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During an intense treatment for endometriosis induced infertility six years ago involving the drug Lupron, I went through three months of "menopause" at the age of 32. It hit hard and fast, and the side effects were incredible - I am truly not looking forward to going through "the change" again when my time comes. Incidentally, I know far too much about hot flashes well before I should.

Coping with hot flashes can be difficult, depending upon when they hit, where you are at the time, and with whom you are in company. At home, my coping strategy was to rip my shirt off and stand in front of the open refrigerator. Since I couldn't be doing that just anywhere, I had to learn to deal with them a little more subtly.

I learned to never, ever wear a turtle-neck sweater. The heat comes bubbling up through your chest, and if you have a turtle-neck on, it has nowhere to go. V-neck tops are best, and if you have to bundle up a bit in the winter, wear a v-neck t-shirt under a shirt or sweater. Layering allows you to casually remove the outer top, allowing the heat to waft out through the thinner t-shirt.

At night, I kept a couple of hot water bottles filled with ice water by my bed. When the heat comes at night, it comes in waves, like you see on the sand in the desert. You can feel yourself literally melting into a pool of your own sweat on the sheet. Tucking the cold water bottles into bed next to you may make your partner yelp, but it helps to dissipate the rolling heat. Use blankets that are easy to flip off without burying your bed partner. If you try to stay covered during a hot flash, you will suffocate. Maybe not literally, but it certainly feels that way. You won't be able to stand it anyway. You may try to get through it, but the blanket will come off. Just try to be thoughtful, though, in your panic to get the blanket off, to remember that your partner does not feel like he is being boiled alive. He'd like to stay covered.

Keep cool, crisp sheets on the bed, even in the winter. If your partner insists on cozy flannels, (trust me, you won't be able to stand them, not matter how much you love them when not flashing), cut a cotton sheet and a flannel sheet up the middle and sew the two halves together. That way you can sleep on nice cool cotton, and he can have his flannel. I made two sets of these sheets, and they are now in my closet waiting to come out again when the Real Change hits me.

Try to keep a cool drink handy. It is important to stay hydrated, and you will

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