Anyone with "Warm Flashes"

Hi gals. Well I sit here 17 days out from surgery anticipating the dreaded loss of hormone symptoms. I can't say that I really have had a "hot flash" But I have had a few episodes of "warmth". I didn't break out into a drenching sweat or turn red like alot of the gals I know describe. Could this be a precursor of what is to come?? I have not started any HRT. I need to have a long discussion about this at my follow-up. With this new diagnosis of severe endometriosis and adhesions I am kind of leary of putting any hormones back on board/ I have alot of other variables with this surgery. I ended up with a very low blood count/small bowel ileus/post-up gastric ulcer. I guess that is what I get for being healthy for the past 40 some odd years. Thanks for all the great advice you all share. This site has really been helpful.
Stay strong and faithful!!

Taryn
TAH/Bilat Salpingo oopherectomy/ New diagnosis of severe endometriosis/adhesions

Hi Taryn!

Not everyone experiences hot flashes the same way. Sometimes when I have had them they are just that feeling of warmth you described. Sometimes it's that feeling plus a slight change in color. I've never had drenching sweats nor have I turned beet red, but I have had cold flashes after the hot ones. That's no fun, either!

I think it's smart of you to think carefully about hormone therapy, especially since you had endometriosis as a part of your diagnosis. Unfortunately unless ever bit of it was removed during your surgery, replacing estrogen can feed any that was left. Some doctors withhold estrogen for a period of time or will prescribe progesterone or progestin along with estrogen to help counteract the effects of estrogen on endo.

You might like to do some reading in the Resource Database. There's a category there called Road Less Traveled: Endo - Adeno which might be especially helpful. You might also want to do some reading from the Hormone Article List so you can have a good discussion of options with your doctor. Articles #10 - 13 are about the estrogen choices available.

I hope this helps!

s

Hi Taren

For what is worth, I have never experienced the classic hot flash either. I also seem to have evaded the classic night sweats. I have what you are talking about. I have a feeling of warmth about my face and neck about 2-5 times daily. It is very brief and undetectable to others. I count myself fortunate in that regard. I have started hrt and they seem to be decreasing. I also started keeping a warm flash diary. Mine seem associated with the ingestion of hot spicy food or fatigue.

That's what makes this board so fascinating. Everyone has a slightly different experience!
Wish you well in your recovery

Aiken

Hi Taren

I'm 10 wks post-op and haven't had any real HOT HOT flashes. I started this post-op journey without ANYTHING other than a few warm "glows", that were very rare! Then at about 4-6 weeks, the glows got a wee bit stronger (but I'd still say just moderate, no drenching sweats). Some of those "moderate" ones made my head hurt and feel a bit goofy, til it passed. Now at 10 weeks I have virtually no flashes at all.

I'm 45 yrs old and prior to this surgery I had 2 drenching night sweats, so I know what those are like, but post-op...nothing!!

I'm not on any HRT yet either (well..I do take local vaginal estrogen, Vagifem, but that's not supposed to enter the bloodstream in any large, detectable amounts, so it doesn't manage hot flashes).

Some drs say no HRT if you have endo.. to "starve" any remaining tissue hanging out in your body.

Check with your dr..I'm glad to hear that you're not having severe symptoms.
My really goes out to those women who do have bad symptoms!

Shoozie

I am 7 weeks out and no hot hot flashes. I have run a measurable fever off and on since surgery. They occur almost daily and doc thought that since nothing was showing up on bloodtests about infections or such, that maybe they were my own unique form of hot flashes. I started on hrt last week and I can say that I haven't experienced a 'fever' in the past 2 days! Also my headaches have decreased considerably. I have yet to have any night sweats although I did get the pleasure of experiencing those several years ago when my gp changed one of my routine medicines! It took 2-3 months before I became adjusted to the meds and I sure don't want to go through that again if I can help it! I guess we are the lucky ones, huh? Little or no symptoms...yaah!

I've had the same thing - hot waves periodically through day, waking me up once or twice during the night, along with cold flashes periodically. Not as bad as I expected - I'm just wearing layers and adjusting as I go along! I don't intend to take HRT unless I have to due to family history of cancer and my other medical issues. Good luck....

Hi Taren... I think my hot flashes are more like "warm flashes", too. My mom has intense HFs where she gets nauseous, face turns beet red, the sweat pours from her hairline, and poof - they chill out within 2 minutes. Mine last longer, but I don't get THAT hot. I get feverish, sometimes damp on the back of my neck... but I don't get as miserable as mom does. I guess everyone is different. *shrug*

39 yo, TAH + LSO 6/24/05
4 years of uncontrollable bleeding/clotting & one cyst-infested ovary.

I am 50, my dr did not recommend hormones for me due to age and family history...went through the pre-menopause stuff for many years prior to surgery. About my 3rd or 4th wk post op, I had the surgical menopause hot flashes... hot flashes that made my face, neck, and arms turn beet red...and night sweats were horrible. I have been taking Healthy Woman (OTC soy supplement) for a couple of months, and night sweats are gone and hot flashes are minimal now. My heart goes out to ya'll. I just could not stand the night sweats...if the Healthy Woman is a bad choice, then so be it. I needed some relief and I have gotten it. I feel great!

Hey Jackie,

I'm right there with you .. taking the soy!
(But, I do mine in the form of the fermented soy fruit smooties 2x/day.. I calculated the calories to be 300 - so I spend more time on the exercise! Egads!)

My warm flashes have subsided pretty much. I may get 1-2 per week (hmm..always on the weekends. My DH says this is because I do more work on the weekends than I do at work during the week )

I still have interrupted sleep. Usually wake a couple of times to pee - the DH is thankful for that, better than sleeping through that!

And then when I try to nap (like tonight after work), I got about 15 mins of a nap and my phone was ringing and it was my son outside the door, forgot his key. After I dozed off again, 20 mins later he's standing at my bed asking if he can go to a friends.
Is there no rest for Shoozie?? That kid is pushing his luck with his insomniac estrogen-deficient mom!

I guess I feel pretty lucky otherwise.. and think the soy might be helping me through this loverly experience.

And as I posted earlier.. my does go out to the women who have intense symptoms! There couldn't be enough surface area on my butt to patch me up if i had severe symptoms!! (OK, maybe there would be enough surface area...)

Shoozie

Shoozie, you are a hoot! I needed a good laugh this morning! Believe me, if my symptoms were intense, I'd be patching my butt also! And, there *is* plenty of surface area there, my friends!

A sense of humor is a wonderful thing to have, especially when we are going through so much crap! Hang in there sisters! We are going to make the best of the "minnows pausing"...just a little name I like to use for the darned menopause monster!