Monday, August 9, 2010

Hot flashes

I had 19 the other day.

How do I know?  Let's just say there is an iPhone app for everything.

I've been trying to think of a way to describe hot flashes so those of you who have never had one can understand.  The best way I can describe them is that you feel like you are blushing lava.

I thought I had experienced them before tamoxifen.

I was wrong.

13 comments:

  1. Arimidex has the same lovely side effect. I didn't have hot flashes when I went through menopause naturally (only night sweats). Apparently there's a 2-for-1 special with Arimidex!

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  2. I need that app!!

    My Oncologist told me that the hot flashes would lessen after awhile. Hahahaha.... I've been on Tamoxifen since January and that has NOT happened yet. In fact, I'm getting them more often now. Thank goodness we are having a mild summer this year!

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  3. My onc says that people who have the strongest reactions to tamoxifen are the ones who have the best results. With the hot flashes and the bone pain, really, I think that I'm golden.

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  4. My hot flashes finally lessened when I switched to Femara. I tried to think of them as mini tropical vacations... I would deal with them by grabbing a ice pack when they got bad. That actually would help quite a bit.

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  5. Fortunately there are some things that have passed me by. I am not sorry. The joint pain from the Femara is about all I can deal with at the moment.
    Hope you find a solution

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  6. I live in the land of hot, my body temp is now running 99.3. It's my "normal" now. I hated being hot before cancer, now I can't stand it at all!! I wonder if I will ever be normal again, it's been two years and it's still going strong.

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  7. All I can say is thank goodness for HRT. My record was 28 in a day. I could stand the hot flashes but the racing heart and light headedness was scary. They have settled now about 18 months later. I only get about 10 a day. Rock on Grumpy Old Women!

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  8. Hi! I left a comment earlier this summer, right after my initial diagnosis and I think I was waiting for the pathology results from my lumpectomy. After a reincision, I started chemo last week (CMF). Just wanted to say that I appreciate your blog! I have now become an official follower!

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  9. I remember you Dissertation Girl. Sorry you are having to do chemo but you'll be fine.

    Cold washcloth suggestion is a good one. I used to like to feel hot. Now the window at which I'm comfortable is very narrow. Like 1 degree - either too hot or too cold.

    No HRT for us Petra, bad for cancer girls. I'm glad it helps you!

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  10. Not much difference between Tamoxifen and Arimidex for me. The hot flashes have definitely tapered over time.
    I'd have 20 a day in the first months. Now...almost 5 years later..(almost done!)..I'll have 0 - 5 a day. Woo!
    When it's HOT, I'm more prone. When I'm stressed, I'm more prone.
    Such fun!
    Misery loves company?

    Great blog, Ann. <3

    ~Gayle

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  11. I remember them well.......yuk! They will end, hang in there.......:-) Hugs

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  12. should i be worried? at age 41, i've been on tamoxifen since may and have had nothing more than a few mild warm flashes. no periods though...

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  13. About 4 months post-chemo my hot flashes seemed to be mellowing out but I think now that was because maybe my body was preparing to restart my ovary functioning and then I had them removed and NOW I feel like a walking furnace again - or a volcano that erupts every couple of hours LOL...not fun and not pretty. ;/

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