Excessive Sweating after Heart Bypass

[TippJB]

Hi,
I have recently had a triple bypass(January 07) and since then have experienced from time to time each day excessive sweating. This usually occurs first thing in the morning when I get up and can happen from time to time during the day when I go for a walk. It is very uncomfortable and I am just wondering if this is normal andif there is anything I can do to reduce this?

[Yam_Yam48]

I had a triple bypass on June 15 2016 following a failed stent procedure which caused AF and I nearly died.

I have followed an athletic life.

I suffered sepsis whilst in hospital but it was controlled.

I am now 61 years old.  I play golf an I can still play to a handicap of 5, but I have been restricted to 9 holes at a time.

I sweat.  I sweat so bad I have to change clothing several times a day. It's embarrasing, inconvenient, (understatement), disabling and downright depressing.

No one, medically qualified, has any answers.

My theory.  I've been informed that the capacity of my heart muscle is down by 15-20%.  I'm having to work that much harder to achieve the same results.  Result = sweat.

My heart rate is around normal but is controlled by Candersartin and Bisoprolol, (a beta blocker), statins and aspirin.

I have no idea how to control my sweating and I'm getting no heads up off the experts.  All I know is I am not enjoying life because I cannot follow my passions for walking and golf.

What's the point?

[2210485]

Assuming youve brought this up to a doctor, so the big organs.. Kidneys and pancreas check out? Diabetes checks out? No significant changes in your heart failure or new blockages?

Hyperthyroid ruled out?

If so you can start coming up with some obscure theories.. For example nitric oxide plays a huge role in sweating, so therefore fluctuations in blood pressure can in theory impact sweat production.

Parasympathetic nervous system plays a role too aparrently... So maybe some neurological thing..

[Yam_Yam48]

Yeh, I've had various tests and I'm due a full spectrum of blood tests next week in order to check my drug dosage and side effect possibilities.  But nothing is being offered by my cardiologist.

My BP was fluctuating and is seemingly under control now with Bisoprolol (10mg) and Candesartin 24mg.  I have also been started on Spironolactone (25mg).

This as well as Aspirin (75mg) and Atorvastatin (40mg) which was reduced from 80mg due to muscle ache in my legs.  I also now take Ranitidine (2 x 150mg) replacing Lanzapralol.

I'm still sweating profusely.  

[2210485]

Yeah man.. I hate to break it to you but after all that testing the brick wall has been hit.. Somethings wrong involving nerves or chemoreceptors, maybe some kind of obscure endocrine thing.. If all the organs check out you may never get a definitive answer. Theres no practical way to dig any deeper without turning you into a lab rat and dissecting/excising things.

Its possible that the mechanism may reveal itsself as an incidental finding, but theres only so many places to look..

Perhaps a dermatologist can offer some insight?

[night_mare]

I had open heart surgery 3 Halloweens ago in 2013 for an ascending Aortic dissection and I like Ed use to hardly ever sweat.and my friends use to remark also. Now I am profusely sweating any time I get hot and or do any kind of work and Whoa outside I am totally soaked within 5  minutes. I just came in from the outside  drenched and decided to do a search on it and that's how I found this site. Glad to know I am not alone but this IS Horrible and embarrassing and what's worse is I have noticed a strange smell to my sweat. Does anyone else notice an odor they don't recognize? The only meds I am on is 6.25 mg of Coreg twice a day. Also I Never had high blood pressure until after the open heart surgery. And I was going to ask  my doctor but I am sure I will hear the same thing like sweating is a good thing. Well sure it is but excessively just doesn't feel normal to me! Mary Anne

[RustyScooters]

I am in the same boat with all of you and I was a little worried that something might be wrong. I am a 2 time cancer survivor and I have experienced night sweats, but this is different. In the Christmas Season of 2015 (last year) I had 5 bypasses and my Aortic Valve replaced. Since then I sweat throughout the day. I have learned that it is going to happen at times for no apparent reason, but it will always happen if I am the least bit stressed, when I step outside on a warm day and when I exert myself. For me, it always starts on the top of my head. My hair will be soaked almost immediately.

[ed34]

I am only guessing this, so please correct me if I'm wrong.
When I was a teenager, I used to sweat quite a lot during exercise and as a young adult I would also sweat quite a lot especially during exertion. A year before my heart problems were obvious, I was working outdoors in a very labour intensive job. Everyone used to comment on how I never sweated. If I was working on a very hot sunny day, I would get headaches and feel nauseous very quickly. I never hardly felt thirsty and just didn't sweat. After my first stent, I still didn't sweat but it was known I still had serious problems with my arteries. When I had my CABGx3 I sweated like crazy, more so on exertion. During Cardiac rehab I needed to use a towel regularly to stop others slipping on my sweat on the floor. As I became fitter, the sweating reduced slightly but not by much. I was told by experts at rehab that sweating is good. My CABGx3 failed and I stopped sweating. Now my LAD has been reopened with 5 stents, I'm soaking again.

I know the body sends blood closer to the skin when we are hot, so heat exchange can take place with the surrounding air.  Maybe when there are coronary problems, the heart doesn't want to waste valuable blood/oxygen by sending higher volumes near the skin.
Just a theory but it seems to make sense.
When someone has a head trauma for example, the body restricts many vessels to allow more blood to the brain to help recovery.

[heavenlyitems]

My husband had bypass 10 days ago and has this... Dr, Nurses, etc...say it is normal

[stripedhorse]

Ditto!  CABG 17 months ago and sweating is rediculous!  Regular Dr dismisses this, says no heart symptoms, it's just sweat, might be from the toprol but no worries.  Still a concern to me, embarassing, have to explain in publib it is a medicine thing, not a HA in progress.

[dadbruns]

I am the same catagory - after quad bypass I now sweat all the time (temp over 70)! Only thing different now is the meds I have to take! Doctors not too responsive about th8is though!

[clearbluesky]

Hi, I had quad bypass 18 june this year, now 8weeks plus post surgery and still experiencing excessive sweats, some times after food or effort and some times for no apparent reason, seems to be quite common.

[Les1980]

I have the same thing ! I had a triple bypass November 16 2007 , and since then, I've been having drenching sweats , especially when waking up in the morning . Please feel free to email me .
***@****

[NiCOE]

I experience exactly the same excessive sweating that you talk about. I had a quad bypass in July 06. Unfortunately, I have not found any resolution to this problem or even anyone who accepts that it might be related to my CABG.
NiCo
11/23/07

[anacyde]

Of the four bypasses in the last ten years in my own family, no one has complained of this.  In fact, my uncle is thrilled that he can now walk a couple of miles without sweating profusely and becoming short of breath.

There is the issue of anxiety as a possible factor, if this applies, but I think this definitely needs to be mentioned to your doctor.