Evening primrose oil

Posted , 8 users are following.

I was wondering if anyone has taken evening primrose oil to help with hot flushes and had success? I had a check up with my oncologist the other day and because I can't take HRT he told me to try the primrose. He did say it doesn't work for everyone, but it might be worth a try.

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  • Posted

    Hi raggydoll.I'm 5 weeks post op tah ovaries removed too.I'm doing really well apart from bad night sweats (not sure what the difference between night sweats and hot flushes are).I toss and turn all night in and out of the covers.I've been taking evening primrose oil for about 2 weeks but not notice any difference yet.fingers crossed I will.Karen x
  • Posted

    Try organic black cohosh ,or see a bio identical doctor, read books , it must be my hormones , get educated , you can take charge of your health , HRT is not safe it's horse hormone,  I am seeing a bio identical doctor, have your adrenal and cortisol check . 
  • Posted

    I've not tried Eve Primrose but before my op and now I take 1000mg of Starflower Oil daly (I get mine from Holland and Barrett), it is supposed to be much more powerful than the Primrose Oil. It certainly works for me, my mood swings and low spells were dreadful but this does seem to have sorted it. I retained my ovaries xx
    • Posted

      Ps. although I use it mainly for moods it is used for all menopause symptoms xx
  • Posted

    Evening Primrose didn't work for me, neither did any of the Chemist shelf remedies except Sage tablets, they worked after 2 weeks of taking them but after a couple of months I started to feel really sick so stopped taking them and the sickness went BUT the hot flushes have come back.  I am currently wearing a magnet recommended to me by a friend in England (I live in Australia).

    hasnt started to to work for me yet though so I won't recommend it until I have worn it longer!  I see my Oncologist at the end of this month and I will go on HRT - I can't go on like this - I hardly get any sleep and I work full time - my FAH was at the end of October.  Anybody else got any suggestions for hot flushes?

     

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  • Posted

    Thank you for your replies, I can't take black cohosh because Ive had breast cancer. The only alternative my oncologist suggested was Evening primrose oil. I can't take anything without checking with her first. I could have something prescribed but I would like to try an alternative first, I don't really want to add to my list of prescribed meds if I can help it. Kazandnell, hot flushes are like feeling you are on fire without sweating, hot sweats are when your hot and sweating, some ladies wake up soaked during the night, I'm hoping this never happens to me, feeling boiling hot is bad enough rolleyes
  • Posted

    Hi Raggydoll

    I haven't had my op yet, but I have had the menopause, I'm 64 now.  I was on HRT when we moved out to Spain to live, but I didn't know that they do not believe in it out there, and also I did not know that when you come off of HRT you are straight into the menopause.  I always thought you got away with it, that it was all happening in your body but the HRT took away all the symptoms!  How stupid was I!  Anyway to get to the point, I was in a very bad way, sent to the hospital and the lovely Consultant said to me, "I am going to shock you, you will not like it, but if you do what I recommend you will stop all the very bad symptoms within about a month!"  Then he proceeded to tell me to give up alcohol, caffeine, sugar and take 1,000 dose of Evening Primrose Oil twice a day until the symptoms stop then reduce to 1,000 dose.  After 3 weeks all symptoms were gone, but oh boy did I have withdrawal symptoms from caffeine.  I only used to have three cups of coffee a day but it took 6 months for me to get over that one!  Alcohol was easy which really surprised me, (it seemed to upset my friends more than me!).  I have since gone on to give up wheat, gluten and dairy products.  I feel amazing, the healthiest I have ever been.  just need the surgery to stitch my bladder and bowel back in place and I shall be good to go!  Sorry to have gone on at length but wanted to give you the history just in case you wanted to go all out to beat those horrible symptoms of menopause.  

    Good luck

    Jacqui smile

     

    • Posted

      Hi Jacqui, thank you. I don't drink alcohol so that's not a problem but caffeine is another story eek

      Good luck with your surgery xx

    • Posted

      Hi Raggydoll

      Many thanks.  I agree caffeine is quite a story, don't know where I found the strength from, but I was so low, I think I would have tried anything! frown

      One thing I forgot to mention about the Evening Primrose Oil, don't take any for a fortnight before surgery or a fortnight after surgery.  It increases bleeding.  rolleyes

      Love

      Jacqui lol

    • Posted

      Hi Raggydoll 

      Hope you will soon notice some difference.  I have just stopped mine today.  I am having cataract surgery soon, so am getting ready.  The Hysterectomy now has a 4.5 - 6 month waiting list, which I was really upset with but now have been told my cataracts are most urgent so perhaps it was meant to be!  He! he! no fun this getting older (65 next month!) everything is going south or falling apart!  cryAh well hubby still loves me and Rosie the Shih Tzu! lol

      Hope you will soon be feeling heaps better.

      Love

      Jacqui razz

    • Posted

      Ah, thank you Jacqui. I'm hoping they work. Up to 6 months for your hysterectomy eek goodness me!! Fingers crossed you get an appointment soon, the waiting isn't fun. I'm 48 this month and since my cancer diagnosis, my body has been falling apart, so I know what you mean rolleyes.

      Ive got a 3 year old Shih Tzu called Charlie biggrin

    • Posted

      Hi Raggydoll

      Have they managed to get all your cancer with the op?  I really hope so.  Fingers crossed.   I think we need lots of Blu-tack to hold us together!wink

      Rosie is very interested in your Charlie, she sends love and licks to him.  She is a bit of a hussy on the quiet! redface Aren't Shih Tzus just the sweetest dogs!  We had always had Newfoundlands before (they are just very big babies!) but Rosie is so sweet.  We rescued her from a Puppy Mill, awful story, but she is certainly enjoying life now.lol

      Love

      Jacqui 

    • Posted

      Hi Jacqui, It was breast cancer I had which was diagnosed in Nov 2011. Since then Ive had quite a few surgeries including a double mastectomy and reconstrusction, which still needs to be finished. Ive also had chemo and radiotherapy...then I had a full hysterectomy. Ive got one more (hopefully) surgery to go this year, then with all the will in the world, I should be on the road to recovery.

      Charlie sends love & licks back to your Rosie cheesygrin He is partial to the occasional hussy lol He was my end of chemo gift off my family, so he's extra special (bit of a mommy's boy)

      Deb x

    • Posted

      Hi Deb and Charlie 

      Gosh you are so brave, so much you have had to deal with.  Your family must have been through hell as well as you.  I just hope after your next op to come you can start your journey to recovery and a good life ahead, you and your family really deserve it.  

      What a fantastic present, cannot think of anything better than Charlie, a very good choice.  razz  

      Rosie is a Mummy's girl too, she says she is wearing pink to make Charlie wink!  lol

      Love

      Jacqui and Princess Rosie 

    • Posted

      Hi Jacqui, I don't think of myself as being brave..I just got on with what I needed to do to survive. There are, sadly, lots of people much worse off than me who don't come out the other end. Yes its been very tough, but I'm here and very thankful for every morning I wake up cheesygrin

      Hahaha Charlie enjoyed the wink wink

      Deb xx

    • Posted

      Hi Deb

      I love your attitude,lol still say you are very brave, and this site is brilliant because it shows that with strength, determination and a 'lot of luck'  you can pull through and win the battle.  The Hyster Sisters here are a great pick me up for me when all I have to moan about is 'where is my op' it teaches me that I am very very lucky just to need everything stitched back in place!  When people used to quote at me 'everything starts going south' after 60, I never realised they meant literally!  

      Rosie sends a big kissy and licks to Charlie. rolleyes I think it must be the spring air, she is definitely thinking about 'boys!'

      Love

      Jacqui lol

    • Posted

      Haha lol Rosie sounds a bit frisky.

      Thank you for the compliment. Its amazing that you can find strength when its most needed.

      Love

      Deb xx

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