Hyperhidrosis/excessive sweating wth MS

[zoefromsussex]

Sorry, me again!
Just thought of another question I'm curious about...do any of you suffer from hyperhidrosis/excessive sweating?

I have had this for as long as I can remember and when I last saw my dermotologist he asked if there was any history of autoimmune disorders. I said yes, both my parents had/have autoimmune conditions and I have MS and he said he suspected that was my answer! He also said he was reluctant to recommend drugs or surgery in case it caused a flare of my symptoms.

I guess ms does cause lots of weird symptoms so maybe this does explain the sweating?

[nonisheppard]

I have MS, and I sweat profusely most of the time. I am forever wet...and I hate it.  I have tried taking anticholinergic medication, but hated the very dry mouth all the time. I could have put up with it, but the med only kind of half worked.  People comment often about my sweating...( how rude) and I admit it, I am embarrassed.  I wish I could just dry up...

[myrtleberry]

It is not a drug, but there is a capsule product from the UK that regulates sweating called Ion Extra. They are doing a clinical trial on menopause sweating with this. Maybe contact them.

[issybugs]

I have only just found out today that my excessive sweating of the head, face and back could be all down to the MS.  This sweating has become steadily worse over the last 5 to 6 years.  At least now I know what is wrong and if anyone knows of a drug that can help in any way, please say as this horrible condition is very embarrassing and does nothing for the love life lol.

[issybugs]

I have only just found out today that my excessive sweating of the head, face and back could be all down to the MS.  This sweating has become steadily worse over the last 5 to 6 years.  At least now I know what is wrong and if anyone knows of a drug that can help in any way, please say as this horrible condition is very embarrassing and does nothing for the love life lol.

[SamboleeSandra]

I have MS & deal with the sweating issue any time I do anything physical no matter what season it is. I've read all of the posts but no one has indicated whether or not they have found a medication that helps with the sweating. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Lor301]

I just started using drysol and it is like a gift from god. My dermatologist prescribed it to me. I've gotten botox under my arms four times in the past for my hyperhidrosis but wanted to try something different. It is so amazing, I use the drysol about every three nights and no sweating!! Before this I was going through four shirts a day .

[Jameypre]

Hello everyone.  Sounds like we are all in the same boat.  I am glad to know that I am not alone.  The profuse sweating started about 2 months ago for me.  It is head to toe sweating but forehead, face and back of the neck are the worst.  I know it is not medication since I am currently not taking anything.  My neuro wants me on Tecfidera and I will probably start that in the coming weeks. I too find this very embarrasing since I work in the retail field and meet customers all day long.  Prayers to all that are suffering.

[joyfulnana]

hi everyone. i am joyful nana. i have history of multible autoimmune diseases. it started out with SLE which did cns damage,killed my colon, took out adrenal glands. also sjogrens reynauld, fibro, type 1 diabetis caused by failure of adrenals etc and just Feb..MS and Transverse myelitius. I have had excessive sweating for a couple of years and it was attributed to Addison's disease, but now know double whammy as my autonomic system along with Poly Periphial neuro. So I sweat even in extremely cold weather. anytime i walk to restroom and back. so with any exertion at all. I literally lay on ice packs to try to keep sweating at bay. It is very embarrasing to have just showered and cannot become dry. I have to change clothing multiple times which just makes it worse.  I am hopeful to be approved for a medication for MS that has hope ofdiminishing some of these things!  my arms are quiting on me. Blessings to all. Keep your chins up!

[Heidicakes]

Hello everyone.
I just googled "excessive sweating and MS" and I couldn't believe that there was so much discussion on this topic.
I have had MS since my first episode with optic neuritis in July 2000 but I wasn't officially diagnosed until about two years ago.
I am a 47-year old female, with excessive sweating and it is such an embarrassing and awkward problem that I face on a daily basis.
It happens when I'm sitting still, eating, drinking, doing nothing, or just walking around.
I don't think it's a result of any medication that I'm on, but I do tend to believe that it is due to the MS.
Aside from the cooling vests/jackets/fans/Air conditioners and cutting your hair (which I don't want to do), has anyone discovered anything that helps?

[essdipity]

Hyperhidrosis is a condition all by itself, so if one has had it for many years pre-MS, MS is unlikely to be the cause. That would be horrible and very embarrassing in social situations.There are treatments if the sweating is mostly hands and feet, injections, I think.

Of course there are also the hot flashes of menopause. I'm so lucky that didn't happen to me, just the luck of the draw. I take after my mother in that regard, but I don't know who my sister takes after, as she's had night sweats for years and years post-menopause, and it's been forever since I've seen her wear a sweater or turtleneck.

As for me, I'm like Carrie. The perspiration is on my face but mostly in my scalp, around the hairline. I did get my hair cut quite short, which helps, though my head still gets soaked at times, especially at the gym. Makes me feel so grimy! And last week I was trying on jeans at my favorite shop, which must have been quite warm, or maybe there were just a lot of women there, because they were having a 50% off sale on everything. Anyway, all of a sudden I had rivulets of sweat rolling down my face and soaking the back of my neck. Ugh.

My neuro agrees this is from MS, a malfunctioning autonomic nervous system. Even taking something out of the microwave on a hot day will cause this reaction in me. But I take heart in the fact that the malfunction could just as easily cause me not to sweat, or to sweat only on one side, etc. This could be dangerous, as we need a way to cool our bodies off. As repulsive as sweating can be, it's at least healthy.

ess

[carrieblackwell77]

Oh, forgot to add, I'm recently diagnosed with MS too so it's all new to me.  When I was in my recent relapse that was when the sweating got so bad and I also would have "flashes" like 10-30 seconds of intense itching and burning on my scalp which also makes me think the sweating is related to the MS too since I had that parasthesia there

[Sulig1956]

Do you have hair loss with the itching? Any breakout with the skin on edge of scalp, ears,down sides of neck?

[carrieblackwell77]

I have this too except only on my face and scalp.  I had long hair and ended up cutting it really short.  I could never fix it anyway because it would just be ruined and soaked by the time I was done with hair and make up.  Now I don't wear make up except for just eye make up and have a really short pixie cut.  I recently found out that I have low testosterone (weird for women, lol) and Hashitmoto's Thyroiditis and am on hormone replacements for both so I don't know yet if it's the ms or the hormones.  I suspect the MS because it's only excessive on my head which seems weird.  It is really annoying and frustrating 'cause I always feel like a frumpy, sweaty mess.  A haircut did help because it still looks decent when it's all wet and it feels much cooler.

[loberino]

I checked on which meds I'm on could cause excessive sweating, and I came up with a total of SIX.  So do I try to stop taking these medications or....what?  So confused.  Is it the MS or is it a side effect?

[mikeysmom1995]

OMG the sweating has been so terrible for me, especially at work. I get so embarrassed when my forehead starts to drip and the back of my neck gets soaked.  I really don't have to do much either to get soaked. I hate it.  
My Neuro doc said it could be the meds.
Aside from cutting my long hair short, I haven't figured out how to stop it.
I have a small fan blowing on me most of the time at work.
Barb

[TashaPup]

Wow...I am so glad to read this post.  I have been having horrendous 'hot flashes' (my age is 54)...but then they just go away for a while.  I thought it meant it was hormonal and cyclical, but maybe it is something different, altogether.  I guess I will add it to my list of symptoms (up to 18 now), to give to my neuro doc, on Friday.  Will be very interested what he has to say in general, and more specifically, about my latest MRI.  I expect, based upon what I have read here, that he will order more testing...such as EP and LP.  We shall see!   Jan.

[cramp_n_mystyle]

Wonderful explanation! I've been blaming menopause,lol! Oh dear!

[loberino]

Hi there,

What meds can we take to combat the Hyperhidrosis, given that we have MS too?  I am so sick of my facial sweating it's becoming unbearable.  I can't get ready for work in the morning without a fan blowing directly on my face.  I don't wear makeup all summer because I just sweat it all off.  People ask what's wrong with me.  I get flushed, too.  I've had it all my life but it's much worse now with the MS.  I was looking online to find out which doctor to talk to about this.  Now I'm thinking my neuro may be the best bet.  Any advice you have would be appreciated!

[zoefromsussex]

It's so unpleasant, isn't it? I get it on my body but I don't mind that so much as I can wear colours to disguise it but the hands are embarrassing! I've tried a few of the roll ons with no success & they don't recommend the surgery. I found Iontophoresis pretty effective but can't have it now because my hands shake too much. I doubt ms is the problem for me though as I've had the sweating since childhood and both my kids have the same problem

[maestro1959]

My neurologist explained to me that it is the MS.  It has to do with the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and Hypothalmus (your body's thermostat) being effected by the MS.  It does not occur only during flares.  The ANS causes the crazy rollercoaster of your blood pressure.  They seem to work together to cause the sweats, etc.  There are medications to help.

There are days when I have to change to dry clothes 2-3 times because the sweating is so severe.

I hope this helps.
Beth

[Pretty521kitty]

Only during a full blown attack, & I can't swear the solumedrol didn't cause it. Could have been MS, could have been the treatment.

[zoefromsussex]

I have axcessive sweating of the hands & feet all the time and it drives me nuts! I've had it since childhood so I don't think it's an actual symptom of ms but I do think there is a connection between this kind of thing.

I get the freezing/boiling hot thing too. It would be nice to get some middle ground!

You must have been over the moon when that relapse went!

[grandmalaurie59]

When I had a relapse in Aug/Sept 2012....I got Horrible sweating 'attacks'. I would first feel like I was on fire, then I would break out in a profuse drenching sweat from head to toe. Sometimes I would get dizzy and weak at the same time.

Then I would cool down and I would feel freezing. I was MISERABLE for weeks with this. They neuros told me it was not hormonal but neurological. That is the same time they discovered lesions in my brainstem. My blood pressure at that time was all over the place....HIGH and LOW. I haven't had that happen since then.

Laurie :)