Could someone describe "hot flashes"

[TrogL]

I don't feel well. I've been getting wierd sensations starting last night.

I would be sitting doing nothing in particular, then I would get a wierd sensation of something amiss in my head, followed by a strong sensation that I cannot describe but feels vaguely like the startup of a seizure (I had them on Wellbutrin), then sort of tingling all over, then a kind of hot rush, followed by a kind of cold rush, then nausea then just feeling kind of strange.

I don't think it's a seizure because moments after one, I was able to hold my own in a technical discussion of unfamiliar material. After a seizure (see above) I would be out of it for at least half an hour.

I'm off to the doctor right now, but wanted to check experiences against someone else.

[Tosca]

1. Have you been exposed to alot of Republicans lately?

Good you're going to your doctor.

[southpaw]

2. Doesn't sound like hot flashes...

From what I've been told (I'm a guy...)

Hope the doc can get things straightened out for ya. That sounds scary.

[slutticus]

3. I had hot flashes on Wellbutrin...

...Defenitly hot-flashes. Kind of a hot/cold feeling with a prickly feeling all over. I would also get very flushed in my face and on my chest. Very hard to discribe. But never any seizures.

[geniph]

4. You aren't by any chance taking Effexor, are you?

Effexor is notorious for causing just that kind of sensation.

And no, that's not what a hot flash is like - a hot flash is like you've suddenly been dropped into an oven set to high broil.

[TrogL]

13. The only think I'm on is Xanax (see below)

[put out]

5. The wonderful fun-filled world of menopause.

I gather menopause might not be your problem. I hope all is O.K. for you. That sounds miserable.

But if you really want to know what a hot flash is like (for me):

feeling of anxiety, then

feeling as though you are having a sudden onset of fever, even your eyes feel hot

feeling sweat, including arms and legs as well as the usual sweaty parts

feeling as though your skin is vibrating and trying to jump or crawl off your body

waiting for two or three minutes for all this to subside

feeling chilled, and realizing you probably smell like a ferret now

maintaining a calm demeanor all the while

repeat
repeat
repeat...especially fun when it happens all night long. Double fun when it happens during a professional moment.

I hope you are well, and can get down to the source of these troubling sensations.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. A feeling of heat spreading out from the midsection

followed by being absolutely drenched in sweat, usually in the predawn hours or when I'm out in a public social situation.

Definitely the worst part of growing older so far.

[pink-o]

8. That's classified as "night sweats"

I know, cuz that's when I get 'em too. It usually affects me from the chest upwards, but the persperation pours off me like water.

The Welbutrin reaction sounds more like drug side effects than menopausal symptoms. Believe me, Ladies, you'll know when you're experiencing Hot Flashes, just like you know when you're pregnant even before you get the test results.

The worst about the Sweats is it's never predictable. You can go for months without one, then it's night after night of soaking sheets.

Boyfriend isn't thrilled with it, but I told him it was Karma for all the times women had to sleep in the wet spot:nopity:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. I had the very same type of experience...

What you described sounds like the experience I had when I first started having anxiety attacks, when they were very small ones, just enough to be disturbing and make me wonder what the heck was going on. It is not uncommon for them to happen when you are just sitting there, not under stress of any kind.

When you are peri/menopausal, a type of random anxiety is very common for women due to the shifting hormones. It can be just enough to be annoying or bad enough to lead to full blown panic attacks. Anxiety and depression are two of the most common hormonal symptoms of midlife change.

My experience with hot flashes is mostly night sweats (waking up dripping wet in my chest/torso area), though I've had some incredibly bad ones triggered by anxiety attacks. These flashes left my skin feeling tingley and so hot I felt like an old-fashioned hot dog in boiling water about to burst my casing.

[TrogL]

9. Give the winner a kewpie doll

The doctor diagnosed unconscious panic attacks. He had already been prescibing meds for panic attacks but I'd been skipping doses because I felt OK. He said stay on it for awhile.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

10. Damn!

I hate being right. ;)

Anxiety/panic attacks suck big time, expecially the ones related to the girlie time of life. They can be even trickier cause they have a hormonal mind of their own that can sometimes be resistent to the cognitive behavior techniques one usually uses for anxiety.

There is a great site called www.power-surge.com that has discussion boards where the gals talk about their various midlife symptoms and issues. The anxiety and depression boards are the busiest -- that tells you a lot. It can be very helpful seeing other women who are going through the same thing. :)

Glad to hear your doc is on the case -- anxiety in women is blown off or misdiagnosed by too many doctors.

Hoep you feel better! :hi:

[havocmom]

16. TrogL, Panic attacks can cause mild to moderate shock response in some

and it is unpleasant in the extreme, I know.

Don't back off on your meds until told to. Takes time for the meds to 'teach' the body a different response. Might be helpful to keep a little notebook for jotting down when you feel odd/bad. Sometimes we can notice patterns which will help suggest what changes we need to make in what we do.

I had all your complaints plus the oddest bruising pattern though no injury. Would start in extremities and was usually pretty symmetrical. Looked Like someone beat me with a bat in a systematic pattern. Would go on for weeks and end up with matching bruises on both sides of my ribcage.

Hope your meds keep you feeling better.

[TrogL]

11. Would everyone on this thread please check my profile?

Last time I looked, I was male.

*looks down*

Yup.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. When I saw this thread I wondered why a guy would ask that...

:) Pat me on the back for knowing your gender without looking.

:hi:

Glad you are okay!

[havocmom]

17. LOL I did check your profile and immediately suspected panic attacks

but there have been articles of late about men with hot flashes and my husband gets them sometimes. He is so sweet, wants to give me a break form them once in awhile, so I think he has convinced his body to have them occassionally. :D

Just to rule it out, you don't live in an area with skitters who carry malaria, do you?

[OnionPatch]

14. I doubt you're having hot flashes then

unless someone implanted a uterus and some aging ovaries into you.

It does sound a little like a hot flash (I am quite familiar with them, unfortunately.)

[yellowcanine]

15. What Robin Williams had when his bra caught on fire in Mrs. Doubtfire.

One of the all time funniest movie scenes ever.