Constantly hot

[LilStep]

For the past 3 weeks, I have been having hot flashes that come and go all day long. I get them during the day and at night. Has anybody else had any of this? I don't know if it's due to my MS or if it's the beginning stages of Menopause. I just turned 47. I never heard of hot flashes during the day for menopause only at night, but I guess it could be.

Just don't know if this is something I need to contact my neuro about or my GP. Also, when I get these hot flashes I have a hard time breathing and it feels like my insides are on fire. Weird thing is, I even break a sweat on my forehead. I am not on any meds at the time, so I know it can't be that.

If anyone has any advise or has had something similar, please respond. Thanks

[Redwings]

If you're not taking any meds -- and aren't withdrawing from any meds -- menopause and perimenopause are at the top of the suspect list for your hot flashes. MS isn't known to affect hormone levels so isn't a suspect in causing hormonally based hot flashes. It is possible that MS could be affecting the temperature control center of your autonomic nervous system, but that isn't as likely as a hormonal cause related to menopause or perimenopause. 47 isn't too young for menopause/perimenopause.

In medicine, the most likely cause of signs/symptoms is investigated first (with the exception of the most potentially lethal). It's a simple matter for your GP or GYN to run some hormone tests to investigate that possibility first. Another reason to investigate a hormonal cause first is that it's relatively easy to treat, if you choose to. A third reason to check hormones first is that it will be helpful for your neuro to know that a hormonal cause has already been ruled out.

With those considerations, your neuro isn't the specialist to contact first. If the hormone tests don't offer any clues about the hot flashes, then an MS cause can be brought up with your neuro. An autonomic cause will be more difficult to manage, so it's beneficial to investigate all of the simpler causes/solutions first.

By the way, hormonally based hot flashes aren't limited to night time. They come on any time they feel like it. And breaking a sweat during hormonally based hot flashes isn't weird -- it's quite common. When I had hot flashes after Novantrone knocked out my hormones, my bangs and the hair around my neck used to drip with perspiration. One website describes a hot flash as: "the sudden, intense, hot feeling on your face and upper body, perhaps preceded or accompanied by a rapid heartbeat and sweating, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, headache, weakness, or a feeling of suffocation."

Even if your hot flashes aren't hormonal, sweating and heartbeat/respiration changes are the body's typical response to feeling hot. it would be weird if you were feeling hot and your body didn't respond that way.

[Temagami]

I went through menopause at that age and the flashes can come anytime. I am still having a now and again wave of heat and wonder what the cause may be as I was done, done, done. Well, if it is menopause, you can look forward to the carefree days of never again worrying about that type of surprise.

[LilStep]

Thanks for responding. I am calling my GP today to schedule testing. I need some relief. I am so hot all the time. This is causing me to have a flare up.