I had a hysterectomy and began HRT Premarin .625. I had a very good quality of life with few to no hot flashes. Due to the recent studies that show that Premarin increases the chance for heart attack and stroke, both my gynecologist and family doctor have advised that I not take the medication anymore. My dosage was reduced to .45 daily, then decreased over a year until I was totally off Premarin. I have now been totally off Premarin for 2 months. I have multiple hot flashes. I do not sleep well. I never had blood pressure issues at all until I starting decreasing Premarin. Now I am forced to take blood pressure meds. I feel that my quality of life is completely gone. I am 62 and cannot continue without some type of hot flash help! I'm ready to go back on Premarin and take my changes.

I am 63 and still have hot flashes, most notably at night. I had breast cancer at 59. I did not go through chemo or radiation. I am healthy, employed, active, and happy. I believe that the breast cancer occurred from hormone replacement therapy prescribed to me for nine years -- four of them in combination form -- to stop my menstrual cycle. When I tried to go off the hormones, I would suffer from extreme hot flashes. Looking back now, I would choose that over breast cancer. I also believe that progestin in hormone replacement is not the same as progesterone (which protects), and that is what caused the breast cancer. Other women need to know this!

I can't accept living with these miserable hot flashes 20 times a day and through the night. I don't smoke or have cancer in my family, but even if I did I would still demand my Prempro. It's about my quality of life. Having severe hot flashes 24/7 is not a life I am willing to accept to live with. Stick up for yourself and do not let these doctors walk all over you because they fear blame for you deciding what your body needs. I know what works and what does not work for me. I do my own research thoroughly and can decide much better than some doctor who saw me for a whole 10 minutes what I need and what risks I am willing to take. Stick up for yourself and claim your life back. I do, and am better off for it.

I started the hot/cold flashes about 2 years ago. I am now 42. My periods were ever changing in the past 2 years and I just prayed that the end was near...Now, I have been without a period for 2 straight months. YIPPEEE!!! I have not had a pap smear in probably 12 years going on 13. Saw no need. Husband dead, daughter grown, and on my own. My sister is 10 yrs older than I am and she still has the flashes, but her period ended over a year ago. Hope a year from now that the period is done for me too. Plan to start taking black cohosh again to see if it will help with the flashes.

I started getting them out of the blue two weeks ago. I'm 51 exercise regularly, (20 miles a week jogging), and eat well--I actually cook meals with ingredients like lentils. I'll get maybe seven hot flashes per day, little mini flashes that last a minute or so and I sweat. But it's kind of neat actually, and I don't see this a problem that needs to be fixed. I am eager to try black cohosh as I've read so much about it.

I had a hysterectomy in 1988 and now, more than 20 years later, I am still plagued with hot flashes and night sweats. They have basically ruined my life because I can't go out of air conditioning during the summer for more than a few minutes at a time or I sweat until I soak my clothes. I have been to numerous doctors to no avail. Anything above 60-65 degrees and I am wringing in sweat. I pray every night for relief, but none has been forthcoming. I don't believe that doctors take this condition seriously.

I never know when they will hit me. But I keep a small fan behind my desk at work going all the time. That helps. Hot green tea seems to help. I find that chocolate brings on the flashes also.