Check with a good Gyn regarding controls, especially the extremely mild sort such as primrose oil or the slightly stronger black cohosh. And if the Gyn sneers at herbal treatments, go find another, better informed Gyn. You truly do not have to suffer -- like birth pains, there are various ways of encouraging the body to be more comfortable as it undergoes a natural process.

Swimmer's ear, LOL. My moment of truth occurred while standing in front of the freezer case at the grocery... and being so hot that not only did I look sunburned, but my shirt literally was dripping with sweat. OTOH, would you prefer to shave every day?

I saw a cute little pen the other day with a mini fan on it. I had to try it out. Maybe you could put one in your ear. Poor baby...welcome to the club. Been there done that,it sucks eggs and don't let anyone tell you these are the best years of your life. That's a bunch of you know what. I thought of you the other day when I saw the most God awful looking spider dart out from under a fallen magnolia leaf. Trust me,I didn't say Great Googa Mooga when he "jumped" on my clog. I couldn't kill him of course but shooing him away wasn't so easy. I know it was a male because he was so ugly. Good to hear from you but sorry you are going through the girl stuff.

Meldy,
Yuk, I have both - extra heat AND shaving every day. It ain't easy being an older girl, let me tell you.

Like Marda, been there done that and yes, it does eventually go away. It only seems like it's going to last forever. In the meantime, set up an escrow fund for your electric bills and turn up the A/C.

I cannot get my gyn to admit I'm perimenopausal. No caffeine, alcohol or medications interferring, and yet, I haven't slept in seven years. Years. I know it, he just won't say it. bum. I don't want to doctor hop either. They'll just keep saying the same thing until it is menopause. Well of course you can diagnose it afterwards, who couldn't?!

Yes there are supplements. Ask before taking them? I can't take black cohosh because I have low blood pressure. Other issues could exist only you and your physician can understand together. Supplements work because they cause an effect, right? It's not nothing happening, right? It is something. Make sure it's a wanted effect.

I breezed through that part of my life by
taking meds. It worked for me.
I was going to be tough and suffer in silence but
after one too many personal summers I threw in the towel
and talked to my doctor. We went over all the stuff
we thought I needed to know, I picked Neil's brain
about it and he said to go ahead and try meds.

"life's too short to waste it sweating"

Well i've been blessed (hey stop throwing things!)went through it without much, think i had hot flashes but it was one of our few hot hot summers so couldn't tell if it was flashes or actual heat. Have had friends that had good results with soy and acupuncture, heck of a lot better than pregnant mare urine! Di hope you get through this quickly and soon.

Tell me again about this "going away" business? Ten years and counting here. Sorta embarrassing when you work in an office full of 20- and 30-somethings, and you look (and feel) like you're about to burst into flames. Tried all that Whole Foods and other herbal/alternative/natural c-r-a-p. Nothing and I mean NOTHING works. Refuse to go the hormone replacement route.

Sorry. Can't offer any helpful advice here.

Karen

Girls, i really feel bad for you as i've had friends go through so much. I had to have everything removed when i was 30 and never had any problems.
Was happiest day of my life to get rid of all the problems i'd had for years.
vickie

Vickie, that's one of those statements made where it's a good thing this is a virtual party and not in-person. We may be happy that you didn't have to endure this particular manifestation of extreme maturity, but it takes a while to get past the... exasperation of being around someone so chipper about it.

Have a chocolate while I count to a thousand or so!

Haven't been able to get on for about a month.
Boy, what a good day to come back.

~di,
Hon, I am so, so sorry, bless your heart.
What I have found most helpful is to sit on the veranda with a large mint julep in one hand and a fan in the other whilst watching the flamingos play on the lawn.

The first time I went to Jan's, I was afraid I had really made a bad first impression when Neil walked through the room with a fist full of syringes and what looked like a quart jar of medicine.

I could invision Moses announcing to the people as they were beginning their trek to the Promise Land when Neil announced, "It's time for 'b*tch-be-gone'."

Without uttering a word, a couple ladies (who shall remain nameless for fear of sweet Southern magnolia revenge upon me), followed Dr. He-Who-Has-Magic-Potion out of the room to B*tch-Be-Gone Land.

Bless their hearts, I was later told my 500 car ride with them was going to be much more enjoyable after their visit to BBGL.

Thank you all for the advice and understanding. Although I lost my mom when I was a young adult, you would think this topic would of come up with having four sisters. Nope. Seems I've been in denial for quite some time even though my clock kept on ticking.
A couple of months ago I was chatting with my doctor and I tell her about sweating profusely as if this could be a symptom of a rare illness, lol. She politely glances at my chart and says: "You're 47, right?" I responded affirmatively. "Umm, it's menopause", she informs me gracefully because she knows what she is telling me is shocking me.
My ignorance gets worse as I walk out of the office thinking menopause lasts a short time and you're done with it all.
Pretty bad, eh girls?
;o)
~di

Oh,~di, just don't run up and throw yourself into the ice cream freezer at the local Food Lion. The other women expect you to wait in line!

Oh - I been there and done that!

For reasons I'm not sure I had the patience to read, mild antidepressants help with the hot flashes..

I used Effexor prescribed by the Dr. until my insurance company drove me nuts with the ever ellusive co-pay, then I began to use the SAM-e from Wal-Mart. What with
Lipitor and Synthroid, Metformin and shingles that return any time I am sressed or too warm, I will do long term remedy - like the rest of my life... and it works.

Watch the iced tea, coffee, and other foods that have caffiene in them. They tend to enhance the water works.
I swear by Folger's Half Cafe and the Lipton cold brew decaffinated. I cannot wear synthetics...cotton seems to allow me to 'breathe' better, and is cooler.

In any event, try the natural and organic things recommended above... or SAM-e - Life is just too short to be flitting from one freezer to the next.