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Facial perspiration and PMR/Prednisone

Posted , 15 users are following.

djwillms
djwillms

I was diagnosed with PMR in December 2014 and am now tapering off of prednisone.  (I started with 40 mg and am now at 6mg/day.)  I have had a couple of mild flares which sent me back up to 10 mg and then back to tapering from there.  For the most part, i think I am doing pretty well.  My most recent sed rate was 19--down from >100--and my CRP was 9--down from 44.  My problem now is intermittent, profuse head and face sweating.  I have scanned past threads for information but as most threads are wont to do, they get tangled in other important discussions.  Is this something many of you have experienced?  WebMD says it is a "rare" side effect.  Has anyone discovered anything to relieve it?  (Other than wearing ice packs to garden!)  I am 66 and otherwise relatively healthy.  Thanks in advance.  

 

0 likes, 35 replies

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  • penelope10875
    penelope10875 djwillms

    Posted

    Yes I had the head sweats, they were so disgusting and it was only on here that I learnt they were a side effect of pred. Niether the doc or pharmacist knew what was causing it, we even tried 3 months of HRT to no avail, obviously. Now I am down to 8.5mg and they seem to have mostly gone, though if it is warm I do sweat more than most. It's only the head , very strange. You are lucky in one way, if I have a flare I end up on 20mg and then the sweats start again.

    Bear with it and tie up your hair if you can, it disguises the 'wettness' a little!

    • EileenH
      EileenH penelope10875

      Posted

      Lodger also had terrible head sweats, she sat with a towel around her neck to absorb it!

      How about the icetowels the tennis players use on hot days? Ice cubes in a long plastic bag (to make it less messy) and wrapped in a towel so it doesn't burn your skin. Even a cold wet towel would cool you down.

  • penelope10875
    penelope10875 djwillms

    Posted

    Just remembered other things I did to help. Cold packs from the fridge. I always carry an old fashioned fan in my bag (not sure what gender you are!) and as I said tying up my hair!
  • suesing
    suesing djwillms

    Posted

    Yes, I suffer from these head and upper body sweats too, along with the bright red face and hot flushes.  I noticed that this was coming on for about 2 years before being diagnosed with full blown PMR, so perhaps it is to do with a mixture of the illness and Prednisolone.  I can go from being cold to boiling up in a matter of minutes, once I start intense activity, like gardening...drip, drip!  The idea of wearing a sports sweat band is a great idea.
  • Flutterbie57
    Flutterbie57 djwillms

    Posted

    I can't wait till I just have a glow like Eileen, instead of rivers of sweat. I have not read anything about the 'moon face' side effect yet. I wonder if that is from fluid build up, and we might escape it,because we drip - just looking for a positive. We are in the midst of winter here and still I sweat. We are off to Hawaii next month and I so hope I do not 'perspire' while going through American customscool - a nervous perspirer with little white pills. LOL .I think I will get some small cotton scarves which I can you use to mop up. A John McEnroe sweat band and an 'old lady' fan is fine for home.
    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE Flutterbie57

      Posted

      I loved my 'moon' face - the wrinkles and the 'chicken' neck just disappeared.  I was sad when that side efffect disappeared.

      The 'glow' never disappeared till remission.

    • Susanne_M_UK
      Susanne_M_UK lodgerUK_NE

      Posted

      I hate my moon face with a vengeance! I try not to catch sight of myself more than absolutely necessary. I used to have a slim face, so it's even more obvious, at least to me.
    • janet08828
      janet08828 Susanne_M_UK

      Posted

      I am with you Susanne - maybe not hate- but I am definitely not thrilled!
    • steve_1
      steve_1 lodgerUK_NE

      Posted

      I ain't got a moon face or a buffalo hump but I have got a beachball stomach and hairy arms. Just today an older gent who I haven't met for a while said "you do look well".....murder did cross my mind but then I thought "ignorance is excusable"
    • djwillms
      djwillms steve_1

      Posted

      I guess it is but so is having murder cross my mind.
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