This evening I sat down to eat dinner and I got really hot all of a sudden a broke out in a light sweat, my face even looked a little flushed, I don’t have a fever, and when I changed into shorts and drank some cold water I felt fine a minute later. I’m only 26 and I should be getting my period anytime, it’s actually a couple days late, could the hot flash be a symptom of pms or early pregnancy or what else could it be should I be worried?

This evening I sat down to eat dinner and I got really hot all of a sudden a broke out in a light sweat, my face even looked a little flushed, I don’t have a fever, and when I changed into shorts and drank some cold water I felt fine a minute later. I’m only 26 and I should be getting my period anytime, it’s actually a couple days late, could the hot flash be a symptom of pms or early pregnancy or what else could it be should I be worried?

As I begin my story, I have currently in the middle of a hot flash. Pulling up my hair and madly fanning my neck. I have learned that applying coolness to the neck is the fasted way to cool down. RELIEF!!! Now I can begin my story…

My name is Amy and I am 33 years old. On October 14, 2008, my life changed before my eyes: I was told I was in early menopause. It all started a couple of weeks early. I was having hot flashes and dizzy spells- as well as some other "girlie" issues that you can probably guess. I was used to the hot flashes 2 years ago when I was on clomid. But they had stopped once I stopped the medication. So when they reappeared, I was a bit miffed. So I made an appointment for my annual "girlie" exam. When I told my doctor about my recent symptoms- he raised an eyebrow (literally- it was kind of freaky!). He said he wanted to run a blood test, not to worry it was only a slim chance. "Slim chance for what?" I asked. "Premature Ovarian Failure". Well sir. I’d never heard of such a thing. He said my results maybe in Friday, but possibly Monday.

So, I race home to my beloved Internet and do a search. My mouth dropped. The symptoms of this condition mirrored what I was going through. But my doctor said "SLIM CHANCE!- It might just be high blood pressure". On my hands and knees I begin to pray like crazy for high blood pressure. WHO prays for high blood pressure? A girl who is NOT ready for "the change!"
Friday came and went without a call. That means a whole weekend of wild wonder. Monday finally roles around and again no phone call. Okay- now I’m getting miffed again. WHY is this taking so long? Tuesday morning- I make the call. The doctor is in surgery and will call me this afternoon. Less than 2 minutes later- he is calling. Do doctors call from surgery if another patient is anxious enough?!?! Apparently not. He had just walked in and call me first thing.

"The news isn’t good. Your FHS is at 66.9. Your ovaries have completely shut down. You are in menopause." Silence… If I was in the right state of mind- I might have heard the crickets chirping. Without realizing what I was saying, I said "So my chances of having a kid?". My doctors was very sincere in saying that the window just closed. He mentions something about hormones and my pharmacy. A hot flash is coming on… We hang up. I sit at my desk for a moment then send out an email to my team about the conversation that just took place. My boss emailed if I was okay- I relied simply, with only one word: "NO". One of my coworkers was there in an instant and just held me as I whaled. Then my boss sent me home….

Telling my hubby. He knew something was up when the door opened. I walked in and fell into his arms. I apologized for not being able to give him kids. He apologized for not giving me kids sooner. We both said the other didn’t need to apologize. We then look at the dog (Maple) and say "Well, you’re the kid!"

I talked to my Dad for a while, as my Mom was out. I talked to Mom later and then took Maple to the dog park. I will never forget that afternoon as long as I live. It was a gorgeous afternoon and Maple was as happy as… well as happy as a dog free to run around with other dogs! I sat in a chair and took it all in. It was very surreal- almost poetic. Words cannot really describe my calmness that afternoon. I was to learned later that ALOT of people where praying for me during those moments… (Thanks to all!)

When I got home, my hubby was just getting home as well. We talked for a little bit, then Mom called. She and Dad wanted to take us out to dinner. We dined at the Cracker Barrel then had dessert at DQ. It was really nice. My parents couldn’t have children. Both my brother and I were adopted. They knew our agony… they knew our pain.

The hormones. Before dinner we ran by the pharmacy and got my HRT (hormone replacement therapy). It looks alot like bc pills in the little circular container. So I dialed up my day and dispensed my first pill. Last night I took my second pill. No marked changes in the first 36 hours.

These past few days have been heart wrenching. A friend emailed me and told me how "brave" I was to share my story so openly. I didn’t think of myself as brave. I felt rather like a beat up wimp. I’m normally very optimistic and happy- so a marked change in me is very noticeable. I told me story as it was unfolding so that people would know and I wouldn’t have to tell it 50 million times. So, here is my story in it’s entirety.

Any advice for me?

Sometimes when I ovulate, or on the first day of my period, I feel like I am having a slight hotflash. I don’t know for sure if it is a hot flash. I just feel warm for a brief period of time. I am wondering if there is anything else besides menopause that can cause hotflashes such as a hormonal imbalance. I am 34, and have never had children. My Mother went through menopause when she was around 50.

I have heard so many women complain about hot flashes & their period coming back, etc. Yet I have also heard women say they stopped having their period & never had a hot flash or anything else. What are the chances of that happening?

I would imagine the healthier a women is the better the chance of things going smoother? Any info. on that?

I want to know what green leafy vegy’s and what kind of nutmeats are good for hot flash relief. I do know kale and spinach is just a few. I’m at the tail end of it and hope it ends soon. Sometimes it depends on what I eat that cause them to happen. I find potatoes and some dairy. Soy ,a little at times helps but too much can cause a problem. Help please.

Do these miracle fibers actually work to make women feel better when they get a hot flash & start to sweat?
New fibers such as MODEL from the bark of trees is being marketed as a quick dry wonder fabric in the womens department. Mostly for dresses & fashionable tops. It looks nice, but feels horrible on your skin.
I agree that there is nothing like cotton to keep you in the zone of feelin’ good!

My mom had a partial hysterectomy. They left her overies. she is 45. We have heard that she will not have to worry about going through menopause. But 21 months later she is having some symptoms, hot flash etc… Can she be going through menopause?
What are the symptoms? And is there any non-prescription medications she can take to help? Thank You
The doctor who did the surgery told her she would not go through menopause

I began perimenopause at around age 36, but nothing severe at all. Hot flashes once in a while. I’m now 39, will be 40 in January, and I recently began having hot flashes with nausea. UGH! I had one in the grocery store the other day and actually felt like I was going to pass out. Had another one an hour later. I know that I’m not coming down with anything, it was definitely a hot flash.

I talked to my Mom, she said, yes, that she had hot flashes with nausea, as does a family friend of ours. I never knew that you can feel nauseous like that with a hot flash.

I’m so not looking forward to 40+ now… LOL.

I am going to look into soy pills/tablets/supplements. Anyone have luck with them? I just don’t have the courage to try soy milk when I can’t even drink regular milk.

I am a 34 year old woman who has had 2 c-sections and my tubes tyed and burnt. i have periods every 2 to 3 weeks. i have been experiencing mood swings worse than normal. i am a working wife and mother. my life is stressful. i was recently diagnosed with anxiety attacks. my latest attack included difficulty breathing, uncontrolable body shakes, an out of it feeling, and a hot flash that didn’t go away. that was when i was diagnosed with anxiety attacks. is it possible that menopause is causing these attacks or am i just losing my mind? what are some symptoms of menopause. docs keeping telling me i’m too young for menopause but i don’t believe them. anyone else with anything like this please give me input or any docs please answer my question. only serious answers please. thanks
i was diagnosed last week but they put me on atenolol because i have high blood pressure also. this is supposed to lower my blood pressure, heart rate and adrenalin but i was higher than a kite all day the next day from it so i didn’t take anymore. i’m supposed to go back to the doctor thursday. hopefully they can give me something different to help me. my blood pressure isn’t extremely high anyway just a little bit.

I am exhausted all the time, can’t seem to stay up past 10, I have no energy at all, very irritable, everything is pissing me off, I get dizzy and light headed, I get what almost seems to be a hot flash, I go from fine to sweating in like 2 seconds.

I’m only 22, so I know it’s not menopause. I have 2 kids, but I don’t remember this kind of stuff until later in the pregnancy whith both of them.

My mom is 49 years old and has been having sudden anxiety/depression. She describes what sounds to be like a hot flash combined with sudden anxiety and panic. She went to the MD and was tested for elevated estrogen/progesterone/luteinizing hormone, but all were within normal limits. IS it possible to be starting menopause without having elevated hormones?

About 6 months ago I had a tubal ligation.. and I’ve been miserable ever since! My cycle time between periods has shortened considerably, it has gotten MUCH heavier and my period has lengthen to a week (up from 4 days). I’ve also been experiencing heart palpatations, and I had a hot flash the other day. I’m 38… which seems young to be going into peri-menopause doesn’t it? I’ve spoken to the surgeon that performed the surgery and my family practioner about this and they both act like I am nuts! One says that having a tubal should not change anything other than the ability to get pregnant, the other says it’s all in my head. This IS NOT all in my head! Can anyone share their experiences with me? Do you think I could be going through perimenopause or did my tubal screw my body up?
The surgeon was male, the family praticioner is female.

almost every night usually when im awake either in bed or watching tv with my boyfriend i will start to sweat and feel pretty hot but my skin will actually be cold and sometimes clammy…i wondering if im have night sweats or a hot flash or if im too young to be having them? if they aren’t what i think they r then what do you think could be wrong?
its not hiv/aids…i have been tested.
just two months ago actually…and i have had only one sex partner ever

I’m 51 and I think I’m past it except the "hot flashes" and I’m not sure if I even believe the whole hot flash thing. Any Post-Menopausal ladies out there?