Hot flushes

Hi all does anyone have a sort of hot flush type of sweating after doing something, which last few minutes I've notice this happening only the last few days since I had my fall. It could just be the weather so thought I would just ask

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Having a fall can be enough to trigger a flare. Anything else besides the flushes?

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Not really bit of swelling on my knee and ankle side of foot grazes bruises from where I fell

[Kendrew]

Hi Karenwelsh. Yes.....I often find if I'm 'active' in some way I'll have a hot flush.....and they're not dissimilar to the ones I used to have when I was going through the menopause! Not sure what exactly causes them but they usually last anything from 5mins to 15mins. Don't really bother me too much though.

[Hidden in reply to Kendrew]

Yes they lasting about that length, they not bothering me just never notice before

[Kendrew in reply to Hidden]

Mine seem to be more frequent when I'm on higher dose. Had to increase up to 15mg back in Nov, and now 8mths later, still only down to 9mg. When I was on 2.5mg, they occurred less frequently.

[MrsNails]

Hi Karen

What dose of Pred are you on? Have you increased it at all since your fall?

MrsN

[Hidden in reply to MrsNails]

No I'm trying not to, im went up to 14 from 13 last wk after x ray results showed inflammation but have got my weekly appointment tomorrow with dr

[MrsNails]

Karen, have a read of this - l have to go & water the garden 🌺 🪴 🌸 see if it sounds like what is happening to you - ignore the bit about Methotrexate

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[MrsNails]

I’m back - been so busy in the garden we were running late & husband had to water next doors garden so l had to help out too!

On previous occasions l’ve suffered from ‘Hot Flashes’ they always follow a Set Pattern however it usually means for me that my Pred Dose is too low & my body is ‘searching’ for Cortisol. I’m on 12.5mg at the moment & touch wood no issues 🙏🏼 however as l start to reduce now (a very slow, slow taper) it’s one of the first indicators l’ve gone a bit too far too quickly.

For you it could be the impact of the fall & your body not coping with the PMR & the fall.

See what your Doctor has to say tomorrow.

Good Luck

MrsN

[Coffeebeans in reply to MrsNails]

I would agree. I'm menopausal and get hot flushes in the week leading up to my period despite HRT but if my pred dose is too low I get additional flushes - night sweats particularly.

Oh what fun it is 😂

[MrsNails in reply to Coffeebeans]

Hi CBBeen there, done that, got the T-shirt ~ these are a different kind of flush/flash in a different pattern, for me it starts on my head, to the back of my neck, under my chin, as it goes up my arms to the flexes of my elbows & then deposits a bracelet of tiny droplets around my wrist.

Whereas the Menopausal Flushes came up my centre core to my head & then downwards but no perspiration as such just felt like l was on fire - plus the night sweats, what a jolly time we are/have had 😳

I would simply hate to be getting both 🥵

Hang in there 😥

MrsN

[Kendrew in reply to MrsNails]

Haha! Life is so exciting! Flashes here...flushes there!! ☺

[Rache]

Hi Karen, I’ve had them from starting pred at 15mg, although they have lessened a lot as I have reduced. Any physical activity seems to set them off, even something that just requires concentration rather than action, such as when I was trying to work out how to make face masks or when was knitting! For me it didn’t mean I had gone too low on preds but I believe it does for some people. At the start I kept an electric fan handy but don’t use it so much any more. It’s quite common so probably nothing to worry about.

[Bridge31]

At least twice a day 🙁 Currently just upped my Pred to 5mg but the amount of Pred hasn’t made any difference to my hot flushes throughout the 2 years I’ve been taking it.

[Hidden]

Hi KarenwelshI get them when I'm stressed - particularly at work. I have a challenging role and think that under normal circumstances my adrenal system normally produces vast quantities of 'fight or flight' hormones to help me manage. I think that because my body is now having to manage with a fixed amount of pred each day, it finds it much more difficult to manage the sudden surges of need caused by demanding situations which may occur at work which I used to take in my stride. It's half-term now and I've noticed that I've had no hot flushes and that I'm much less stiff at the end of the day - again, my assumption has been that I'm having to use up valuable cortisol dealing with stress which is not then available for managing inflammation.

In your case, it could be that your body is using pred to manage the stress of the fall so there is less available to manage the other things that it would normally be used for. I hope that you get back on an even keep quickly.

[Smokygirl]

Yes, always when I’m cooking! Absolutely soaking wet hair and head, then runs down the back of my ears and neck—— lovely!

[Kendrew in reply to Smokygirl]

Haha!....a very attractive look!!😂😂 What we have to put up with!!😄

[ChrisinNam]

Hi Karenwelsh. Yes, I thought mine had gone away, but after starting on Pred they came again. Not frequently, and mostly without the horrible anxiety that came with the menopause ones. I find I get a flush sometimes when I go from a warm environment to a cooler one. Strange, hey?

[Pixix]

Yes I’m much more ‘sweaty’ these days! One of my symptoms was head sweats where it would simply pour off me if I did gardening then next thing I knew didn’t do anything and it happened! I used to wear a towel round my neck if driving! It reduced as the pred reduced but even on 4mg I have to rush outside to cool down! This comes up frequently as a question, perhaps it could become a topic! Dirty gardening again today and no much time for cohesive reply! It’s different from menopausal sweats though which I suffered for years too! Normally though I’ve never sweated much at all due to hot weather!

[musicality in reply to Pixix]

Hi had this uncomfortable and embarrassing sweating for about 10 years. Starts on head and forehead, back of head and neck. Hair so wet it looks like I've had a shower. Then visibly drips from head on to shoulders. Worse in very hot weather so can't move just sit in front of fan. Still happens in Winter, slight stress or exertion also brings it on. Embarrassing when in company. Just hate temperature above 20*. Can't enjoy the Summer we've all longed forStill happens 'tho on 2 1/2-3mg Pred now. Been on Pred 16 yrs now, and Methotrexate for 18 months at one time along with the Pred. Pretty fed up, especially during shielding as no distractions. Hope everyone does better than I have so good luck! Any tips most welcome!

[PuttyPenguin]

Yes I have often had flushes when I was on a higher dose but now (down to 12.5mg) they don't seem to be happening.

[Viv54]

Hi had hot flushes almost at the start of taking pred ! I was at 40 mgs and not until I got down to 6.1/2 did they start to subside, with me it was full blown sweating anytime of day or night !.Now it's clammy flushes when I do most things ! But as you can see from my post , the lower you get the lower the flushes ! Good luck it's an awful experience !😊

[Lilly-Gee]

I am following this thread thanks for asking the question. I too have hot flushes mainly around my head, sometimes I’m doing things sometimes I’m just thinking about doing things 😃 interesting disease this, I had thought it could be affecting menopause…but it feels different to the menopause type sweating I had. I wonder if any men have this response to PMR or if it’s just women?

[jayemmemm in reply to Lilly-Gee]

Hi, I,m male, aged 86 and have copious sweating at night Just dumped the bed linen in the wash for the third day in a row because at the moment I'm flaring for the second time having reached 7mg. Have jumped to 12mg for a week or so to see what happens.

[Lilly-Gee in reply to jayemmemm]

Thanks jayemmemm for adding a comment. Looks like it’s not menopause then. I’m thinking it’s part of the disease as my Doc asked me about sweating when he diagnosed me and I was sweating then too, well before I started Pred. Sorry you are having a flare, the last thing anyone needs is more washing! I hope you get that flare under control 🤞

[jayemmemm in reply to Lilly-Gee]

Thanks, Lily-Gee. The third day of new dose and pain is less, so looking good.

[Lilly-Gee in reply to jayemmemm]

I’m glad you are on the mend 👍

[Sirtomas]

I'm new to this but have been having quite bad hot flushes ever since I've been on prednisone and thought I was alone. Although its nice to realise I'm not I wish there was a solution as I nearly passed out with the heat whilst at the opticians today

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sirtomas]

Carry a fan (the old fashioned sort is fine) and wear layers that you can remove when it kicks off. I wear a vest-style t-shirt with a cotton/linen shirt on top. If it is cool out, I have a bag I can stick my jacket in when I go inside. If it is warm-ish I don't wear long trousers - skirt/culottes or calf-length at most or long ones that I can roll up. Having ankles free is very cooling! If you feel hit and there is a water supply handy - run cold water over your wrists, very cooling. And don't drink iced drinks - that makes your body try to heat up when it hits the stomach.