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One of the worst parts of having hot flashes in the middle of the night is that they trigger cramping and pain my intestines. Anyone have this? My doctor explains it is because the same receptors that are related to the hot flashes relate to the receptors in the gut. But boy do they make me miserable and unable to sleep. I have not slept in over two years.
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I am post menopause, yet when I first started my menopause, I had terrible hot flashes, day and night, they lasted about 15 mins each time. Also I had terrible diarrhea with it.. 11 years later, and I still have terrible diarrhea I also have IBS at the moment I am being treated for stress and anxiety, well the stress and anxiety come from having terrible diarrhea ( and the doctors and even the psychiatrist does not listen to me when I speak and tell them I know its from my menopause, and yes I also had a hysterectomy when I was younger so this is my second bout of menopause. Doctors, I throw my hands up in despair, they actually do more harm than good nowadays, I have no life, and I feel so sorry for my husband, as he has to do just about everything.. this menopause which is still ongoing, even interferes with my cleaning the house.. I have gotten to the stage where death seems to be the only option for me, life is not fun at all.. I cant go very far at all, down the road and a bit further on, then I have to turn back.. *All I want is my life back* and the doctors are so freaking useless they will not help, instead suggest black cohosh which I have tried and plenty of other herbal remedies and still no help, and he wont put me on HRT , So much for the oath doctors took , to heal the ill, meanwhile they let us suffer..
June 27, 2017 - 1:58pmThis Comment
HALLELUJAH! I am so sorry for all of you with the same issues I have had for over 20 years but a glad to know it is not JUST me! I have been told for years that doctors have never heard of these symptoms coinciding! I have tried it all except going back on "the pill"! I have never had children or a hysterectomy so I feel that no one listens to me. I did not have bad periods until later in life but was on "the pill" for regulation. I am calling today to get back into some sort of treatment. I cannot take it any more! Best wishes to all of you on your journeys! Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
April 6, 2017 - 9:16amThis Comment
I hope the HRT has helped you. I am on it and still have the issue.
May 26, 2017 - 8:12amThis Comment
You and I sound as though we have the same issues. I am considering trying HRT, but now I see you have not been helped by it and I'm worried I won't either. Currently I take an anti-anxiety pill to help curb my hot flashes, but they only slow them down from once an hour to 6 or 7 per day. My gut is always a mess and nausea always hits before a hot flash. I've had motion sickness issues my whole life, but now I have nausea frequently around hot flashes. Are you finding any kind of relief from anything? I do know that caffeine and alcohol will always trigger a hot flash, so I avoid them when possible.
August 17, 2018 - 7:47amThis Comment
Okay, so same thing with me AlettaS. Have never really had problems growing up with periods, never had PMS, periods have pretty much ended a couple of years ago at age 41. Twice, in 2 months, I have woken up in the middle of the night first feeling like I need to use the bathroom followed by nausea. By the time I make it to the bathroom my stomach feels like it is on fire and I am drenched in sweat. My stomach only settles and I start to feel better after I have been sick. The first time I thought I had eaten something that didn't agree with me. This time I am thinking it may be symptoms of menopause. Is this what I have to look forward to?
November 20, 2014 - 9:41amThis Comment
I have terrible time each month with intestinal pain (cramping & constipation/diarrhea issues) and sometimes that begins about the time I have a series of other symptoms including hot flashes/night sweats, other PMS symptoms, occasional joint pain. I know for a fact it has everything to do with hormones. It is the same set of symptoms each month & I know it is related to my monthly cycle. It usually does not get better for my intestines until the hormone levels drop & that time of month is over. It can flare at the time of the month my body is trying to ovulate too. I am having periods every few weeks now, much closer together, so I barely get over one cycle then it returns. It is keeping me from sleeping well also & I always feel so tired. At times the pain is so intense that I cannot determine if it is my intestines or severe cramps, but I can tell you that it often hurts more than labor pains (this coming from a woman who has given birth twice naturally!) My only hope is one day I will finish menopause. It's pure misery :(
October 22, 2011 - 8:51pmThis Comment
I don't know if we are allowed to post links on here. But from the knowledge and experience of my doctor, and from so many things I have researched and read, the same receptors that are affected (which I cannot explain well) in hot flashes also affect receptors in the gut. I have a fascinating article that talks about the brain/gut connection, and also the fact that 80 or 90% of our serotonin receptors are in our gut. For me, disturbing my serotonin makes me so sick. And cramps. And nausea. The ebb and flow of the hormones, it seems, for certain women (I am one of them and you appear to be, too) have a HUGE effect on the functioning of the intestines, bowel, nausea, all that. When I don't have hot flashes, my bowel is very happy and relaxed. The second I start to get hot, my bowel starts to act up----although as FINALLY my estrogen level is getting back to where it was before I was forced off hormone replacement, things are getting better. It is a huge long story, but my doctor and I have weighed the risk/benefit on being on hormones versus having NO quality of life, NO sleep, nausea all day, no life----so I am back on a low dose hrt which does include progesterone since I still have a uterus. None of the thousands of supplements from vitamins to omegas to flaxseed to black cohosh---you name it, nothing helped me, and it ALL made me sick----and through my research I realize it is because all of those things mess with my serotonin---which is controlling the health of my gut---so all of the typical supplements do not help me----they just make me sick. The ONLY thing that helps is finally getting my estrogen levels back to where they need to be. Then I will stop having hot flashes, and then I will stop having gut issues. I am almost 63. I never had issues growing up with periods, never had PMS, never had bleeding and stuff while menopause was happening----NOTHING--but having to withdraw from hormone replacement suddenly over about two years ago sent my body into a tailspin from which I still am not recovered. Women need estrogen. We were never designed to live beyond menopause. I will shut up now.
October 24, 2011 - 3:47pmThis Comment
I have a wonderful doctor who specializes in hormones and who comes at this from a naturopathic view, and of the whole person. I have considered probably 20 different supplements, foods, etc and nothing works. Black cohosh for example made my blood pressure jump to the moon in 3 days. Other supplements which are supposed to be great all make me sick. We have tried bioidential hormones and patches and creams and nothing works. We are going back to oral hormones because my quality of life has become zero and there has to be a risk-benefit thing-----believe me, for two years we have tried a zillion things which have worked for other patients. It seems that my estrogen needs to get to a therapeutic level before the hot flashes will stop, and therefore the side effects which for me are horrible. Was just curious if anyone else had such issues with the gut and nausea from hot flashes.
October 20, 2011 - 2:54pmThis Comment
Aleta, this is great news. A good doctor is hard to find, especially one that will listen and work with you rather than demand you do what he or she is saying. I have had a couple who I wish I had been able to stick with.
Blessings.
October 20, 2011 - 3:44pmThis Comment
I am so sorry you are experiencing this. A doctor I saw when I started this journey suggested black cohosh for hot flashes, but there are precautions. I used this for over 20 years without problems.
Have you done any research on line? Always do your homework before you take any recommendations from anyone. :)
I prefer homeopathy actually. http://1800homeopathy.com/ and abchomeopathy.com are my primary sources for all my homeopathic remedies. Sleep, menopause, cramping. ABChomeopathy has a symptom checker. Both have help in deciding.
Blessings.
October 19, 2011 - 11:47amThis Comment