Where did those hot flashes come from??

AnneW

Where did those hot flashes come from??

AnneW

I've been on a pretty intense training regime over the past month, as well as a major diet shake up. I've strictly limited my alcohol and sugars (not nearly as dreadful as I was sure it would be!) and am doing at least an hour of cardio 5 days a week, with strength twice a week (once each week under the watchful, motivating eye of my trainer.)

So, here's what I'm noticing. Instead of one mild hot flash around two a.m. (my usual for the past few years), I am having three more intense ones during the day--usually right after working out--and a couple milder ones at night.

My ovaries are gone. I'm on Aromasin.

I imagine I'm losing body fat, though the scale only shows a three pound weight loss. Could it be that with this fat burning, my last little bit of estrogen stores are going away, or that I'm just relearning how to cool off?

I can't imagine that there's any estrogen left in this body, but I haven't gotten any levels done to confirm it.

Anyone else have an increase in hot flashes when getting more exercise and eating better?

Anne

roseg

I think it sounds like your new routine is working!

It's really hard for women to gain muscle, congratulate yourself. 

bomber410

Anne, regarding your hot flash question, I haven't noticed.  I'll keep a watch and let you know. 

<wink,wink>  I'm thinking it's the lack of wine and chocolate that's doing it to you.  :-)

Debbie 

TenderIsOurMight

Anne, I've written before on this site about my observations that with dropping just a few pounds of fat (typically abdominal fat for me), I have noticed a direct upswing in hot flashes.



I had one post where I suggested abdominoliposuction as a possible means to reduce circulating residual estrogen and possibly alter insulin factor (a growth factor) all with the goal to decrease recurrence risk in ER+ women on hormonals. These recurrences are most feared, and regrettably the most common cause of death from breast cancer due to the prevalence of ER+ breast cancer state.



So, I'm in your park. While we think the AI's lower our estrogen, it's clear to me our belly fat counteracts that effect, and when the two are lowered in tandem, we note hot flashes, often absent or minimal otherwise.



So keep on exercising, and let us know how you do with the frequency of the flashes.



Good observation,

Tender

AnneW

Tender, that's really interesting. And it makes sense. And it's such a quandry!

I didn't have belly fat till I had my oopherectomy and was forced into menopause. I'm more of a pear than an apple, but I headed toward "pearple" (Papple?) status.

I would volunteer for a little lipo, to reduce my risk. Seriously, it makes sense. I'll have to ask my oncologist about this next time I see him.

Anne

TenderIsOurMight

Ha! Pearple status. Got to love that Anne.



Your oncologist may laugh harder at the theoretical suggestion behind the liposuction than he might at your neologism though. That's my suspicion of his response.



Appear's so to me!



Tender