I first got hot flushes 2 years ago when I was working in a stressful job, long hours and a lot of responsibility. After 6 months I realisied it was having a detrimental effect on my work performance and although my sister had had breast cancer (but nobody else in the family had) I decided to start taking HRT when I was 52. The flushes stopped, but I did get headaches, and period pains each time I had a period. Then I lost my job, and decided that maybe i could cope with the hot flushes, and i wouldn't have to put up with headaches and period pains. I had been on HRT 18 months when I finally came off, and for 3 months felt great. However, the flushes are now back with a vengeance, night sweats, soaking wet which causes lack of sleep, and consequent tiredness. I cannot carry on like this. I have tried all the alternatives, omega oils and multivitamins (which I still take), isoflavines - no noticeable effect, and clonidine which my GP prescribed as a last resort - this I tolerated well but it just doesn't work! I'm trying black cohosh as well at present, but from what it says on the site, it looks like that isn't going to work. So my only choice will be to go back on HRT. I do exercise, have lost a bit of weight (OK maybe more of these would be a good idea!), I try to eat well, organic if possible, and I don't smoke. I also have Crohns disease, which isn't too bad at present though I have to be careful what I eat as I had surgery 10 years ago to remove part of my small bowel, so this is something I already have to put up with! I feel as if enough is enough, and I need to stop this intolerable flushed, clammy horrible feeling!! If I thought it might be just a few months I may cope better but there doesn't appear to be any way of telling how long it will be. After I came off HRT 6 months ago I had a slight period, but nothing since, so as I am now 54 I am hoping I can go on period free HRT. I am a very upbeat person but this change of life really gets in the way of living a normal life!! The only other problem I have associated with this is not vaginal dryness (not really an issue as not in a secual relationship), but local soreness when I urinate sometimes - this is not cystitis, but just dryness, and I made sure I didn't have an infection or anything. But it's the flushes I cannot cope with really.