Night Sweats

[Micherie]

#1740

I am approaching pre-menopause but my doc says I’m not quite there yet. However, I experience night sweats almost every night. It is profoundly worse on the days I eat hot food (I like REALLY hot stuff) and on the days that I do Bikram.

Does anyone else experience this? It’s getting to the point where I am losing sleep and it’s driving me bonkers.

[phred7]

#6621

I notice i sweat at night LOTS after Bikram. I practice at night, most all nights…and have tried to limit water intake after the session which helps…but if I hydrate, I sweat at night.

[Fiffi]

#6623

Re: Hot sweats
I am experiencing the very same thing—in fact this is precisely what I came to this site seeking answers for after my ‘hot’ night! With that said [as I have a hot flash], my periods ceased [early I’m thinking] @ age 45-5 years ago. My hot flashes had pretty much subsided and I do not recall them being nearly as severe as others have experienced—but, as I approached day # 25 of hot yoga [almost consecutive] my hot flashes & night sweats have re-emerged. I asked one of the instructors closer to my age what she thought & she shared that she still has hot flashes @ age 59 [my mother-an RN-just recently shared w/me that we can experience such thru the rest of our lives!!!] but her educated guess was that since estrogen is stored in fat [although she is extremely lean] the re-visiting hot flashes could possibly be linked to the estrogen being flushed as my weight [cellulite very much included!] drops, for w/this ‘change’ and two foot injuries [a nicked tendon on top of my left foot—then gimping around due to that—a ruptured tendon on my right foot] I have gained approx. 50 lbs. I felt like an alien trapped inside my own body, for I was a competitive swimmer & coach and formerly a size 6—but I am definitely on my [hot] way back down.
If anyone has a medical/scientific explanation and possible natural/holistic solution—I would be very interested.

[Micherie]

#6625

Thanks for the replies! I did a little googling and discovered that B, D and E vitamin deficiencies can contribute and I know for a fact I am severely D deficient as I was given prescription D that I hardly ever remember to take.

So… that being said… I am going to get with the program and take my vitamins. I’ll let you know if it helps!!

[Micherie]

#6626

also on the hydrating afterwards at night…. i always drink at least one full litre after class because i’m so worried about being dehydrated. i think i’ll try cutting back on that a little too and see what happens.

[Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)]

#6627

Hi Micherie

I would love to know what was your level of D3 and what is the dose you have been prescribed!!! If you’re willing to share. 😉

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

[AngelaSaxon]

#6629

What about day sweats as well? I started Bikram in Nov 09 and it seems that my hot flashes are more intense as I continue to practice (I take a class every other evening usually). Is anyone else noticing this? I’m not sure whether or not to continue this style of yoga, though I love doing it. I don’t notice a relationship to how hydrated I am either.

I’m 49, definitely starting menopause, no period for 3 months or so now. Not much body fat, in pretty good physical shape.

Thanks for any feedback…

[Fiffi]

#6632

Re: hot flashes/night sweats
I spent a bundle on a naturopath last year-so my supplements should be in line in terms of vitamin & mineral balances so instinctively I feel it is directly connected to the hot yoga. Although now I’m really curious since the person w/low body fat is experiencing the same. I am going to make a pilgrimage to my health food store guru & ask specific questions pertaining to this, as well as another yogi—I’ll report back! Whatever the outcome, I am completely committed to my hot yoga for the benefits are vastly outweighing [all puns intended] the hot flashes/night sweats—I feel like a b’zillion bucks and I am on workout # 35 on a near-daily basis! I am just blown away @ how much cellulite has just disappeared!
Happy Sweating!

[Micherie]

#6641

Hi Gabrielle 🙂

Well apparently we are all supposed to be around a count of 35 and mine was at 7 the last time I was tested. Without looking I believe I have been prescribed 15,000IU that I take once, or maybe twice a day. I have two bottles, one’s a once a day prescription and one’s a twice a day prescription and one of them is that amount per dose.

[Micherie]

#6642

I also recently found out that I am a Pitta (dominant)-Kapha Dosha and that I run hot anyway because of that… according to ayurvedics anyway. I just turned 41 so I really hope that I’m not menopausal already. At any rate… never giving up Bikram. If I have to live with it I will, but ech. It really sucks!!

[LoveTheHeat]

#6650

how interesting – this happened to me earlier this week. I am not new to Bikram but this is.
My body was real hot as I readied for bedtime. Then the nightsweats.
Glad I am not alone, thanks for the explainations.

[Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)]

#6652

Hi all!!!

Just FYI: I recently got in touch with an expert and he supplied me with an article about menopause and hot sweats, flushing etc. So once I’ve read it I will report back to you with any relevant information.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

[Micherie]

#6653

ps… waaaaay overshot on those IU’s… it’s 1000, not 15000.

[Fiffi]

#6654

Thank You Gabrielle!!!

[Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)]

#6656

Hi Micherie

I was actually not really that alarmed with the 15,000 IU. I have been researching the whole vitamin thang and I KNOW that will form part of my response regarding the article from that specialist.

Here’s what I have read/know about Vitamin D. Daily ‘recommended’ intake is between 200-400 IU. To maintain good levels as an adult you should really have 4,000 IU. If you are low (as you are) then to boost your levels back to normal the dosage is at least 5,000 IU and often 10,000 IU. So at the moment taking 1,000 or so a day is possibly not really doing enough to counter the problem.

You are currently experiencing winter, you aren’t getting much sunlight on your skin. If it were me it would be the higher levels I would be taking. If you want some links to go to online let me know and I will PM them to you.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

[yogalifer]

#6660

I recently (not on purpose) did my own experiment with Bikram and night sweats. I am close to 47 years old and started having night sweats about a year ago. I was going to Bikram regularly and frequently at the time. Due to an injury (not from Bikram)my frequency decreased substantially over the summer. I was averaging about one class per week. The night sweats stopped completely. I have recently gotten my frequency back up to 4-5 classes per week. Guess what – the night sweats are back. Oh well. The benefits far outweigh this negative. I figure that I will eventually be having the night sweats regardless and, if I’m not going to yoga, will probably have a lot more uncomfortable aging symptoms.

[Micherie]

#6662

that would be great gabrielle, and i agree yogalifer!

[AngelaSaxon]

#6668

So I haven’t done Bikram since Sunday night and it’s now Friday evening. While i still have some hot flashes (day or night seem the same to me), I’m having way less of them. And they are much less in intensity. I’m going to try to practice every third day instead of every other day and see how that goes.

I mostly just wonder if the Bikram practice is doing any harm in the sense that it so increases the hot flashes….

[Rebecca]

#6697

Somewhere on the board was a post from a menopausal woman who said that hot yoga plumped her ovaries up again and she started having periods again. Just wondering if that could be related …

[Micherie]

#6700

wow… now that would be amazing if it were true. did she ever post about what her doc thought about it?

[Rebecca]

#6702

It’s post #15 on the “Bikram Yoga and Philosophy” thread. Not exactly like I remembered it, but interesting.

[fraseram]

#6706

I have a genetic disorder …. my body does not produce hormones naturally. I take them synthetically and since practicing we’ve lowered my dose 3x ! my bust went from 26 to 30 (wow) my waist 22.5 to 21 and my hips 28 to 29 talk about a new figure !!! my one dead ovary is being pumped and stimulated 🙂
My doctor is both supportive and fascinated by my practice and its results…… he asked me for the studio # LOL and often gets me to demonstrate a pose. My legs and hips have also changed structure i used to be quite bow legged and now have straight beautiful legs

[Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)]

#6707

Hi Amy

Just a quickie! When are you going to change that belief about your body “not being able to produce hormones naturally”? 😉 It seems that it MUST be now that you have to reduce your meds. Because if your body isn’t functioning better to surprise you and your doc, what is going on there?????? Hmmmm! Something to think about.

Keep on inspiring us all! Thanks

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

[fraseram]

#6709

thats the point…. where I started and where I am now… having a body that body IS functioning better LOL

[Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)]

#6783

Hi all

OK, I have FINALLY come back to post something that I hope can help. It would be best for me to give just a brief overview of some obscured scientific aspects and take it from there.

I have asked the specialist/author to give me permission to post his article on my website and will do so if that is achieved.

Alrighty: Let me see if I can encapsulate this in a post that’s not too long. From now on E (estrogen) and P (progesterone): because it’s easier to type! ;P

REGULAR HEALTH CYCLE:
>> First half of normal cycle is E dominant, second half is where P is manufactured by follicle. This is how balance is created for ALL the estrogens. Natural levels however are constantly changing so are difficult to diagnose. Partly also because the tests don’t pick up all of the active hormones. The plot thickens!
>> Changes in E output occur in women’s 40s or so due to influence of Hypothalamus and Pituitary not ovaries.
>> Onset of menopause: E levels drop enough to stop follicle maturation and egg release.
>> Eventually periods stop (could be erratic and sporadic)
>> Hormones are still secreted. Uterus produces prostacyclin with many protective effects (CV). That’s why you want to try and keep your uterus! Prostacyclin cannot be synthesized in the lab.

MENOPAUSE SEEN BY DOCTORS AS A DEFICIENCY: SEEN AS A DISEASE
>> Usually the course of therapy is to address a so-called estrogen deficiency. The problems could be because of fluctuating E and P levels (not just E).
>> HRT creates estrogen dominance which can cause huge list of problems; cysts, fibroids, increase cancer risk, decrease thyroid activity (worsened circulation and weight increase), decreased sex drive.
>> Some of the aforementioned problems are the REASON that doctors advise having a hysterectomy. Hmmm.
>> Hysterectomy causes more problems – see above re protective prostacyclins.
>> REMEMBER: Medical system and doctor education are HUGELY influenced by PHARMACEUTICAL companies and funding etc. (I used to work in a pharmaceutical company so I know first hand what it’s like. Got outta there.)
>> Doctors and pharma industry WRONGLY label synthetic progestins as P. BUT they work differently.

WHAT HAPPENS WITH ESTROGEN DOMINANCE:
>> Stimulates uterus for pregnancy prep, see natural function in first half of cycle.
>> 2 of the compounds estradiol and estrone not good without being opposed by correct hormones (P)

If you are having problems with night sweats then it could be because of your HRT or pill or whatever hormonal synthesized drug you’re taking – if indeed you’re taking it. And you could be getting an imbalance through your diet too (through water and through meat and dairy – more on that soon).

>> Estradiol is one of the main E hormones: It is given to fatten cows and maximize farmer profit. It corrupts food chain through meat (milk?) and water.
>> XS estradiol may cause women to put on weight if unopposed by P.
>> Estradiol OPPOSED by NATURAL P metabolizes fat into energy, causes weight loss or weight control.
>> XS E: Depletes BONE MASS leads to OSTEOPOROSIS

MECHANISM OF HRT BONE LOSS:
>> Osteoblasts: Lay down bone. They have P receptors.
>> Osteoclasts: Scavenge and dissolve bone for replacement. They have E receptors.
>> Estrogen dominance means old material is broken down, and NOT replaced
>> Causes progressive bone loss and porous bones
>> Bone loss also by (XS) meat and dairy intake
>> Recap other estrogen dominance problems: Lots of other symptoms like night sweats, migraines, hay fever, skin rashes, UTIs, varicose veins, high BP

It frankly seems all a bit scary for me. Here are some further things discussed:

>> The real problem is P deficiency
>> The need to address the imbalance with NATURAL P. Eg Mexican Wild Yam and other similar products. This has been shown to increase bone density and alleviate symptoms of menopause and associated problems.

AN INTERESTING QUOTE FROM SHERRILL SELLMAN:
“No side effects of natural progesterone. Protective against fibrocystic breast dx, protective against cancer, maintains uterus lining, hydrates and oxygenates skin, reverses facial hair grown and thinning of the hear, acts as a natural diuretic, helps to eliminate depression and increases a sense of well-being, encourages hat burning and the use of stored energy. Hot flashes and vaginal dryness quickly disappear with applications of natural progesterone.”

SOME IDEAS TO TAKE ACTION:
>> IF constipated (less than 3 movements per week) address your dehydration
>> Organic wholefood diet: 80% organic, 60% raw (minimum)
>> Hydration: 2-3 liters BUT MORE with hot yoga
>> 1/2 tsp per day of unrefined sea salt (eg Himalayan (not sea!) or Celtic). BUT 1 tsp per day if doing hot yoga. Sprinkle of food, add to your water
>> Avoid coffee?
>> Investigate probiotic supplements to replace healthy gut flora
>> Greatly elevated levels of Vitamin C with bioflavinoids (the figure I read was unbelievably 30-40g per day – but I like and trust the source of this information)
>> Optimize Vit D levels (which may mean high levels of supplementation see my post from early to mid March).
>> 1 tbsp flaxseed oil or 2g krill oil for those non-vegetarians
>> Vitamin B6, 50mg, 3 times daily
>> Vitamin E 800-1200 IU till symptoms improve then 400-800 IU maintenance
>> Natural P cream topically applied
>> Daily activity and minimum 3 90 min classes per week

PHEW
I hope that was interesting.

It would help me to know if that was useful in ANY way.

Although it helps to know where you are hormonally speaking, remember that your blood test will give you a snapshot. I am not sure how you get to know the fluctuating levels that all systems experience. The above is intended as food for thought and I cannot take any responsibility for how you use the information. (Sorry for the necessary waiver!). Playing with vitamins rather than synthetic hormones is far less risky.

Namaste
Gabrielle

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