Hot Flushes - Prostate Cancer hormone therapy
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Here are my own observations at week five into LH hormone therapy.
> After a faltering start I settled into three or so mild hot flushes a day with some at night.
> The worst part for me is that shortly after the onset of a flush my memory is impaired and logical thought becomes confused. I could live with the fuzzy feeling in my head if that was all. This impairment lasts about one hour after the flush subsides. So I cannot do much sensible work or play the piano without making a hash of it and frequently forgetting how to continue the piece I am playing.
> I have found the advice to keep cool helpful. So I wear lighter clothes than formerly and try to keep a feeling of being slightly cold. I don't like that but it is better than a flush.
> I have accepted the advice of many that exercise is helpful. Amongst other benefits it is held to assist in limiting hot flushes. So in addition to my afternoon stroll with my wife (I.5 to 2 mph) I now take two brisk walks a week on my own. (3 to 3.5 mph - I used to manage over 4 mph). Again picking up on advice relating to hormone treatment I have added home devised power exercises with chest expander spring and hurrying up and down the stairs six times in succession. Plus, pelvic floor exercises in anticipation of radiotherapy.
> I found that stress, warming exercise excluded, frequently brings on a flush.
DISCOVERY or just something I had missed.
> I have found that if during a flush if I do some exercise that I know from experience will be enough to warm me, when I stop I cool down normally and so cut short the flush. (I must cool down. If I stay warm the flush takes off again within a few minutes.) My flushes normally last about 90 minutes. For me the effective exercising is
>> six times rapidly up and down stairs.
>> five minutes brisk walking
> If I do this exercising within about 60 seconds of the start of the flush I avoid the memory and logic problems. (Any delay and the problems last the usual hour after the end of the excerising / flush. )
Does anyone use a similar "cure" for a flush? Does it work for anyone else?
0 likes, 8 replies
alfred5 georgeGG
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georgeGG alfred5
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Anyway, I hope the answer to your question is a help. The rest I hope is encouraging, but I don't expect you really needed it. Wishing you both all the best.
alfred5 georgeGG
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ken47739 georgeGG
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My Zoladex treatment started in June 2011 and almost immediately the hot flushes began. Mine were particularly noticeable during the night, waking me at least 3 times every night, then sitting on the edge of the bed for 10 minutes until it subsided. The flushes during the day were just embarassing. I have tried t6he herbal remedies, Evening Primrose, everything in the local Pharmacy for Menopause, Homeopathy and Acupuncture. To be honest none of these seemed to have any benefit, but who knows if it would have been worse without these.
My 2 years of Zoladex (this followed Surgery and Radiotherapy) ended July 2013, I still get hot flushes although the intensity seems to be reducing.
I found exercise helpful, especially as I bought light weight walking shirts and trousers. Around the house I wear light shirts most of the year. I have been told that alcohol and coffee should be avoided.
I do find that concentration on crosswords or sudoku do seem to bring a flush on. I haven't noticed any change in concentration prior to or after a flush. My wife might disagree!!
I improved a small amount when I became less concerned about other people's reaction. In the early days I was flying on scheduled flights and worried that the passenger next to me thought I might have the plague or something nasty.
I hope this helps, but never forget that the alternative could be seriously worse.
Ken
georgeGG ken47739
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georgeGG
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When my first bottle of tincture ran out I used capsules of sage oil which I had on hand. The standard dose of one capsule was ineffective as was four capsules. Six capsules seemed to work but I stopped taking the capsules after the first dose of six. I became loudly agitated and pathetically weepy. It came on suddenly at full strength and stopped suddenly. It was totally horrible. in between I was pathetically sad. This wore off in about four hours. The flushes were preferable. Two days later my order of Tincture of Sage arrived, much to my relief.
ken47739 georgeGG
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I heard yesterday that my PSA is still zero and my testosterone is back to normal. The hot flushes continue but are less severe. I am a really lucky guy.
Met somebody last week who was given 5 years to live after prostate cancer diagnosis, that was 14 years ago!!
Best wishes for the future.
Ken
cliff77640 georgeGG
Posted