Solution for hot flashes

I had put up with this long enough. I never know when they will strike. For a while venlafaxine helped. But they hit me at the most inopportune moments. Usually I'll pick up a magazine to fan myself. Or use my hat. Often I've had to get up from the dinner table, go into the bathroom and pull off my shirt to fan myself. And I'm dripping wet.

Finally something occurred to me, and I mentioned to my wife that I should get one of those Japanese folding fans. Why hadn't I thought of this sooner? She gave me one of several she had... it's light blue (PCa colors?) with a little lace trim. Not terribly feminine, but I shopped on Amazon and ordered several more masculine looking fans. Most were far too large to take with me.

But this one is just the right size... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/b07d7xpscr/ ... it's black and comes in a slender carrying case and is short enough to carry in my trouser pocket. So I can pull it out and fan myself for a minute. That's usually all I need. And my shirt stays dry.

After two and a half years, these SE's aren't getting any better. Looks like I'll be 'coping' for quite a while.

Hi RobLee
Sorry to hear you are still suffering from the hot flashes. I know I will probably sound like a broken record, but soy milk really helped me. I drank 3 or 4 glasses a day, alternating between regular and chocolate. I don't know if it was just in my head, but it did seem to minimize the hot flashes.

Thanks guys. As mentioned in my OP, venlafaxine really helped for a year or so... I'd say a 50% reduction in the intensity and frequency. Most importantly it stabilized my moods tremendously. It's been a complicated journey with multiple medical problems exacerbating some conditions and contraindicating some treatments.

Immediately after concluding RT, a mass was discovered in my pharynx from inflammation of a cranial nerve and I was taking 1,800mg Gabapentin for several months. I had to "ramp up" and later taper back down. Unfortunately there was not much noticeable affect on the hot flashes. If there was, I was too zonked out to tell the difference. I still take 300-600mg some nights for RLS.**

Last summer another mass was found, this one in my abdomen and had a bowel resection. Thereafter I had to severely restrict many food groups... dairy, veggies, many fruits, anything fried, and chocolate. Used to love fruity yogurt. Now the combination of radiation colitis with the short bowel syndrome cause frequent "surprises". There is a med I take for that too but it's quite inconvenient.

**darn it... wish my posts didn't always turn out to be so lengthy. Anyway, the RLS started as soon as I started venlafaxine. After the last surgery I was also anemic and have been on lots of supplements, including magnesium and iron... which many folk remedies rely on those as causes of RLS or PLMD. Anyway, Mg contributes to the bowel incontinence so that's out... yeah, I know about soaking in epsom salt or mag cream.

My RO now retired plus several guys here have recommended female hormones for hot flashes but my GP says no. And with my T already being so out of whack I don't want to mess with it even more. Next PSA & T is next month, with the usual anxiety. My 18 month Lupron sentence was to have ended a year ago. So for now it's just adapt and cope, hence the hand fan. Okay, I know I'm a wuss. Let's just say that I'm in touch with my feminine side.

Rob, sounds like your hot flashes are of the “extreme” variety. I hope they become less intense soon.

I’ve never had a flash that soaked thru my shirt. When I do get a flash I just take out my bandana handkerchief and wipe my face. I’m lucky I guess, still seems bothersome.