all have each other to talk through these challenges.

[dzol in reply to JennerLayne]

My regular dr had to send me to a cardiologist for a stress test to get the process of diagnosing the heart problem about 2 years ago. I failed that test, although they said my heart muscle was strong. They ordered an Angiogram to find out what they thought was a blocked artery but determined the pain was actually lack of blood flow because my arteries wouldn't dilate fully. The have me on long acting nitroglycerine (vasodilator) that let my arteries dilate better which in turn has helped my Reynaud's. I have far fewer issues with circulation to my toes and fingers although I'm an expert at keeping them warm after years of practice. I'm convinced unfortunately, that my hot flashes are worse because of this medicine but the dr says I'll be on this forever or I'll certainly have a heart attack. I totally agree with the smothering feeling follow by thirst mode, especially at night. It is comforting to find that there are people with some common. It does appear Reynaud's does have some long lasting side effects throughout life that I've never seen discussed before. Thanks for your reach out.

[britty in reply to JennerLayne]

Sounds very familiar a lot of my family don't want to know as they feel I am exaggerating I wish it is good we can all support eachother .

[Sienna]

I have had reynauds for 39 years. I was 27 when diagnosed with Scleroderma and reynsuds. I started going through menopause at the age of 40. I have terrible hot flashes day and night. For a while I was on hormones but since my stroke 4 years ago I can no longer take them. The hot flashes are so bad. My whole body sweats. Can't find anything to help. Ugh

[dzol in reply to Sienna]

Check with your Dr about Brisdelle, non hormonal and makes hot flashes less frequent. It's helped me a ton

[judipudi in reply to dzol]

Hi have only just found out what all my weird symptoms are about, unfortunately even my husband thinks its in my mind have been going backwards and forwards to doctors for a few years now dry eyes, hot flushes blue unususable hands and feet so it is real relief to find out I'm not going mad, can anyone tell me how they were diagnosed, as my GP seems lost with the symptoms, he's totally at a loss though the pain clinic came up with it straight away wasthis the same with any of you, 'cos I'm now housebound can't drive for pain feel isolated and have had to start antidepressants just to get through the day.

[Denisek in reply to judipudi]

Hi, i just found out I have Raynuads last wk and my symptoms are already getting worse. I am unsire how you get it, I did read that some people get it from emotional trauma. I have a lot of other diseases and conditions but I was able to figure out it usually happens to people whose finger tempature drops when depressed or stressed that is how I beleive I got it. Good luck, take care.

[marilynmcl]

So glad.....not really! ....that I am not alone in the feeling 'smothered' sensations......I get a bit panicky when these bouts happen.....gasping like a goldfish out of water is not pleasant at all....but it is good to know that I am not imagining these symptoms that are part and parcel I firmly believe in the Systemic Scleroderma disease.