I had hot flashes at night with menopause. I keep a small fan, on my side of the bed. I would put my pillow in the freezer, for 15 minutes, before going to bed. I would bring the issue up with your primary, to rule out other causes..side effects of medications, or thyroid problems.

Yes I agree thyroid check with primary is in very important. Although these things can start up suddenly for no immediately apparent reason it's a good idea to get a very thorough check up.

My sister resisted going and got simple help with a thyroid treatment. Luckily she had few other symptoms but that's not often the case.

Even though it is truly a pain I really believe in the rule out that game. Ask me why and how I know..

It is a pain because you sometimes don't get relief easily.

It is a really good idea because sometimes you do.

Best of luck! And hugs to you.

I'm assuming they would do blood work to check levels that could be causing this. I don't know when hormonal hot flashes start...I'm 56 and in the last year, just started having funky cycles so maybe this is start of symptons.

It was around age 50 that I started having them. First irregular cycles, then I went through a half year period of shorter than normal, but spot on the dot regular, which I had never been. Then irregular again, and decreasing. Hot flashes occasionally.

Just mild heat at first (I thought "this isn't so bad"- for someone who tends to be cold always in winter.) In a few years they were more frequent - a hot flash every night after I laid down in bed, and sometimes waking up with them too.

But they got increasingly worse. I held out as long as I could, but they got so severe that I was becoming faint and nauseated with them, and they were occurring at least hourly. So I started on HRT which helped a lot - but had its own annoying side effects (like frequent charley horses).

I eventually stopped the HRT, and the flashes were not as severe but continued, so I used some supplements which did help to control them (first Vitex tincture, which I made myself, then commercial evening primrose oil caps). After 18 years, they recently seem to have almost fully stopped. Hooray!

You have my sincere sympathy. Hopefully it will be an easy transition for you.

a hot flash every night after I laid down in bed

I'm 12 years past menopause and this still happens to me, although my hot flashes were not as frequent or debilitating as yours. They've definitely gotten much less intense and frequent as time has gone on, but I still get them, mildly, on a regular basis. My gyn says he has a patient in her 90s who still has them, so I'm glad yours have basically stopped and I hope the same for me!

My menopause was when I was 45, now I am 78. I had hot flashes every night & day, so bad I was soaked most nights. For me these never stopped, not as bad as 30 years ago but still a pain. Dr said this happens to some woman but not many. Good luck with them. Do get checked by your Dr. just in case it is something else. Bookwoman I know what you are going through but I am 33 years past menopause, no hope for me stopping.

I still have hot flashes. My mother and grandmother (who made it to 98) both had them until the day they died. I figure I'm cut of the same cloth...

I tried soy, which, oddly enough, seemed to make mine worse. Flaxseed helped, vitex helped more, and I ended up using evening primrose oil for years which worked very well - as long as I remembered to take it! 2 gel caps a day at first, then down to one - haven't had to take any for about 6 weeks now.

The chemo I had for breast cancer at age 37 took care of any hormones that I had. It was like turning off a water tap. So I never had hot flashes and have no stories to tell. But I sympathize with all of you and wish you well. So many of my cousins and friends suffer.

Thyroid issues managed and hot flashes are still a thing. They are controlled best for me when avoiding alcohol and chocolate. Everyone's different.

Oh yes, Arcy, sugar or something high in refined carbs really triggered the flashes for me, right up to about a year ago.

My cousin had prostate cancer a few years back and they brought his hormones to zero and he got hot flashes. I was teasing him how I never expected to compare hot flash and sleepless night challenges with him!

Three words: Hormone replacement therapy. No more tossing and turning all night, no more waking up in a sweat, no more relentless brain fog, no more joint aches, and -- bonus! -- my thinning hair is growing back in. Estrogen replacement is the female fountain of youth.

Yeah, mxk3, until it isn't. My Mom was on HRT for over 25 years and then she got lung cancer...not tobacco related..but there is a lung cancer that has estrogen receptors on it similar to breast cancer. And she thought she was safe as she'd had a total hysterectomy and was on the lowest dose. So just beware there are risks with every benefit...

I never said there aren't risks. There are risks with everything. It is up to each individual to do their due diligence and weigh the options.

HRT is a high risk solution. Menopause symptoms versus blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and cancer…..let’s see. I found relief with certain vitamin therapy and phytoestrogens available through foods.