Hot Flashes? You've gotta be kidding me!!
OK, I've always been a person who gets hot easily. Like really really really easily! I've always been the first to complain of heat when the temperature rises, and I melt if it stays hot. And humidity slays me. And when I get too hot for too long, fatigue almost always follows.
So, lately, I've been noticing that I get hot Really Really Often. Way too much. Way more than I used to! Yeah, it's summer, and yeah my office is too damned hot, but I've been crazy hot too much of the time.
I thought it was just that it was Hot! But, it's been way more than usual during the last year or so. Way more!
Finally I've been wondering if it's Hot Flashes. I never understood the term Hot Flash. I thought it'd mean you'd feel sudden flush of heat appear, and it'd dissipate in a few seconds. Y'know a hot flash -- really quick, like it sounds.
But me, I get really hot, but sneaky-like, slowly enough so I don't feel it starting. Then first subconsciously, and eventually consciously, I feel irritated and Really Really Hot and Perspiring. And it stays for a looooong time! No g'damn "flash"!
So, I finally realized, maybe a week ago, that this hot craziness might be what was meant by that stupid term "Hot Flash". Ugh!
I've never had close older female friends or relatives to tell me this stuff. So I flail.
So, tonight I finally look up Hot Flashes. Oh, gee, no one really understands it; wow. No one has sure treatments, and there are few good genuine double-blind studies. They say women's health issues don't get enough attention, and this makes me believe it! And then I find this:
• stress • alcohol • caffeine • diet pills • spicy food • hot food • hot tubs • saunas • hot showers • hot beds • hot rooms • hot weather • smoking
Ohhhh, ugh, ugh, UGH! Hot stuff causes hot flashes! You've gotta be kidding!
And then they say the best "treatment" is to avoid hot places and hot food and stress!! Like that's practical or desirable?!!
This Mayo Clinic site says: Perimenopause encompasses the years leading up to menopause - anywhere from two to eight years - plus the first year after your final period. [...] When perimenopause starts and how long it lasts varies. You'll probably notice signs of impending menopause, such as menstrual irregularities, sometime in your 40s.
Up to eight years!!! Whups, NO, nine years!!! And THEN the actual menopause starts! Aieeee!
I sit in my hot office, stressed out, and get these Hot Episodes. Ohhhhh, this sux!
Found more info from the Mayo Clinic: Hot flashes can last from 30 seconds to as long as 30 minutes, but most subside within a few minutes. The frequency of hot flashes varies. You may have them every hour or have them only occasionally. Nighttime hot flashes - or night sweats - can wake you from a sound sleep.
Riiiight, 30min is a "flash". Whee. I think mine always last at a minimum of ten to fifteen minutes. And I've even started being woken by those night sweats. Great, like I needed less sleep. *sigh*
So, I guess I'm being afflicted by PERIMENOPAUSE, and it's really stupid and nasty. I hates it, I do!
Is this making sense? Any advice??
So, lately, I've been noticing that I get hot Really Really Often. Way too much. Way more than I used to! Yeah, it's summer, and yeah my office is too damned hot, but I've been crazy hot too much of the time.
I thought it was just that it was Hot! But, it's been way more than usual during the last year or so. Way more!
Finally I've been wondering if it's Hot Flashes. I never understood the term Hot Flash. I thought it'd mean you'd feel sudden flush of heat appear, and it'd dissipate in a few seconds. Y'know a hot flash -- really quick, like it sounds.
But me, I get really hot, but sneaky-like, slowly enough so I don't feel it starting. Then first subconsciously, and eventually consciously, I feel irritated and Really Really Hot and Perspiring. And it stays for a looooong time! No g'damn "flash"!
So, I finally realized, maybe a week ago, that this hot craziness might be what was meant by that stupid term "Hot Flash". Ugh!
I've never had close older female friends or relatives to tell me this stuff. So I flail.
So, tonight I finally look up Hot Flashes. Oh, gee, no one really understands it; wow. No one has sure treatments, and there are few good genuine double-blind studies. They say women's health issues don't get enough attention, and this makes me believe it! And then I find this:
• stress • alcohol • caffeine • diet pills • spicy food • hot food • hot tubs • saunas • hot showers • hot beds • hot rooms • hot weather • smoking
Ohhhh, ugh, ugh, UGH! Hot stuff causes hot flashes! You've gotta be kidding!
And then they say the best "treatment" is to avoid hot places and hot food and stress!! Like that's practical or desirable?!!
This Mayo Clinic site says: Perimenopause encompasses the years leading up to menopause - anywhere from two to eight years - plus the first year after your final period. [...] When perimenopause starts and how long it lasts varies. You'll probably notice signs of impending menopause, such as menstrual irregularities, sometime in your 40s.
Up to eight years!!! Whups, NO, nine years!!! And THEN the actual menopause starts! Aieeee!
I sit in my hot office, stressed out, and get these Hot Episodes. Ohhhhh, this sux!
Found more info from the Mayo Clinic: Hot flashes can last from 30 seconds to as long as 30 minutes, but most subside within a few minutes. The frequency of hot flashes varies. You may have them every hour or have them only occasionally. Nighttime hot flashes - or night sweats - can wake you from a sound sleep.
Riiiight, 30min is a "flash". Whee. I think mine always last at a minimum of ten to fifteen minutes. And I've even started being woken by those night sweats. Great, like I needed less sleep. *sigh*
So, I guess I'm being afflicted by PERIMENOPAUSE, and it's really stupid and nasty. I hates it, I do!
Is this making sense? Any advice??