Hi, Life Ends,

I'm so sorry to hear of your plight. Let's take them one at a time:

- Migraines - Dr. Holly Thacker in "The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Menopause" wrote that using over-the-counter medications to treat the headaches more than three times a week may actually result in more headaches. She suggests keeping a headache diary to identify triggers (stress letdown, dieting/fasting, caffeine, diet, medication, alcohol, and weather changes) and also to increase your intake of Riboflavin and magnesium, which may help reduce migraines. She also suggests eating three meals a day, don't skip breakfast, maintain regular sleep times, exercise, and find ways to release stress.

- Hot and cold flashes - Hot flases can be triggered by stress, stuffy rooms, warm weather, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, tight clothing, heat, and smoking cigarettes. Again, tracking when you get them and what might have triggered these flashes may help you figure out what's behind them. In my case, the only time I get hot flashes is when I drink beer, but I don't get them when I drink wine.

 - Sleep issues - Dr. Thacker recommends wearing loose clothing to bed, keep the bedroom cool and well-ventilated, avoid hot showers/baths before bed,a nd wear socks to regulat body temperature. A magnesium supplement taken before bedtime may help. Also, try relaxation techniques in order to help your body slow down. Also if you're taking hormone therapy meds, you may want to take them at night so that the dose lasts through the time when you're sleeping.

Hope this helps. Keep us posted!

Dorian