How did you deal with hot flashes/night sweats during treatment?

[Cindi]

I was just curious if anybody experienced or is experiencing hot flashes/night sweats during treatment.  If so how did you deal with them and when did they end?  I understand that this is pretty normal....but I tell ya....I am getting pretty tired of my head glistening :-).
Any suggestions would be helpful....thanks.

Staying strong-
Cindi

[Rene]

OMG Yes! I had hot flashes about every 20 to 30 mins. I took birth control to keep them under control. It made them go away really quick. They are just miserable. I hope that was it for me and that I dont' have to go through menopause again. UGH....

[Cathy]

Cindy,

Yes Cindy I had the night sweats.  Like Rene, my onc put me on a med that was actually for high blood pressure (can't remember the name), but it helped a lot.  I would mention it to your doctor.  It's important for you to get a good night's sleep! Hang in there.

Always,
Cathy

[Tara]

I had very bad night sweats and hot flashes...... It's 7 months past treatment and I still have them sometimes.  Normally it coincides with whenever I take Lortab for pain - I'm thinking the current ones are due to the hydrocodone.

During chemo, they upped my dose of zoloft for it.  It helped somewhat.  I started on birth control after treatment ended, it stopped it pretty much in it's tracks for about 3 months.  Then the birth control started side effects - break through bleeding, weight gain, etc made me stop taking the birth control. 

I read somewhere that neurontin is the best thing for hot flashes besides hormone replacement.

I have a huge bottle of neurontin, but I don't like to take it b/c it knocks me out....

Sidebar - I was one of those who LOVED ativan.  Made me sleep so good, certainly didn't worry about the chemo or get nauseous.  If I ever had to take chemo again, I would use it as a prn kind of thing... I would probably just ask for it every 8 hours and sleep through those nice week long stays 

[Kaye]

I'm 2 years post chemo and I still have hot flashes.  BAD!  They are thinking that since I am 34 (31 at diagnose), that the chemo triggered perimenopause.  I think I am starting menopause, but nothing in my bloodwork shows it.

Since my onc believes that Ewing's COULD BE hormone driven, he does not want me to take BC pills. (I don't want to either, I've already got my tubes tied)

I am eating a lot of fruits and salads, and staying away from spicy stuff.  I also have a fan that blows directly on me, and as much as my pocketbook argues with me, I keep my air conditioner cold.  I also try to keep my feet and wrists cool, as they are pulse points.  (I read that somewhere)

Maybe try sleeping with a gel pack under your neck, or in that general area?

[Cari]

WOOOHOOOOO to ATIVAN!!!!