Gransnet forums

Menopause

Hot-headed

(31 Posts)
Charly Sat 24-Feb-18 20:03:41

I'm struggling with very hot forehead and sometimes hot all over my face and ears and down to my neck. It feels like a constant flush. I'm 57, five years into my menopause, and avoided HRT, and would prefer to carry on without it.

Are there any soothing/cooling gels anybody might know of? Wipes just offer very temporary relief. I sleep okay these days, night sweats didn't bother me a lot, so I was fortunate in that context, but all my active days are thronged with burning heat!

vampirequeen Sun 25-Feb-18 06:18:23

Have you tried cutting back/giving up caffeine?

Grannyknot Sun 25-Feb-18 07:33:56

Charly I'm completely addicted to a facial spritzer since I was given one for a long haul flight and a hot destination holiday. They are very cooling. The Evian one in the list below is reasonable, I love the rose perfumed one I currently have. They're fine to spray over make up (if you wear any).

www.womanandhome.com/beauty/best-facial-spritzers-111780/

OldMeg Sun 25-Feb-18 07:34:09

Yes, look to your diet. Try cutting out meat for a month and see if that helps.

cornergran Sun 25-Feb-18 07:38:03

How about the cool mist sprays? Often sold in the holiday section of chemists although I use one by Avene to help with a skin issue. I sympathise but I’m not sure there’s an easy fix. It is worth cutting back or avoiding caffeine and spicy foods to see if it helps. It’s also worth a chat with a pharmacist or someone at your surgery in case it’s not menopause related. I’m sure others will have more thoughts.

Charly Sun 25-Feb-18 10:12:23

Thanks so much, all of you.

I will try the mist/spritzer option first. If needs must, I will then address consuming habits!

Charly Sun 25-Feb-18 10:17:33

Grannyknot, I'm perusing the list of spritzer options. Very useful.!

Sheilasue Sun 25-Feb-18 11:59:16

Cool mist spray is good although I am 72 still get hot just done the ironing and my face is so warm my glasses slide down. Not sure if it’s hot flushes but I often get quite hot.

grandMattie Sun 25-Feb-18 12:08:08

I always carried a fan with me. People would say I looked very"sophisticated" [even in winter?] but it saved my life. I used to have one in each of my hand/bags.
Good luck - and they do go away eventually.

Camelotclub Sun 25-Feb-18 12:09:56

If you wanted to try the tablet route, I was recommended Megace which is a synthetic progesterone. A menopause specialist recommended it after I'd had breast cancer, you only need 40mg a day which means I have to cut a 160mg into 4 pieces! They used to make a 40mg tablet but stopped it as not enough profit.

It works for me and I've gone back on it after stopping it for a few months and the flushes came back. Ask your GP.

Lindylou57 Sun 25-Feb-18 12:20:00

I bought a pack of 3 cooling scarves from the website QWERKITY. I found them quite soothing in the hot weather, might be worth a try for you. £9.99 only for the 3.

Greengage Sun 25-Feb-18 12:36:03

I'm past suffering from menopausal hot flushes but have always suffered from getting too hot even as a child. I carry a scent atomiser filled with water in my handbag for emergencies!

Greengage Sun 25-Feb-18 12:45:24

Oh! and like grandMattie, a fan as well!

lilihu Sun 25-Feb-18 12:53:29

Menopace is a natural supplement. It sorted my hot flushes within a week. I used to get mine from Boots.
www.vitabiotics.com/shop/menopace?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2snUBRDfARIsAIGfpqGAI0i58u5ZZjf3GoYrKwmP0VQC8Peq0mGHHsK9zCtEnkoiAdI7hgAaAn6BEALw_wcB

Stella14 Sun 25-Feb-18 13:35:39

I would recommend HRT unless you, or close relatives, have a history of breast cancer. IMO the fears of HRT are disproportionate. It contains far less hormone (and the sane ones) than the Contraceptive pill and most of us took that.

kwest Sun 25-Feb-18 13:38:25

I had an overnight plunge into menopause after some serious surgery. The hot flushes were appalling. Someone suggested that I try soya milk , three large glasses a day for three weeks. I did (I used the Alpro chocolate flavour). Quite high in calories but it really did make a difference. Japanese women who eat a lot of soya barely have any menopause symptoms. It might be worth a try.

barbaralynne Sun 25-Feb-18 14:03:04

I have hot flushes day and night as a result of breast cancer medication and was advised to try Sage tablets. I get them from Holland & Barrett and they certainly help. Hope you can find something that works for ; these things are a real nuisance.

blueberry1 Sun 25-Feb-18 14:06:19

Amazon sell a selection of cooling scarves and towels-going to order some myself as I often have sweats,even though well past menopause!

Patticake123 Sun 25-Feb-18 14:16:21

Two things really helped me. First, cut out or reduce caffeine. Second, take some sage leaves, cover with boiling water, strain and drink the sage tea. I found it more palatable with honey stirred in. It really help the sweaty face and it is absolutely natural. Good luck, it won’t last forever!

Saggi Sun 25-Feb-18 14:36:25

There is no help! I didn’t suffer any symptoms of menopause except ‘night sweats’ ..... they went on 13 years...totally disrupted my sleep pattern ..which I have never got back. Three hours sleep per night seems to be my lot! Also ruined two mattresses into the bargain! Feel for you all going through it. If men had to,... there’d be a cure by now!

Valbeasixties Sun 25-Feb-18 15:13:12

I suffered very badly but a combination of black cohosh and Angus castus really worked well for me. They are available from good health shops but you need to check the dosage instructions carefully.

Marianne1953 Sun 25-Feb-18 15:53:39

Try serenity cream, it sorts your hormones naturally.

DeeDee97 Sun 25-Feb-18 15:55:33

Have you tried Black Cohosh?. I swear by it! I’ve recommeded it to all my friends and they have all said how much it helps. I buy mine in H&B

Esspee Sun 25-Feb-18 16:23:44

Very simply your symptoms are a sign of oestrogen deficiency. Unless there are medical contraindications why don't you want to take HRT? It stops osteoporosis, flushes, vaginal atrophy etc., etc.

Charly Sun 25-Feb-18 16:32:09

Great feedback, and sincere thanks to you all for your input. There's lots there to go on with. I'll work thru them one at a time.

So sorry to read of the terrible sleeplessness you went thru, Saggi, - I suffered a few years ago, and after a lot of trial and error I found ways to make the nights more tolerable.. Layering of light blankets was one thing. It's very tough indeed when your system becomes habituated to certain patterns. I have a neighbour who is in a similar situation to yours. Indeed, if men had to....!

The cooling scarves sound good too.

Well, they all do! Feeling more optimistic now. ???