Using the Web to Cool Menopause Symptoms

19 Comments

It happens to the best of us – you’re sitting there, minding your own business, when suddenly it hits. Did someone turn on the heat? Did I leave the oven on? Is anyone else burning up in here?! It takes all your will power not to strip down and stand in front of the freezer until this crazy hot flash subsides.

Hot flashes are one of the lovely side effects of the fluctuation of estrogen in the female body during menopause. They’re completely natural, and nearly every woman going through her change has had them. You can always discuss your hot flashes and any other menopause symptoms you may experience with your doctor, but sometimes it’s nice to search for answers and advice yourself. There are plenty of online resources out there to help you find exactly what you’re looking for to keep cool and breeze through menopause. Here are a few that we found useful:

Blogs

There are quite a few of women out there brave enough to put their menopause experiences online for all to read about. Scan their blogs until you find one you can relate to. Perhaps someone has a hot flash remedy that you’ve never tried, or a positive outlook on the transition that you admire. Be sure to bookmark it so you can return later to read the newest entries. Our favorites include those found on Blogher, and Menopause – The Blog.

Communities

Talking to women who are also going through their change can be very helpful and reassuring. When you register to become part of an online community tailored specifically to women’s health issues, you’ll instantly join an ongoing conversation with thousands of other women who are transitioning through menopause right alongside you. These communities usually provide members with great articles, newsletters and expert advice, too. We suggest you give ThirdAge™ a try.

Online Heath Centers

Credible health information sources are the best places to find the latest news about new remedies, therapies and scientific findings. Videos, articles, quizzes and glossaries will help you understand any aspect of menopause you’d care to look into. We suggest WebMD not just for its unbelievable amount of content, but also for its blogs and community.

Online Superstores

Places like Amazon.com have all kinds of books and DVDs on the topics of hot flashes, menopause and aging healthfully. One simple search could bring up the remedy you’ve been looking for, a hormone-balancing yoga session on DVD or a great collection of funny stories from women going through their change.

If while using these resources you happen to find a treatment or remedy that interests you, remember to talk to your doctor about it before you begin.

If you found this helpful, these articles and forums might help, too:
Article:Natural Solutions to Menopause Woes
Article:The Hormone-Balancing Diet

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What others are saying

Debbie, 6/13/2009 8:01:21 AM
A recent visit to my annual Gyno appt., I discussed this with my Dr. He said to avoid or decrease caffeine. The only caffeine I have is chocolate, not that much, but I enjoy a little every day. For my sanity. I took Healthy Women supplements for 3 straight months, no change. Does anyone experience a mental change just before an onset of a hotflash? Please explain...I know moments before the heat is turned on. Hope to hear from someone....
Jodi Baker, 6/14/2009 9:18:59 PM
I don't get my period anymore because I had sugery done on my insides and I don't have to go thought the pains of cramps anymore I always have hot flashes and always have a choc to so I know what u r going thought? so if u want to write back to me I will give u my e-mail? the next time I talk to u online here?
Dianne, 6/14/2009 10:44:08 PM
Hi Debbie, I am a 48th years old and I started experiencing menopause symptoms around 43 years old. I have not had my period since. I am alway cold even at night, once in a while I get the hotflash. However I noticed that I cry more than usual. Take care for now sending my blessing.
Mary, 6/15/2009 6:53:23 PM
I am 50 years old and I am still having my monthly cycle. I have hot flashes and night sweats like crazy. My Dr. gave me this blood test and she said that I was NOT prememopausal....... go figure. Sometimes my cyle are very heavy or I have really bad cramps. When will this end? Please, give some advise.
Connie,, 6/15/2009 8:40:51 PM
Hi Jodi, I am somewhat going through similar changes like yourself. I am 41 years old and I have the worst period cycle for 10+ years and I am tired and frustrated of dealing with purchasing both tampons & pads each and every month but last month I had two cycles? I was extremely shock because it has never happen in the past! I would like to know a little more about the procedure you had for your period and what was the exact results Pos & Neg?
Cheryl, 6/16/2009 1:06:14 AM
Hello Mary, I am learning that all tests have a magic number value that makes whatever the doctor is testing for "so". Remember everyone is different and in saying that not everyone's magic number is going to be the same. That magic number is an average. Not to scare you but when our hormones change even our thyroids can function differently. I am not an expert but I believe that you are perimenopausal. It will end when your body is finished, we can't speed it up (wouldn't that be nice). Carrying a small battery operated personal fan in your purse might be helpful for the hot flashes when you are away from home. Trying to focus on something other than the hot flash helps a little too. I think the thing that bothers me the most is the not knowing what is perimenopausal and what is from something else. Fear is the unknown I once read. Become informed, search the internet or go to your library, bookstore or thriftshop and get a hold of info on perimenopause and menopause. Use the info that makes sense to you and file away the rest. It helps me knowing that there are others out there like me because my family members had surgery, so they never got to experience this roller coaster ride that I've been on. Hang in there, I know this much, it won't last forever.
Robyn, 6/16/2009 3:14:02 PM
Thank-you Kotex newsletter!!!!!!! It has made me feel better to know women's experiences with Perimenopause and Menopause. At 45yrs, for 6 mos. I had day and night Hot flashes and zero periods. Had my period for 2 mos. At 46yrs Went 3 mos. without period and now I have it Heavy with Extreme cramps!! St. Johns Wort,Evening Primrose , Omega 3, New Phase supplements helped. Moody depressed PMS and a dimished sex drive and dryness. I Hate the Hot flashes. ThankGod my fiancee loves me and has bought me Menopause supplements for Hot flashes. What about all the weight gain??!!!! I wish I was a Man--when is it going to be when Men get their periods???!!! My prayers are with you all that we survive this.
Anna from Montreal, 6/30/2009 1:57:10 PM
So Cheryl - are you saying that if my gyno has me take a blood test to see if I am perimenopause (which I believe I am with what I'm reading and heading into my 3rd week of period - usually I'm 3-4 days) - it may or may not reveal that I am starting? I think I'll take your approach as to just going with the flow (no pun intended) - and whatever he decides to do (I think it's called a FHS blood test - from what I've read in other areas here at Kotex). I'm all new to this - and hoping my mate can continue to realise when I'm down - I'm down - and try not to get him upset (I really want to go sailing this w/e - but just don't have the energy). To add to my being perhaps perimenopause - is I'm also a diabetic (insulin depedent on a pump) - so hormonal issues are not new to me. Only good thing with this perimenopause - my waistline has increased - but makes for better options for me in placing my infusion sets which I have to change every 3 days in order to stay alive and kicking. Have to look at what we're all going thru' with abit of humour - otherwise we're going to shrivel up into a raisin!
Ellen from Florida, 7/28/2009 7:02:47 PM
Has anyone experienced an unusual sensation in the feet and hands just before a hot flash kick in. This is one way that I know when I am going to get one. I am a type 2 diabetic.
Karen, 8/15/2009 8:44:31 PM
I have just turned 50 and I am still experiencing my monthly cycle though at the moment it is somewhat erratic. Sometimes very heavy and sometimes light, my doctor says that this is ok for a woman my age, oh yeah! Any thoughts?
Rebecca, 8/18/2009 2:04:50 PM
I'm 44 and when I told my doctor that I was having hot flashes during the night she said there was noway that I was too young(was 39 at that point). Well I'm still having them. Always having to make sure I have pads with me at all times
Vivian, 8/19/2009 2:22:33 PM
Hi everyone well I just turn 51. I'm going through the same thing the hot flashes at night time. Premsum PMS over the counter has helped me alot.

I was on the pills because I had fibroides. I stoped taking the pills in June and I did not get a period for the month of July. We are in Aug lets see if it went away.

I do cry more now than ever for any little thing. Does anyone know if your period could leave just like that, cold turkey. Please if you know or have exprence please let me know.

Thanks
Ann, 8/21/2009 10:06:47 AM
Hi Everyone,

I am 52 yrs old going through the hot flashes very bad could not sleep at night because I am up all night sweating. If there is anyone out there using something over the counter that has helped them with the hot flashes pleasssssse let me know. I even get the hot flahses during the day at work. Help!!!!
connie, 9/3/2009 3:44:49 AM
I am 54 years old, i started menop when i was 39.the hot flashes was really bad. sweating all over the place.hot one minute,cold the next. mood swings didn't wana be around anyone. heavy bleeding one month,no P. the next. as of now, I haven't had one in 7 months. i hope it's over with. i hope i never have to do it again..
christine, 10/3/2009 8:39:23 AM
I had pre-surgical menopause. I had a hysterectomy in 1979. I thought that it would never get better, but it has finally tapered off a great deal. There were times when I thought I was going to loose my mind when a hot flash hit me. During the winters I didn't know whether to dress for the cold or the hot flashes. And it has been going on for over 10 years. But right now it's better but I still have some symptoms. So all I can say is hang in there it will get better.
Valorie, 10/10/2009 10:36:03 AM
I am 47 years old amd I have very small fibroids. The Dr. says if they don't bother me I can let menopause shrink them. When my peoids come I have to take Ibuprophen 800 for three days every six hours. My cramps are sooo bad! Two weeks later I have more cramps not so bad though. A few days before my period ,my breasts are tender and I'm extremely moody, among other things. Oh. I hav ehot flashes too but not consistantly yet.
MICHELLE, 10/13/2009 8:11:10 PM
I BE SO HOT SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE IM IN AN OVEN. IT IS SO EMBARRASSING. WHEN IM AT CHURCH I HAVE TO GET UP AND WALK OUT SOMETIMES. IVE HAD BLOOD TEST TOO AND DR SAYS EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. SOMETIMES IN THE SUMMER I WOULD CARRY AN ICEPACK AND PLACE IT ON MY BACK. IT HELPED ME OUT BUNCHES UNTIL I CAN GET COOLED OFF.
Meissa, 11/1/2009 8:18:04 PM
Hi, been on the pill since the birth of my daughter 13yrs ago and just turned 40. Notice my moods are changing to the point that I pray the people I am around won't hate me. I have two good weeks a month then become taken over by the ugly hormone fairy for the next week and then not too bad the week of the montly. My mother had two surgeries to fix all of her problems and never went thru menopause. My aunts are less than 10yrs older than me on my mom's side, so I am left with no clue about the time I will start having changes. Hope my migarine headaches leave when it does. Notice alot of them are brought on with the changes each month before it shows up. Any one have advice on the migarine area and this issue?
Gail, 1/13/2010 8:50:52 PM
I used to have migranes every month. I found that I had to make sure I drank lots of water to stay extra hydrated throughout my week. I still get them usually only the day before. I have found drinking a can of Coke to be my only relief.

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