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Sometimes it's like someone took a knife baby

Edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley

Through the middle of my soul

At night I wake up with my sheets soaking wet 

And a freight train running through the

Middle of my head

...I'm on fire.

- Bruce Springsteen

I remember my first hot flash like it was yesterday. No, it was not yesterday. Actually it wasn't even my own personal hot flash. Fourteen years ago I met up with my favorite aunt for dinner and a movie. I was so excited because it was my first night out away from my then four darling children since the birth of my #4 child. Hubs was handling dinner, which meant he was ordering a pizza andthere was more than enough breast milk pumped for the baby for the next two days...even though I was only going to be gone for maybe three hours. But the thing was I was going out and I was going out with my favorite aunt. 

We were trading stories and family gossip as I drove to the restaurant when suddenly she gasped and began fanning herself furiously.

"Oh my god, oh my god! Turn on the ac. NOW!"

Still fanning she rolled down her passenger window with her free hand and continued to gasp "oh my god" over and over again.

Trying not to panic, I exclaimed (with panic in my voice), "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Oh my god! Turn that ac up...all the way!"

"Margie?!"

No answer. She just continued to fan herself like crazy. 

Just as I approach the next available exit on the freeway, she begins to return to her normal self. She rolls up her window and tells me that I may turn the ac down. 

"What the heck was THAT? Are you okay?!"

"Yes, I'm fine now. It was just a hot flash. I get them all the time now. It's what happens when you approach menopause. You should know this. I mean you are a nurse."

"A neonatal nurse! Babies don't do crazy things like that. I thought you were having a heart attack or something."

"Nope. It was just a hot flash. Don't worry, I'm fine now."

It was then and there that I resolved that I was never going to let myself go through that. I mean there are things that I can do. Nope. I was not going to accept that craziness, not at all. 

But today, now I am dealing with exactly that. It's crazy, really. It is exactly like the Boss describes in that song. Yes, I know he is talking about his desire and basically a booty call; but trust me, THAT is a hot flash. Now imagine having one or two or more of those every single hour of the day...and night.

Hot flashes, it seems, are quite common as reportedly 3 out of 4 women going through perimenopause and menopause do experience them.

Great! I'm finally in with the in crowd!

Most women's health physicians agree that treatment isn't necessary if one is tolerating her hot flashes. 

Um, sure. How could one possibly tolerate soaking her clothing, her bedding, her hair with sweat? How tolerable is if your make-up, no matter how minimal melts and slides right off of your face? Pressure in your head is okay? And that racing heart and dizziness is alright too?

Oh hell no!

Actually after taking with my trusted physician, I am certain this is not normal and not okay, especially since I have already made changes in my diet increasing my soy intake and cutting back on caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods. I have learned to dress in layers and find myself removing the layers often. I am very active physically running regularly and unwinding with yoga.  I've tried black cohosh and red clover preparations as well. All of this helped somewhat, I mean I feel great. Still I am almost always on fire. So the next step according to my doctor will be some blood work checking hormone levels and then considering possibly hormone therapy or other options. If it means the end of this hourly craziness that I am suffering through then sign me up...seriously, I am more than willing to work with my doctor to try and find a way to manage this next great adventure in my life.

More juggling adventures can be found at my personal blog, Adventures In Juggling