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Head sweats and overheated!

Posted , 12 users are following.

pam7653
pam7653

I am a 62 year old female. I've had PMR for over 4 years but have only treated it for 2 years. It took a while to figure out what I had as an overactive thyroid masked many symptoms. It was so bad I couldn't get out of bed, my car or the couch. I had become stagnant from years of exercise and activity.

I am currently on 5 mg of Prednizone, down from 15 in the last year. I gradually took it down for a year in 2013 and it came back so, back on 15mg in 2014 and the gradual decline. I'm staying steady at 5mg. I have a few aches but not many. I am very active, I cycle 10-50 mi at a time, swim and kayak. I will not let this stupid illness take me down.

The question I have is how many of you suffer from head sweats, and just plain HOT all the time? I did not have this issue last summer but this summer is awful. I need a towel and AC to cool down. Is this a side affect of the PMR or Prednizone?

3 likes, 19 replies

19 Replies

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  • Mrs.Mac-Canada
    Mrs.Mac-Canada pam7653

    Posted

    Hi Pam,

    First  of all, good for you for maintaining such a high level of activity!!  I cycle and walk but certainly couldn't do your distances.  Did you start out slow and work up.  I find walking a couple of blocks difficult some days and others can go 5 km or more.  

    As far as the sweats go, I am the same this year.  Sooooo........ annoying and embarrassing to sometimes.  I am 2 1/2 yrs in with PMR and currently at 9/8mg pred alternating.  I was at 5mg last year and didn't have the problem so I'm thinking it must be the pred. in my case.  You're already at 5mg which is a low dose.  Could it be hormonal?  

    Others will be along with their experiences and I'll be watching closely.  We're travelling to Italy the end of the month and friends that are there now say it's VERY hot.  I don't want to look like a drowned rat at the Vatican😬!

    hugs, Diana🌸

    • pam7653
      pam7653 Mrs.Mac-Canada

      Posted

      Hello Mrs. Mac-Canada,

      Yes I start slow, but here in Northern Indiana it means I cycle just April to Nov. I could walk forever but, I have Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot so I'm limited to just walking shorter distances. I use to be a runner. Looks like surgery on that foot in Dec. had the other done in 2012. They can't get them to heal so they cut the fascia.

      I'm beginning to wonder if long term use of Prednisone causes these constant heat

      attacks. It's usually while I'm exerting myself.

      I'm heading to Colorado to hike a 14,000 ft mountain again this month. Let's see if I come down half naked after that hike. 😆

      One person mentioned Sage tablets, I tried them, but I saw no improvement.

      Let's see what others are experiencing. Thanks for your reply.

    • Mrs.Mac-Canada
      Mrs.Mac-Canada pam7653

      Posted

      Best of luck on your Colorado hike. I expect it will be amazingly beautiful.  

      I think as long as you're not on sacred land you're OK naked😉.  Would be an interesting photo op!!!

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy pam7653

    Posted

    I have terrible sweats, as if I am in a shower. I am on 9 mg at the moment. It is one of the worse side effects of pred I think. 
  • jillyy1955
    jillyy1955 pam7653

    Posted

    I get hot sweats and also spend most of the day glowing like a tomato 

     

  • Susanne_M_UK
    Susanne_M_UK pam7653

    Posted

    OMG, do I get head sweats! I have short hair, and quite often, I suddenly feel sweat drops from the side and back of my head. Feels like I've just come out if the shower.

    I also all of a sudden get very hot, lik menopause sweat.

    I've no idea why, it seems to be getting worse. Currently on 25mg Pred.

    My husband laughed when I told him about my head sweats, and what's the point of styling your hair when you are going

    to look like a drowned rat at the end of the day!

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy Susanne_M_UK

      Posted

      What really annoys me is that I did not have menopause sweats, but I am really making up for it now. That dripping feel is awful, also my hair feels slightly sticky not just wet. 
    • pam7653
      pam7653 ptolemy

      Posted

      I had the menopause sweats for a few years, but they were not as bad as these. I'm ok in AC, but if it's warm outside and I'm moving I'm dripping wet. Still wonder if it's the Prednizone or the PMR. ANYBODY KNOW?
  • Susanne_M_UK
    Susanne_M_UK pam7653

    Posted

    My head is literally like I've come out of the shower, wet and dripping!
  • Guest
    Guest pam7653

    Posted

    Dripping wet when I least expect it at age 69...not menopause! I recently sang in the choir after 6 months of doing nothing and in the middle of church, I started dripping all over my cassock..the pits. It is for sure the prednisone...am down to 20 mgs from 80. Our life saving drug has side effects galore. Here is a toast to all of us, Ann11195
  • pat38625
    pat38625 pam7653

    Posted

    Hi Pam, when I was first diagnosed with PMR and put on 20mg pred, I remember nearly lying on top of bed clothes when it was minus 9 degrees.  It was like having my own built in thermostat.  Now 9 months later no sweats or overheating and I just reduced today from 10mg pred to 9mg, so have my fingers crossed.  I am 60 years young and menopause long gone over 10 years ago.  Hope you get sorted.  Regards Pat
  • penelope10875
    penelope10875 pam7653

    Posted

    Take heart. I had terible head sweats last summer and was dreading this summer, but, theyve gone!

    Can't remember my dose of pred last year maybe 12 or 15mgs; am down to 8.25 at the moment.

    Doc did,t know what was causing it. Such a relief to find that others on here had it too.

    It will pass!

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy penelope10875

      Posted

      My rheumy said it was a pred side effect. I did not have the problem before starting pred, but reducing does not seem to make any difference, I stiil feel as if I am in a warm shower. I am at 9mg at the moment. I just hate these sweats.
  • penelope10875
    penelope10875 pam7653

    Posted

    Should have said; I found, cold flannels on my neck and cold packs used for muscle problems, again on my neck, a great help.

    Does everyone else find that the muscles to the hands don't work very well. Spelling up the creek and handwriting even more terrible than it used to be!

  • FlipDover_Aust
    FlipDover_Aust pam7653

    Posted

    I have the head sweats and hot flushes - having just gone through menopause, I am not happy! lol

    It is worse when I am reducing - even a .5mg drop will cause me to have intense hot flushes and head sweats. It seems to settle with a regular dose.

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