Furnance Flashes

I am post op 3 weeks and had EVERYTHING removed. This was my 5th FEMALE surgery and fianlly decided to have everything removed. My surgery went great, I feel great (no more pains) but for the last 2 weeks I am having constant hot flashes. I had hot flashes before surgery but now they are constant. At least one Furnance Flash every hour to half an hour and lasts about 3-4 minutes and I am soaked in sweat. Any ideas? Breast Cancer runs in my family so hormone therapy is not an option for me, I am trying the over the counter natural replacement but it takes about 4 weeks before I see any change. Does anyone have any ideas what to do in the meantime? I have done the layers of clothing, cool showers, diet change, etc...

One thing that helped me was to keep my hair up off my neck - luckily it was long enough at the time.

Although I was still having the hot flushes they became more manageable.

Luckily I was able to take HRT and we seem to have got them under control at last :-)

Hi Shellyrioux -
I think it's a good idea to be well-hydrated. Water.Water.Water. I too was getting the hot flashes and night sweats - at least 4 an hour. That's why I went on the HRT lowest dose, least amt of time.

I also have read so much on the important of vitamin supplements during Menopause, so I'm on lots of them. E, C, Calcium with D, a Multi Vitamin, B12, Folic Acid, Evening Primrose, and still on an Iron supplement because I'm anemic. I'm seeing my doc on Friday to confirm all of these supplements that he already knows I've started. Blood tests on Friday also.

I have been doing lots of research and there are so many different opinions on what to take for hot flashes.

I guess you are trying black cohash and are waiting for it to kick in?

did you try Evening Primrose?

Someone else suggested Dong Quai supplement because they said it doesn't have any hormone like effects - but it has a blancing property for females. This is not FDA information by the way. Just things I've read on other hormone and menopause sites.

Eat more broccoli and garlic with olive oil.

You could try vitamin E - take 400 IU in am and 400 IU in pm

I've read that you could try the anti depressents for hot flashes like Effexor (need a prescription from a doctor) . Other women suggest Prozac - 20 mg helped them.

Some say to try St. John's Wart ( over the counter supplement).

I guess too you can't take Soy (which has estrogen like chemicals)? Soy - revival shakes or bars?

Fish oil is high in omega 3's - flax oil too, very good for you!

Check these ideas out if you'd like, do more research - and I hope you find an answer to your hot flashes!
I'm still searching. I'm on HRT .03 of Premarin - I have no family history of breast cancer, but I'd much prefer the natural way.

Hope this is helpful!