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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 6/9/2016 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hey guys....when the flash is on, what's your go-to in a pinch?
My son's Fanklin book is the perfect hand fan!
Posted 6/9/2016 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
A small electric fan nearby.....Some of the guys have found drugs that seem to work for them....But my Doc says these drugs have a side-effect potential worse than the hot flashes..Hopefully, you won't be on ADT very long...
Posted 6/9/2016 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Newton451,

Been on continuous ADT shots for the past three years, ever since diagnosis ...

Some simple tips that have worked for me and other "Battle Brothers" who are friends of mine ...

Drumroll, please ... here we go ...

First of all, for hot flashes and night sweats ... no substitute for a ceiling fan or room fan ...

For those night sweats ... cool cotton sheets and cool cotton pillowcases ... you can put double cases on each pillow, to protect your pillows.

Glass full of ICE WATER, next to your bed, in case you wake up in the night with a hot flash ... keep a glass of ice water handy throughout the day, at home or at work, as well.

I have heard of some fellows keeping frozen ice packs next to their bedside, which they use for some "quick and cool relief" for troublesome night sweats, in the middle of the night ...

As far as clothing ... what works VERY well for me ... wear a very light athletic t-shirt during the day, with a button-down Oxford "wrinkle free" cotton shirt over the top --- roll up the sleeves and adjust the buttons for cool, casual comfort throughout the day --- works for most social occasions, too.

Even better, wear a LIGHT BLUE Oxford --- and remind your friends and work colleagues that light blue symbolizes the fight against prostate cancer ! Some businesses and corporations have adopted "Light Blue Oxford Shirt" days to promote prostate cancer awareness !

Some quick and easy tips to cope with hot flashes and night sweats !

All my BEST, from here in the MIDWEST,

Iowa State University ~ CYCLONE FAN
Posted 6/9/2016 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
I would keep a small handheld electric fan with me whenever possible. I also found that taking gabapentin had a small benefit. It didn't make them go away but it may have lessened the effect by 10-20%.
Posted 6/9/2016 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
I am taking 600mg of Gabapentin (Neurontin) daily and it has taken the thermonuclear spikes out of the hot flashes, but they are still there all day. Night time is the worst with the flashes and the sweats so a fan is always on. I was waking up constantly at night pulling covers up and then wake up and put them down when the flash came. Based on some medical advice, I started taking a medicinal marijuana gummy bear (5mgTHC) and I have slept well since and I don't wake up with the flashes and the sweats. They still happen, I just sleep better through them. It has also helped with other pains I have. I do not use the gummy bears any other time of day. -JR
Posted 6/9/2016 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Fans are my friends. I have them in our living room, bedroom, on my desk at work.

Megace helped me quite a bit with the hot flashes. Cut them by about 50%. I'm off of it now, seeing how I get by without it since my T level is rising to a modest degree already. So far so good. But at the worst of them, the Megace was helpful.
Posted 6/9/2016 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
I've said this over and over . Nobody's listening! The estradiol patch changed twice weekly does the trick!
Bob
Posted 6/10/2016 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
All good ideas guys. For bed, I have a fan and ac if need be. Doc gave me some sort of sleeping pills. They work well but I always have a taste of metal in my mouth when I take one. Water tastes like crap. I have 2 fans in the garage on my workbench. At work is the worst. I am in so many different places in meetings all day and all I can do then is grab some papers and start fanning myself.
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