referee@sdccsu3.UUCP (12/15/83)
Older women I know (45+) often complain about "hot flashes", which I understand are due to hormonal imbalances. I am not really sure of the sensation, and would like further information/descriptions, preferably first or second hand from other women. Two other issues I would like to address are the formation of fibroids in the uterus, and hysterectomies -- are they really necessary? I've heard so many horror stories among women of my mother's age, and so many of them have had this operation performed. Are there any ways to prevent these? I'd like to age gracefully. -- Cindy Paloma, the Referee revealed UCSD Computer Center {decvax,philabs,ihnp4}sdcsvax!sdccsu3!zz1cp
pc@hplabsb.UUCP (Patricia Collins) (12/16/83)
Hot flashes are not limited to menopausal women. ANyone with a hormone imbalance can suffer this annoyance. The symptoms are as you might guess: suddenly feeling hot and clammy, then feeling fine or even cool. It can be disconcerting the way that intermittent dizziness can be. I think that the capillaries dilate, making you flush. The endocrine system is an amazingly complicated network. In my experience, a hormone imbalance can be accompanied by (I hesistate to say "cause") lots of seemingly unrelated symptoms (e.g., allergy-like symptoms). Watch out! Medical people have a propensity for dispensing steroids in these cases. As for hysterectomies, I believe the pendulum is swinging back. However, a second (conservative) opinion is mandatory, as far as I'm concerned. I DO know of a woman who had a hysterectomy with a wonderful side effect. She had been badly diabetic most of her life. After the hysterectomy, the diabetes cleared to a point where it could be controlled with diet! This was a person who had been totally dependent on insulin injections for her whole adult life.