Medical Questions > Womens Health > Menopause Forum

Are These Hot Flashes?

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Hello,
this is my first time on the forum. I have a couple of questions about hot flashes. I apologize, they have probably been answered before. I started having perimenopausal symptoms about 9 years ago and have not had a period in 1-1/2 years. Something started about 3 weeks ago that could be hot flashes. Shouldn't hot flashes have started and maybe ended by now? When is the most common time in your perimenopausal/menopausal phase to have hot flashes?
These hot periods I have are fairly short. I am cold natured, but all the sudden I will break out in a sweat and feel uncomfortable. I get very hot. I first get clammy on my arms and torso then start sweating, mostly, on my stomach, back and neck. It is not always in the evening, but most often. It probably only lasts about 15-20 minutes, then I am back to normal. I haven't noticed flushing. This may happen twice a day.
I haven't had any real side-effects of menopause except night sweats I had about 8-9 years ago. That stopped when I started taking neurontin for panic attacks. Do these sound like hot flashes? I have a friend who told me to check for low blood sugar, which has never been a problem for me. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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replied August 11th, 2006
Experienced User
Welcome to womanhood! :lol: this is normal and as you continue to go through this transition it will have different affects. Such as: night sweats, mood swings, spotting every once in awhile, and increased or decrease in sex drive...So, I tip my hat to you no more mencies!
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replied August 14th, 2006
Fox1lady,

thank you for your response. It's a relief to know this sounds normal. It probably won't make it any more fun, but it's a relief. I have scheduled an appt with my ob-gyn for thursday. I cannot take estrogen, but maybe she can come up with something. Thanks again!
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replied August 15th, 2006
Experienced User
Dont worry they will, trust me they have some of everything to prescribe for any nitch, ache and scratch now days..You will be fine...Try to relax... :wink:
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replied August 22nd, 2006
My ob-gyn recommended black cohosh (remifemin) for my hot flashes, when I saw her last week. She wanted to try this before prometrium or something else, since I can't take estrogen. She said it may take up to 12 weeks to start working. Has anyone had experience with black cohosh? And does it have any side-effects?
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replied August 22nd, 2006
Experienced User
Did some research on this I went to black cohosh, and this is what it does:

although rare, allergic reactions to black cohosh may occur. Stop taking black cohosh and seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives.

Large doses of black cohosh have been reported to cause

nausea,
dizziness,
seizures,
visual disturbances,
reduced pulse rate, and
increased sweating.
Stomach upset has been reported as a common side effect with the use of therapeutic doses of black cohosh.

Other side effects may also occur with the use of black cohosh. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Black cohosh is also known as cimicifuga racemosa, baneberry, bugbane, black snake root, rattleroot, bugwort, and richweed. I got this from drug guide.. In foreign countries this is taken by women who are pregnant in labor and need to induce.. From what I have found out this also help women regulate when they are having irregular (periods), my grandmother use to take this when she was going through menapose, it did control the hot flashes for while, but after her body got use to it she had to stop taking it for awhile then start back..Be sure that if you are taking other medicines that you are careful not to take more than the normal doses..But if you check the herbal health websites, they give you detailed info on everything..Good luck to you.
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replied August 25th, 2006
Fox1lady,

thanks so much for all the information. The side-effects sound worse than menopause (ha ha). As you suggested, I have called my doctor to make sure that there would be no negative interactions between the black cohosh and any medications I take. There are none. Thanks again.

Sebrena
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replied August 26th, 2006
Experienced User
Your welcome glad I could help..
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