Red face

[maggie38]

I have a question. I have had MS for 5 years and I am 42 years old. My question is why do I stay hot all the time an my face stays red? when this happen I have not energy. My family doctor says that I may be starting menopause early but would not prescribe me anything for it. I am so miserable. Any advice is welcome. Maggie

[jensequitur]

I think that's hormonal.  I get a red face - flushed and pink cheeked - and it seems to be related to the time of the month.

[doublevision1]

I have a similar problem, not getting hot all over but I do get a red face occasionally, it will feel warm and sometimes numb-ish or tingly.  Often it will come on after the first one or two sips of a glass of red wine, other times with light activity, sometimes it just happens without an apparent trigger.  This started happening only this year (I am 4 years post-dx) around the same time that I started a new med, Sativex.  I discontinued that med, but it still happens.  I wonder if it's related to the meds I
continue to take (gabapentin and amitriptyline).  

[maggie38]

thank you so much for your answer. I am seeing a new doctor monday. My regular doctor that diagnosed me with ms, doesn't seemed concerned and didn't want to run any test to see what was causing the "heat" problem. It very much upset me because she said it would just get worse and would not prescribe me anything for it. I never thought about it being my hypothalamus. I will mention this to my new doctor. Thanks, maggie.

[maestro1959]

Often Multiple Sclerosis will affect the hypothalamus.  That is the body's thermostat.  When this happens, your body has difficulty regulating its temperature, and will have a sudden and expended rise in temperature.  The best thing for you to do is keep a cool pack handy.  Applying it to the back of your neck is often helpful.

Of course, it could, in fact be true that you are experiencing an early menopause.  Your doctor can run bloodwork that can tell him the extant to which you are releasing hormones.  If it shows that your ovaries are slowing their production he can then prescribe meds that may help you.  I have been told there are vitamins or minerals you can take that often help women.  I have never taken them, as I had a hysterectomy at age 29, and at 52 years have yet to experience a hot flash.

I do have trouble have with my hypothalamus.  Those are not "hot flashes" because they last much longer.  I have noted in other women that their flashes are very short, perhaps 1-2 minutes, although they say it feels like an eternity.  My episodes last for much, much longer.

I hope this informatin helps.  Which ever problem you are having, neither is pleasant.

Most sincerely,
Beth

[Sumanadevii]

Maggie, I do know MS sometimes won't allow us to control the temperature of our body but then I had an early menopause (done by 42) with the red cheeks and hot hot hot all the time.

I guess doctors would have a hard time deciding....but I think a big clue is the lack of energy which points to MS in my opinion.

I keep ice packs and slap one of my neck when it happens to me.  It helps immediately to cool me.  Maybe others will have some ideas to be of help.