By Shannon Koehle
EmpowHer's Health Reporter

Menopause can be a stressful, irritable time in one’s life. Suffering from hot flashes, mood swings, decreased libido, low energy and more, some women’s symptoms are simply unbearable.

While there are medical treatments available to relieve symptoms, the International Hormone Society, made up of a collection of doctors worldwide, holds that bio-identical hormones may be safer than synthetic ones.

im average size but a little top heavy from breasts

As I try to write this I am Flashing. I had a Hysterectomy 2 and 1/2 years ago. I am 55 years old. Ever since the surgery I have massive mood swings,hot flashes and night sweats. I can't sleep without a sleeping pill and now I add a muscle relaxer because of my resistance to the sleeping pills. I take Estratest but does not seem to help much. I have been on anti-depressants for 20 years my dosage had to be increased since the surgery. I read your article in the newpaper today and copied it at work.

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Resources

“Getting a Good Night’s Sleep is The Biggest Problem for Women Entering Menopause,” Physorg.com, 2008

“Tips for Night Sweats, Hot Flashes, Chills?” breastcancer.org website article

Night Sweats Resource

Natural Remedies Ineffective to Ease Menopausal Symptoms: Study,” Bio-Medicine, 2006

Night Sweats Resources

“Night Sweats—The Basics,” About.com article, 2006

“Night Sweats—Or Hyperhydrosis?” About.com article, 2003

Although this is not a life threatening disease, hot flashes have invaded my bed, my bathroom, my car, my dinner, MY LIFE and I don't want to share my space with them any more. After my lumpectomy I was told by my surgeon, my Gynecologist that I should NOT use any kind of hormonal therapies, even homeopathic cream like yam cream because it masks estrogen producing hormones and that would be bad for me. So do bug sprays, and the contents that the exterminator uses in the house for bugs. So do chemicals used in the making of cabinets in my kitchen... What can I do?

My friend Debbie, emailed me today and asked the above question. Has anyone heard about this alternative treatment? If so, does it work?
I'll do my own research and let everyone know what I find out.

Be well,

Michelle

Thankfully, my days of hot flashes and evenings of night sweats are a thing of the past.

For me, what finally worked was to get on the correct medications. Once my hormones were back in balance, these unpleasant (to put it mildly!) symptoms went away.

Have you ever heard the expression “men sweat, but women glow?”

Obviously, whoever coined that phrase wasn’t a woman dealing with menopause and night sweats.

Looking back, my night sweats were clearly part of my going through perimenopause in my early 40s. But at the time, neither my physician nor I were making that connection. He believed that it was a side effect of the medications I was taking for irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS.