Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®) can cause premature menopause or temporary estrogen loss. Because estrogen protects bones,anything that speeds menopause or deprives your body of estrogen increases the risk of bone density loss.*
I have been cold-natured my entire life. Yes, I'm that person who has a heater under their desk going year round. I have a several sweaters in my office, in the car, and a blanket or throw in every room in my house. This past year I began having hot-flashes. The first few times they were kind of cute, something novel since I'd never experienced them before. It didn't take long for the "cute" to wear off and the "Oh My Gosh" to kick in.
Since I am too young for menopause, I started researching to see what in the world was happening to me now. According to what I've read and discussed with my doctor, Cytoxan, the chemotherapy drug I took for 3 years can cause premature menopause. As Murphy's Law would have it, I am unable to take any HRT (hormone replacement therapy) because of the antiphospholipid syndrome. A lot of the homeopathic remedies aren't options for me either. I am not sure how they'd affect my coumadin dosage and I am not willing to find out.
For now I work around it, my heater is on until I feel a hot flash coming. Then I grab a freezer pack and put it on the back of my neck. As soon as I am cold again the heater comes back on. At night I have several fans going in our bedroom and a giant comforter. When the flash comes if take the blanket off until I feel cold again. For now its the only solution that I have since estrogen replacements are not an option for me.
It isn't perfect but it works for me.
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