Still have major hotflashes after 4.5 years since chemo-HELP

Lissee

Hi,  I need help to finally get rid off hourly hotflashes and severe night sweats, without pharmacutal meds.  I have tried so many things, and  have found only a limited amount of relief.  I just turned 50, and took tamoxfin and now on letrozole.  I live in so. cal, and summer is coming (anticipated to be one of the hottest summers in 20 years) So, I need really good advise before I hurt someone :-)  

juneping

can you ask your MO if he she can help? 

I am taking some herbs which helps a lot. I only feel warm from time to time. But I have many vivid dreams which herbs didn't help. 

Lissee

juneping, yes unfortunately everything we tried did not work, or only reduced the hotflashes intensity by a little.  

Not sure what type of herbs you are referring to.  

Thanks'

juneping

I drink the herbs prescribed by dr Wong who you can read in alternative threads

Raisa

I am with you there for hot flashes, major severe flashes. I have been surgically menopausal since 2008, but then after breast cancer treatments and being on Aromataze, estrogen receptor blocker,  for last 1 and a half years now, it is still measirible.. I started on Lyrica for pains, mostly neuropathy in my feet. That helps slightly with hot flashes as well, just slightly. Everytime I talk about herbal or other non-traditional medicine to battle hot flashes, all gets to adding estrogen to your body, which with estrogen positive breast cancer is big NO-NO...

Raisa

Also anti-depressants help as well, but I am personaly against them, never will take. Meditate, yoga, acupuncture?

ziggypop

Hi Lissee, I tried Black Cohash - my onc told me to get Remifemerin which is a brand from Germany (regulated there so you know you are actually getting the real thing). That did help some, but eventually I went with effexor which works way better & has no SEs that I have noticed. Unfortunately, there just isn't always a remedy of any sort available & if you limit yourself to only herbal remedies the chances of finding something that works just become that much smaller. 

Lissee

Hi,  I did use Effexor for almost one year, and really found very little relief. (BTW, the withdrawls after stopping were horrible)  Contrary to what the manufacture tells you, that drug is addictive.   http://www.addictionhope.com/effexor I will ask my onc about Remifenerin. 

Thank you.  

macb

Hi I am on tamoxifen and take Remifemin which is Black Cohosh. I take 1 tablet twice per day and if i stop taking it[ran out while on vacation] I get hot flashes again. I was also for a time taking Unique E a vitamin E supplement. That also helped in the beginning on the tamoxifen.  I  had stopped taking it because I had several recon surgeries and was told to stop it for the time being. I think I will go back to it when I am done with all the surg.

lemon68

I also take Remifemin, recommended by oncologist. I ran out and didn't take for 4 days, that's when I knew it definitely worked! I also bought a Chillow, online. I keep it next to me at night, just putting my arm on it seems to cool off my body. It was recommended by the women on Hyster sisters so I thought I would try it, they are inexpensive. I have used it for months and it still looks new.

Best of luck, I know how rough it can be.

QueenSansaStark

There's light at the end of the tunnel - IME the hot flashes won't last forever, even though it seems like it!

I take a really GOOD multi as well as fish oil - Garden of Life brand; the vitamins are for 50+ women. (If you are not menstruating you do NOT need the additional iron that vitamins for younger women have, unless your doc tells you to take iron.)

Giving up spicy food helped me a lot. I missed my curry and Thai food - but eating anything heavily spiced made me hot-flash enough to power a whole small city. Now I do not have hot flashes anymore so back to yummy curry!

Lissee

Update:  I began acupuncture three weeks ago. Happy to report I have found success in a noticeable reduction in frequency and severity.  My acupuncturist is an amazing Chinese man with over 40 years of experience.  He also recommend two things that I began two weeks ago.  In the am I take one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and organic honey, mixed in filtered water.  I have also lost 5 pounds. For the first time in five years, I have slept longer than two hours at a time.    I still take a flax seed, vitamin e, calcium, magnisum and vitamin d3 supplements daily.  Iam a believer and I really enjoy the experience. Zero pain, very relaxing. 

voraciousreader

For $9.99 at Walmart, I purchased a FROGG Togg Chill Towel and it keeps me cool, all day long!  There are other brands of sport towels that you run under water and wear that are good at keeping you cool.  IMHO, the FROGG Togg brand is the BEST!  I give them as gifts to friends in dire need!  

Momine

Lissee, that is so great that you found something that is helping you. Keep on keeping on.

LtotheK

Fish oil, exercise, and limiting my coffee to 1x a day helps.  They are very weird.  Sometimes I think, wow! They are gone!  And then...they cycle, particularly with the weather. The issue for me is, when they are bad I feel downright sick.  They start in the belly, rise with a rapid pulse, and then explode in sweat.  They are more than a nuisance, they are embarrassing and painful.

Acupuncture and other naturopathic interventions just weren't helpful for me.

voraciousreader

L....I find that I need to stay ahead of the warmth.  Even if I'm wearing a sweater, I keep my FROGG TOGG wrapped around my neck.  My family laughs at me and tells me to make up my mind when I wear both!..I tell them that I'm hot and cold ...but mostly comfortable when I'm wearing it!  It's CRAZY!  Meanwhile, last week, I saw my onc and told him how I was and that the FROGG TOGG was the only thing keeping me sane.  He wanted to know more about it.  I ended up dropping by his office later that day with a new one.  He LOVED it and said he had numerous patients to recommend it to.  I give them as gifts and tell others to pay it forward!

LtotheK

I am going to try it out, Voraciousreader!

Lissee

I purchased something similar to the Frogg Togg at Lowes.  It is marketed to construction workers and individuals who work in the heat.  I agree it makes a difference, especially in California, where I live. Very very hot summers,

voraciousreader

lissee!  I'm trembling and sweating just THINKING of summer! I'm glad you are getting relief from your towel!  I wish you well and a breeze!