Sudden intense hot flashes 12 years post menopause

[CathyA]

I'm not sure what this is. I have been hot my entire life. After menopause, I had a couple glorious years of not feeling hot at all! It was heaven! Then things evened out. I would say I haven't had "hot flashes" for years, even though I get hot easily. About a week ago, I started getting these intense periods of hot flashes. I should also add I had to pee really often. I had a pain in my side. I did an OTC UTI test, which was positive. (Yeah, I know it might have been not accurate)....but I took 3 days of Septra and the pain went away and the constant peeing eased up. But now I feel bad, and am having these horrible hotflashes. All my important labs are normal (CBC, thyroid, etc.). What's up with these hot flashes?
I am, once again in my "Annual Fall decent into hell" time, which happens at this time of year. My doctor said I was deciduous......which is probably true to some extent.
I hesitate going to my doctor because I'm pretty sure, since my labs are normal, he'll lump everything into my Fibromyalgia.
I guess my question is: Have any of you ladies who have gone through menopause, later suddenly developed hot flashes?
I've always been a bit curious that my FSH is so low. It's never been much above the lowest marker for beginning menopause.....even 12 years later. But my OB/GYN says that everybody is different. :(

I had a great summer. I guess I should be happy with that. But I wish my body weren't so crazy. It was born crazy.

Any insights?

[Selah]

Hi, CathyA. I'm sorry, I don't have much to offer except sympathy for hot flashes, of which I have at least ten a day. I have hand-held fans at every stop in the house that I frequent--nightstand, desk, side tables, etc. They are accompanied by those big hair clips that let you put up your hair in a second, to let your neck cool off! I haven't found anything that works to get rid of them--natural supplements OR prescription meds. Sigh. I just hope they pass quickly for you. My understanding of hot flashes is that they are triggered by a sudden drop of estrogen--any chance your OB/GYN could help you with that? I took a twice-weekly pessary of Estradiol for some time. I don't think it helped that much--on the other hand, maybe I would have been worse off without it! But then my insurance changed and it cost $243 a month to fill the prescription, so I had to abandon it. Anyway, sympathies to you and may it all pass quickly...they're such a nuisance!

[Suzanne]

Two thoughts:
Antibiotics are known endocrine disrupters, which is why women who faithfully take their birth control pills every morning may find a surprise package is on its way. Try probiotics to restore your gut balance.

Have you lost weight lately? Post-menopausal women have some of the estrogen deficit made good by hip and belly fat. Losing weight can reduce this contribution, and set off hot flashes and migraine storms.

[CathyA]

Thanks Selah and Suzanne. I'm feeling a little better, so maybe it was the antibiotic. I'm still dealing with worsened peripheral neuropathy from last August when I took a course of Cipro for diverticulitis. :(

I never had hot flashes, as such, when I went through menopause (seems like I'm still going through it 12 years later), but it really flared up recently and I don't understand it. But in this day and age, it seems like there are so many
things that could disrupt a person's system. I haven't really lost any weight......although it seems like I can eat a fair amount now and now gain weight......which is nice!

And Suzanne, if losing weight can cause hot flashes.........that's a good reason not to! lol!
Thanks Selah and Suzanne.......and Selah, I'm sorry for your having to deal with these crazy things! It sure can feel like we're going to spontaneously combust! Have you tried Black Cohosh?