Are sweaty palms a symptom of autonomic dysfunction?

[Richard1030]

In the past couple of weeks I have developed sweaty palms.  I have never before had this problem and was wondering if it is a symptom of autonomic dysfunction.  I find that even when I am cold my palms sweat.  It has gotten to the point where I don't want to shake hands anymore.  Is this a problem for anyone else?

Thanks

[Richard1030]

Thanks for the response, Marie.

I first started posting in late October after I spent 3 nights in the hospital and was released when the doctors could find nothing causing my symptoms and told me that I had "some kind of autonomic dysfunction."  I have gotten some very helpful information here, including some good feedback from you.

To reiterate, my symptoms. so far, are Nausea, shortness of breath, some chest discomort, headache, light headedness, lack of balance, tremors, chills, sweating, some mental disorientation (brain fog?), short term memory problems, extreme fatigue, chest discomfort, fluctuation of BP and pulse, especially going from lieing or sitting to standing (orthostatic hypotension; my BP goes down, my pulse goes up.) and problems sleeping.  That's what I can remember right now, because I have them written down.  There may be otherss I can't remember at the moment.

The nausea and fatigue were the first I noticed, back in June.  The others appeared later and everything seems to be getting progressively worse over time.

The sweaty palms are something that seems to have appeared in the past couple of weeks.  I don't recall that happening, even when I got the sweats all over and I don't remember ever having that as a problem.  Lately, the sweating has not been so much of a problem, as we keep the house temp relatively cool.  But the sweaty palms come with no other sweating and I find it embarrasing to the point that I no longer want to shake hands.

I am tryng to be optimistic and think I can adjust, even if I can't get over this.  I am lucky that I have a very supportive wife by my side.  We have had a lot of discussions about what may or may not happen and what we can do to adjust our lives.  She insists on coming with me to my appts and tests and, I am sure, is afraid to let me drive.  She is not afraid to confront the doctors and got quite upset with the doctors in the ER the other day.  To say she can be aggressive is like saying Genghis Kahn was a little pushy.

I think the last ER visit did help.  After a neurologist and med student came to see me, they came down with the attending neurologist and at least a half dozen docs and med students.  It seemed like I was a very interesting specimen to them.  And I finally got a written diagnosis, on my discharge papers, of autonomic dysfunction.

Thanks again and I will let you know how the tilt table test goes.

[evo123]

I have POTS and when I first went severe with this I had constant sweaty palms, toes and the area around my mouth, especially when I tried to sit upright or stand.  Now I have, as mtgardner mentioned, a lack of sweating and only occasionally have the sweating of the areas I mentioned above.

There can be other causes to this issue though, so it is important to be aware of this.

[mtgardner]

OK now I have read another post by you that says you have a dx of autonomic dysfunction.  You are about to have a tilt table test to further evaluate things.  Good!
That should really be helpful at honing in on what is wrong.  I think it would be helpful if you actually listed your symptoms for us.  Obviously sweaty palms is not your only symptom or you would not have just had an MRI and be going in for a tilt test and be going to an endo.  You have enough going on to have your doctors looking seriously in this direction.  For sure let us know how the tilt table test goes!  Marie

[mtgardner]

Hi Richard and welcome to our forum.  Excessive sweating appearing alone is most likely an inherited condition where the  sympathetic nervous system is overreacting.  I found this article that describes well the emotional impact and seriousness of the problem.  It also offers a link that will take you to solutions.
http://www.hyperhidrosis.org/

It is true that many of us with dysautonomia have either excessive sweating or a lack of sweating.  I have the latter.  Usually with us we have many other symptoms as well.  I guess what I am saying is there are many people who get sweaty hands who deal with that independent of other autonomic involvement.
If you develop other symptoms such as postural hypotension or increased heart rate with postural changes then you would want to see your doctor for evaluation.  Best of luck with this!  Marie