Are these hot flashes?

[Rosemary349]

Hi ladies....these are not classic hot flashes, so I'm not sure what's going on with me, but thought I'd run it by you.

I've a lot of posts in the heart rhythm and heart disease communities recently because of some of the symptoms, but it's possible it's all peri-menopause....just not sure at this stage.  The doctor is running a few more tests but is not too concerned.

Basically I'm getting episodes of facial flushing, with feelings of hunger, more than i'm used to, then skipping heart beats which are calmed by eating up to a point, and a 'wooshing' kind of sensation in my upper body.  I suppose it is a like a heat feeling rising up through my upper body, but I wouldn't have described it as heat really, more like an energy.  I don't feel hot or like I need to open windows or anything.  But my face is often burning at these times, so my skin on my face feels hot, but the rest of me is ok.  I just feel like my skin is burning and needs a cold compress on it, lol.

I'm 46.  My periods have been regular, but last month it was a week late and this seemed to be accompanied by more than usual skipped heartbeats.

Thanks for your thoughts/experience.

[proudarmyinfantrymomma]

I just had a radical hysterectomy in January due to cervical cancer so they took everything including both ovaries. Also I am 39 turning 40 in June so I am considered young to not have ANY ovaries at all. Well before my surgery my body was producing all the estrogen it needed and sometimes too much. I would get red marks on my chest when my estrogen level would get too high. Anyway, hot flashes were my very first menopause symptom. For me it feels like it starts at the top of my head. It feels as if my blood has all of the sudden gotten extremely hot, like I swear if it gets any hotter it will begin to boil lol then it runs down to my feet. It is like someone is standing over me putting a bucket of water, very hot, water over my head. But it's all on the inside. Like it literally feels as if it's in the deepest parts of my body. As the blood rushes down my ears and face become very red. I get sooo hot that I will gasp for air because it makes me feel as if I can't catch my breath or get enough oxygen. I will strip down to nothing and sit on our back patio in the middle of February with snow in the ground and below freezing temps just trying to bring my core temp down. For the record we live wayyyy out and have absolutely no neighbors at all! We are not nudists I promise LOL! Now I do want to also tell you this, after a hysterectomy and in full blown menopause a lot of women will get anxiety attacks out of nowhere. No rhyme or reason to them. I could be as happy as a kid at Disney world and all of the sudden my heart starts slamming into my chest, I get extremely hot, I can't breathe etc. I finally did a sleep study and thankfully I had one during the study along with 3 hot flashes so they determined the difference. To me it sounds like you MAY be having the panic attacks too. I would've never guessed that menopause could be so life altering. If it were not for the fact that this hysterectomy saved my life and has made me cancer free I would say it is by FAR the worst thing I have ever done. It's been pure hell and I have a long time to go. Thankfully this is very new to me and because of that the DR hasn't had time to find the right combination of meds for me then I will be fine. Just good luck and don't take this lightly. Keep frozen washcloth in the freezer at all times and the next time you have one place it on your neck or face and lay down. I lay on my tile floor and put a towel under me because I will sweat so much. That should help get you through it. If they persist tell your dr and they can give you a medicine called Effexor. It was made for an anti-depressant but they found out that the lowest dose stops hot flashes and it WORKS TREMENDOUSLY! If none of this works it could be a panic attack. Either way hang in there. It will get better or so they say lol! Sorry for the novel by the way

[AnnieBrooke]

If it feels like a flush, or a rush, it is probably a hot flash.  Try increasing the soy in your diet and see if they calm down, that would hint they are from your estrogen levels changing and your body not being used to it.

[Rosemary349]

Thanks AnnieBrooke, I'm worried about eating soy as I have had a breast tumour (benign) and also I have an underactive thyroid.  I've heard soy is bad for both.

I tried red clover and my period lasted 10 days on it....so not sure I'm ready for that yet.  I'm on a low dose of agnus castus.

Worried about taking things because they might encourage the heart skips.  Wondering if there's something really gentle to start with....or soy that is considered the healthy kind?  (don't know if there is such a thing). thanks  :-)

[AnnieBrooke]

You might also try wild yam cream.  (You rub it on.)  But if you don't want to add any estrogenic substance to your system (even to test to see if the flushes go away, in which case you could be pretty sure they are hot flashes), you basically will just have to guess whether the flushes are hormone related.

In my town there is a doctor who is more of a naturopath; she can prescribe hormones (if necessary) if a woman is having real problems with menopause, but she can also prescribe other things (more natural remedies) to help the body get used to estrogen levels dropping.  You might try someone like that, and explain you are concerned about your breast tumor and thyroid but would like to know what the flushes are.  

[Rosemary349]

Thanks AnnieBrooke.

I might consider that.  I might also just introduce some soy foods as a test.  I can then make longer term decisions once I know.  I'm not bothered about the symptoms as such, just the heart skips, but if they are related to menopause then of course I'm not worried.  thanks  :-)