I have no idea what I should do.

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CidneyI
CidneyI Member Posts: 79
edited November 2019 in Share Your Experiences Of Life After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis

First, I have to say, I got to ring the 5 year bell with my breast cancer doctor this past May 2019. I'm done with the meds and I have no idea what to do now.

I was on anti-estrogen meds and I am now going through menopause naturally. I have ALL the typical menopause issues and some of it is pretty bothersome, especially not being able to sleep, the mood shift just before I go up in flames with a hot flash, etc... I know I am not allowed to do anything to increase my estrogen levels to help with meno problems, so what do I do? Is this my NEW normal? I really hate the mood shift I think most of all, I feel crazy at times, some times extreme anger, other times, I couldn't care less about myself. I hate the way I feel.


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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited November 2019

    I've heard that sipping ice water helps your inner thermostat.

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  • edj3
    edj3 Member Posts: 2,076
    edited November 2019

    I went through menopause before the BC and for me, the insomnia was hands down the worst. Others on this board have shared that magnesium glycinate helps with that if you take it at night. So even though I'm done w/ menopause, I've started taking that. It can't hurt, and might help with better sleep (which I would think might also help with the moods--sleep deprivation is a real thing).

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  • mightlybird01
    mightlybird01 Member Posts: 217
    edited November 2019

    This is very annectodal, but I have been in peri-menopause before BC and also had trouble sleeping. I sleep so much better now where I eat 2-3 Brazil nuts a day. Maybe you are selenium deficient.

    https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325000.php#excessive-consumption


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  • thisiknow
    thisiknow Member Posts: 134
    edited November 2019

    Alice... funny you should mention sipping ice water today when I was just reading up on how much water I should drink every day. Something there suggested to me that if we're dehydrated we could be prone to more hot flashes. So I'm doing a short experiment and keeping well-hydrated for a few days to see what happens. These hot flashes are just suffocating and I'm sure glad they're pretty short-lived

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  • CidneyI
    CidneyI Member Posts: 79
    edited November 2019

    I do agree drinking cold or ice water does help some with hot flashes, I keep water at hand all times, even at night on my nighstand. I hate how the hot flashes wake me up at night, a lot of times its every hour. I take a sleep aide sometimes and that will allow me to sleep for about 3 hours and after that, I am awake every hour on the hour with very little sleep time. That is one main issue I have.

    The other that is pretty bothersome Is the mood shift I just before the flash. I have been on anit-depressants, hate the way I DONT feel any emotions when taking that stuff.

    OH -my husband is going to have to suffer a little with me this winter, no way in hell I am going to let him turn the heater on when its cold! haha.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited November 2019

    Hi All,

    There may be a few helpful tips here to Manage hot flashes

    Thinking of you,

    The Mods

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  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited November 2019

    The chemo put me in menopause and it’s horrible. I am up every two hours at night - this has been happening for almost 2 years. I’ve tried many things, but nothing works. I had a cold last winter and took NyQuil- sweet relief! Slept through the night. Then I tried zquil- nope.

    The worst for me is right before my hot flashes during the day I get nauseous.

    My other great menopause SE is extremely dry skin.

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  • SimoneRC
    SimoneRC Member Posts: 419
    edited November 2019

    I know some doctors recommend Effexor for hot flashes. I filled the Rx just in case but never took it so I do not have first hand experience aside from the medical recommendation. I hope you find some helpful tools!


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