Hot Flashes

There was a relative, that when she was in her early 80's, started having strong hot flashes, mainly at night. Once she was traveling and started having hot flashes, but she also suddenly couldn't talk, but she could think and was aware of her surroundings. Turned out she was having small seizures (not grand mal) and the hot flashes was a symptom. It took several years for it to progress to that point. Now that she's been on antiseizure medicine, she has not had any more hot flashes. (Once she took herself off of the medicine-without dr. approval-because she didn't think she was having seizures. After 2-3 days and the hot flashes returned and she started feeling out of sorts. So she went back on and has stayed on it, and been fine since).

Also I am in surgical menopause due to endometriosis and I get pretty intense hot flashes. I cannot take estrogen because endometriosis feeds off estrogen. But there is an herbal supplement specifically for women who can't take hormones. It is called Pycnogenol. Ask your dr about that and see if it is ok for you. ( I tried it and after 2 weeks, it started bothering me and had to stop). However I do try Green Tea and it seems to work. I use the decaf. version but there is caffeinated also. It worked so gradual that it took some time (over a year) before I started noticing a difference. That was recommended to me by a friend. And I'm a tea lover anyway.

@made62 I'm 77 and every once in a while I still get hot flashes . I found out its estrogen related so I take a supplement black cohash for it This helps me a lot

There was a relative, that when she was in her early 80's, started having strong hot flashes, mainly at night. Once she was traveling and started having hot flashes, but she also suddenly couldn't talk, but she could think and was aware of her surroundings. Turned out she was having small seizures (not grand mal) and the hot flashes was a symptom. It took several years for it to progress to that point. Now that she's been on antiseizure medicine, she has not had any more hot flashes. (Once she took herself off of the medicine-without dr. approval-because she didn't think she was having seizures. After 2-3 days and the hot flashes returned and she started feeling out of sorts. So she went back on and has stayed on it, and been fine since).

Also I am in surgical menopause due to endometriosis and I get pretty intense hot flashes. I cannot take estrogen because endometriosis feeds off estrogen. But there is an herbal supplement specifically for women who can't take hormones. It is called Pycnogenol. Ask your dr about that and see if it is ok for you. ( I tried it and after 2 weeks, it started bothering me and had to stop). However I do try Green Tea and it seems to work. I use the decaf. version but there is caffeinated also. It worked so gradual that it took some time (over a year) before I started noticing a difference. That was recommended to me by a friend. And I'm a tea lover anyway.

Hello @mader62,

Hot flashes can be terrible, can't they? Do you have them at night, during the day or both? I recommend that you have a physical as there are other reasons for hot flashes other than hormones related to menopause.

You might also look at the medications you take and see if any cause hot flashes as a side effect. You can research meds and their side effects on the internet quite easily.

You might also consult with an endocrinologist about the return of hot flashes. Endocrinologists are considered the IT doctors of the body. They are typically brilliant doctors who understand the workings of the hormonal system and can diagnose hard to treat problems.

I hope you find some relief. Will you post again and let me know how you are doing?

Thanks for your reply airey2. I drank green tea last night & had one at night & again this morning. Not sure if that is the answer for me.

I drank green tea for other reasons, originally. My job is cold and I drank hot green tea to warm me up a bit. At that time I was having major hot flashes, night sweats, etc. I did notice after I drank it in the afternoon, I did not have any hot flashes for the rest of the day. Then after several months, I wrote a friend and she recommended green tea. I had already been drinking it for several months with no improvements(for all day), although I did notice improvements in the endometriosis. It took probably a year before I noticed a real change. I don't know if the tea really finally took hold, or if it would have happened anyway..