Hot Flashes and Insomnia

I'm not sure if you count supplemental vitamins as meds, but my coworker swears by the dry form of Vitamin E. She's recommended it to several people, and a lot seemed to be helped by it. For some reason it has to be the dry form, but you can find it at a health food store for sure.

Hope this helps a bit,
L.

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Hi M.:

I am also going through menopause. About two years ago a friend told me about a natural progesterone cream that helps with the hot flashes. I started using it and it actually helps. I don't have the hot flashes anymore. If you would like more information on it please let me know.

You can also go to http://www.Women4Balance.com/MichelleJ to get more information on menopause.

Take care,
M.

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M.,
I also have been having night time hot flashes that greatly disrupt my sleep - for 6 years! They seem to fade away after a few months only to return again. My dear husband has invented a fan that sits at the foot of your bed between the bed sheets and is remote controlled. It has a programable timer that lets you set how long it runs (I have it set for 2 minutes) and it shuts itself off. For me that is INCREDIBLE! When I feel a hot flash coming on, I just touch the button (which you can wear on your wrist, attach to you bedside table or slip under your pillow) the fan comes on and the force of cool air coming up and over your hot body feels so good it is amazing. We have made it available to our local friends and they also love it, so we have put together a web site and we are going to make it available to other women. We are in Petaluma. Check out our web site at www.mybreeze.net or feel free to email me back and if you like I can call you.

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For hot flashes when I'm home, I wet down a washcloth with cold water and rub it all over my face, arms, legs, any skin that is exposed and go stand in front of my swamp cooler. For at night, I keep a small fan next to my bed (okay, it's actually a big box fan leaning against a dresser so i can crank that baby up and let 'er blow!!) and my nice cold washcloth. when a flash hits me, i just turn on the fan and wet myself down with the cloth until the flash passes. i just lay there and suffer with the insomnia. i cant get up and do stuff as it will wake the others in the house, so i just lay there (trying not to stress) and day dream until i fall back asleep. good luck!!

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Hi M.,

I have chosen to not take any meds for myself, yet do find it very difficult some days more than others.

My hot flashes are definitely "flashes of heat", but this past week have been more like heat "waves" of sweat. I always carry cold water bottles, and have a small wash cloth handy for wiping. The water bottles feel really good on the back of my neck and on the insides of my wrists....those points can relieve me quickest.

I also have changed my wardrobe slightly and are buying things that take "sweat" like those shimmery polyester fabrics.

The fan is ALWAYS on....my poor hubby hates it. I have a towel near the bed to put on rop of my sheets in case I sweat too much, like I did last night.

The worst was the other day....I didn't care who was around! I was "flashing" and miserable and began to remove my shirt without thinking....my husband reminded me we were in public (Thank God) :O) It's awful at some points, I know!

As far as insomia....I really don't have it that much, only once or twice a week. I think it helps that I go to bed early....8:15ish to watch TV and finally rest myself from lasting throughout the day :O) When I was in my early 30's and went through insomia, I had a "basket" of craft supplues and made my own Birthday cards.....it kept me quiet and busy until I could fall back asleep.

Other than that, I try to keep a positive attitude knowing that it won't last forever, it only just seems like it :O)

It helps me if I sort of "meditate" for 1-2 minutes before I get out of bed in the morning...I "feel" how I am to know if it's going to be a good or bad day. knowing about the "bad day" in advance gives me more patience.

M., I hope something I've said you can relate to in some way or another, and can possibly help you.

~N. :O)

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My hot flashes and night sweats used to hit just as I went horizontal. The room would be freezing, so I'd bundle up. Just as I'd start to doze off, I'd be kicking all the covers off again. Of course, I'd be wide awake then. I was researching aromatherapy for my daughter's ADHD when I noticed a reference to using Clary Sage essential oil for night sweats and hot flashes. I put a few drops on my pillow or rub it under my nose. The problem has not recurred for months.

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M. T

I found that taking Estrovin helped me. I am 53 and about 5 years ago I started having hot flashes,I like natural healing. I started taking Estrovin. They also have a nighttime capsule that helped me sleep.
Hope this helps.

P.

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Hi M., I just wanted to let you know that there is an all natural pill called ESTROGEN, I took it for over 2 years and it really helped, take at bedtime. There is also a sleepy time tea, both at Wal-Mart, and the price is right. The pills take a few days to start working, but they help. Lots of luck, C.

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Hi M.,

I found a great way to keep myself balanced and I do not have hot flashes. I am a member of the 50 club also.

If you want to learn what I do let me know.

N. Marie

Hi M.,
womentowomen.com is a great site for helping women with menopause and the accompanying symptoms. They are women doctors who specialize in all sorts of things... bone density.. the kinds of things women must keep up on for a healthy, happy future. They have a free assessment test you can take and then put you on a personal program depending on your particular needs.
Blessings,
D.

M., You should try LoveMoon pantyliners. The negative ion strip helps balance the extreme fluctuations in hormones that you are experiencing. There are also a host of herbal rememdies at the Health Food Store you can try. I like Open Sesame in Lafayette, CA. I feel your pain as I have had bouts of this myself. I think you have to try various things to see what works best. Let me know if you want more details on the pantyliners. You can read more at www.lovemoonhealth.mywinalite.biz. I've just started selling these products and am excited to hear that they will also be launching a biodegradable/disposable diaper too. The negative ion technology has a host of health benefits--boost immunity, fight bacteria, make the body more alkaline (cancer can't grow in an alkaline body) and balance hormones. It may sound like a gimmick, but it really works. K. ###-###-####

Exercise. Doesn't fix it all, but it helps.

Hello M.: I wish that I could give you help. I made the mistake of doing all of my " Personal Summer" without meds and just -- toughed it out-- because my husband had so many fears that it would hurt me, from what he had read. One of the crazy decisions I made at that time was letting his fears influence me... ha ha. smile.
I will say that I kept small fans in every purse and bag that I had. If by chance I was where I couldn't use it-then I made sure that I had paper to wave in my face. I also spent alot of time with my head in the freezer to keep cool.
You, will get through it and I am sure many will know of herbs and such that will help. Good Luck, Nana G