My own personal summer, internal global warming, etc….though my name for my hot flashes in any given moment may change, they always kinda suck. I’ve tried to wage this war via medications, gadgets, and quick tricks. Here are some methods that are part of my current repertoire:

Medications:

Though I’ve heard of others with MBC taking Effexor,  I have not tried that. My oncologist recommended Gabapentin . I take 400 mg every morning. The primary use of the drug is for preventing seizures and some take it for neuropathy. For me, I’ve not noticed any side effects from the medication though I’ve heard through others that they can experience “brain fog” and sleepiness.  I started at 100 mg and kept increasing until I found a dosage that kept them to a dull roar.

Useful Gadgets:

Because they have not been completely eliminated, I augment my meds with a couple gadgets:

Go Travel Ultra Compact Discreet Quiet Micro Fan

This small little fan packs a punch! The advantages is that it’s compact and can fit in your purse or even your pants pocket. It kicks out some serious air for such a small fan. The downside is that it’s a bit noisy so if you are trying to be discreet, it might “blow” your cover.

Facial Mist Spray KINGDOMBEAUTY Steamer

This battery operated water spritzer shoots out nano-particles of steam. I keep it in my desk at work and it’s advantages are that it’s quiet (so I can pull it out and use it without anyone hearing it) and discreet. The downsides is that adding water is a little challenging since it’s just a very small hole and it doesn’t hold much water. Lastly, if you are having a major flash, you may need to hold it up to your face for a while to get any relief.

I ran across a Facebook ad for this high tech, high priced gadget called the Embr Wave Personal Thermostat. At $299, it’s on the pricey side and since I’m trying to stay on the down-low about my condition, a bit too obvious about having hot flashes. I am curious if it works though!

Other Tricks

One trick I’ve found that helps is to add cold to the pulse points on my wrist. This could be accomplished by running cold tap water across them for a couple minutes. Or, if I’m at work, I keep a water bottle filled with plenty of ice and if I feel one coming on, I hold my wrist up against it for a few minutes. Amazingly, this has worked more than once!

The tried and true suggestions of wearing cool, loose fitting clothing help as well. I try to stick to cotton (and either 3/4 sleeves or short sleeves). Long sweaters are a thing of the past to me now.

These are just a few of my coping mechanisms for hot flashes. Your mileage may vary!