I still get hot flashes occasionally, even though it's been 12 years. But I recognize them, and they rarely last more than a few minutes. Compared to what I went through for 30 years with the PMS and the period itself, menopause has been a piece of cake. Heck, I used to get so sick between cramps, nausea and even diarrhea that I'd have to call off from work at least one or two days every month. Plus, I had more outfits & unmentionables ruined because I'd bleed like I ruptured an artery! In fact, by the time I was 35, I'd taken to wearing incontinence underwear for my period - I bled that much!! The week before was the emotional roller coaster, then the first 3-4 days of bleeding were a physical nightmare every month I'd be curled in a ball in my bed, rocking back and forth, and crying my eyes out from the pain alone. NONE of the PMS meds ever worked on me. The one thing that helped some was Advil, which I would take 6 at a time, every 3 hours - that was how I survived.