Hot flashes and night sweats keep waking me up during the night so I'm really tired. Hot flashes are really bad during the day, as well. I know I can't do hormone replacement therapy b/c it can cause seizures. Anyone have suggestions on things that work and are safe for those of us who have epilepsy.
Perimenopause
- Thread starter Music36
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Are your seizures definitely triggered by estrogen spikes? If they aren't, then HRT might be okay to try. And see below, from: http://www.epilepsy.com/information/women/menopause-and-epilepsy
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And you might try taking a hops supplement. See: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25982391
However, if your seizures are estrogen-related, then you should proceed with caution, since it's the phytoestrogens in hops that help with menopausal symptoms.
However, if your seizures are estrogen-related, then you should proceed with caution, since it's the phytoestrogens in hops that help with menopausal symptoms.
Hi Music36,
I know this may sound crazy but try eating almonds or lightly salted nuts I did this when I went through my change and I found out that their was some progesterone in
the nuts and that helped me out a lot. Another thing you can do if you are interested is
buy some natural progesterone at a natural food store it is made up of wild yams and peanut oil so don't use it if you are allergic to either of these foods. If you can use it just rub the cream on your skin once or twice a day and see if it helps you out. I wish you only the best of luck and May God Bless You!
Sue
I know this may sound crazy but try eating almonds or lightly salted nuts I did this when I went through my change and I found out that their was some progesterone in
the nuts and that helped me out a lot. Another thing you can do if you are interested is
buy some natural progesterone at a natural food store it is made up of wild yams and peanut oil so don't use it if you are allergic to either of these foods. If you can use it just rub the cream on your skin once or twice a day and see if it helps you out. I wish you only the best of luck and May God Bless You!
Sue
Nakamova,
I believe some of my seizures are triggered by estrogen spikes. I would always get seizures during PMS and menstruation. I had epilepsy surgery last summer and it was successful. I only have auras now and I just have them occasionally. I would not want to do anything to mess that up. I would not do hormone replacement therapy even if I did not have epilepsy because I'm already at higher risk for breast cancer.
I have read about Neurontin being used to treat menopausal symptoms. I was on that med 20 years ago for a short period of time. It did not reduce my seizures and had me drugged out so I went off it. I wonder how effective it is with menopausal symptoms. I would have to find out if it would interact well with my seizure meds (Tegretol and Keppra).
I'm wondering if there are natural ways that will help and not effect seizures or seizure meds or cause cancer. I know diet is a factor. I don't drink alcohol and I rarely drink caffeine. I have an occasional iced tea.
I believe some of my seizures are triggered by estrogen spikes. I would always get seizures during PMS and menstruation. I had epilepsy surgery last summer and it was successful. I only have auras now and I just have them occasionally. I would not want to do anything to mess that up. I would not do hormone replacement therapy even if I did not have epilepsy because I'm already at higher risk for breast cancer.
I have read about Neurontin being used to treat menopausal symptoms. I was on that med 20 years ago for a short period of time. It did not reduce my seizures and had me drugged out so I went off it. I wonder how effective it is with menopausal symptoms. I would have to find out if it would interact well with my seizure meds (Tegretol and Keppra).
I'm wondering if there are natural ways that will help and not effect seizures or seizure meds or cause cancer. I know diet is a factor. I don't drink alcohol and I rarely drink caffeine. I have an occasional iced tea.
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Porkette,
I have almond milk with my cereal b/c I can't tolerate regular milk. I have IBS. Do you know if almond milk is helpful? I also don't eat spicy food b/c of the IBS which I know is also bad for hot flashes. I do have a major sweet tooth so it is difficult for me to reduce sugar intake and sugar also can aggravate hot flashes.
I have almond milk with my cereal b/c I can't tolerate regular milk. I have IBS. Do you know if almond milk is helpful? I also don't eat spicy food b/c of the IBS which I know is also bad for hot flashes. I do have a major sweet tooth so it is difficult for me to reduce sugar intake and sugar also can aggravate hot flashes.
Hi Music36,
I know that foods with soy will always trigger seizures for me but everyone is different. In regards to almond milk I can't tell you for sure if that will help reduce your seizures. I just started drinking it about 2 wks ago and I love it.
One thing you may want to try is "cold water therapy" What you have to do is put a cold washcloth on your face and the back of your neck 3 times a day at the same time and anytime you get a warning you are going to have a seizure. I was in a medical study and they also told me to take my temperature 3 times a day at the same time and each time before I felt a seizure coming on and keep track of the temperature and seizures. After they studied it they found my temp. was a couple degrees higher right before any seizures but when I put the cold washcloth on my face and neck that in turn calmed the neurons down so it wouldn't trigger seizures. You may want to give it a try and it won't cost you anything but a little time. I wish you only the best of luck and God Bless You!
Sue
I know that foods with soy will always trigger seizures for me but everyone is different. In regards to almond milk I can't tell you for sure if that will help reduce your seizures. I just started drinking it about 2 wks ago and I love it.
One thing you may want to try is "cold water therapy" What you have to do is put a cold washcloth on your face and the back of your neck 3 times a day at the same time and anytime you get a warning you are going to have a seizure. I was in a medical study and they also told me to take my temperature 3 times a day at the same time and each time before I felt a seizure coming on and keep track of the temperature and seizures. After they studied it they found my temp. was a couple degrees higher right before any seizures but when I put the cold washcloth on my face and neck that in turn calmed the neurons down so it wouldn't trigger seizures. You may want to give it a try and it won't cost you anything but a little time. I wish you only the best of luck and God Bless You!
Sue
Porkette,
I think you may misunderstand me. I read that almonds can help with hot flashes so I was wondering if almond milk can also help with hot flashes. My seizures are now under control thanks to surgery last year so they are not an issue. I only have an occasional aura nowadays. I'm trying to find a way to relieve hot flashes and night sweats without causing seizures. I have hot flashes throughout the day. I'm so hot all the time and sweating to death. I just want to jump in a pool or go inside a freezer. The hot flashes and night sweats are so bad that they keep waking me up. I wake up several times during the night soaked in sweat and feeling very hot.
I think you may misunderstand me. I read that almonds can help with hot flashes so I was wondering if almond milk can also help with hot flashes. My seizures are now under control thanks to surgery last year so they are not an issue. I only have an occasional aura nowadays. I'm trying to find a way to relieve hot flashes and night sweats without causing seizures. I have hot flashes throughout the day. I'm so hot all the time and sweating to death. I just want to jump in a pool or go inside a freezer. The hot flashes and night sweats are so bad that they keep waking me up. I wake up several times during the night soaked in sweat and feeling very hot.
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Hi Music36,
I understood how you were asking about almond milk and I'm sorry to say I've only been drinking it for a couple of months so I can't tell you for sure if it will help or not, personally I think it may. I mentioned the cold water therapy because that will help calm the nerves and stop a persons seizures and it has helped me sleep also. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!
Sue
I understood how you were asking about almond milk and I'm sorry to say I've only been drinking it for a couple of months so I can't tell you for sure if it will help or not, personally I think it may. I mentioned the cold water therapy because that will help calm the nerves and stop a persons seizures and it has helped me sleep also. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!
Sue
Porkette,
I've probably been drinking almond milk for about three years. But, I just have it in the bowl with cereal. I don't drink it out of a glass.
I'm going to do some more research b/c I'll tell you I'm getting really tired of being so hot all the time. I'm looking forward to Fall coming. I don't know how much it will help, though.
I've probably been drinking almond milk for about three years. But, I just have it in the bowl with cereal. I don't drink it out of a glass.
I'm going to do some more research b/c I'll tell you I'm getting really tired of being so hot all the time. I'm looking forward to Fall coming. I don't know how much it will help, though.
Seagull,
It's just too risky for me to do HRT. My mother had breast cancer and I smoked for 22 years. I quit 12 years ago, but don't know how extensive the damage is. I'm also afraid HRT will cause seizures. I either have to find another way or just suffer.
It's just too risky for me to do HRT. My mother had breast cancer and I smoked for 22 years. I quit 12 years ago, but don't know how extensive the damage is. I'm also afraid HRT will cause seizures. I either have to find another way or just suffer.
Seagull,
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I'm glad you're cancer free. I have a friend who has the HRT patch. My mother never smoked so there's probably a genetic component. I just don't think I should add to my risks. My gynecologist does not think I should, either. Do you know if HRT increased your seizures?
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I'm glad you're cancer free. I have a friend who has the HRT patch. My mother never smoked so there's probably a genetic component. I just don't think I should add to my risks. My gynecologist does not think I should, either. Do you know if HRT increased your seizures?
At your age it doubtful genetic belive me I gone into breast cancer in depth.The Surgen saw no problems plus I could not take tamoxifen refused it gave me worse menapausal symptoms.I am one those people laizafair what will be will be so I not going to suffer and as far as menapausal never really have,but I did have surgical menopause at early age.In uk women over 50 get mandatory mammograms every two years that saved my life
Seagull,
I'm 48 and my mother was diagnosed at 49. Her cancer didn't even show up on the mammograms. She had symptoms that lead them to do a biopsy. Her cancer had been pretty advanced by the time she was diagnosed and she had to have a mastectomy, one of the strongest chemos, and radiation. The cancer probably started developing in her mid 40s. They start doing mammograms at 40 years old in the U.S and we have them every year. But, there are people that get breast cancer younger than 40. Chemo caused my mother to go into menopause. My mother is still alive and has been cancer free for over 20 years.
I'm 48 and my mother was diagnosed at 49. Her cancer didn't even show up on the mammograms. She had symptoms that lead them to do a biopsy. Her cancer had been pretty advanced by the time she was diagnosed and she had to have a mastectomy, one of the strongest chemos, and radiation. The cancer probably started developing in her mid 40s. They start doing mammograms at 40 years old in the U.S and we have them every year. But, there are people that get breast cancer younger than 40. Chemo caused my mother to go into menopause. My mother is still alive and has been cancer free for over 20 years.
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