I did , and there was nothing that I could do, do not take nothing"natural/herbal"because they can have hormones and if you are positive they are not good, for you.
Neuropahy for some it goes away after treatment, for others like me it came ages after treatment.Have your oncologist if needed send you with a neurologist.
You will feel normal , it takes time,just baby steps to wellness.Take care

Thank you for your reply , at least now I know I am not crazy!!! Did it get better for you? I am ER +and cannot take hormones or herbs :(

With time, yes.I just learned to live with hot flashes,not fun, my doctors explained all the side effects I was going to have. I was just glad I could be treated.

Oh yes! My fans have been my saving grace. I have fans for everywhere in my house so I can turn them on to cool me down. My tower fan on my side of bed that blows in my face all night is what keeps me asleep. Fans also help with relieving nausea. I have a fan atop the refrigerator that blows down on me while I'm doing dishes, one in the bathroom for when I'm putting on my makeup, one under my desk (under so it doesn't blow my paperwork).

My brand "O2 Cool" battery fan (holds 2-Ds) is the best and goes with me to restaurants, movie theatre, mall, everywhere and it fits in my purse has 2 speeds and the batteries last long time in it. If I had a dollar for every time a woman has asked me where I got my fan, I'd be rich. I got mine at Wal-Mart for $6 but they can also be ordered online.

Also, I've noticed that if I have to go pee, it will cause a severe hot flash, so soon as the urge hits me, I go, to avoid it.

Caffeine and other stimulating things like chocolate can also bring on hot flashes. Drinking water can help it ease off.

I have never tried herbals either for the same concern deraming mentioned. There is "i-cool" that says is hormone free, but I've not tried it either. Really my fans are the best thing and just knowing what can bring them on to avoid.

Wow.. Looks like I will be investing in a lot if fans and batteries!! Yes, I have never been so hot in my life and then me feet will get ice cold! It's crazy! Having the nueropathy doesn't help matters either , the tingling and burning especially at night is sometimes unbearableThank you for the suggestion of fans .. I'm glad to hear of any ideas :)

Pain Management doc put me on Lyrica 50mg since it's suspected I have fibromyalgia, just started it last week and today noticed that it must really be helping because alot of the tingling & numbness I'd been having is gone.

I didn't have chemo-menopause... but had a full hysterectomy (ovaries too) 23 years ago...have been taking hormones since... (never really got rid of the hot flashes) anyway.. to your point,
now because of the breast cancer, I am once again, without hormones... and will most likely never be able to take them again...For me its not just the hot flashes, but the insomnia, loss of mental acuity.. I'm hoping THAT will settle down...I guess we have to take all this one day at a time!

FIrst off: Normal is a setting on a dryer.... It does not exist anywhere else when referring to most humans, self included, proclaimed and proud of it.
I started chemo 4 years ago this Oct. last menstrual cycle was Sept 23 that year. Remember it well as it is when the hot waves began. They are not flashes. They are waves! They roll in and roll out... crashing in ... relief.. uhmmm 4years later, NO! They do ease at times. There are times when I can actually get cold. It is short-lived because the waves come crashing in again. I lived w/ fans 24/7/365 prior so they don't do much extra assistance. I wear light clothing year round and sandals til the snow is too deep.
Neuropathy is still going strong 4 years later as well. have felt like i am in pointed high heel shoes for 4 years w/ vice grips crushing my toe nails, while my finger nails feel like they have vice grips on them as well and yet there is no feeling in my finger tips still. different sensations cause pain or tingling on my skin at times (breezes, hot or cold air)
Humor is the best cure... when people see me fanning myself and ask me if i'm going to be alright i let em know yes i am. i've lived through the docs trying to kill me w/in an inch of my life and here to tell about it. boy do i get some great looks :) which often leads to a discussion about breast cancer awareness and getting tested and self checks (as mamm didn't detect my cancer. i found it) ... telling ppl yes i'll be okay. i just have to finish sweating off these extra pounds the femara has put on me and well i have many to go, that i not only survived stage 3 cancer but there's more of me to love cuz of the treatments! :)
definitely remembering you're not alone in this helps. it doesn't take it away... but it helps knowing others out here have sweat dripping off them in gallons too :)
best of luck and prayers to you- as i keep all of us survivors/warriors in my prayers...

Cloud dreamer". I like your opening line " normal is a setting on a dryer not in humans" - I'm so sorry for all the struggles you are going through as well as as result of cancer , doctors, treatments , medications. The pain is unbearable at times , people look at you like you're crazy because you're not bleeding , or you look fairly healthy but all the while like you said the burning , tingling vice gripping pain .. Ugh! Even a breeze of chilly wind on my skin is painful at times , lately my scalp has been burning even more intensely . Its like someone is taking a march a lighting little flames all over different areas if my body and just holding the match there letting it burn .. Heaven help us !

Hi cherylhuels,
I too had chemo-induced menopause. Having a saline-filled, silicon-covered implant also complicated things. I had it removed and felt much better. I had an arctic-fleece sweater and dickies and a touque that I put on and off on my cold times and left one leg out of the covers at night for the "hot" times. This will pass, thankfully.isabelle1954

I am a 7 year survivor and also experienced both issues. Not much I could do for the menopause. It took a year for my monthly cycle to return once I finished chemo...only then did the side effects your experiencing subside. I also had neuropathy and I do still have certain spots that never got better but it's nothing painful. I no longer have any reflexes and when I go to the doctor and they check them, they look at me funny....and I say "I know, I don't have any...it's from chemo" They say "oh okay, that's normal"......It does get better and you do return to yourself again....Just hang in there, I know it's tough!

Kim

Thanks for all the strong shoulders, and the good advice! It's nice to just talk to people who know exactly how I feel! Hugs to all!