http://lightsabove.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] lightsabove.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] vaginapagina2012-02-11 04:44 pm
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Hot Flashes

Some background first. I am 22, 23 in April, and am on Lo/Ovral birth control pills. I have tried different types of BCP, and have even tried the Nuva Ring (which was a horrible decision because of mood swings and unable to function in a day to day setting, plus yeast infections).

I have always had bad hot flashes. I know it's normal to get them with your period, but I still feel really young, and feel that it's too much.

I wake up multiple times a night from hot flashes. During the day, I have at least 4 or 5 a day the week of my placebo pills, plus maybe a day before and after.

Is there something I can do to lessen these symptoms? Is this something I should get checked out?
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archangelbeth: An egyptian-inspired eye, centered between feathered wings. (Eye in the Pyrawings)

[personal profile] archangelbeth 2012-02-12 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
I would suggest getting things checked out, yes. Estrogen, progesterone, and thyroid levels, would be my suggestions.

Good luck!

[identity profile] helenkacan.livejournal.com 2012-02-12 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
I don't know where you were told that it's normal to get hot flashes during a period. They're common when someone is going through perimenopause and menopause, though not everyone gets them.

As [livejournal.com profile] archangelbeth suggested, you should get your hormones and thyroid checked out. The usual way is to get blood drawn at a lab with a doctor's requisition which will usually have a number of boxes ticked off for what the doctor wants checked. The lab may need to draw more than one vial of blood, so you should be prepared for that. 8 hours of fasting is also commonly required.

One tip, though, to produce veins that can easily be coaxed to accept a needle is to drink PLENTY of water the day you're having the blood drawn.

If you're specifically getting the hot flashes during your placebo week, then perhaps you can discuss the possibility of going on the 3-month-at-a-time hbc (sorry, can't remember if that's Seasonique? or Seasonale?) so that the hormone levels remain at a more constant level for at least three months.

Good luck, because hot flashes are no fun when one is older. I'd hate to imagine how frustrating it would be to have them at a much younger age.
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