Welcome to Minnie Pauz!

Hi Ladies. I'm 47 years old and for the past month or so I have been experiencing nights sweats several times a night that is now affecting my sleep and rest. I wake up drenched and on fire! I am also experiencing them during the day now as well. Does anyone else have them this frequently and how do you deal with it? I have a fan blowing on me, a window cracked open and sleep with just a sheet.....and a very understanding hubby. Is it "normal" to experience them this often ? I almost get panicked wondering if something else might be going on. Please tell me this is normal. I need reassurance......and an igloo. Thanks.

aj, huney yes, it is normal. For about 2 1/2 years I would have horrible night sweats along with night frights. then I didnt have them for about a year, then they returned with a vengence for about 5 mos. They have not reappeared now for about 2 mos.

I would do the same but also along with the things you listed in doing...ex..fan etc.. I would also keep a damp wash cloth and in it rolled up an ice pack sitting next to my night stand in an ice cream bucket. When the sweats hit, I would wipe myself down with the cool rag, Dont dry off though, because the air from the fan help cool ya down faster. Sometimes mine would be so bad that it would literally drench my sheets. In fact one time my daughter, had climbed into bed with me one night and told me she would help me change my sheets because I must of had an accident in my bed, like she used to!

I got to the point to not changin them until in the morning because I would keep large bath towels next to my bed also, and just put a dry one down when I had soaked the sheet. I sleep nakie too so I wouldnt have to change pjs too.

I still expereince the hot flashes, sometimes they would take my breath away, I became to stiffling hot!!!Sweat actually drips off when they hit me hard. Sometimes I will get them in just my hands or feet, and sometimes even just my hoochie ,...which is such a WEIRD sensation to say the least!

During the day when at home, and the flashes come on, I go to my freezer and take out a rooled up frozen towel and drape it around my neck. There is an item that can be made quite easily that can ease ya some too. Take 2 tube socks...fill one with rice..(not the 5 min. but long cooking rice) dont fill to the point of which it is so stiff you cant bend it around the back of your neck though. Sew up the end, and stuff it into the other sock, and sew that end up. This can be placed in your freezer OR microwave.(if needin a hot pack) and also ready to go. Of course drinking lots of ice water too helps.

Some gals claim their h. flashes come on them when eatting spicey, or hot temperatured foods or drinks. It didnt for me though, but you may want to test with yourself if these may be triggers for you.

Also I found that taking the sponge headbands frozen in the freezer and/or the frozen gel ice masks, help too.

Same of the other gals on here may have some other useful tips they can share with you as well.

I cant tell you though how long these may go on for you though. Every woman's experience will vary because of our body chemistry being different from each others. But be reassured Girlie, that you are not alone and you are NOT abnormal in this

aj,

Yes, what you're going through is definitely normal! I haven't had the drenching night sweats (yet), but I do get hot flashes a lot during the morning and evening/night - get very hot and then very chilled, especially at night. Used to think I was always coming down with a virus or something, then discover it's just hormonal. It is confusing and can be scary because it's hard to tell what exactly is going on with your body - things can feel so out of whack.

DaMomma had some great advice about how to deal with this practically. Dee also listed on another post about some menopause sleepwear that is moisture-wicking. Not sure if this would alleviate your situation, but maybe worth thinking about. Here's a link if you're interested:

http://www.serenecomfort.com/category.a ... gory_ID=16

However, I find that sleeping naked helps me keep cooler and is very comfortable. I keep a damp washcloth nearby as well to help with "hot face," which I get a lot - face very hot but not sweating, hands & feet icy cold. Love DaMomma's idea about the rice socks! I'm gonna try that one!!

Hope things get better. Hang in there, girl!

Gigi

Great advice, Ladies! We really do have to do everything possible to stay cool......that's "Minnie's" goal in life too!

Gigi, I appreciate you passing along the link for Serene Comfort. All that "wicking" sleepwear is expensivie, but for those who have severe nightsweats and can't get a good night's sleep when they HAVE to...it's well worth the price. The material has been used for years in sports clothing because athletes can't afford to have sweaty clothes be a problem.

The main reason it works so well for nightsweats is that it "wicks" the moisture off your body and immediately dries, so your pj's don't get clammy or soggy.

There's something else that might help....it's called the Chillow. It slides into your pillowcase and helps keep your head and neck cooler through the night. The idea is if we can cool our head, it only takes 5 min. for our blood to circulate through our body. http://www.chillow.com They even have them for pets! This runs about $30 and I've gotten some good reports about it. (one lady bought two (one for hubby) and takes it on vacation in their RV)

Then there's one more "tool"..... it's a fan for UNDER your sheets!! These people all contact me wanting to advertise on my site, so I'm checking them out. This thing costs about $90 bucks!! The concept sure seems reasonable, but I haven't talked to anyone who's used it yet.
http://www.secure-bedfan.com/ProductDet ... J&click=17

I totally agree with DaMomma about finding plenty of simple, no cost ways to control the nightsweats, but if you have to use more drastic measures, these are some ideas

Everyone, I don't know if you've noticed the ads at the bottom of the page on each topic, but if you would look at make sure that the ads are related to menopause, women's health, or any of the other topics and let me know, I would appreciate it. I want to make sure they are appropriate ads and not for computer equipment or something! One time when I opened this page, there were ads for something I would have no use for at all, but then when I refreshed the page, the ads were ok, so I wanted to ask you what you're seeing is the right ones.

If you find something of interest go ahead and check it out, if not just ignore them. As I've said before, no one site can provide you with all the options that are available, but I sure TRY!!

Hi Ladies! Oh, thank you so much for all your very helpful suggestions and mostly for the reassurance that what I'm going through is normal. I am definitely going to try the rice/sock method and I'll look into the pj's and chillow as well. As for sleeping in the "buff"...I haven't tried that, but heck-why not? I rip off my nightie midway through the night anyway! I am so happy I found this site again after being away for so long. It's nice to know that when I'm flashing in the middle of the night I'm not alone! Thanks again!

Hi,

What are these night frights you mention? I have something odd going on lately. I dream and it is so real that I have found myself leaping out of bed. It has happened maybe three times in the past few weeks. Or is it that your mind can't stop and you lay there and worry?

Thanks,
Sharie
43, just began having irregular periods and night sweats.......

My night sweats are worse than my daytime hot flashes. I'm wondering if that's typical.

I sleep naked, I also have layers on my bed so I can peel off one or two layers for comfort. Some mornings (if I'm lucky enough to make it that long), I wake up with no covers or just a sheet and I'm shivering. I'm going to try that damp washcloth and ice pack thing though.