I have developed hot flushes over the last 2 years since I was diagnosed with PD. My consultant doesn't think it has any link. Any comment

[PositivePen]

Anyone else suffer like this? It is really uncomfortable and embarrassing. I am 63 so it is too late to be menopausal.

[pen1]

It has everything to do with PD! Every two hours or so - as my madopar starts to wear off I feel the dreaded heat start. If I attempt to do anything except sit still until the next dose kicks in I rapidly become drenched in sweat and feel as though I am literally going to boil to death even though my skin feels clammy and cold.Sweat pours down face and soaks my hair. Also if at other times I get hot, my body seems unable to cool itself down and I just get hotter and hotter This is a common effect, according to the team treating me. Though a supposed specialist in movement disorders said he hadn't come across it. It's a bit of a shame the medics vary so much in their knowledge of PD. The only way I cope is by keeping electric fans strategically placed all round the house and always turning the air conditioning on in the car. I'd love to know how and why this happens - and are there any other homeostatic functions PD affects?

[Susie01 in reply to pen1]

Pen, I also have the flashes of heat and profuse sweating. A couple of years ago, my body temp dropped into the 94-95* range. The hypothalamus controls body temp, my neurologist says it is the affect of the PD on the hypothalamus.

[PositivePen in reply to Susie01]

Funny that my consultant didn't think it was the result of PD. He just said that his mother was still having flushes in her 70's!

[pen1 in reply to Susie01]

That makes so much sense. I wish I understood more about exactly which parts of the brain are affected by PD - it appears that it must be slightly different in everybody. I seem to remember the hypothalamus controls lots of functions that keep the body in a stable state - I wonder if others apart from temp control are affected? I

[pen1 in reply to pen1]

I often feel overpoweringly thirsty but when I drink I find I only want a couple of mouthfuls - and I never ever feel hungry. I wonder - is this more evidence of the hypothalamus going wrong

[PositivePen]

Thanks for that - I really thought I was alone in this. I carry an old fashioned fan around in my handbag whenever I go out in public as it is so unpleasant to feel the dripping! I feel sorry for the specialists in dealing with PD patients as it is clear that there are so many different symptoms that can be blamed on the disease. I guess they don't want to frighten you. Apart from this annoyance I am very lucky as I feel well and am keeping active.

[Lennie]

I too have waves of hot flashes, several times a day.

[PositivePen]

So there are others out there like me! Anyone found. Remedy?

[PositivePen]

Sorry - meant to say has anyone found a remedy?

[Hidden]

We men get hot flushes too, perhaps not as bad as women but I sympathise with you

sometimes feel like a melting candle

[PositivePen]

So PD seems to be the cause I assume. Oh well it could be worse!

[Karen3]

I am 67 and have had PD for 15 years. I am always warm when others are cold and have bouts of sweating. Sometimes my hair is soaking wet from the sweat.I always dress in layers with the first layer being very light. It is annoying but much less so than other symptoms.

[movinngroovin]

I believe that this is when the dopamine spikes.../? That is my take on it. Not an exact science at all this brain chemistry stuff!

[Kadie57]

Yes the hot flashes or sweats are do to the Pd but when my weight is down I didn't have them. When I hurry to fast or try to keep paces with a "normal" person, that's when they start. They stop as fast as they start. The sweating soaks my clothes. I carry a hand fan plus wear hat visor. That helps keep the sun light out of my eyes. I also use a cooling scarf that soaks in water then retains the coolness for about an hour.

[pen1 in reply to Kadie57]

That's a very good point about weight. Since starting madopar I have gained over 2 stone - a result of having to avoid protein as it interferes with the effectiveness and getting addicted to carbs. Ilike the sound of the cooling scarf - are they available in the uk. The best I've been offered are migraine 'cool strips' but but my head gets so hot they only work for a few seconds. I've though of freezing a couple of wine coolers to wear round my wrists. I can't face the thought of another hot summer - I must try harder to lose weight .

[PositivePen in reply to pen1]

I have never heard of a cooling scarf but like the idea too. By the way someone told me they use the term "heat waves" which I really like! Sounds so much better. I use wine coolers to cool wine! It makes me feel better straightaway!

[Cyrano in reply to PositivePen]

I have frequent heat waves during the day. My hair is rarely dry! My friend refers to it as me having one of my 'own tropical moments'. Makes us smile!

[Adele_D]

I have just returned home from my yearly consult at the movement disorder clinic in Vancouver. I was asked specifically about this in some detail,including "did get hot enough to break a sweat when I was sleeping or not exercising?" "Did I ever have to change my pj's or the sheets?" I am 63. I get hot out of the blue but nothing like they describe. Those symptoms left with menopause. It clearly has something to do with PD...they sympathetic nervous systems controls our temperature and it is impacted by the disease and the meds. You have my sympathy! I hope you figure something out.

[PositivePen]

Thanks for all these comments - it is really supportive to realise that these symptoms are "normal". I can cope with the sweats although my husband doesn't appreciate me opening windows and doors when he is quite comfortable!!

[Susie01]

I get a lot of flushing after taking sinemet, also, one of the characteristics of PD is profuse sweating. My PD symptoms were becoming more apparent as I was starting to go through menopause, so was not sure what was what, ten years later, I still break out in a sweat for no apparent reason.

[Hidden]

Positive Pen, Are you a woman and/ or are you on any hormone treatment? As a man the only hot flushes I am aware of are a side effect of hormone suppressing injections (eg Prostap) for prostate cancer. 80% of sufferer get them.

[PositivePen]

I am indeed a woman and no, I am not on any hormone treatment. I sailed through menopause without even knowing it had happened. I was diagnosed with PD in 2012 and the flushes started about a year later - now they are more regular so it really does seem that they are connected with either the condition or the medication. I take Sinemet and Azilect.

[judam9]

aha! thank you all, i knew i was to old 79 to be getting hot flashes. but now i understand why.

thanks for all your replys.

[alexandria12]

I have the flushes, as well. I've read that sweating can be from Parkinson's: however, when I was taking Femhrt a HRT, my sweats were milder and practically disapeared. I thought I no longer needed and stop taking them. Now the sweats are back strong. It seems that I get hot flashes when it's time to take my meds and night sweats.

[cabbagecottage]

I don't know how old these posts are . I don't have Parkinsons my husband does and on occasions tells ME he is toooo hot. usually about the same time each day .

I had them bad during the menopause then they stopped when I was 70 , I am now 78 and they have started back again .

I must add not quite as bad , thankfully