Hot Flashes Make Me Thirsty

The first hint I notice when a hot flash is about to encompass my 50-something body is the urge to get a drink of water. NOW.

That rush to the faucet is quickly followed by searing heat, red-hot skin, and drippy sweat. And flying clothes.

Seriously. My new wardrobe of this life stage is pants (for now, until spring is upon us, then shorts or capris), tank tops, and the one-same Goodwill sweater that I match - or maybe not - with every outfit. That is all I plan on wearing for the next few years. The sweater is easily tossed on the floor once the sweat descends. Sleeveless tops cool my neck and arms much quicker than even short-sleeves. The house slippers join discarded items until the heat thermostat that is my body drops back to the normal zone. Whereupon I get dressed. Again.

One day, as that thirst hit . . . Interesting. Just writing about a hot flash has encouraged one to visit me. There go the clothes and the sweaty keyboard. Need a drink.

Back. Sorry. Goes with the territory.

Now, as I was saying, I realized that the sudden and demanding urge to quench my thirst at the onset of a hot flash was in fact, very similar to that same thirst I experienced each time I began to nurse my babies. Simultaneously, they began to suck, my milk let-down, and I needed a drink. All at the same time. I learned to prepare to feed the babies by first placing a big glass of water on the table beside me. It worked.

I'm guessing, though I could be way off target, that hormones are at play here. Back then, pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing stimulated the hormones that made me thirst as I produced and delivered milk to the babies. Now I am not nursing, but my hormones are doing something to make me thirsty. Maybe it is the last dying gasp of estrogen floating out of my body, no longer needed to maintain the body for reproduction.

Someone out there knows. Maybe a female scientist could take this one on and let me know. One thing I am sure of. I am very thankful that I did not have hot flashes while I was nursing! And I am thankful that I am not a nursing mommy now.

Another thought I had was that the thirst I experienced, a (seemingly) life-threatening thirst, must be what the Lord was talking about in the Sermon on the Mount as He spoke with His disciples and the gathered crowds.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Spiritual hunger and thirst is a life-threatening situation. We thirst and we hunger for the Savior, the Son of God, and His righteousness. But do we let ourselves be filled?

It's as easy as my placing a glass of water at my side or going to the sink to fill a cup. We just have to ask. And we will be filled with exactly what we need.

What are you hungry and thirsty for?


Angie Quantrell regularly disrobes and puts clothes back on as she hot flashes throughout her days. Writing about life and connecting with spiritual truths gives her purpose. Angie lets the Lord quench her thirst.

Disneyland - 10 Tips for Surviving Your Vacation While Experiencing Menopause

Yes. It's true. Menopause does change your outlook on life, at least temporarily. I didn't know how much until we took a recent trip to Disneyland. It was my only trip to the Big D while enjoying the side effects of the Big M - menopause.

Mostly, the heat made it miserable for me (and thereby, my hubby). Shade and AC were my favorite attractions this go-round. Here are some tips that helped me stay sane while experiencing the magic of Disney while hormonally unbalanced.

1. SHADE. I've already mentioned this. Shade is your friend. Your very best friend, next to AC. Find it and stand there. Seek seats in shady areas to recoup or wait for parades. Take an umbrella if necessary to make your own shade. Shade is found in all sorts of lovely shops, restaurants, attractions, and natural settings. Seek and find.

2. AC. Air conditioning should be first, as I LOVE AC. Some of the best places to find AC? Again - shops, restaurants (indoor), and attractions. Pirates quickly became a favorite ride due to the blasts of cool air propelling from the doors, as well as the approximately 15 minutes worth of sit-down-in-AC-time while on the actual ride. Find those indoor rides and patronize them. We were also rejuvenated by lolling about in our hotel room, complete with beautiful AC.

3. Go NAKED. NOT really! But do wear thin, cotton clothing. I wanted to wear sleeveless tops, but my little backpack then chaffed my upper arms. Plus, short sleeves protect your shoulders from sunburn. Thin clothes do the trick. Cotton absorbs sweat and dries from sweat relatively fast. I lived in shorts and thin shirts.

4. Eat SMALL. Huge meals made me have more hot flashes, in addition to the multiple (and I mean MULTIPLE) hot flashes I had due to change in temperatures from the northwest and the heat spell found in Orange County. Small meals and snacks made it easier to deal with the constant dripping sweat resulting from hot flashes (hereafter to be called HF). Relief, if there is such a thing, comes in lack of heavy clothing.

5. NUTS. This is perhaps one of my favorite discoveries. Buy those nut pack cases from Costco. Carry around a few packages. Eat them as a snack or a meal. The protein and extra salt helped replace what I was licking off of my upper lip and wiping off of my sweaty brow.

6. Alternate. Enjoy an indoor attraction or event. Then head out for a sunny ride. Go back inside to shop. Stand in line for an outdoor show. Etc. Etc. Give your body a chance to reset.

7. Embrace the COFFEE BREAK. This is another favorite that we just discovered this trip. Take a coffee break. Every day. You don't have to drink coffee. Now that Starbucks is on both Main Street (inside the park) and Downtown Disney (outside the park), the opportunities are plentiful. We hit the Main Street store each morning, staked out an in-the-shade table, and drank iced green or passion tea. Plus we added a snack - a nut pack or pastry. I needed the shade break and cool drink. My honey needed the food. Perfect win-win situation.
(HINT: You cannot reload your card while inside Disneyland. If you are planning on collecting stars, load at home, load at Downtown Disney, or set your card to automatic reload).

8. FLOAT a BOAT. Drink enough water to literally float a boat. I drenched my clothing continually all day with sweat. Really, it was disgusting. So I had to drink, drink, and drink some more. Not just plain water. What was really refreshing was sparkling water. We stocked up at home, brought a few cases with us, and kept it cool in the hotel fridge. Ahhhh. The pause that refreshes.

9. Get a FAN. I could not have survived at all without my hand fan. It's just a cheap little paper fan with wood slats. But it folds up so I could put it in my backpack or pocket and take it out as needed. It was in use most of the time, providing a breeze where none was to be found. Disneyland does have those cool battery driven fans that spritz water out as they spin. They cost $18. I was too cheap to buy one. Instead, stand beside some kids who are holding one. They don't pay attention and will accidently spray you. I spent some time next to a few youngsters while waiting for a show. They kept my legs cool (not that they knew it, but I felt it). Or buy a water fan in advance of your trip. Take it along.

10. Be REALISTIC. I thought I was still 25 and not experiencing hormonal surges and an excess of HF's. We quickly learned. Slow down. Have fun. Get a 5 Day Pass. You will have plenty of time to see everything. EVERYTHING.


I can't wait to make a return trip. Go Disney!

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The Big M

It's official. The Big M has come to this body.

Big M? you ask.

Menopause.

One word that conjures up images of gray hair, sweating, flushed, emotional, sleep-deprived, hormonal women of a certain middle-aged category.

I can attest that those images are not without reason.

There are no less than three separate fans, four if you count the traveling one that goes on trips or moves to strategic areas as needed, in our home. And don't forget the three ceiling fans. And the huge cooking fan I found in Paris. Oh! And the folding purse fan for emergency cooling on-the-go.

No. I'm not obsessive. Well, maybe just a little. I do feel a bit panicked when I feel the wave of heat and lobster skin flush rushing through my system and there is no access to air movement.

Some tools I use to help:

~ In the bedroom: ceiling fan, box fan, and rotating fan - coming from three directions

~ In the office: small fan on the floor near my feet - turned on and off as needed

~ In the living room and family room: hand fans and ceiling fans

~ On the go: small travel fan (actually, it may be classified as a mid-size model that fits in the suitcase) and folding purse fan

Clothes to wear (or not wear) - Think LESS is MORE cooling:

~ Cotton seems to be much nicer on my internal heating system; thin and light weight items are best

~ Sleeveless or barely-there sleeves cool my arms

~ Shorts or skirts have the flexibility to be pulled up or flapped around, and allow large areas of skin to be exposed to any electrically induced breeze

~ Boxers and tank tops, my favorite sleep and working-at-home outfit

Must haves:

~ baby powder - I powder myself up each night before bed - to absorb sweat

~ handkerchiefs - something to wipe off sweat, much better than my shirt or hands

~ pony tail supplies - scrunchies, hair clips, headbands

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." -Coco Chanel

C'mon, women! Let's make our own Big M Club. We already know we are fabulous, we with our hot flashes, sags, gray hair, and roller coasters of emotions. Let's embrace the changes our bodies are experiencing with class. Encourage each other to waltz gracefully through menopause. Cheer as we make it through. And share tips - lots of helpful tips - to ensure the survival of our species - WOMEN.

Any ideas? Please, I beg of you, please. Give us your helpful ideas.