Calling All Menopausal Mamas

I've been taking soy for a couple years and it works great. The doctor said about 80 mg per day is dosage. You can either eat soy food or take a pill.

Good luck.

Hi K.
I take a supplement called soysentials that eliminated my PMS and menopausal symptoms.
It is just a food supplement so it is safe effective and affordable...and most important no drugs or side effects.
Happy to share it with you.
J. H

I know you've already gotten a lot of advice, including several supplement suggestions.
One that I didn't see mentioned is Shaklee supplements. They have a menopause balancing complex that has the black cohosh that someone else mentioned.
However, they also have a menopause cooling cream that is FANTASTIC. I used it when I had hot flashes from Clomid, and it worked like a champ. I highly, highly recommend it.

www.shaklee.net/rkklemm

Oh I remember the days...and nights...personal summers I used to call it. It will go away eventually, but it sounds like it is really interrupting your sleep. :( Go to www.ahccenter.com
This is a group of chiropractors and nutritionists who solve issues the natural way. I didn't know about them when I did the menopause thing, but I have read testimonials of women who did that had success with their help. Good luck...this too shall pass!

Evening Primrose Oil for the sweats. Add B vitamins, Flax Seed Oil and soy (food sources only. They don't know how large amounts of soy affect you in the long run so I've heard avoid pill form) There are some good web sites out there. Avoid hormones from the MD!

Hi! Sorry I didn't see your question when you originally posted it. I am a nurse, and have refused the traditional hormone replacement therapy. I have seen too much damage done with hormones. Please remember, that this is a natural phase that our bodies go through. Don't try to change it, just help it adjust more gently! You might be Peri-menopausal instead of menopausal. I was misdiagnosed and was told through blood tests that I was POST menopausal!!! No such luck...that was too easy and too fast! There is an herbal formula called HOT FLASH that has worked well for so many people that I know. You can get it at Whole Foods, and New Life Health. (New Life is cheaper I think). It took a few weeks, but, let me tell you, it helped me!! When I miss a day, I can tell the difference. After the first 3 months on it, come off for a week or two and see if you still need it. I did, but, I went back on it, cuz I NEEDED IT!!! They say it's worth a try. I called the company and they said that your body does need a rest from the HOT FLASH product. They suggested not taking it on weekends or on one month off 1 week, to give the body it's own chance to stabalize, so that's what I do, but do notice a differnce on the weekends with out it. Try not to take hormones if you can help it. Do get a blood test, but, the test is only good for the moment you take it. Our hormones fluctuate so much that you can repeat the test 4 times and get four different results. I carry a small pocket fan in my purse and car. It helps tremendously!! Also, I layer my clothing. I can't seem to stand long sleeves now, even in winter. So, I layer and just take off what I need to, to cool down, and then start piling it on when the cold flash come on!! LOL Good luck, and enjoy the change instead of fighting it. It's our metamorphosis into our golden years where we don't have to worry about pregnancy, periods, etc. GL

Hi K. - I am 42 and while I haven't experienced all this yet, I have some friends who have! I own a small clothing store and one of the lines we carry is a sleepwear line called Wild Bleu. It really helps with nightsweats by pulling the moisture into the fabric and then drying quickly so you sleep much better (and dryer)! My friends and other customers swear by it and it sells very well to everyone even if they don't suffer from nightsweats because it is cute and comfortable. You can look it up online under Wild Bleu - and check it out. The company was first started by a gal who was a runner and she took the same idea from running clothes into sleepwear. There are other companies out there that have this type of fabric wicking also, but Wild Bleu is the best that I have experienced. Good luck
P.
Maggie Anne's
downtown Hillsdale

There are special moisture-wicking pajamas/sleepwear you can buy - check out cool-jams.com - it should help get you through the night while you try out some of the other suggestions. Good luck.

Been there! Done that! I was able to control the problem taking a dietary supplement called Feminene. It is a wonderful product containing a blend of natural ingredients that include vitamins and herbs. If you would like to see the label, send me your e-mail address and I can link you to it.

You will get thru this and I can help!

S.
____@____.com

Something that hasn't been mentioned is acupuncture. I'm 48 and thought I was just about in menopause because I had night sweats and some missed periods and then some extra heavy ones. The acupuncture doctor evened my periods out and stopped the night sweats. Other symptoms improved, too. My periods became a "non-event." I was encouraged to make other healthy changes (less sugar, better food choices, consistent exercise) and to deal with underlying emotional issues. All of this has made a huge positive change for me. I had to make a commitment to myself, which was big but worth it. My doctor wanted to put me on synthetic hormones, which did not feel right to me (gave me headaches and made me feel strange). Menopause is a natural process and I wanted to be able to support my body in a natural way. I wish you the best as you choose the path you wish to travel.

Whole Foods has a bunch of supplements, vitamins, for helping the symptoms of menopause. They are sectioned under women's health, and labeled so you will know it is for menopauseal symtoms. I suggest trying this before going to more extreme measures, such as hormone therapy. although it is possible, lots of other hormonal changes can happen besides menopause, have you considered checking with your gyn, to make sure you don't have an ovarian cyst, or anything else that could affect your hormones? Usually, but everyone is different, the sweats are not the first symptom, irregular or less frequent periods are. It could be peri-menopause, which can take who knows how long, so you should try something to help with the symptoms.

Hi K.,
Glad to see you have gotten so many responses with options for relief from peri-menopausal symptoms. Here is another option to add to your arsenal: PhytoEstrin from Usana Health Sciences combines Soy Isoflavones (for women's health) with 4 Asian herbs known to be beneficial for multiple female symptoms (Asian women are known to have less stressful menopause) -- black cohosh, dong quai, licorice root, and chasteberry powder. I have a file full of testimonials from women who have found great relief from hot flashes, night sweats, etc. And quickly.
If interested, you can contact me through www.reneisense.usana.com for general info and preferred pricing. This page has product info: http://tinyurl.com/8mjq23 (then choose US, Optimizers, PhytoEstrin)

K.,

I have heard that eating large amounts of soy can alleviate menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, mood swings) because it contains alot of plant based estrogen. You may want to research it a bit more online? Thought I would mention it.

Check out this website. http://www.naturapause.com/

Hello K.,

More and more women are experiencing these symptoms much younger due to the hormones in our food. Instead of guessing you can get a hormone blood test at www.myhealtheresults.com and it comes with a report that gives you the lab results, the results in a graph and educational information about each test. Then you are in control and can decide what type of treatment (supplements, bio-identical, etc.)or doctor you want to pursue. You can even re-test as often as you want to see if the treatment you selected is effective. You can use your Health Savings Account on the site as well.

Just an option. All the best to you.

hi. i'm 53 and thought i was finished with menopause at 50...WRONG! i have had a once a year reminder that i'm still not finished completely! but the sweats and flushes have been helped somewhat with soy products... i eat some form of soy every day for the past 2 years...soy milk, dried soybean snacks, tofu, etc. i found that black cohosh (tea or supplements) and lots of vitamin B really helps. the company TruNature has a convenient combo product - "Menopause Complex" softgels that are a combo of Black Cohosh, Soy, B Vitamins and Green Tea so it's simple...and they seem to work for me... good luck. It's not fun but being a mom/woman was NEVER for the faint of heart!

Hi K., I am 39 and I believe that I am going through perimenopause. I read the list of symptoms and that could happen and I have about 3/4 of them. I checked with my doctor and both my ob and my md said we will do ablation and put you on antidepressants. I was frustrated, I absolutely refused, and I talked them into doing testing, he did the blood test and ultrasound, and discovered fibroids, ovarian cists, and thickened endometrium. Blood test showed normal hormone levels. However, I have read that most women who show symptoms early will also show normal levels unless they are tested weekly for 6-8 weeks. I was put on 6 month hormone for the fibroid and low and behold a lot of the other symptoms have improved or stopped altogether, including the severe mood swings and night sweats.

I know this is a long response, but my point is... if you think that you are going through this, push the issue! If I hadn't I would never have discovered the other issues, all of which can also affect you hormones!

I am taking natural steps to help also. I have read that you need to improve your overall health. Take vitamins, exercise, eat more veggies and less "white" foods (like pasta, bread, and starches). I started most of this after starting the provera, so I know that the hormones are helping. I will be talking to my doctor about birth control pills or other hormones, and ablation. I refuse to spend the next 10 yrs suffering and puting my family through this. My mother did it without drugs, and I have to say that the entire family suffered for it.

K.,

Please do not start birth control pills. What you are going through is perimenopause, which lasts for 2 to 15 years,typically around 5 to 10, and is normal. To control it you need to get more than just a simple FSH blood test. You need to test for the free / unbounded hormones, not the bound ones. A saliva test is very useful as well. Then you look at bioidentical hormonal replacements. Two books that really started me on a good path were:

Womens Bodies, Womens Wisdom by Dr. Christiane Northrup
The Sexy Years, by Suzanne Sommers

Very informative and perfect for beginning this new chapter.

About your son, please check out www.tacanow.org This is a support group for families of the autism spectrum by families who have been through it already. Does not hurt to have more information. You have ceased all vaccinations as well I hope and pray.

I just saw this post when your reply went out. I would absolutely urge you to try the best supplement out there, Reliv International. Someone else already suggested it so definitely go thru her - I don't know her at all but I am here to echo her experience and advice. There is nothing out there that can touch Reliv for reliability, value, science or support from others. My family has had life-changing results on Reliv and I hope you will try it! Good luck! There is relief out there!

Hi, I have yet to experience menapause but believe I'm in pre-menapause. I recently read a book that I found to be very informative called "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pre-Menapause" by Dr. Lee. There is also one regarding Menapause. I highly recommend it!

Have your doctor do an FSH test. But remember this test needs to be done on the second or third day of your cycle.

If you are adverse to taking hormones, you can control the night sweats with a low dose of Lexapro.

I always try to catch questions like yours but somehow must've missed it! I hope you have found something that has helped you. You were certainly given a lot of good advice. Hormonal imbalance happens to be a new passion of mine since I too am "in the throws" of peri-menopause! I personally swear by Arbonne's Prolief metered progesterone creme, as does my OB/Gyn! I am a clinical scientist and have an above average understanding of the body and how it is affected by hormones (or lack of) but it wasn't until I started asking questions, reading books (Dr. Lee's are great)that I realized how far ahead of the curve Arbonne's Prolief creme is. I am now an Arbonne consultant so I can get this amazing product in the hands of as many HOT women as possible! There is a right way and wrong way, a right time and wrong time to use progesterone creme. Feel free to email me back if you'd like more specific info on dosing. Take care...C.!

I started peri-menopause when I was 39, a yr after my daughter was born. After dr ran FSH levels she was surprised I even got preggers! Since I haven't yet made it a whole yr without a period, dr said I'm not totally menopausal. I haven't had as much problem with night sweats, more daytime for me. Not the hot I'm going to burn up reaction, just a constant "hot" feeling with tons of sweat. I am now taking Reliv products. I'm having great results with the Classic, Innergize, and Fibrestore. If you are needing to lose weight, the Simplicity is currently on sale for Jan.
Good luck. I'll be curious to see what works best for you with all the advise and ideas you have received so far.

Hi K., I have not personaly gone this this, yet, but I have talked to women who have. And they are taking Melaleucas EstrAval-it helps maintain hormone balance, including during memopause. There are women that have reported that their hot flashes have decreased as much as 95%. Just wanted to share that with you.

I've been lucky enough to have hot flashes for about 5 years with no end in sight. I've tried all the products mentioned as well and hormones, and they gave me minimal relief. I did find the BEST clothes that I can wear at work. They are wicking clothing by ex-officio (on-line). When I do have a hot flash, the clothes (underwear too) wick the perspiration away and keeps me much more comfortable. Good luck!

If you still have issues after a while, I'd recommend finding a Naturopathic Physician. Back in the day menopause lasted maybe 6 months; now it lasts years for some women. You can find one from this website. Good luck!
www.naturopathic.org/

K.,

Somehow, I missed this request when you originally made it. Hopefully, you have found something that has worked for you, but just in case, I want to tell you about a natural juice that helped me. It is a mangosteen juice. It is all natural and very effective. I have used it for 3 years or more and would not be without it!! You can go to my website and look under products at www.choose2bwell.com or you may give me a call at ###-###-#### and I would love to tell you more about it. Best wishes in your search for help. ~J.

K.,

I read many great suggestions from everyone.... here's my two cents...

first make sure you are in tune with your body what appears to be normal and what seems different... I personally do not believe in HRT or any form of manmade synthetic hormones, I agree with a previous poster our bodies cant take them and I know too many women including 3 in my family who have suffered various forms of cancer at the expense of HRT replacement.

That said, I believe in a healthy diet with lots of veggies and fruit and lean meats (chicken, fish, etc). Get on a good exercise routine even if its 30 min a day (including using the Wii) and add in a Bcomplex flaxseed oil and others that your body may need (in moderation - less is more kind of attitude).

Lastly, last year I was diagnosed with a melanoma and through the necessary blood work with that had some inconsistancies that were "normal" for me... I am not promoting nor advertising this but I started drinking "mona-vie" juice and for me that seemed to make a positive difference with me. Since I have been drinking this, I have seen a decrease in night sweats, in my mood swings in the way I sleep (more sound and longer than 5 hrs), I have noticed a difference in my skin, hair and nails as well.

my point is, while everyone has great suggestions, you must decide what is best for you based on how you feel, and again how intune with your own body you are. That in my opinion is the key to finding what works.

Feel free to email me off group and I will share more of my personal experiences after having my hysterectomy 5 yrs ago and what I did to get intune with my body.

B.

Hi K.

YOGA do YOGA. I went into Menopause at @age 52 (or so I thought). Thanks to Yoga, I may have had one night sweat. Never had any hot flashes ever.

I also have recently discovered that through very intense practice, that it is possible to have your period reappear at age 62. (Fortunately, just one cycle) I have even been told that there are women who menstruate into their 70s!

Also, I would avoid soy; it's a "scavenger" plant, Evening Primrose Oil & some of the other remedies suggested might be beneficial.

All the best, S.

Before going on anything synthetic (our body does not like FAKE), please read the book called What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell you About Menopause (they have a pre-menopause and post-menapause one too)and you will have a much better understanding and appreciation for what your body is going through. Dr. Lee (the author) is a huge believer in natural progesterone cream. I'm also in preimenopause and this stuff has been a life saver. If you have a younger OB, he/she should know all about it, but if they're older they probably haven't taken the time to research and experiment with it. You can find it at most health food stores (just make sure the first ingredient isn't water as it will be very watered down). I've tried many and found a fabulous reasonably-price brand. Send me an email and I'll give you the name of it. Good luck!
S.

Hi, ladies!

Here I am perusing my emails and found a great way to start the morning. Sharing MY experience with menopause at 33. I have two girls, 5 and 2. I started with a thyroid disfunction..later diagnosed with full Hashimoto's after the birth of the 5 year old. 2008 was awful for me! It started with a missed period in late 07, MAJOR mood swings, depression, insomnia and hot flashes. Once my OB diagnosed the blood test at 85 for FSH, I was dumbfounded. I started with black cohosh and remifemin. Now I am on the Vivelle Dot (estrogen) and prometrium (natural progesterone). Going back this month to see if at this age I should have a plan to scale back on the HRT since I am so young.

You are not alone! I am reading more and more on hormones, synthetics and chemicals that we are exposed to early on that could be linked to premature ovarian failure. I never thought I would be empowered with women's health until I realized I could really do something about it!

Good luck to everyone. I am going to make it a NY resolution to start eating better and maybe (when it is affordable) shop at Whole Foods a bit more. Organics are so expensive! Oh and..take my vitamins. Guess that could have helped all these years. I've been so bad =( At least now I can think about helping my two daughters who will be child-bearing someday. (Gosh..ignorance can be a bliss, but if you educate yourself..its up to you to become empowered.)

L.

Hi K.,
Have you tried acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine? They both are excellent for menopause and menopause related symptoms.
I am an acupuncturist in San Francisco and have gotten great results with my 'menopausal' patients. Within a few treatments the symptoms are gone.

I would recommend eating root vegetables, broth soups, yams. These all will help.
If you would like to know more about what you can do, I can be reached at ###-###-#### or check out www.retreatacupuncture.com

Hope this helps.

K.,
I missed this one the first time through and just wanted to add royal jelly as another option. It is a by-product of the bee hive activity and helped me a lot. It is also awesome for your immune system. You might also check out some aromatherapy. I found some nice mixes when I was traveling in Canada. Here's a site that will give you some good suggestions. I'm sure you can find a source on line if you don't find a store near by that suits you. You could also mix your own using this site as a guide.
Hang in there!
A.

Hi K.,

I know you've probably been bombarded with suppliments to take, but I also wanted to mention Maca. It has been a big help to me. I also take evening primrose capsules and royal jelly. Acupuncture is also very helpful if your are having a really bad time. A good Acupuncturist/herbalist can also prescribe the best suppliments specifically for your needs.

All the best,
B.

A supplement called New Phase from Wal-mart has helped me. I'm 50 and started taking these a few years back, I still haven't stopped my period, but I don't get so sweaty at times while I take these. I've recommended these to some of my friends and they take them too, I know one friend used to look like she had just gotten out of the shower sometimes and she started them and I haven't noticed her looking like that since. I'll be checking out the books too, most Dr's don't say anything, I think all women must be different so there is no "normal" path to take!

Hi K. - it looks like you have alot of advice. I'm going through these changes as well. I get concerned when chemicals are suggested. Menopause is a natural change, and I get worried about what it will mean in ten years or so after taking hormones or birth control pills or even soy which is not necessarily benign. There are many schools of thought. I like the accupuncturist route - but of course usually one must pay for that directly, making it out of reach for some people. One thing that I don't think anyone mentioned is not to drink caffeine. I LOVE caffeine, but when I drink it , I feel a surge of heat going through my body and that means coffee, tea and chocolate and probably some sodas.I think psychologically sometimes its difficult to accept this new stage of life as well. I feel that myself. As long as I have my period I still feel young. I don't want to get older. Ah, there lies the rub.
Good luck to you K. with whatever your choices are. Also, I have a child with special needs which often takes extra patience which is more challenging when you have a lack of sleep, hot flashes and mood swings. We get to be on a spiritual journey as well! C.

Hi K., I did not follow the conventional use of hormones to ease the first stages of "the change". I was 49 when it happened to me. I dressed in layers, tried alternative options, included more fruits and veggies in my diet and committed myself more to regular exercise.

Since I was still working I did not apply a lot of makeup. Not to professional when you face begins to turn red and no one understands why you appear to be sweating so much. Embrace and this too shall pass.

Pat S.

Hi K. ....

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See my Mom-owned offer at: Reliv International - It's all about families
Looking forward to sharing hope and encouragement for not only you but your little son. We have the solution to a better quality of health and wellness ... and to financial options as well.
Sue

Going through it also. If you check Web MD it will tell you to increase your excercise. It works. I recently stopped my work outs because of knee pain and the sweating has really increased. I am starting back up to control my night sweats.

I second the vote for a low dose of effexor. Amazing!

For the past year, I've just used a fan on low speed.
Deb

Hi K., you may have already found a solution to your problem by now, but if not, I have many clients who use our bioidentical progresterone cream and have had incredible success. It is important to use a bioidentical product, so that your body can recognize it and break it down to elimiante what you don't need, instead of storing it in your body. It comes in a premetered pump and is inexpensive. Please contact me if you would like more information. ###-###-####.
Sincerely,
C.

Hi K.,

I was going through this hot and cold growing up. I found a great sleepsystem that really helps with this condition and also helps to get your body to get to a perfect sleep cylce. Along with women's nutritional I am now feeling better now then I did 30 years ago.

If you would like to learn more let me know.

Happy New Year.

N. Marie

Wow Kim! You've had a lot of responses. As you can see, you aren't alone :-) I've had luck with Remifemin (sold at Rite Aid) and now I see the ingredient is Black Cohosh Extract. It's worked great for me. I think the soy suggestions are good too. Try all the good natural stuff first, and be patient...it takes time to kick in. I also recommend books by Dr. Christine Northrup. She understands menopause & has great natural advice. Good luck to you!
P.S.
I used to go to a male OBGYN but wasn't crazy about him...my girlfriend asked me one day " You wouldn't take your car to a mechanic who had never owned a car, would you? So why go to a male OBGYN??" LOL!!!

I know of a product that may help you. Would you like to know more?
C.

I've been fighting the night-sweats thing for a while now. It has amazed me how soaked I can become sometimes. But I have a new twist on what my source was.

I recently was in the hospital for four days, followed by 2 weeks of home IV antibiotics. It turned out to be an abscessed fallopian tube and ovary. It was leading to weird spacing of my cycles...5 wks, 1 wk, 3 wks, 2 wks, 1 wk, 4 wks, etc. It was driving me nuts! Then I got some abdominal pain, a fever of 103, and was admitted to the hospital. I had lost my right tube and ovary to surgery 6 months earlier for an abscess as well. This time, we were successful in knocking down the infection with constant antibiotics. (My doctor was really trying to avoid taking out my other tube and ovary which would have put me head-long into menopause. He says that it can be worse if it is surgically induced.)

While I thought I was getting night sweats from menopause or perimenopause, I think my OB/GYN hit the nail on the head. He thinks I may have actually been having night fevers all along. Go figure!

Since the 4-5 week regimen of antibiotics, my "night-sweats" have virtually disappeared. It might be worth exploring to make sure all of your parts are healthy! They also found an endometrial polyp, but I don't think that was contributing to the "night-sweats".

Meanwhile, while we were sussing out the above problems, I asked my ob/gyn doctor about how to reduce the effect of hot flashes (or "power surges" as my sister-in-law likes to call them). He is in his late 30/early 40s and a very in-tune doctor. He suggested dressing in layers (daytime and with bedding), because anytime you get overheated, the worse it will be. If you can regulate yourself as you go, it will help minimize the duration. He also recommended yoga breathing. When I asked if it helped more when you're in the midst of a hot flash, he said it is useful anytime, but especially during the surge. He also recommended exercise, avoiding caffeine which can trigger hot flashes, and drinking lots of water to help mitigate the surges and to promote general health.

We also talked about soy. He said there is a lot of research for and against it these days. Other supplements, like Black Cohash, have their place but you have to be careful not to use them too long. Otherwise, you can have other problems. He gave me more specific info but, of course, I've forgotten some of it at this point. Somehow the word "proestrogenic" sticks in my mind. You need to be careful that you don't induce other problems while trying to address the hot flashes.

Anyway, best of luck with all of this. I have two close friends who had menopause very early. One was in the throes of it in her early 30s. The other dealt with it in her mid-30s. I'm 49 and not sure when it's going to hit for real. So, you just never know. But those moisture-wicking jammies sound interesting. (However, that would mean I would need to WEAR jammies...UGH!)

Again, best of luck!

Well for any moms reading this who have not yet experienced any of these symptoms i have a preventative suggestion. GREAT SEX! i have no proof, but logically it makes sense. i have not had any of the syptoms except about 8 months of very heavy periods, but then who doesn't need a day off work every month! haha.
good luck to all who are suffering. you have many many suggestions here. hopefully something will give you relief.

I'm 46 and feel like a fire goes thru my body...I'd like to know what the responses are...please share! I'm not soaking the sheets but my night shirts get wet and I am constantly throwing the covers off and on! My 52 yr old sister went on birth control for six months and never had any problems, my other sister wil be 48 and went on a low dose of effexor and it works great for her. I am unable to due either(no b.c. or effexor) Sorry, I'm not much of a help.

There are soy products at health food stores that should help. Stores that carry things for cancer patients have pj's and nities for sweating bodies, too.

Good luck!

I continued on birth control,only an increased 1/50 m. dose, and soy isoflavones from Walmart. They have done wonders for me!

Night sweats can also be caused by a kidney problem, not always menopause or premenopause. If you are only getting hot and wet at night you may want to check that just in case. Best wishes.

Kim,

You're experiences with hot flashes and night sweats sound classic menopause, after you have stopped having periods. You didn't mention if that process has happened yet. I am 51 and have gone over a year without a period and still have not experienced what you are. I know it is different for every woman and for some it's worse than others. I wouldn't even know I was in menopause except for not menstrating anymore. You should really see your doctor about it and see if there is anything they can prescribe to help with the symptoms. Like childbirth, some woman prefer to go through their change without any medications and just "sweat it out" literally. However, I believe the changes in your hormones are what causes the sweats and you may really require some kind of supplement. 43 seems young but I know of woman who have started in their 30's so age isn't really a factor. Talk to your doctor and make sure there isn't something else going on that you may be overlooking.

S.

HI, K.!
You might want to take Feminene to eliminate the hot flushes and other problems associated with menopause. My friend provides it. E-mail me back, so I can give you her phone number.
thanks,
C.

I am 44 and still going through peri-menopause. I was talking to my OB-GYN about this a couple of years ago (when it started) and he put me on birth control pills to help even out my hormones.
My advice would be to talk with your ob-gyn and see what they can do to help with the symptoms.
Also I think the other ladies had some good suggestions.
Good Luck!

I didn't want to wade through all of the messages to see if I'm repeating someone else's recommendation, so forgive me if I'm repeating information. I've been recommended to take one Benadryl at bedtime nightly. For some reason it works. See if that helps.

Don't feel bad, I'm 36 and just went though this! I got one of those sheet that go under the regular bed sheet...the kind that you would use if your kid wets the bed with the plastic on it so you don't ruin the mattress with all the sweat...yeah, gross, but when you are sweating buckets of water all nite long, it at least helps save your mattress from soaking it all up! Other than that, sleep naked and just keep washing the sheets every couple days. I have really long hair, so it helped to keep it up too so it wasn't on my neck. Also, reusable gel ice packs that go around your neck are awesome! Seems like it went on for about 6 months or so...or maybe it just felt like that long...hmmm...guess it's over with before you know it. Good thing is no more periods! I still keep thinking it is a joke and it really didn't happen to me cause I'm too young, but nope, it really did. I know it sucks, but you'll get through it.

What you are describing is pretty normal, though not fun. I don't know how you feel about taking hormones, but you should probably have your hormone level checked..just keep layering clothing and blankets...it does go away...and see about OTC hormone enhancements if you don't want the heavy stuff!! Good luck, PamG

Consider getting a chillow pillow. I have night sweats all the time, first from the change and then from some of my heart meds. My pillow used to get so wet and I had to keep buying pillows. A bath towel will work too.