Hi Abbey 

Sorry for the late response to your last reply but as well as going to the hospital daily for myself..my poor grand-daughter has come down with a severe viral infection and my daughter and myself sat in A&E for 5 hours yesterday with her. 

Your chillow sounds ideal..and a good idea to have 2 !!! Could i ask you where you bought them from please as i'm going to invest in a couple for myself.

Hope you're keeping well.

P xxx

Hi again Abbey

I've just noticed there were 2 posts from you..i really am not good with modern technology !! Haha !!!

I never used to wear a lot of make-up anyway to be honest..just a bit of foundation (to stop me looking like Casper the friendly ghost haha)..mascara..eyeliner and a bit of lippy..and i felt ready to face the world. Since the onset of the sweats and flushes about 6/7 weeks ago however, i've gradually just given up wearing it completely. It would literally just slide off my sweaty red face within minutes of applying it.

My whole life seems to have changed dramatically in the course of a few months. I have become quite reclusive and i feel "low" in myself. I understand it's natural to feel this way..but i don't really know how to get out of the rut i've gotten into..and to "lift" my spirits again. I don't want to talk to my GP about the way i'm feeling as i don't want to resort to taking anti-depressants. Does anybody else feel this way...and if so..has anybody got any hints or tips to overcome these feelings ?

Take care.

P xxx

Hi there

Well I've stumbled across this post as I am suffering with hot flushes at the moment ( can i just say never been known before, I am always cold and would have heating on in August if Partner let me !!) Mine seem to atttack especially at night time within seconds of being in bed i'm kicing the quilt off and puffing. I am sweating but its my face and neck that feel so hot.

Reading this post has actually made me think maybe mine aren't as bad as I thought .. I do wake at night and kick the quilt off then wake again cold and continue to do that all night.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July and had lumpectomy in Aug, have just finished 20 sessions of radiotherapy. I have been on Anastrozole since September and have monthly hormone injection and was prescribed 37.5mg of Venlafaxine along with the hormone medication. Am a bit worried now as seen that someone on this thread has put they are on 3.75mg !!!! I seem to be on a very high dose but perhaps why flushes aren't quite as bad ? I've seen my doc this week and he thinks the medication has put me into the change, great only 43 and recovering from breast cancer didn't really need the menopause right nw !!! Maybe you could go to your GP and see if he recommends anything or after your radiotherapy you will see oncologist again and that was who prescribed the Venlafaxin.

Good luck with the radiotherapy will be thinking of you and sending positive vibes your way.

Love Claire

xxx

Hi Claire

Thank you so much for taking the time to read, and reply, to my post !!!

Before my diagnosis, lumpectomy and radiotherapy, i was the same as you...to the extent that i had an electric blanket on my bed and would use it all year round..even on a hot summer night !! 

I know that Venlafaxine is known to cause sweats and flushes..but my oncologist thinks that i'm having such a bad time because prior to my diagnosis, i had been on HRT for 15 years. After my lumpectomy i was told to cease taking it..which i did..and that coincided with me starting to take the Venlafaxine..so it's a combination of those 2 things which is thought to be the cause of such severe sweats and flushes.

Also..like you..my sweats seem to occur mostly at night. I might have the odd 2 or 3 throughout the day..but i mainly suffer from hot flushes during daytime. However..once i go to bed...even if i'm just lying on top of it, which is how i tend to sleep now..the sweats start coming..thick and fast !!!! I keep a little hand-held fan on my bedside table..plus a towel (to dry myself off) and i now also make sure that i've got a spare bedding set to hand so that i can change the bed if i need to. I never knew that sweats and flushes could be so debilitating to be honest. It makes me wonder how on earth older generations coped with such things !!! I suppose, in a way, we should think ourselves lucky that medicine, and medical knowledge has become as advanced as it now is. I am truly grateful and thankful for all the medical help that i've had, and am still having.

Hope you are well and take care.

P xxx

Hi Claire

Sorry for the late response but i'm not very technologically minded and have literally just stumbled across your last message purely by accident !!!

My medication has now been doubled. Still having bad flushes and sweats...resulting in not getting much sleep..but i do feel that the medication is beginning to work gradually !!! I still don't feel like going out but fingers crossed once i get the sweats and flushes under control then i'll feel more confident about going out and socialising again.

Hope you're well and take care.

P xxx