How does climate affect your hot flashes?

I am not using any HRT; I discontinued it three years ago as it caused more problems for me. I have been doing well without it, however, I notice that the number and severity of hot flashes I have depends upon the temperature OUTSIDE. When it finally cools down in winter here I have one to three short mild hot flashes per day. On the other hand now that summer is scorching down I have several per day, six to ten, in which I pour with sweat. The hot flashes are more intense and longer. It does not matter if I am in air conditioned comfort or not. I have acclimated to the heat well after living most of my life up North; bitter cold does not bother me either. I am active in and out of doors. The cooler it gets, the fewer and shorter hot flashes I experience. Obviously the cooler, the better for me. Anybody else experience this? If you live in a much cooler climate, Pacific Northwest, mountains, etc., are your hot flashes less or is it all on the individual?

Hiya Housewren!

Oh yeah! You are certainly NOT kidding on the outside temps being a factor in hot flashes. I've been hormoneless for over five years now, this last winter was soooo nice... I had finally slowed down to just an occasional hot flash, slept well, hardly any night sweats, didn't have to camp out in the coolers at work. Well, that all took a flying leap once we hit about 85 degrees outside and even worse once we hit the 90's, fast forward back to hot flashes and night sweats, tossing and turning throughout the night BIG time!!

I live in Colorado and we have a very dry climate here. I have absolutely no idea if its weather related, the hotter days sure don't seem to help any. All I can for sure say is, thank goodness for air conditioning, in the car, in the house and I carry a fold up fan with me every where I go.

I hope we both find some relief, other than fall arriving, not quite ready for that yet, but would LOVE some days in the 70's.

{{hugs}}

Vicki

My dr told me that a lot of women have more trouble in the winter! Hmm??
I think that might be my case, because in the summer - it's normal to have the AC turned on, but in the winter, when everyone wants to crank up the heat...I'll be running for the windows!

Housewren, I notice that you are in Texas and - whoa you have some intense heat down there! Like Vicki, I live in Colorado, and the lack of humidity is nice. (But the "oven temps" of 95 and higher are unpleasant!)

Shoozie

I posted this in another forum but looks to be true here too.

I'm starting to think of surgical menopause like Texas weather.... Give it a minute, it'll change!

Hey Ladies, I agree with you. In the summer time I just about die. I want to pull the air down in the house and everyone else says mom, "You can hang meat in here." I can not handle the outdoors right now. I live down here in Florida. The lovely Sunshine State. I love when we have our little Winter. I really need to move up North. I actually sleep with my ceiling fan on and an isolating fan at the foot of my bed. Along with the central AC. My doctor says that should not have anything to do with it. But, it does if you ask me. I have not been on HRT for the past 5 years. I would love to be able to take something for these crazy symptoms of mine. Most of the time I have a large glass of ice water with me. Never with out it. I have a fan under my desk at work. Just for my hot flashes. Now that is bad. But, what else can we do. Well, I must go for now. Good Luck to everyone.

This is my first summer since my TAH/BSO. We live outside Sacramento, CA and we are expecting temps over 100 this week. In the past summers, I've tried to keep the AC at 78. We also have celing fans in most rooms. However, I find that's not quite enough this year. If I'm up and about doing housework, I need it around 76. At night I sleep in a lightweight cotten nightie with two fans and the AC on. I have the ceiing fan on low so I don't disturb
DH and a tabletop fan blasting my side of the bed. We're heading to Disneyland in two weeks and I'm coming prepared with a battery tabletop fan for the nightstand, hand-held fan for purse, and a Cool Blast mister. I'll mist myself (and family) while standing in lines and then blow the fan over my moist skin. That should help a lot. I've found that I needed a stronger anti-persp/deoderant too. That's new since surgery. I've also learned that spicy food and alcohol can bring on the heat.

Heat has never bothered me in the past...well, pre hyst, anyway. I haven't really noticed a change in hot flashes (I had more this winter), but it seems like the more hot and humid it gets, the more foggier the brain gets... Major brain fog in hot, humid weather.

I think I had more trouble with hot flashes this winter...but w/the brain fog I can't quite remember exactly....

I'm having trouble w/chills when I hit an air-conditioned room. Go figure.