Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Firebird]

Hi there - I'm 62 and this is the first time I've been on any forum but I'm at my wits end with these hot (and sweaty) flushes day and night. I've had them for several years now and although at the start they were manageable and I thought they'd get better with time it's actually quite the opposite. There are days and nights when they seem to come in constant waves. I've been to my GP - he suggested anti depressants which I don't want to take. I've done some research on them and it seems that the best they will do is give a few weeks respite before the whole thing starts up again. I don't need them for any other reason as I'm a very positive and happy person - and would be even happier with a little more undisturbed sleep! He told me in no uncertain terms that if I don't take him up on that offer there is nothing else he can do for me. I've tried homeopathy and also black cohosh along with a couple of other herbal 'menopause' preparations.
I'm due to have an ovarian cyst removed and the surgeon has suggested I have my ovaries removed at the same time to negate completely the risk of breast cancer - which I had 25+ years ago.  Does anyone know if removing the ovaries is likely to make these symptoms any better?

[Hurdity]

Hi Firebird

 

Sorry to hear you are suffering but pleased to hear you completely recovered from breast cancer many years ago.

Unfortunately for you, the current medical advice is that results of treating breast cancer survivors with HRT are inconclusive, and therefore a history of breast cancer ( yourself) is still considered a contra-indication to HRT. I am not sure whether this advice would change according to the years since breast cancer, and it may also depend on whether your cancer was oestrogen positive?

Non-hormonal treatments are recommended - but I agree that Black Cohosh does not work after a while and long term. In your position I would actually try the prescribed alternatives to HRT as suggested by your doc which are some anti-depressants - and are listed here: https://menopausematters.co.uk/prescribed.php

If these do not work the advice (from the British Menopause Society & Women's Health Concern) is that if these non-hormonal treatments do not work then you should ask to be referred to discuss your options with your oncology team - and a menopause specialist to allow for an individualised plan.

Ovary removal will not improve your symptoms and may make them worse as they continue to secrete some sex hormones post-menopause - so it depends on whether your surgeon considers you are at risk from ovarian cancer, as to whether you have them removed or not. I can't think of anyone on here at the moment who has had ovary removal some years post-menopause, but perhaps you could start a new thread in the "All Things Menopause" section with that in the thread title to see if anyone comes along. Most women who have ovaries removed have gone into surgical menopause ie were still ovulating at the time of the op - so their experiences will not bear any relation to what yours might be.

You should be able to use local oestrogen for urogenital problems (vaginal atrophy and bladder problems) if these are present - whether or not you have had breast cancer.

Other practical ways to help reduce sweats and flushes - involve - losing weight (if you need to), cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods, as well as cognitive behavioural therapy - this serves to give you strategies to help cope with them. Your doc should be able to refer you.

I hope you manage to sort something out so that you feel better soon

Hurdity x

[Taz2]

Hi Firebird - good advice from Hurdity. Until you experience hot flushes/sweats nobody can really understand how debilitating they can be.

You doctor could offer you a medication called Dixarit (Clonidine) which is really a blood pressure  medication but is also prescribed for women who can't use HRT to counteract hot flushes. You can read about it here http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/brain-and-nervous-system/a6603/dixarit-clonidine/ Friends of mine have had great success with it.

Taz x 

[CLKD]

My Surgeon believed that everything should be removed at initial surgery so that the patient doesn't have to go through further operations and GAs.  But he told me that over 20 years ago so ideas may have changed. R U able to find out what type of cancer you were treated for?

As suggested, do read about vaginal atrophy.  Quality of Life is important so the more you read on here, the more you can ask if various treatments are appropriate.

If you have been prescribed an AD then take it!  Many medications have been found to be of benefit to conditions other than what they were designed for.  Some ADs can help ease flushing.  What's to lose?  You will need to take them for 6-8 months and then decide if you have found benefit.

Have you read round our 'alternative' room?  Some herbals help symptoms initially but when the woman's hormones take over, any early benefit is lost.  Also, herbals should not be taken long-term.

Browse round.

[Firebird]

Thanks so much for your replies. I am already on blood pressure meds as well as beta blockers and statins. My cancer was oestrogen positive. I am not overweight, have tried cutting put all caffeine, spicy foods etc.
I had a partial hysterectomy 25 yrs ago and a prolapse repair 7 years ago.
I really can't go down the route of ADs so will try to get a referral to a menopause specialist. 

[babyjane]

Hello Firebird and    You sound very much like a lady I know who I recommended this forum to.  She is in the same situation as yourself and was feeling so very alone and desperate with a similar history to yourself

the members on this forum are excellent at helping you realise that you are not battling all this alone and you can always share and benefit from the support and advice of others.