Why do I get hot flashes as soon as I get horizontal ?

I don't know the answer, but I had to write anyway.  My most predictable hot flash comes about 30 seconds after I've climbed into bed and nestled myself into a comfortable position.  It's also the "biggest" flash.  What is it about lying horizontally, anyway?

otter 

Hi All,

I get the hot flashes when I lie flat too!  I talked to my doc- who said that at night time- estrogen levels drop very low...and that that is why you get them more at night.

Mary

The horizontal position sets them off for me too. And it's not just at night. Whenever I've had an ECG, I lie down on the couch, have the sticky pads stuck on me, and then go into a hot flush, so they can't get any readings on the ECG as the pads aren't making good contact because of the sweat. After a couple of minutes the flush subsides, and they start getting readings. One time, the nurse asked me to stop having a flush so she could get on with the test. Yeh, right......

Wow - I'm so glad I'm not the only one. It's so weird - I get into bed and 30 seconds later - wham!  A hot flash. I haven't been able to figure out a rhyme or reason or pattern - using or not using alcohol that night, suing or not soaking in the hot tub that night, exercising nor not exercising that day, having spicy food for dinner or not - none of those things seem to matter.  

I like your Master's Thesis idea, Otter!   

I

OMG....I have the same problem!  Really no hot flashes during the day, but as soon as I hit the bed...watch out!  Glad I'm not the only one! 

Sigh, I feel so much better.  I thought I  was losing my mind!  I just completed my first year on Arimidex.  Natsfan, I do exactly the same thing you do--doesn't matter if I just went to the bathroom, I fall asleep, and you can bet within less than an hour, I am flashing and have to get up.  I had started to think the flashes when I lay down were just coincidental, or that I was just imagining it, now I know I am not losing my mind.  Same goes for the memory loss.  Anyone here having problems with that since starting Arimidex?

I bought a Chillow a while back, and it seemed to help for a couple of weeks, then the cat jumped on it and punctured it. Water leaked out and none of the repairs I tried were successful. Cats and Chillows don't mix!

I had a total hyster/ooph last June and I have terrible hot flashes every night. I also had them while going through chemo and after. My onc suggested that some type, I can't remember which one, of anti-depressants work on hot flashes. I'm not sure if I want to take another drug just to get rid of the flashes, but I am exhausted from the blanket flinging I do every night...

Linda

 From an anatomy and physiology class I took I do remember that the hypothalamus of the endrocrine system is supplied with estrogen to work properly. Estrogen gone, whacky hot flashes. I notice I am usually cold. And very very cold right before a hot flash. Then it starts, the heat, a response to my cold body, even though it is sporadic, my body is trying to compensate for me being cold.

When I lay down my blood vessels fill with blood and I get hot. Maybe because of my vascular system is also off due to loss of estrogen and my body thinks I fainted and rushes blood to my head. That is a big fat guess. I don't know. Before menopause by body regulated everything so nicely. Below I found some info. But really no answer. Good to know things though. mg 

Hormonal Causes for hot flashes.

The most common cause of hot flashes in menopausal women is changing levels of estrogen in the body. Diminished amounts of estrogen have a direct effect on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for controlling appetite, sex hormones, sleep, and body temperature.

The most common cause of hot flashes in menopausal women is changing levels of estrogen in the body. Diminished amounts of estrogen have a direct effect on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for controlloing appetite, sex hormones, sleep, and obdy temperature.

Stage one is the estrogen withdrawal.
Stage two is decreasing circulating endorphin and cathecol -estrogens.
Hypothalamus increased serotonin, norepinephrine release and lowering of thermoregulartory set point.
Stage four  is the heat loss mechanisms triggered by subtle changes in body temperture which trigger the hot flashes.

Lowered levels of estrogen confuse the hypothalamus, causing it to inappropriately sense that the body is overheating. This provokes an internal chain of reactions that women experience as "hot flashes".

http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/hot-flashes.htm
 

I just starting taking Arimidex and within two days my short term memory seemed to be fried.  I was even afraid to drive because my concentration was not there.

I am SOOOO happy to hear other women suffer "bed time flash"!!! I can almost time it! Asked my onc he said flashes are worsened by stress, there is NO stress in my bed!! But I also get them while trying to nap in my recliner....And if one more man says dress in layers and carry a fan.....

I'm on effexor and it does seem to help But will they ever go away??? I'm on Aromasin for another 2 1/2 years and post menopausal. But I'm a two time BC survivor so I feel the aromasin is needed.

I too have more hot flashes at night that any other time.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer that was estrogen and progestone receptor positive.  I am 52 I was still using birth control pills so my doctor told me I had to stop immediately because of the type cancer.  I had my surgery about a week and 1/2 later and immediately after the surgery the hot flashes at night and night sweats began with a vengence,abt every 90 mins all night long.  My doctor put me on Zoloft and at night has me take Xanex to help sleep, I don't wake up as often now only about 3-4 times at night instead of all night long and I am able to get back to sleep a lot quicker now but I still have no energy and cannot focus well on any task.  Dr now has added Wellbutrin in the morning to see if it will give me more energy.   I have never had any health problems until this and it is miserable, I have always been very detail oriented and able to come up with solutions fast, now I cannot focus and every little activity wears me out.  I too sympathize with everyone going thru this it is devasting to our mental and physical well being...

Hi I'm sorry you are all experiencing the same thing I am but it's nice to know that I'm not crazy.  I had BC when I was 46 (4 years ago) first surgey, then radiation, then chemo.  Starting immediately after the first chemo treatment came the hot flashes.  Horrible, horrible, horrible.  I've tried the anti-depressants, try to stay away from all the things that are supposed to contribute to hot flashes but NOTHING WORKS.  I haven't slept for more than 3 hours in a row (and that is rare) in 4 years.  I want to sleep again, I think my concentration level and memory are not very good right now but I blame that on lack of sleep.  Unless you go thru these or live and sleep with someone who does - NO ONE can understand how disruptive flashes are to your life - try explaining to a male boss that you are exhausted to the point of collapse because of hot flashes - they can't get you out of their office fast enough LOL!  I am supposed to be taking femara but I don't do that very often because I can't imagine how bad my life would be if the flashes got worse.  I'm sitting here sweating like a pig while I am typing this.  It is 97 degrees today and my husband doesn't think we need the AC - I am dying!!    I also take Neurontn at night and it is the only thing that has allowed me to get some sleep.  I tried some over the counter hormone aid that fakes hormones and slept well - but my breast surgeon had a fit saying my body doesn't know the difference between real and fake hormones - so there went those.  I tried black cohosh but that didnt help either.  Neurontin, fans everywhere, handheld fans also, and understanding are the best I have found so far.  I hope at some point in my life they go away!