Sex Toys and STIs: 20 Facts About Risk, Safer Sex, Cleaning, More
What Does A Hot Flash Feel Like? 6 Real Women On Experiencing VMS
Hot flashes are a well-known symptom of menopause—they've been jokingly referenced in movies and shows, and you may have even experienced them yourself. But for all the baseline awareness about hot flashes, most people don't understand what they're really like—and what to do if you experience one.
A hot flash, in case you're fuzzy on the details, is a sudden feeling of heat that rushes to the upper body and face, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (It's also referred to as vasomotor symptoms or VMS.) Hot flashes can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes and they can come on at any time of day or night. Some women have hot flashes a few times a month, while others can experience them several times a day, ACOG says. But what does it actually feel like to experience a hot flash? We asked six women to open up about their personal experiences with this common menopause symptom.
"I was drenched, literally dripping from head to toe."Caroline Labouchere, 59, started going through menopause when she was 50. "I don't remember when I first started hot flashes, but I remember the most severe," she says. "I was out for supper with my family and suddenly my heart began to race and I was drenched, literally dripping from head to toe. I was embarrassed. I didn't know what to tell my husband and children. My clothes were wet." But Labouchere said the feeling subsided and she continued with dinner. "I don't remember discussing it with them again until years later," she says.
When hot flashes happen, Labouchere says she'll often try to walk around and try to find a cold place, like a fridge. "I took ashwagandha, which did actually help," she says. Labouchere says she also started hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a treatment available to menopausal women to supplement their declining hormones and ease symptoms of menopause. "I should have started HRT back then when I was 50—not waited five years," Labouchere says.
"Hot flashes feel like an onset of anxiety."Monica Brooks, 42, started having hot flashes at age 37 when she was put into medical menopause after receiving a cancer diagnosis. At first, she says she didn't know she had a hot flash until she talked to her doctor about why she had been feeling so overheated. "Then it all made sense and I had more awareness around what was happening and why," she says.
"For me, hot flashes feel like an onset of anxiety," Brooks says. "I feel it in my chest before my body starts to heat up. It's like my body is sending an alarm that something is about to happen."
Brooks says she used to feel "super irritable" during hot flashes. "It was like sitting in a sauna with the door locked and you can't get out," she says. "My family can literally feel the heat coming off my body when I'm in the middle of a hot flash."
But once she realized what she was dealing with, Brooks says she learned to plan ahead. "I always carry ice water with me," she says. "As soon as I know a hot flash is coming, I start drinking water profusely. When I'm in the kitchen, running my hands and wrists under cold water instantly helps." She also keeps a small, handheld electric fan in her purse, as well as dressing in layers. "In the winter, I simply step outside to cool off," she says. But, Brooks adds, "Being able to have relief at the moment definitely takes planning."
Related story Menopause Retreats Are Trending: Should You Try One?Now, Brooks says she's learned not to focus on hot flashes when they happen. "I think that made it worse," she says. "I've learned to acknowledge it's about to happen and then I just breathe, and continue what I'm doing. The less I pay attention to it, the less I allow it to bother me."
"My face was beet red."Deanna Pizitz, 58, says she had her first hot flash during a barre class. "All of a sudden, I felt this heat all through my face," she says. "I looked at my face in the mirror and my face was beet red. I really wasn't sure if that was a hot flash but, after talking to other friends, it definitely was." Pizitz says she's been "lucky" that she hasn't had many hot flashes. "I do think it helps not to eat too much sugar or drink too much caffeine," she says, noting that seems to correlate with hot flashes for her. "You don't have to just live with it," Pizitz says. "There are things you can do about it."
"I feel like someone has turned on an electric heater in my body."Nancy Slusser plays an Iowa housewife in Menopause the Musical 2: Cruising Through 'The Change' and she says she started having hot flashes in her mid-30s. Now 61, Slusser remembers struggling with hot flashes while living in a hotel room in Japan for a job. "I kept waking up drenched and my bedsheets were drenched," she says. "I didn't understand what was happening and thought I was too young to experience any of these symptoms."
Slusser says hot flashes cause a very distinct feeling for her. "I feel like someone has turned on an electric heater in my body," she says. "Sometimes I will have just taken a shower and it is so hard to dry off and get dressed because I still feel like I am in the hot shower. My body doesn't want to cool off. It really feels out of whack. And it can suddenly appear out of the blue."
Slusser says that turning up the air conditioning and sleeping in a cool room can help. She's also learned to move on with her day after experiencing a hot flash. "The minute I feel like myself, I forget that I can feel otherwise," she says. "I feel like my 'normal' and I go on with my day and my life."
"They can last three to four minutes for me."Tami Nealy, 46, says she's had "many" hot flashes in late perimenopause and menopause. "My first hot flash was in a Home Depot in July 2022 when I took my mom shopping for new flooring," she says. "I quite literally sat down on the cold floor in hopes that the cement floor would cool off my legs."
Nealy says she calls these moments of heat "hot phases, as they can last three to four minutes for me." Nealy says her hot flashes typically start in her face, move to the back of her neck, and then down through her trunk. "I've been on video calls for work and have been asked before if I'm okay because it's clear to others who see me that something is happening to me," she says.
Nealy now tries to have a large glass of ice water with her at all times to combat hot flashes. "While it may not be a relief, it is a dramatic shift for my brain to immediately have to process a new temperature," she says.
"It was more of a dry heat."Skylar Liberty Rose, 49, started having hot flashes when she was 46. "I wasn't initially certain that what I was experiencing was actually a hot flash," she says. "I'd always believed that hot flashes were accompanied by sweats, but that wasn't happening to me. It was more of a dry heat."
Rose says she's learned that it's important for her to stay calm when hot flashes happen. "Panicking simply made it worse," she says. "I started carrying a cooling spray with me which helped, and I also noticed a decrease in this particular symptom when I began hormone therapy."
What Does Getting An IUD Feel Like?
Intrauterine devices (IUDs), including the copper IUD and the hormonal (progestin-releasing) IUD, are an option for effective pregnancy prevention. A person can get an IUD placed in most cases even if they have a backward-tilting uterus, which is also called a retroverted uterus.
However, you may be still wondering: does getting an IUD hurt? The answer is that people generally experience anything from discomfort to pain. Here are more facts about IUD insertion, including what to expect, side effects, personal stories, and when to see a healthcare provider.
In general, you can have an IUD inserted at any time. For example, you might have it inserted after giving birth or during any part of your menstrual cycle. IUDs may also serve as emergency contraception when you get one within five days of unprotected sex. The IUD insertion process may hurt, but pain experiences vary individually. You may feel anything from discomfort to cramping or pain depending on how sensitive you are to pain. You may still feel uncomfortable after getting an IUD, so it may be best to have an additional person available to drive you home. Copper IUDs are effective against pregnancy immediately. However, hormonal IUDs can take seven days before they become effective, unless they are placed in the first seven days of your menstrual cycle. You should use birth control like condoms if your hormonal IUD is placed at any other time during your cycle and you decide to have sex during that time. Taking over-the-counter painkillers before or after the procedure can help reduce any pain you might experience. You may also ask that a local anesthetic be used before the IUD procedure begins. Generally, there are few immediate side effects when you get an IUD. You might have low back pain, mild cramps, or spotting. Like with almost any procedure, there are risks when you get an IUD that include: Cramping, longer or heavier menstrual periods, and spotting between periods with copper IUDs Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, though pregnancy risk is low Increased risk of benign ovarian cysts, which can resolve on their own No prevention or protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) The IUD moving out of place, which rarely happens but can lead to necessary removal Temporary irregular bleeding and spotting with progestin-releasing IUDs Uterus injuries Certain conditions or situations may prevent a person from being a candidate for an IUD. They include: Abnormal Pap smear test results Abnormal uterine bleeding Acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) Cervical or uterine cancer Current or recent history of pelvic infection Current STI Higher risk for STIs History of previous IUD insertion without removal Hypersensitivity to device components, such as copper Pregnancy A very large or very small uterus Because no two IUD experiences are exactly alike, Health reached out to real people for their personal stories. Here, they share what they felt during the insertion and whether they would choose to do it again. Allyson W. Allyson switched to an IUD because she was tired of having to think about birth control every day: "My OB-GYN recommended Mirena for its low side effects, and I decided to go for it." Allyson explained that the pain she experienced came from having to have her cervix dilated, but she reported having no side effects after the procedure. Danielle L. Danielle described her IUD insertion as "the single biggest, most intense cramp of my life." The pain, however, didn't last long. There was some lingering abdominal discomfort afterward, but "nothing too bad." When her IUD expired, she planned to have it replaced. "Whatever the cost—both financially and the physical pain of the insertion—it's totally worth it, in my opinion," said Danielle. Gina V. Gina thought her anxiety about the insertion made it feel more painful: "I [had] read every online review I could find. I [had] completely psyched myself out and almost didn't get it." She went on to explain that she experienced symptoms like extreme body temperature changes, nausea, and dizziness. Still, Gina believed her experience was rare: "A lot of women have really easy, great experiences with the IUD. I'm just not one of those women." Lauren G. Lauren learned that her uterus was tilted and that the process would take about 10 minutes—five times longer than usual. "When the IUD was inserted, the pain was comparable to very intense period cramps," said Lauren. "They were most prevalent during the insertion but did not go away completely for a few days." She was also surprised by how long it took her body to adjust to the device, but she said she wouldn't hesitate to make the same choice again. Ashley B. Ashley initially chose a copper IUD to avoid the common side effects of hormonal birth control methods, attracted to the idea of a long-term solution with little bodily reactions. Yet, after a month of pain, she opted to have her IUD taken out. She said her healthcare provider suggested her uterus might have been too small for the device. It's not uncommon for some people to have a uterus that is too small to accommodate standard IUDs. Jerlyn T. Jerlyn decided to get an IUD from a cost perspective. "The price and the percentage of effectiveness made sense to me," she said. "If it costs $500 for five years, it would be like paying less than $10 per month." For her, the insertion process was akin to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). "I felt some mild cramping," said Jerlyn, who planned to have her device replaced when it expired. See an OB-GYN if your IUD slips partially or fully out of your vagina. You should also contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible if you experience the following: Bleeding, pain, or fluid leaking from your vagina Cramps Feeling the IUD in your cervix or vagina Fever or chills Flu-like symptoms Inability to find the string Pregnancy signs, such as a positive home pregnancy test or a missed menstrual period Severe pelvic pain Getting an IUD is one of the most effective forms of contraception, but the procedure can be uncomfortable or painful. You might have side effects like cramping or spotting after the procedure—though every person has different experiences with IUDs in the short and long term. There are risks to getting an IUD, such as injuries to your uterus or the IUD moving out of place, and IUDs aren't for everyone. See a healthcare provider if you have problems or concerns about your IUD after insertion or if you experience symptoms like fever or chills and severe pelvic pain.Thyroid Headaches: What They Feel Like And How To Manage Them
A thyroid headache may feel like a dull, throbbing sensation. It may also cause a sharp pain. Managing thyroid headaches typically involves managing the thyroid disorder.
There is a possible association between thyroid disorders and headaches. A thyroid headache may feel similar to a tension headache, which may present as a dull, throbbing sensation on both sides of the head.
Certain thyroid conditions may cause migraine, which cause a sharper throbbing sensation in one region of the head and can also cause vomiting and visual disturbances.
Managing thyroid headaches often involves treating the thyroid condition through thyroid replacement therapy or thyroid removal, depending on whether hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism is the root cause.
Taking over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription-strength pain relievers may provide immediate relief, as can lying in a dark, quiet room.
This article explains what a thyroid headache may feel like. It goes over the types of headaches and how to manage them.
A thyroid headache may feel like a dull pulsing or throbbing sensation on both sides of the head. It may occur at the base of the neck or in a higher region. This tension-type headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days and may go away after resting or taking OTC pain relievers.
It may also present as a migraine with or without an aura. An aura is a visual disturbance that typically occurs just before a migraine.
Some people experience nausea and vomiting with migraine. Migraine headaches are typically more painful than tension headaches and can last anywhere from 4–72 hours. They also present as a throbbing sensation and generally occur on one side of the head.
Headaches are commonly associated with hypothyroidism. An estimated 30% of people with hypothyroidism experience headaches they attribute to this condition.
Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland stops producing enough thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
There are multiple root causes of hypothyroidism:
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much TSH. Some research suggests a link between hyperthyroidism and headaches, particularly in the case of a thyroid storm.
A thyroid storm is a life threatening event in which symptoms of hyperthyroidism suddenly worsen. It requires immediate medical attention.
Causes of hyperthyroidism include:
Headaches and thyroid disorders are comorbidities, which means they can occur together.
Research from 2019 suggests that the link between tension headaches and migraine and hypothyroidism is bidirectional. This means that hypothyroidism may cause migraine.
However, people who experience migraine may be at a higher risk of developing hypothyroidism. More research is needed on this relationship.
People who experience thyroid headaches can work with a healthcare professional to develop a treatment and management plan.
To address the pain and discomfort of a thyroid headache, a healthcare professional may suggest OTC pain relievers, or they may prescribe a stronger pain reliever.
A person should only use OTC medications as directed and recommended by a healthcare professional. Excessive or frequent use can lead to side effects, such as liver toxicity and rebound headaches.
Resting by lying down in a dark, quiet room may also help provide relief during a headache episode. Getting regular massages may also help relieve pain from tension headaches or migraine.
Addressing the root cause of headaches involves treating the thyroid condition. For hypothyroidism cases, this often involves hormone replacement therapy with levothyroxine sodium. Healthcare professionals use blood tests to determine how much TSH is present in the body, which affects the dosage.
The required dosage may change over time, depending on weight fluctuations and other conditions such as pregnancy. It is important to take levothyroxine as prescribed.
Hyperthyroidism requires different treatments depending on the cause. For example, treatment for Graves' disease includes an antithyroid medication, such as methimazole or propylthiouracil.
However, removal of the thyroid may be necessary in some cases, which can be done through surgery or dissolving the gland with radioactive iodine therapy. After removal, the person will be treated for secondary hypothyroidism through levothyroxine.
The following are answers to some questions frequently asked about thyroid disorders and headaches.
What are the surprising signs of a thyroid issue?Thyroid hormones have an effect on several systems in the body. Aside from headaches, thyroid issues can cause hair loss or changes in hair texture, tremors, body temperature dysregulation, appetite changes, and mood changes.
Can thyroid issues cause daily headaches?People with hypothyroidism report experiencing regular headaches that they attribute to their condition. This can be a daily occurrence for some people. For others, it may only occur a few times a month.
Thyroid conditions may have a connection to tension headaches or migraine. They can present as a dull, throbbing sensation on both sides or a sharper throb on one side, often with vomiting and visual disturbances.
Management involves addressing the underlying thyroid issue through replacement therapy or removal, coupled with pain relievers and rest for immediate relief.
Research shows that hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have links with headaches.
To manage thyroid headaches, individuals should speak with a healthcare professional for pain relief options and to address the root cause through tailored approaches like hormone replacement therapy.
Comments
Post a Comment