Hot flush help!

Hey! The whole hot flushes thing is weird! Advice....open the window and make bedroom really cold! Sleep in a cotton vest - primark do good long ones...you can throw them in the washing easily!......cold drink by bed.....I have a silk pillow case which I find is kind to my skin....be patient as they don’t last forever....I’m a year after the end of chemo and I don’t even notice them now....hang in there....xx

Hi Yanyan10,

all of the above plus a rechargeable small fan to grab, works wonders, mine was used such a lot last summer (am on Letrozole) 

Hugs xxx

Thanks ladies. X

Hi moomy
I’m on Letrozole - I am going really hot and then really freezing cold :( basically sleep in about 2 hour stints as wake up boiling, fling off covers for a while and then am so cold can’t warm up  is that a common side effect of it ? Was diagnosed late March and went on it same day....
many thanks 

Hi   I’m on letrozole too and have exactly the same symptoms so I’m assuming it is the letrozole that’s doing it! Took a hot flush during radiotherapy session today...difficult trying to stay still but it was mind over matter and got through it ok.

Hot flushes are miserable. I had to stop HRT and was put on Anastrozole.. Wake up more tired than I felt going to bed. I have changed type of bedding Also I bought a tall fan and I leave it on all night on top of unit so it hits the bed . 

Hi Claire

I use to just drip when on letrozole.

Hubby once dared to say it was because I was exercising and overweight.

One day, as I sat doing my nails with steamed up glasses and sweat running off the end of my nose, he conceded it might be the drugs.

I don't take it any more. It made 2% difference to survival rate after Five years and 1% after ten. If I'd continued hubby only had a 50% survival rate on a very good day.

Been out for a walk today in rain, hail and howling winds. Hated it, but I could do it, always a plus.

Yes hot flushes are still going on (started Letrozole in April 2018) but less of a worry as I guess I’m more used to them plus I do think they are less. I’ve found lowering the strength of my coffee helps (we like a dark roast, have a bean to cup machine as we are coffee drinkers rather than tea) but since lockdown it’s been hard getting the beans we like, so it’s been tough getting a decent taste without increasing amount of bean ground in the machine. Have just found a mail order source of the beans we like best so hopefully that will improve! 

Mind over matter does also help, you really and truly CAN think yourself out of one. I’ve also found keeping a very old, soft hanky under my pillow is useful, just to mop my face as a flush usually happens just after I wake! 

Hugs xxx

Hi Everyone,

I had letrozole between diagnosis and operation. I didn't find it too bad but did have hot flushes.However that was in comparison to when I had my previous breast cancer 21 years ago.At that time I was part of a trial and had Tamoxifen and Anastrazole together- the hot flushes and night sweats were horrendous  (but I persevered as advised for 10 years because of the  trial)

I changed to low caf tea and coffee and found that helped a bit .I kept a soft hankie under my pillow ready for the "mop up " and water from the fridge to hand .

When I have finished the RT( start on 22nd of this month) I will be back on it again -joy of joys!! Maybe I will be able to think myself out of them ? I presume you think of a cold stream or ice cream moomy.? If that isn't the technique I would welcome your advice .

xxx

Really helpful - I’m on Letrozole and have started keeping a flannel next to my bed to dry my face when I wake up in the night.

The list of potential side effects is truly alarming.  I’m exercising regularly, taking fish oil, eating food rich in calcium, tins of sardines...

Any other tips?

Does Letrozole exacerbate migraines (my other health problem besides cancer)?.

Hope everyone doing as well as possible in current circumstances.