Hot and Humid, Cold and Clammy: Flashes Driving Me Mad!

By Peglove Wednesday, April 21, 2010

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Hi All,

Okay so this is something that has been happening since the very second week of chemo, but wasn't so bad at first...now they are just too annoying: Hot flashes, and sweats at night and even during the day.

If I am cold, I curl up, bundle up so as to not turn the heater on. I put on my hat, scarf, thick socks and grab my down blanket and curl up with a mag or book. Within five minutes i am jumping out of my skin! My clothes--ripping it off, because of a surging heat that comes from deep within my body. I sweat on my forehead and my baldy head and neck gets sticky.

As quickly as it comes, it rolls away, and I am left cold and clammy and need to put all my layers back on after a baby wipe wipe-down of my neck and shoulders....ugh.

The worst ones come at night, when I finally get to go to sleep which is already a struggle. Then the wave of heat comes and I am kicking the covers, kicking the dog, kicking my Hubby--pissed and complaining....then it goes away and I have to make my half of the bed again....put on some clothes, change my shirt into a tank top.

I am in layers of light clothes now. But the hardest thing about it all is the agitation that follows the heat wave. It really is a chemical thing. I am so agitated after them! But it goes away almost as fast. So what can I do or take for this? Everything I have looked up is estrogen based and a big NO-NO for BC women.

I know it is because of the chemo. And it is a second preview of menopause I have had (the first was in 2006 when I had Lupron. This is not NEARLY as bad). It just seems so unfair and poopy.

Any ideas besides pushing my head in the freezer?

Last Chemo Round and Radiation on the Horizon

Comments (9) | Add comment

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

4/21/10 5:11pm

Peggie, whoever finds the treatment for hot flashes will be a millionaire. There are tons of things to try (ask your oncology nurse), and in my book, none of them work. Some women get relief from antidepressants - that seems to be the most reliable "trick." But putting your head in the freezer is an option, too. Wicking clothes - light covers - patience. This, too, shall pass. And in the meantime, now you know why women took HRT all those years! PJH

MsMary

4/23/10 11:37pm

Hi Peggy,

Yes the hot flashes will drive you crazy but ask your doctor about Efforex or another type of anti depressant which will help with the hot flashes. Try not to drink alot of caffenine, soda, choc, liquor, tea, hot foods spicy. Exercise helps but stress seems to make your hot flashes bad. Good luck and take care.

Phyllis Johnson, Health Guide

4/24/10 6:12am

Rather than staying in the freezer, it's easier to bring the freezer to you. I have a long thin cold pack that's designed for sprained joints. It has Velcro at each end. I use it around my neck or as a headband (it's just the right length for that and the Velcro holds it on). You can get a similar effect from a cold, wet hand towel if you can't find an appropriate cold pack in the drug store aisle that has the hot and cold packs for first aid. I was lucky. I got over the worst hotflashes fairly quickly. I hope yours don't last too long.

Peglove

4/24/10 5:25pm

OOh! Good one!

I have a coldpack similar to this that goes over your eyes. I will put it on now!!!

tjurdy

4/29/10 7:50am

I now keep on my nightstand a giant 16oz. glass of water with tons of ice cubes and as soon as a surge of heat wakes me up, I drink the ice water for relief. My night sweats actually wake me up out of a sound sleep. Like an inner physiological volcano erupting from the core of my body! I get a wave of slight nausea before the surge of heat, sweat profusely and have to change into dry pajamas- not every night but several times a week.

The giant glass of ice water is what works for me, plus on some nights I use an electric fan to blow in my direction while I sleep.

Anonymous

4/29/10 8:59am

Yes, I can sympathise, went through the same things after chemo. I still have some problems in very humid weather but have had miraculous releif since I discovered they only occur when I eat sugary foods... no lollies, no cake, no hot flushes. Hope this magic works for you too!

Anonymous

4/29/10 9:41am

Oh, what memories!

I had really horrible hot flashes, with the "aura" before--sudden feeling of wanting to collapse, with lightening going through my muscles, squinched up, nauseated, lightheaded, short of breath, intensely thirsty--then the heat and sweating. They were relentless, day and night. So many things triggered them. Eating, physical activity, lying down to sleep, falling asleep, waking up, any heat going on in the house or the car, or just going from a cool to a warm area, and a million other unknown reasons.

Chemo put me slam into menopause, which I have been sort of in and out of. The hot flashes remain, two years after treatment, but the good news is they have lightened both in frequency and intensity. Seem to run a roller coaster pattern, like my continued fatigue. All related to my hormones, I think, not finding a "new normal" yet. But I can finally get through some days and nights without any real discernable flashes. Other times they are mild to moderate. Not sure what the summer weather will bring.

I've learned to keep a fan in every room (practically), run an oscillating fan over me in bed in the summer, and turn the heat down at night in the winter--keeping the bedroom cool helps. Keep hydrated, too, and dress in layers that you can remove in public--a little light shirt underneath a button-down sweater, that sort of thing.

Some people get relief from flax, some from black cohash. I would talk to your dr about those before trying them. I tried flax, but have IBS and it was too much for my bod.

Prayers,

Haralee

4/29/10 6:11pm

You got some good comments, the fans, the cool temperature in the house and the dressing in layers. I did not wear a turtleneck for 5 years and then it was like a whole new wardrobe waiting for me again.

I started a company making wicking sleepwear after my breast cancer treatments. I also make wicking shirts for day wear too.

The great part of wicking clothing is of course the wicking, they dry quickly so you don't get cold and no visible sweat marks!

Haralee

Andrea

4/30/10 6:38am

My son and his girlfriend gave me a tea towel with this slogan: "I don't have hot flashes, I have mini-vacations in the tropics!" But seriously ... one thing I find helpful is spritzer cans of Evian water. I keep one in the fridge at home and in hot weather, one on my desk at work. It doesn't stop the flashes but if you spritz your face right when you feel one coming on, it takes the edge off.

Hot and Humid, Cold and Clammy: Flashes Driving Me Mad!

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