Is it warm in here or is it just me?
Have you ever had a hot flash? It’s an interesting experience,
and one I get to enjoy on a regular basis these days.
In fact, I’m anticipating that I’ll be wearing shorts and
sleeveless shirts this winter, while everyone around me will be
sensibly wearing sweaters and long pants, while looking at me and
wondering,
”
What’s her problem?
”
Is it warm in here or is it just me?
Have you ever had a hot flash? It’s an interesting experience, and one I get to enjoy on a regular basis these days.
In fact, I’m anticipating that I’ll be wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts this winter, while everyone around me will be sensibly wearing sweaters and long pants, while looking at me and wondering, “What’s her problem?”
I’m having my own little global warming situation these days.
It’s all part of something called perimenopause. It’s the time before menopause and can last for up to 10 years. Then after menopause, many women continue getting hot flashes. It’s something everyone knows about but I’m not sure anyone really thinks about why it happens.
At least, you don’t think about it until it’s happening to you.
Hormones are to blame, as they are for 75 percent of everything in life. My hormones are out of whack. They used to be nicely balanced, humming along, not a problem. Now I have too little estrogen or progesterone or some darn thing, and the result is that I have hot flashes and a few other little side effects.
It’s such an odd thing. When I was younger, I used to be cold all the time – in fact, I worried about it enough to ask my doctor why – and he said not to worry about it, that I was perfectly healthy, just not well insulated.
These days, I run hot all the time, like a car with too little coolant. I’m almost always too warm. I dress in layers so I can peel off during the day. (It isn’t nearly as intriguing as it sounds when you’re talking about a middle-aged body.)
That’s just the day-to-day effect. Then, there are the actual flashes. When it comes, it’s like blushing, but very intense and without an emotional cause. It rises from my neck and moves up to my hairline. Often I get a bit red in the face.
Sometimes it happens just from being in a warm room. Sometimes eating brings it on. I feel myself getting flushed and I have to go get some air. Preferably by sticking my head in the freezer.
Of course, I know I’m one of the lucky ones. I remember one friend I was talking to a few years ago who had a hot flash in front of me. She actually broke out in a sweat, poor thing, and looked extremely uncomfortable.
Some women really hate having hot flashes. I am fortunate in that mine seem to be mild and not frequent. However, the constant “running warm” phenomenon is a little weird, but I’m starting to get used to it.
I decided I don’t mind it so much, although I do get some peculiar looks from time to time, since I’m still dressing like it’s summer while everyone else has got their fall clothes on.
It should be an advantage this winter – after all, I shouldn’t have to turn on the heat too much – and no makeup will be required, seeing as how I’ll have that rosy glow all the time.
And when people say, “You’re looking hot,” I can accept it as a compliment, not a literal description.
