I am just beginning with the hot flashes and decided to try the Swiss natural hrt that you get in the drug store. One pill, twice daily. I managed to remember to take them 3 weeks in a row. I can't imagine trying to take over 40 pills a day! You wouldn't have room for FOOD. They're saying now diets high in fruits and vegetables help with the symptoms. Also a lot of soy, but I know I couldn't stomach soy and the way I remember to take pills, buying a bottle wouldn't help either. So, I figure rather than complain to my doctor (who only works 1 day a week so good luck getting an appointment to see her......) I'm going to tough it out. I have become a light sleeper. And for the first time in my life, I'm kicking off blankets in my sleep. The furnace is doing flip flops because I'm either melting or frozen. My husband just shakes his head, he knows better than to say anything LOL. I figure this is just nature taking its course and I'll muddle through it. Let's have this conversation again in a year and we'll see if I managed? LOL I have been known to change my mind...

I have the exact same symptoms as aussiesoni. My hot flashes happen once a month and usually only one time, but it lasts for about 15 minutes (although it seems longer). It is always in the middle of the night, around 2 a.m. I suddenly wake up kind of panicky, not knowing why, then shortly get a radiating heat in my chest which then spreads outward to my extremities and then my arms and legs tingle and I feel like I am going to pass out. I also get the feeling of extreme nausea and the need to have a bowel movement. I lay as still as I can, practice deep breathing techniques and reassure myself that I am ok and this will pass. It feels like a panic attack and I'm sure I am anxious at the onset. I am 44 years old and had a total hysterectomy 7 years ago. Initially I was on Progesterone, but my gynecologist switched me to Estradiol and I have been on that for 6 years. The hot flashes have been a recent development and the first few times I had one, I thought I needed to go to the emergency room. Finding this website was a Godsend and I know I am not alone! My question is, can anything be done or is this something that I'll just have to deal with? I also need to say that I have had a kidney transplant and because of the medications I take for that, I cannot take just any over the counter medication or herbal supplement in case it interferes with my anti-rejection medication. And not that I wish this on anyone else, but I am glad that I am not the only one experiencing this and grateful for your stories! Best wishes!!!

Hello and thank you for sharing your experiences. Here I am having the same issue. Almost 5 months ago while I was on vocation with my family suddenly I felt a sudden weakness of both arms which it lasted for 30-40 seconds. Then in a month it happened again and again; randomly. I also have some difficulty breathing but non of them are related to each other. Shortness of breath happens mostly when I go to sleep and it goes away while the weakness of arms has no such a time or any other sign that helps me to figure out what and why i did go to the doctor and after many test and check ups no diagnosis. However my doctor said it could be from the stress Today I had two episodes in a row while I was working with a little boy ( I am an ABA provider) Lately though I have been thinking if it’s related to the heavy begs that I carry all day long since travel from Staten Island-Brooklyn-Manhattan and back ( using public transportation) Does anyone have any idea about what age am thinking about? Furthermore, today I read that Hypothyroidism must be one of the causes that might be connected to arm weakness

Sueb20 - I hear ya girlfriend! This hormonal rollercoaster is not for sissies. On a good night I was sleeping maybe 4 broken up hours. I never nap during the day. I have always been an insomniac, but could sleep five hours straight before, now since menopause (5 years) I am plagued by hot flashes that give me sweats then chills. I use BI hormones and these help to a degree but do not completely alleviate. I don't know if my flashes and chills are worse than others but I do know, if I don't use BI, I literally cannot go out in public. Sweat pours off my face and I actually passed out at the office once. So... Then before the holidays I started to have a real problem period sleeping and tried all the OTC remedies and my usual melatonin/valerian cocktail and was getting no where. I cannot take script meds. Then I decided to move to the guestroom because I was waking my DH with my tossing/turning, up to BR etc. For a month I guess I went through a sort of sleep detox and reset my patterns- I've had to do this before. Went a couple nights where I got may be two hours sleep but now am where I can sleep maybe four hours, then wake for a flash but don't need to get up for a BR visit, then can go back to sleep for a couple more hours. This is revolutionary for me. I believe my DH was keeping me (he snores) from actually getting into a sound REM and I would get up, wake completely read and have to restart the process and never get more than 3-4 broken hours. We talked about it yesterday and he thinks he is sleeping better too without me there. So he's getting 9 hours of undisturbed sleep instead of 8...I hate him ;) So my recommendation get an hormonal evaluation have them check your cortisol levels (saliva test) too. Get on some hormones. Lack of sleep is worse for your health than taking hormones. The devise that helps me the most for cooling during sleep is a small vinyl covered pad I bought in a heating pad combo that is used for icing an injury. I just keep it next to my pillow and when I have a flash I pull it over to lay my face and neck on. It is cool enough without refrigeration to do the trick. I turn it over a time or two to a cool spot till the flash passes. I have cooling pillows and jammies etc but this one little thing has helped me the most. That and moving out of the bedroom... Also Arianna Huffington has a sleep book out - has any one checked to see what she's come up with?