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Don't know what this is....

by Rena705, Jul 22, 2008 12:46PM
Tags: heat, skin, face, cold
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday it was close to 90 degrees here and I don't do well in the heat although the problems seems to strike me after the heat has abated.  However, on Sunday night we were playing Bocce' in the backyard of  a friend and we were in the shade at this point so it was cooler.  I felt really, really crappy in that I was sweating profusely and my equilibrium was not good but when I felt my skin, it was ICE COLD to the touch!  I had hubby feel my face and a friend as well and they could not believe how cold my skin was and yet I was obviously over heated!  Has anyone experienced this and does anyone know why this happened?  It was really strange!

Lots of Hugs,

Rena
Member Comments (14)

by syndismilez, Jul 22, 2008 01:10PM
To: Rena
Hi,
I get that way, but it is usually right before I come down with something.
My body gets cold and clammy, but I feel so Hot!  Unless I have been in the heat.  
I do the same thing with the heat as you. I will get hot, but then I have some symptoms at the time. But even as long as a day after I will get dizzy and sometimes get real sick as in hanging my head on the toilet.  I have even had a migraine because of me staying hot too long.  
I hope you are doing ok today. Watch that heat. It can really do some real damage!
Are you still dizzy?  
Cyndi

by Fluffysmom, Jul 22, 2008 01:30PM
To: Rena
I hope you're feeling a lot better today.  It sounds like Sunday night was creepy as well as crappy.  

I hope this is a one time event, one of those things that just make you shake your head and say "what the heck was that?"

It sounds like you were having fun up until that point; I'm hoping you get more of the fun and less of the yucky feelings.  Sorry that I have no answers, only sympathy.

Kathy

by spastic, Jul 22, 2008 01:36PM
To: Rena
It almost sounds like a heat stroke to me, Honey.  About ten years ago I worked at a window factory and my job was flipping glass, to make window panes, well anyway we were by the tempering machine and it blew out heat all day long.  On this particular day it was 100+ outside and right where I was standing the thermometer was reading 130+.  I started shivering and actually passed out.  I woke up in the air conditioned offices up front.  I wasn't the only one that had done that, that day.  I know we have been talking about those cooling vests but I believe we both need to invest in one, don't ya think?

Love Ya,

Ada

by jensequitur, Jul 22, 2008 02:11PM
Yeah, you can really start feeling clammy and cold if you're about to have heatstroke.  People with MS have problems regulating their inner body temperature, so it's possible that your body just shut down in the 90 degree heat.

by Wobbly, Jul 22, 2008 02:16PM
To: all
I haven't had it that bad...but I get cold them hot...I have Raynaud...blue and white hands when it's cold..

I thnk mine is Post Menopause...but it's getting worst instead of better and it's been about 10 years...

all I know is I feel horrible on Mondays if I do anything on the weekends...Geee...I just want some sort of life ... my poor husband has to deal with this too...NOT Fair to him..

hang in there
andie

by Rena705, Jul 22, 2008 07:02PM
To: All
If this was heat induced and related to MS would I still be having the overwhelming fatigue and nausea now?  Is this more likely to be related to a possible flu bug?  I started that new inhaler on Thursday but I was having the fatigue problem before then.  This inhaler can cause nausea and sleep difficulties, restlessness or nervousness but I am far from restless or nervous, I just want to sleep!  I got up this morning at about 8 and let the dog go into the bathtub because we were having a storm (chicken little) and then I went back to bed and slept until about 10:30 a.m.  Then I laid down around noon and slept for another 3 hours and I feel right now like I could lie down and sleep for another 3 hours!  This is not like me at all and I am getting concerned.  I have to go for my lung CT scan tomorrow afternoon if I can stay awake to get there!

This is so darn frustrating because I don't know what to do!  If I go to the lgp she won't know what the problem is if it is related to MS because she knows nothing of MS!  I can't go to my neuro because I have to have a referral from my lgp!  Arrrrghhhh!  When is it going to end...I am feeling so crappy and I have nowhere to turn but here and as much as everyone here means to me...why can't I have a neurologist!?!?  I again feel as though I am being punished for something and I didn't do anything.  Sorry for venting on you all but I really have nowhere else to turn.  I am going to lie down again for a while and see if that helps any...my gawd...I would hate to have to be working right now...it's days like this that remind me why I can't work!

Rena

by wingnut19, Jul 22, 2008 07:06PM
To: Rena
I don't know if this is funny or scary, but I always thought it was normal to be cold and clammy when sweating.....I have always had this....

I swear, I really thought it was normal!!


OOPS....

Tammy

by Akcowboy, Jul 22, 2008 07:23PM
To: Rena
I don't know right along with you, as all I wish to do today is sleep, I just got up from a 3 hour nap and I still feel like going back to bed

Hope you feel better here real soon

  Cowboy

by Quixotic1, Jul 22, 2008 07:33PM
To: Rena
Yes, this could easily be the aftermath of becoming severely overheated.  One, yes, people with MS have trouble regulating their temp.  Also, demyelinated nerves can shut down in heat - occasionally not to return to full function for a long time (many days to weeks) or possibly not at all.  You may be paying the price for that little bit of fun for a while to come. (Bad, Rena!  Bad, Rena!)

Shivering or coldness means the blood flow to your skin had clamped down.  The next thing to go would be the sweating.  Do not exercise in the heat!  Besides that, Rena, dear, you are not accustomed to 90 degree heat!  The people in the south may not nunderstand, but in Canada, your year round temps are much lower.

Even up here in Washington where temps in the 90's are considered very high, the MS Society cancels support group meetings in the summer to keep people from going out!

Quix

by wingnut19, Jul 22, 2008 07:47PM
To: Quix
OK, I'm confused.....(doesn't take much these days..LOL)

I was just reading about this cold sweat thing online, and in general, when we sweat, it's our bodies way of trying to cool us off....hence the "coolness" of the skin.....

I understand the medical explanations you just gave as well, but it can also be a normal phenomenon, right??

Tammy

by Quixotic1, Jul 22, 2008 09:18PM
Yes, skin that sweats is cooler than skin that doesn't.  However, that skin is usually still warm or hot.  Another way the body has of cooling down is by dilating the vessels in the skin so that more warm blood is brought to the surface to be cooled by the evaporating sweat.  People who are hot and sweaty are usually flushed, hot and sweaty.

When the body gets all fouled up and way too overheated it may begin to shut down - heat exhaustion and the often fatal heat stroke.  Part of the problem is dehydration and part is pure temp effect.  One of the things you see in heat stroke is a restriction of the blood flow to the skin in an attempt to preserve blood flow to the more important organs.  The person will actually stop sweating.  The final ability of the body to cool itself shut down and the heat rises faster in the body and it cooks.

I was probably being overdramatic when I spoke of Rena being in danger, but it is NOT normal for a sweating, hot person to have the skin be "icy" cold unless they are in front of the A/C.  Icy cold is different than the usual cooling sweat you hear of.  The skin, itself, had to have been cold and not have the blood vessels all dilated to cool off.  I still think it was an abnormal reaction to being overheated.  Given the way she has felt since, I think that is right.

Think back.  In general when you are hot and sweaty;  Is your skin warm and superficially cool or is it icy cold?  

Quix

by Rena705, Jul 22, 2008 09:34PM
To: Quix
That is exactly what it felt like my dear!  My buddy even said, "yeah right, you were just in front of an air conditioner in the house weren't ya?".  The owner of the house confirmed that they don't have an air conditioner and anyway, I wasn't in the house...I was sitting on the edge of the yard in the shade waiting my turn!

I tried to eat supper tonight and got a little down but still feeling rather nauseous and really tired so I am going to lay down yet again.  

When you spoke about the "demyelinated nerves can shut down in heat - occasionally not to return to full function for a long time (many days to weeks) or possibly not at all.  You may be paying the price for that little bit of fun for a while to come." does that mean that the fatigue may stick around for quite a while yet?  Could there be other symptoms that could still creep up and smack me upside the head for having a little fun?  he he

Rena

by Quixotic1