Any tips on coping with hot flashes?

[Caroline UK]

Me again!
I was made post-menopausal by chemo, and I've been on Arimidex for around 6 weeks. At first I had a lot of hot flashes. I thought I couldn't bear it if this is how it was going to be from now on. But thank goodness, they eventually came less often. I even had whole days when I wouldn't get one at all. What a relief. They do come back sometimes, for a few times a day, a few days at a time.

A good health food shop nearby advised me to try sage tablets or drops, as did my oncologist. The trouble was, I kept burping sage all day and that was worse than the hot flashes!
I've heard of black cohosh being used - has anyone tried this?
Also advised to cut down on drinking tea, which helps.
My oncologist said she could try me on a low dose of an anti-depressant, which has been shown to help reduce hot flashes, but I'd rather not unless I get desperate.

Are there any foods I should try cutting down/out? I don't drink alcohol, well the occasional glass of red wine for health purposes you understand, but it gives me a headache and makes me feel sick after 2 glasses, so I rarely partake. I don't eat much spicy food either.
Has anyone used homoeopathy, and did it help?

Caroline

[Mgarr]

Good morning Caroline. I just have a couple experiences to offer. First, I tried black cohosh tea which did not have any effect on hot flashes then I was advised by my hospital nutritionist not to use it without speaking to the doctor.

Second, I recently underwent total hip replacement and needed to be placed on an antidepressant (my case was Lexapro) my hotflashes had minimized but the doc. warned me Lexapro will increase them and the night sweats. He was correct on both accounts.

Lastly, for night time sweats invest in some wicking pajamas.

Best of luck.

Mary

[hutchibk]

My only suggestion to consider (although I know some docs and patients might still consider it controversial) is using small doses of vaginal Estrace cream (estrogen cream). I have used it for over a year to ward off re-curring urinary tract infections (caused by unbalanced pH levels and dry tissue in the 'lady parts' area, due to lack of estrogen) - And it has the added benefit of moderating hot flashes. My doc says that it is not enough estrogen (1%) to do harm or have a systemic effect. I swear by it.

[jhandley]

I have been using natural progesterone cream since not long after dx. I did a saliva test and found I was low in progesterone. Women who are low have a higher incidence of BC. Dr John Lee wrote a book "What your doctor may not tell you a bout breast cancer" in which he discusses the hormonal side of things including studies that show that natural progesterone inhibits cancer growth. I have also read somewhere that natural progesterone switches on the p53 suppressor gene that is damaged in some BC.

Anyway it is brilliant for hot flashes, basically you rub it on each evening and the idea is to replicate physiological levels of the hormone. (the strength is 1.6 % and the dose is 1/4 to 1/8 tspn)..

It also helps you sleep.

Note: It is not a progestin which has an altered chemical structure and therefore has different effects.
Jackie

[doh2pa]

Last week I went to an accupuncturist to see if she could relieve my peripheral neuropathy. Since it was the first visit we had a long talk about my health in general and we talked about the hot flashes. She recommended drinking a tea twice a day made from Astralagus root. She gave me some samples and I have been drinking it over the last week. My hot flashes are definitely diminished. Last night I had a glass of red wine with dinner (and I usually pay for that with multiple hot flashes in bed that night), but I awoke this morning realizing I had not kicked the sheets off once last night. I will see my onc this week and make sure it's okay to take but I will be sorely dissapointed if he says to discontinue.

Donna