Looking guilty with hot sweats

I was given Clonidine to help the sweating, only problem was that I then retained the water and my legs were felt so heavy and swollen. My older sister though has been on them now for 8 yrs and swears by them. I go so red too Winniewit and it is embarrassing cos I'm convinced everybody knows what's happening and then I start to get panicky. I've left a shopping trolley half filled in an aisle cos I had to get out of the supermarket quick! And this is only 1 of the symptoms......

Glad to know your symptoms have eased somewhat. I tried hrt but had problems. Still have very hot moments, not so bad I'm dripping, I perceive mine come on if I'm stressed, not major more minor irritations I can feel the heat rising.

Well an update ladies. Changed gps and went to see the new doctor. While chatting I had a hot do and he gave me a tissue to wipe my face with. This was doubly embarrassing as it was one of those thin cheap ones and bits came off and stuck all over my face. He agreed that I was suffering and gave me a low dose of hrt to try for three months. I can't believe the difference its made and I can't believe how ill I felt before.

Sage is very good for hot flushes. Capsules are handy but making sage tea (dried stuff is OK ) also works.
It also helps to stop normal or abnormal sweating at any time. Currently it's 27/80+ degrees here and I'd be melting if I didn't take sage.

Chucky. Thats exactly how i am...sweat dripping down from my hair..running down my face and neck. Iv had to pop into Boots and buy some wet wipes,,
I go out with my hair all nicely straight and by the first 'do' its all frizzy,,

I have very short hair which helps a bit - and I gave up wearing makeup years ago. My GP says I can stay on the mini pill until 55 and then we will talk about HRT.

Saetana agreed, this summer was vile! Barely went outdoors at all if I could help it .....

Strangely when I have an absolute load of medical problems, I seemed to miss the menopause - I have Adenomyosis, polyps and a fibroid and had horrendous periods during that phase, in my 40's but I had an ablation and a Mirena coil fitted and have never looked back gynaecologically!

If only I could avoid the hyperhidrosis though, I feel disgusting, the sweat stings my eyes too, any make up runs down mu face so no longer wear it at all (never used to appear in public without my face on!) and my hair goes wet all over my scalp and the longer bits look like a rusty Brillo pad, all frizzy or stuck to my face. It causes me great anxiety so do not like meeting people and stressful situations if I can now avoid, I will. Doesn't make for much of a life now though, more of an existence sadly ....

I’ve been put on Fluoxetine; a mild anti depressant with the side effect of stopping the flashes. I’ve been on it for a month now. It seems to be working.

I am exactly the same but it's not menopause, I am past it, it is Hyperhidrosis and it is truly vile .... I look such a mess! There are tablets you can take that do work very well to stop it which I use on special occasions, but they literally stuck the juice out of you and your mouth gets so dry it's hard to actually speak - my lips stick to my teeth! They are called Pro-Banthine 15mg so maybe ask your GP for some to try? For me they sort of stop the sweat, but you can literally see (and feel!) the heat trying to burst out of my skin, my face is beetroot with them, but it is better than the sweating - good luck! x

Winniewit I am 52 and have been having hot sweats for the last 4 yrs. They are horrendous, I remember last January out shopping with my Dd in the snow. I was in the shop one minute and outside taking my clothes off the next! Sweating, dripping and redfaced holding my coat, cardigan etc at arms length and people going past all bundled up for the cold weather, it was absolutely ridiculous! My Dd found it hilarious, I tried laughing it off and I have obviously since moved onto a stronger HRT.

I have had hot sweats all my life so never noticed Menopause. My younger son gets them too. I still get them but now I just accept it's just the way I'm wired. Nothing I can do about it anyway - nothing doctors gave me ever helped.

I've always been prone to sweating a little more than average but during this last hot summer I was literally dripping sweat! I was actually grateful when the cooler weather arrived. Fortunately I'm not getting any night sweats as yet - but really need to do something to tackle the day sweats for this coming summer, especially if its another hot one. I do remember another Gransnetter mentioning she carried around a couple of dry flannels for mopping up - might try that one as tissues are totally useless

@ Winniewit I sympathise because I have exactly the same problem. Sweat dripping off my hair, which I have had to cut short, massive wet patch on front of my t-shirt, even though it’s cold. So embarassing. Doctor has put me on medication but, whilst it has helped a bit, I really hate going out anywhere as no matter where we go my hairstyle dissolves into a wet mess after a short while and my eyes start to sting as sweat makes any makeup run into them.

I'm another of the lucky ones. At 45 I had three very heavy periods so went to the doctor who said I was probably starting the menopause. I never had another period. That was it, they just stopped. End of. No hot flushes or mood swings or anything strange, life just went on. But I really sympathise with other women who suffer so much.

I went through the menopause at 52, no side effects for which I was thankful as I'm epileptic & HRT is limited. I did however "drip" if I got hot & sweaty in my 40's, a colleague used call it "having a tropical moment".

I do sympathise with those of you who are having a hard time

Fished menopause at 46 with nairy an issue except fog brain from time to time... so pleased to be done with it all. Never felt better!

Years of sickness every month in my 20s, debilitating migraines in my 30s/40's and early 50's. Periods stopped, migraines stopped, no hot flushes. Mid 60s now and apart from being a grumpy mare think I've been let off lightly because of all the years of suffering every month from my teens through to late 50's

Sailed through the menopause. Never really noticed it.

Yes, my daughter had breast cancer.
Its a first degree relative.
I don't know all the ins and outs and risks and so on, because we had no breast cancer in our family until then.

62 and still getting hot flushes . Mostly at night - I always wake up with the duvet in knots. Such a pain.

I go by the NHS figures. Read up about them and if your doctor is scaremongering then ask to be referred to a menopause clinic to see someone who actually knows what they are talking about.
It is appalling but some doctors spout absolute rubbish to back up their personal prejudices. The NICE guidelines are designed to ensure that all our NHS doctors are up to date with the current research.

Every woman in the UK has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer. If your doctor is saying that by taking HRT you would have a 1 in 2 chance then either you have a very high risk factor personal to you or your doctor is talking bollocks.

Well the risk of breast cancer on HRT is nowhere near quadruple. Do you have a history of breast cancer in your family or some other medical condition which raises your risk?

Well, I have to weigh that up against the risk of breast cancer being quadrupled for me..
The doctor told me that was too great a risk.

MissAdventure when your mum was on HRT she was well, youthful and vital. I feel like that now so I am never coming off HRT.
At least you mum had some extra youthful years which she enjoyed. I would hold on to that thought but when you reach that stage in your life, do your research (NICE guidelines for the menopause gives you the NHS best practice recommendations) and by taking HRT you will end up with strong bones, no vaginal atrophy, normal (pre menopausal) libido, youthful energy and appearance and a far superior quality of life.