POLL - hot flashes

[Dogmama]

My doc says stress adds to hot flashes & can actually cause them. So, it would make sense that after exercise when the endorphins are flowing, you'd have less flashes. Not my experience, though.

Mine are head to toe, sweat rolling down my torso flashes. None of this, "Gee, is it hot in here or is it me?" <giggle & bat eyes> I flash during the night & chocolate makes it worse. Not fair! Daytime, my first flash is during my morning coffee, but I'm not giving it up. Then, I'll flash after getting out of the shower which is really irritating. I dress in front of a fan.

The only good thing is if I have a flash while I'm lifting weights, people think I'm working really hard.

HRT does nasty things to my body. Makes my eyeballs dry up so my contacts feel like sandpaper. My hands & joints swell & hurt. My doc and I are still trying to find something that works, but the dosages are so low to avoid the complications that they don't touch my flashes.

So, I've been taking black cohosh and soy isoflavones. Interestingly, they do take the edge off without the nasty side effects. When I run out, I notice the flashes coming back with a vengeance. So, they must be working a little.