I started having those problems right after my hystorectomy. 15 years later and no relief. I've tried herbs, and wives-tales. Nothing. So if you find something that works, please share it with all of us!!!!!

(sorry to hear you've "got it" too!)

Holy cow, Tammi - for 15 years!!! Arggghhhh!!!

I started having them last year. At age 37. Lovin' that. (rolling my eyes) It is not as frequent for me as what you describe, but its definitely happening. My doctor said it can last up to 10 years before I hit full blown menopause.

I probably should have mentioned I refuse to take any hormones. None. It may not be the smartest thing I've ever done, but I take extra vitamins, coral calcium and try to watch my diet.

But yeah, 15 years. Sucks

Suzanne Somers has a book out on how to be sane again and stop all the symptoms of menopause. It's called The Sexy Years - you should check it out. I love her!

Rosemary... one of the big things she recommends is hormones - she calls them bio-identical hormones, but hormones nontheless. Since I have monthly migraines with the hormone ups and downs - hormones are the LAST thing in the world that I want *grin*

To the rest of you ladies, I'll find the email I sent to my Closet Extremist bloggy bro *grin* about my semi-solution, see what you think... Sorry, it is very long or I'd post it in the comments or on my site.

Tammi, Teresa, and Beth (Rosemary, you're pregnant, you get a bye this round): the thing about hormone replacement therapy is that it's very effective and doesn't cause too many side effects once you're at the right level!

I was one of those hormone-related migraine sufferers myself. After my hysterectomy (done for a couple of reasons) at age 32, I was started on hormones. The first dose was too low, still had migraines. Second dose was still too low and the migraines continued. By the time I got up to the 0.9mg of Premarin, the docs thought I'd lost my mind because I went SKIPPING into their office and thanked them for listening to me. No migraines (until recently and those were related to something else), no shifting hormone levels (had the ovaries removed during the hysterectomy), and no more hot flashes/insomnia. Okay, the insomnia is still here but that's because I'm a night person and am currently stuck working days. I sleep fine when I'm on nights.

Anyhow, there IS hope. But, you have to have a doctor who is willing to work with you. And, as long as you still have those pesky ovaries, you still have times when your hormone levels will shift.

If anyone wants more of the story - believe me, this was the abbreviated version - just e-mail me [joanie] at [dagoddess] dot [com] and we can compare notes, discuss our rotten luck in the old uterus lottery, or whatever.

I see I'm in good company! Almost 10 years since the palpitations heralded the coming apocolypse, and I'm skiing down the other side. :)

What got me through those years of insomnia, hot flashes, hair loss, leg aches, migraines, panic attacks, well... there are too many symptoms to mention... Progesterone cream. It leveled me right out. I didn't want to do HRT, but the small amount of progesterone worked.

My sis-in-law had a hystorectomy in 94 and she still has symptoms. :( It's different for everyone.

But...

I have lots of hormones!!!!