WSIW? - For hot flashes in winter - YouLookFab Forum

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WSIW? - For hot flashes in winter

Helena

Veteran

Oh ladies ... at the risk of TMI, I've been in perimenopause for some time now but the hot flashes (flushes?) have taken quite a turn in the last month! I'm not sure if it's just the progression of this phase, or if it's because with the cold weather I'm wearing warmer things, and so the flashes hit more dramatically when they come. In any case, usually freezing me is literally breaking into full sweat at random times of the day ...

Best tips for managing during the winter months, when warm clothes are a necessity? T-shirt and a cardigan? Natural fabrics? Grin and bear it??

Off to change out of my cableknit into a light shirt now ... granted there are certainly worse problem during Canadian winter ..... God help me under the Australian sun in a couple of weeks!!!

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Dressing

36 replies

Latest reply was from Cee

Bijou

Veteran

Helena, your cartoon made me laugh!

If you get a hot flash in the Australian summer, no one will know because everyone is hot!

RobinF

Veteran

Haha, that cartoon.

I found I did best with lightweight cardigans. And just staying a little bit chilly. As soon as I would think "ah I'm nice and warm" then a hot flash would hit and I'd be peeling off layers. I've been done with it for a while now (I'm 60) but still have mild ones once in a while and still prefer lightweight sweaters most of the time. Luckily I never had to use medications to control it, although I know it helps a lot of women. No fun, but the bright point is no more periods!

Helena

Veteran

Bijou haha good point!

Robin, thank you so much - and yes that particular silver lining can't come soon enough

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I sympathize. And get ready, my whole thermostat reset after menopause — I can no longer stand overly warm sweaters or pajamas at all. I favor thin layers that I can remove or add as needed.

I’m not a cardigan person so can’t speak to that, but I do tend to layer thin pieces in winter. I can do a loose sweater in a chunkier knit if it is cotton or loosely woven — thick, tight knits are not great and make me sweat. I have a small collection of long-sleeve layering tees from Uniqlo and Gap that go underneath blouses and sweaters to help those lightweight pieces work for cold weather. Sometimes I find that more appealing than yet another sweater.

I also love lightweight zip up hoodies for this reason. Unzip for a bit more air circulation while still keeping the third piece on. I have a couple in cashmere and some in cotton.

Lesley

Veteran

I worry about this! I'm afraid that just as I really start to enjoy my perfectly calibrated winter uniform of long-sleeve long underwear plus pullover, I will have to get a whole new uniform that accommodates taking layers off and putting layers on! Following with interest!

Helena

Veteran

Thank you so much everyone ... going to raid my closet for suitable pieces per your suggestions and play around with what works. Great point about the hoodies Janet, is there anything these wardrobe heroes can't help with?!

Lesley, you will learn things about yourself you never knew; at least I have. For example, I had no idea how much one's shins could sweat. I went 4 decades not sweating out my shins and now here I am. The miracles of aging! *facepalm*

Anonymous

I had a coworker that would be in a Freezing (to me) office in a tank top and she'd be fanning herself! Agreeing about making layers as easy as possible.

Lesley

Veteran

oh crap.

anchie

Veteran

I am currently going through similar problem due to my hyperthyroid condition. I was always running cold and my winter office uniform is all about keeping me warm - camisole, layering merino sweater and a blazer. But now I am sweating constantly and feeling very warm. I have been on sick leave since symptoms suddenly started but I think I will have to go back to the office next week. At home I am wearing just lightest short sleeve cotton t-shirts and I still have to change every few hours due to them being completely soaked. Gross, I know, sorry :). I think I will have to bring change of clothes to work. Hope this thread will give me some inspiration too.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

That cartoon!

I was lucky (I guess?) in that mine mostly came at night (although that meant I was up most of the night...). So my main tricks were to kick off all covers, toss and turn, open the bedroom window, turn on the overhead fan, and change the sheets! (Mr. Suz, who runs cold, was not too thrilled with all this.)

I still run a bit warmer than I used to, as Janet said. But nothing extreme.

Thinner layers, as others have said, and maybe more V necks vs. high necks. My mother stopped wearing turtlenecks entirely for the rest of her life. I still like them, myself. So everything's individual!

Elle

Veteran

I totally sympathize. For me (and everyone is different), natural fibers and loose clothing layers helped. Anything form fitting or close around the neck seemed to make things worse. The minute I started feeling comfortably warm, I'd take off a layer which would (usually) fend off the worst of it. A fan also helped, although my husband wasn't fond of it. Hope this passes quickly.

kkards

Veteran

that cartoon! OMG

i have no practical suggestions because i never had hot flashes during the day. (night time is a different story, and i wouldn't call them flashes, it more like i run hot at night and cold in the day)

Cardiff girl

Veteran

You would save a fortune on your heating here!Not helpful l know!Lightweight layers of washable natural fibres ,avoid synthetic stuff like the plague.

slim cat

Veteran

I like cotton/modal tees versus 100% thick cotton ones; cotton, cashmere/cotton or thin merino wool cardigans, layering with thin layers with the confidence of undressing/changing layers while on the bus, at work or during grocery shopping - lol. I remember sitting on a bench, waiting for the bus and changing my socks to the half socks that I carried in my bag just in case .

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I've yet to experience a hot flash, so no words of wisdom from me. But hope you find a solution and goodluck!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Mine wasn’t too bad but my whole life I have taken off layers and then put them on again, so I kept doing the same.
I think they are “flashes” in North America but they are called “flushes” here and probably in Australia too?
Great cartoon!

LJP

Veteran

I guess you don’t want to hear that I never had one . Ever . And I’m well out of that stage now . If anything , it regulated my body temp to be even more consistent . I am almost never cold anymore - or hot either. Knock on wood .

CarolS

Veteran

Light, easily removable layers for sure, Helena.

I gave up turtlenecks for a while -- and they have always been 'signature' to me. Am cautiously reintroducing them now -- but still very wary about anything with a fold down. The orange sweater I wore the other day is heavy, but the t-neck is just one layer. I was also careful to wear it on a super cold day. And I am lucky that my office runs a bit cold.

Was never much of a camisole wearer, but avoided it even moreso in the hot flash days because it's not a strippable layer!

I hope this phase of life passes quickly!! It's not the most fun.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, and this is one reason I rarely wear turtlenecks now. But I love scarves more than ever, because they are the easiest thing to remove when you get warm, and put back on when you cool down!

rachylou

Veteran

Cotton. Breathable. Cardigans and hoodies which can be removed easily. I had a weird problem this fall of being too hot in my puffies but too cold without them. Now it’s freezing winter and the problem has gone away, but still…

Helena

Veteran

Thank you so much everyone; it's so helpful to hear everyone's experiences as well as sense of humour about this most glorious phase of life! Appreciate it a lot xx

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

No great advice - in retrospect I did experience some "warm" flashes but now on the other side am back to my generally cold self!

L'Abeille

Veteran

I learned that when you start getting hot flashes, what happens is that your thermostat setting changes: there is about a 2-degree zone of comfort before suddenly you are too hot.

So, I could wear clothing close around my neck, wear my hair down close to my face, drink a hot sip of tea, OR walk briskly across a room, but not two or more at once. I wore a lot of buttoned shirts, packed away my turtlenecks, gave up on my signature scarves, and always kept a scrunchie handy for spur-of-the moment updos. Thankfully it didn't last forever.

Also, I learned to call them Power Surges.

Helena

Veteran

Jaime, so there's hope, yay!

L'Abeille WOW yes that's it ... Once the switch flips it's HOT ... There's no warm up period. Great explanation, thank you so much. I like power surges!

Indigoprint

Veteran

Cardigans and a sleeveless topper underneath was what helped me, in addition to hormone replacement supplements.
Interestingly a TIBI sweater that has cut out elbows sounds like intetesting for hot flashes. I cannot afford TIBI but could easily dup the concept.

Sally

Veteran

I guess layering is your friend. I have never had them. But I do have a very irregular menstrual cycle these day which takes a bit of consideration around what I am wearing.

Joyce B

Veteran

Besides removeable thin layers, maybe thinking about very thin base layers, either very thin cotton or trying an active T shirt such as the ones used for running. I am thinking that since active/sports T shirts dry quickly and do not soak up perspiration, they could help.

Lynette

Layers layers layers!!! That is the answer! And hopefully it gets better with time. Mine did.

Chiara

I had these from medication- yes to cotton and linen, fine layers. In winter I found that a jacket I could unzip helped sometimes to head off a flash- letting cold air in.
Apparently the inner thermostat band of comfort becomes narrower- so this can lead to feeling heat more quickly, but equally some become more cold sensitive.

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