Who turned up the thermostat?! - YouLookFab Forum

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Who turned up the thermostat?!

Peri

Veteran

I thought I was past the hot flash era. I'm 59 and haven't had a problem with them for 3 or 4 years now, except something new has started up in the last month. Not actually flashes...I don't feel fine and then get hit by a wave of heat out of nowhere. This is more just feeling hot all the time. I turn the AC to 73, which has always been mildly chilly, and my DH will complain it's too cold while I'll be wanting to turn it down even further.

Hormones? The new version of hot flashes? Allergies? Anyone else experienced this? I'm past the window of safely taking HRT even if I wanted to. Any suggestions for ways to deal?

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Kate

JAileen

Veteran

My doctor said the danger of HRT was the starting period. She seemed to think the minuscule chance of cancer outweighed the lack of sleep. If I were you, I’d ask my doctor.

rachylou

Veteran

Are you doing anything or sitting when this happens? Have you taken your actual temperature? And have you noticed anything else happening? Weight the same, etc.?

Peri

Veteran

JAileen, I may call. He already told me he doesn't rec HRT for me, but at that time this constant hotness wasn't happening.

Rachylou, it's an always thing so it happens no matter what I'm doing. Temp is normal.

Maybe I'm just tired of summer.

rachylou

Veteran

Feeling hotter is a thing as we get older... could just be that.

cindysmith

Veteran

I've been feeling like I'm too hot most of the time lately, too. Like, not hot flashes (get those too), but fighting with DH over room temperature. He used to be the one sweating to death while I was frozen through and through, but lately he is cold and I am too hot.

I don't know what to do to fix it, but I've been taking black cohosh to help with the hot flashes. I'm sorry you're dealing with this, but I do thank you for letting me know I'm not alone and I'm probably not going crazy; I had been feeling like I was the only one who experienced a reset on her own internal thermometer

Anonymous

Your blood sugar could be high. Check it when you feel this way. ( Walmart has stuff to do this. It is a blood test that involves sticking your finger) Does it happen within 40 minutes after you have eaten something? I never sweat, but high blood sugar can cause it.

bj1111

Veteran

You are describing my life right now. I don’t know what to do.

Venlafaxine (Effexor) has good data that it is as effective as hrt for decreasing hot flashes and is widely prescribed in breast cancer patients.

I have the flashes but also run hot more constantly than before. This summer has been beastly. Even with the air on, I have a fan blowing at me for sleeping.

Echo

Veteran

I wish I had advice, but I have run hot ever since I became pregnant the first time. At the time, I assumed it was just pregnancy weight and hormones, but the weight came off and presumably the hormones went back to normal and my temperature never regulated. I am ALWAYS too warm.

And not to be a downer, but HRT is NOT proven safe at any time. Indeed, it increases the risk of breast cancer as many as 10+ years after HRT is stopped, even if it was taken for as little as one year. Taking it longer is, of course, more dangerous. But a newer study was just recently released about the risks; you may want to look it up before talking with your dr. Definitely still discuss it with your dr., as it may be another issue or there may be other solutions. But think hard about whether you are willing to accept the risks associated with HRT.

Marilyn

Veteran

I don't have a solution but I can commiserate. My hot flashes have been insane for the last couple months. And some days I just feel hot all the time....like today. It's a very pleasant day and I'm sweating like crazy. I've started taking black cohosh but I'm only a couple weeks in....no idea if it's going to help or not. I'm flying through popsicles and ice water. It's been a rough summer.

As Joy mentioned it would be a good idea to get your blood sugar checked to rule out diabetes. My husband is diabetic and sometimes feels hot when he shouldn't be.

Peri

Veteran

Cindysmith and Bj1111 no not alone at all! I guess there are several of us.

Joy and Marilyn, maybe I do need to look into a blood sugar issue. I've never had any problem with that, but I don't think I've been eating all that well this summer. Marilyn, I've heard of the black cohosh. Keep us posted! I was wondering about something like that.

Echo, no, I have no plans to go on HRT. I do wish now that I had taken it earlier for bone health, but they tell me I'm now outside of the window where that is considered worth it. Of course, the answer will be different next year anyway.

Thanks all. I'm looking forward to winter!

L'Abeille

Veteran

Change in heat tolerance can also be related to thyroid issues (in this case, more likely overactive). Humidity can make you feel the heat more. And yes, aging. I know I don't tolerate the hot summer days as I used to, when I go back to my hometown. Also, are you wearing polyester or other nonbreathable fibres?

rachylou

Veteran

I just came across someone ranting on Twitter about how you know you’re a middle aged woman when you walk around opening windows and saying how stuffy the room is. Lol. Had to laugh because I do that - even though I also go around wearing a Puffy in the middle of summer here.

jill58

Veteran

I too feel this exactly. I take venlafaxine and it has made no difference. I'm 61.

Anonymous

This has happened to me in the past and it is usually when my blood sugar is too low, so I make sure I do snack in between meals to keep my sugar levels on an even keel. In a cinch, a glass of orange juice works.

Also, if you are dehydrated, you may feel this way. I drink 16oz of water when I first wake up. Then I make sure I drink at least 64 oz a day(more so when it is warm - in the summer because of outdoor heat and in the winter because of indoor heat).

Anonymous

Peri, just wanted to ask when the funny feeling comes on, does it feel like your heart rate is dropping? Do you check your pulse or heart rate when this happens?

Peri

Veteran

Danusia, no funny feeling, just hot. No pulse or heart rate issue, no change from one moment to the next. Just constantly feeling hot.

Kate

Veteran

You are definitely not alone, Peri. Menopause completely reset my internal thermostat. I simply cannot handle the heat the way I could pre-menopause. Humidity, once just a summertime nuisance, is intolerable. I run the AC lower & lower, and have both ceiling fans & tabletop fans blowing air on me all day long. I sleep with two fans running.

Yet I’m still cold natured. If the temps go below 60, my teeth chatter and I’m reaching for a blanket.