I believe it has begun........menopause lets talk

No advice but I'm right there with you. I'm 47 and either cold or burning up. Nothing in the middle.

By the time I was in full-blown menopause, 25 hot flashes a day wasn't unheard of.   Being hot-natured to begin with, it was true torture for me.   Add in the fact that I live in Florida? Holy hell, there's not much worse than hot flashes in 100 degree temps, let me tell you.  

It's been 8 years since my peri-menopause began (at an early age - 43) and the hot flashes slacked off a bit around year 5.  I started taking iCool about that time and I don't know about anyone else, but I swear they saved my life (and the lives of those around me, lol).

I now have the occasional hot flash followed by a cold flash.  Or vice-versa.  They are short-lived, but it's odd.  Even in tropical temps, I keep a flannel shirt on hand at all times.  I am freezing for 5 minutes, burning up the next 3 minutes and then right as rain for awhile.  Until the next cold/hot flash cycle,  of course.

All I can say is get ready for a wild ride.  Every woman's menopause journey is a little unique, but they all haywire.

L

I'm very thankful I haven't had many at all. I'm 53 now. I know some friends who've had success with diet type adjustments - like reducing caffeine and alcohol. There are also some natural things which might help - soy products? black cohosh?

My symptoms overall have been pretty mild. Don't know whether I'm just lucky or whether my long distance running has helped.

I went into full mp at 53, now at 57, this has been a tough year for hot flashes. My sister suggested vit E, I tried it for a few months, but it was still bad, I switched to Black cohosh a few weeks ago and it seems to be improving

I do go to with an ice pack each night. That started with a hip/butt issue while I am reading but with lights out I am hugging that thing!!!

The good -
no more periods and all that goes with them.  
No more money on tampons and pads.  
No more cramps
No more trying to figure out if you will be having it when you are planning something

The bad
hot flashes especially at night
moodiness and agitation while your body adjusts to a new norm
dry, itchy skin

The ugly

Hair on your chin and upper lip 
Hair on your breasts
Sagginess sets in

Recommendation for hot flashes - buy a small fan and take it with you.

I am 50, will be 51 in October and started Peri-menopause about 3 years ago. It has been over a year since I had a period. Yay!! I get occasional hot flashes, mostly at night. So far they are mild, I just throw back the sheet and then cool off. I will get some during the day if I am somewhere that is hot. Then I look and feel like I just came out of the shower. I don't remember my Mom having issues with hot flashes, but she got cold very easy.

I have more issues with the irritability than anything. And it is usually DH who gets the brunt of it. But he tends to do things that push my buttons.

  You nailed it!

I started having hot flashes about the same age as you are now (I'm 53 now) and were mostly at night.  I tried to fight it for a couple of years but things got progressively worse.  I wasn't sleeping well, had brain fog and could turn into a witch at the drop of a hat.  It was really starting to interfere with work and the family.  My doctor suggested Black Cohash but that didn't seem to help me so I finally asked him about HRT.  Luckily, I am at low risk for the side effects.  HRT has been a godsend for me.  My doctor says I can stay on it for another couple of years and then I'll have to come off.  I am hoping the worst has passed by that time.  

I have two sisters on HRT and have been for 10+ years and every time they try to go off it the symptoms return full force.

It was not an option for me due to DVTs so I just lived with it for about 3 years and now except for some night sweats I have no problems.

I have a great tip for helping to manage the hot flashes.
1. Before you go to bed, fill large water bottle mostly with ice and cold water. Have it next to you all night so that when you wake up and are having a hot flash, you can drink cold water. That will help. Also you can take the bottle and put it on your neck. That will cool off your body.
2. Get a cooldana. You can find them many places but here is one link. www.thewarmingstore.com/cooldanna-cooling-bandanna.html?gclid=CjwKEAjw6_q5BRCOp-Hj-IfHwncSJABMtDai3n2gRAyTaoQIpXAhz_5aEhoZOrqmnpNZGHbMHL60ZBoCIOjw_wcB They are a life saver. Having the cold on certain points on your neck helps to cool off your entire body.
3. Take a large ice filled with cold water, water bottle EVERYWHERE you go. Every time! Having access to freezing cold water really helps.
4. Buy 3 of these types of ice packs. Again there are many places to get them from online. I just chose the first site I came across. www.isokineticsinc.com/category/pt_rehab_pt_coldpacks/product/sg_packs Make sure to get the largest size that they have. This allows you to put one under your pillow case and one on your back when you go to sleep. They will stay cold for the longest time. You need the 3rd one because when you go to work in the morning, you can use that one behind your back while driving. Be careful, they stay cold for a long time and you don't want to get an ice burn. Be sure to put something between you and the product. I swear by this type of ice pack. They are fabulous. hope this helps.

Hot flashes are the worst! I've had them for 4 years now. I hate to tell you this but what you are experiencing now are just the beginning and are very mild. 

Do your research as to hormone replacement therapy before you see your doctor to see what options are best for you would be my advise. Personally I didn't want to go with conventional hormone replacement therapy because of the cancer risk. While it is very low I still didn't want to risk it. There is something called bio identical hormone replacement therapy that does not carry the cancer risk because they are identical to your own body hormones. I did try that through my Integrative Medicine doctor but sadly for me it caused an increase in migraines. I've had migraines for the past 36 years. I think if I stuck with it they would level out but it just wasn't worth the extra two or more weeks of pain that it would have taken. More and more doctors now are offering this therapy which is great. 

So, I turned to what my doctor recommended which was Evening Primrose Oil. I take 2,600 mg. a day and it really seems to help. The brand I'm taking currently is bioTE Medical. I buy it from my Intergrative Medicine doctor's office but you can probably find it online. Recently he switched brands and I only took half the amount by mistake for two weeks. The hot flashes came back with a vengeance and I was having them once every 40 minutes or so. It was horrible. Not that I'm back on the correct dose they are far fewer and I'm feeling a lot better. 

People with hypothyroid should not have much soy products as soy is reported to make the hypothyroid symptoms worse. Just thought I'd mention that for those of you taking or thinking of taking the Estrorven. I'm not sure if soy isoflavones would have the same effect but I'm not willing to risk it-my hypothyroid is bad enough. 

Debbie in MD.

There is a genetic component but even if you know your family history you can deviate from your mom several years. Or, she may not recall precisely when she went through it.

It is the peri-menopause stage that is the boogabear.

Menopause is AFTER you have been period free for 12 months........   Even after you are period free you may still have random hot flashes. My mom does and she is mid 70s.