F is for Fans

I am going to do a Flashback post for this one as nothing has really changed with the exception that I have a much wider variety of personal fans. I originally wrote this back in 2012 and I am STILL having hot flashes!!  WTH!!!

I decided to revise the original title “My BEST Friend”. I now present to you…

“FOREVER Friends!!!” 

If you’ve reached the point in your life when you are having your own "personal summers" even when it’s snowing outside…I have THE solution for you.  Fellow flashers you know what I'm talking about...“HOT FLASHES”. You can feel it coming on and there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it short of taking off ALL your clothes and rolling around in the snow.  Seriously.  I began to suffer (and I do mean suffer) from hot flashes very shortly after being forced into menopause (back in 2006 due to chemo).  Meds following that only exasperated the frequency and intensity.  

It's hard to You can't imagine (speaking from experience) what hot flashes are all about until you have had one. If you "think" you have had one...trust me...you have NOT!  Now some women have them only at specific times; day OR evening OR when they sleep.  I, who never wins anything EVER, hit the jackpot and seem to get them ALL.THE.TIME! 

All of a sudden you start to feel warm and tingly from the inside out.  In a nanosecond you have sweat beads dripping down your face, steam is emanating from your neckline (turtle necks are no longer an option) and you feel as if you are going to spontaneously combust.  I’m pretty sure hell is not nearly as hot.  Sure it may only be 3-5 minutes from start to finish (just feels like forever) but then 5 minutes after "the flash" you are pretty sure hypothermia is setting in due to excessive heat loss. 

They can happen anywhere and usually at the most inopportune time. Like when you are shopping and are finally ready to pay and the cashier (who appears to be no older than 12) does a double-take and then proceeds to avoid eye contact because you look like you have just completed a marathon. 

When I originally wrote this, I had a handheld fan made by Brookstone. They no longer make that particular model. I took it everywhere I went; restaurants, movies, parties, yes parties and on vacations. I don't have to tell you, it was a very sad day when they discontinued making it. Not to worry I have found alternate models. 

My newest "Hands-free" model.