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1437229 tn?1296070020

HELP! My body thermostat has gone haywire.

In recent weeks I have been having a problem.  I can be sittting perfectly still in a comfortable room, and suddenly begin to perspire profusely to the point that my hair and clothing will become very wet.  The perspiration will literally run down my face and temples, and drip off my nose.  My back, arms and legs will also perspire.  Now, before you make an assumption, I am not having a hot flash.  I have absolutely no sensation of temperature, except when my clothing becomes soaked enough that I get cold.  I have even begun carrying a small "swimmer's" towel to help with these episodes.  When it finally ends, I look like I was caught in a sudden downpour.

If anyone has had a similar experience I would appreciate some assistance.  What has the MS messed with now?  More importantly, is there anything that can be done?  Thank you in advance.

Most sincerely,
Beth
7 Responses
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429700 tn?1308007823
I meant for my last post to go to everyone in this thread--especially Beth.  Sorry about that!
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429700 tn?1308007823
I have a real problem with my body's thermostat.  I have found that when I get overheated that I can't cool down.  When I get too cold, I can't warm up very easily.  I've ended up in the emergency room in Italy when I was on vacation because I couldn't cool down no matter what I did.  When I was given IV fluids, I immediately started cooling down and I felt completely normal again.  For me, I don't sweat, so I have to be very, very careful in the heat.

Lately, I can't warm up--especially at night.  I put tons of blankets on, my teeth are chattering, and my muscles are so tight they are like boards and hurt really badly.  Then, when I finally go to sleep, somewhere in the middle of the night I start getting too warm.  I just can't get it right!

I don't know what to tell you for advice.  If you're not fighting an infection or have cancer, you probably have a lesion in the area of the brain that controls your autonomic functions such as your body temperature.  I hear you!  Just hang in there.  
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Avatar universal
I can't add anyting about MS and this subject, But I can say that I understand how annoying this symptom is!

I had both night sweats and then later hotflashes.

Nightsweats (didn't know this is what they were at the time) were because of my cancer,and are somehow related to your body having a fever at night to try and get rid of they infection (cancer) Would sometimes have to get up several times and change my t-shirt, if I didn't then I would end up shivering with an awful chill and have to take a hot shower.

hot flashes have settle down for me but started really bad from having chemo induced menopause (at 33!) I have to keep a fan going all the time. Lately I have been having chills at nigth, and pile the blankets on though! But I'm in Canada and it is finally feeling like winter here, even though it was a green Christmas it is now -10 Celsius.
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987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
I dont have the hot/sweat episodes but i have the opposite that makes you think of iceland and blizzards lol i shiver so much my teeth chatter. I cant warm up no matter what i do, skin is cold to touch and the tremors go into over drive, I just ride it out until its finished. lol my guilty secret is having the airconditioner on for everyone else in the house and sleeping with my electric blanket running and yes its the middle of summer so I know its weird!

It does have something to do with lesions affectively creating autonomatic dysfunction if the cause is MS related but the hot sweats could be numerous other things as well, hormones being just one of them so it maybe worth finding out if there is something else causing the problem, just in case its fixable and not something else you have to accept as your new normal.

Cheers...........JJ  
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Avatar universal
I'm like missing me, I get the drenching night sweats.  Sometimes I have to get up and change our sheets or put a towel down if I'm too tired to change them then.  There will be beads of sweat running down my back.  They tested my hormones and everything was normal. They did a CT scan thinking that I may have Hodgkins because my dad had it - and nothing was found with that either.  

It could be something that is related to autonomic dysfunction. I had been talking to TwoPack about this a few months ago.  Some people with MS also have autonomic dysfuntion, depending on where your lesions are located. Sweating is one of those autonomic functions.  I'm betting that this is what's causing it.

I hope it doesn't get too bad for you,
Kelly  
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1157044 tn?1318300124
Hi Beth:

I do not get the hotflashes, but instead the night sweats.  Those will leave me drenched in sweat - and then that awful chill.

I don't know if it can be caused by MS.  However, I do seem to remember that question asked on my neurologists evaluation form prior to my diagnosis.  I don't know how much relevence that has though to the MS directly if any at all.

Hang in there - I know these feelings are so uncomfortable.  I change my pj's 2 to 3 times a night some times.
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1816210 tn?1327354884
Hi Beth,

I have had this, although for me it was pretty early (in my mid thirties).  It was hormone related for me.  It sounds like a really mean hot flash.  I remember turning red from head to toe, and and it was like a flash flood of perspiration that literally soaked me.  It meant several changes of clothes, and multiple showers.  

As for MS, I don't think you're in danger of a true relapse (although I'm not authority).  It very well might give you temporary symptoms though.  I hope not though. Hang in there.

Tammy-with fellow feeling.
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