Question:-This question might be a bit unusual since everyone talks about hot flushes and menopause.  Just recently I had a break in periods from November 2008 to February 2009.  Since November/December I have experienced and unusual ‘cold/chill’ about my body.  Bit like someone opening the fridge door behind you.  Seems to emanate from the spine.  Anyway this was happening on and off.  It hasn’t been debilitating or causes ’suffering from’ type dialogue.  Its merely sensations of cold.  A good example is when I am in bed, I know that I should be cosy and warm, my husband even says I feel warm, but I am laying there and I feel cold emanations from my back (I’m even laying on my back at the time!). Is it possible to get the opposite to hot flushes and if so, what is going on in the body?  Is this experience something that you hear about at all from other women generally?  I am 51, I eat healthily and exercise, and my general health good.

Reply:- The cold inner chill that is experienced by some women in the menopause, the reverse to Hot flushes, may be the body heating mechanism slowing  down when there is some imbalanced within the body.
As the hormones levels reduce and change this imbalance occurs, affecting every women differently.
The Endocrine system is responsible for these changes, the leader of body balance, hormones and body metabolism is the Thyroid gland
The Thyroid Gland found in the neck, it manufactures three essential hormones, these control our basal metabolic rate, the rate at which chemical reactions occur, affecting our heart and metabolism.
Too much is known as Hyperthyroidism and too little Hypothyroidism, ageing tends to lower the thyroid function in women at the time of the menopause ‘
Symptoms are  low body temperature, feeling cold , hypoglycaemia, (low blood sugars) dry and thinning skin,
So, those that experience the Cold chill it may be worth checking your thyroid function by a simple blood test.
It’s worth checking out

A well balanced diet is essential along with a good vitamin and mineral intake, the lack of 1 essential mineral leads can lead to imbalance.