Hyperhidrosis: Hello. I only found an... - The Australian Sj...

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Hyperhidrosis

FoggyMoggy profile image
15 Replies

Hello. I only found an old thread on this subject so thought I'd start a new thread instead as I don't think anybody saw my latest replies on that thread.

I am in the UK. I get excessive sweating - I've not been diagnosed with SS but I have Fibromyalgia which often has a lot of overlaps. I have also been diagnosed with Hyperhidrosis. It is mainly down the middle - head, neck, chest, back, bottom and legs, but feet are cold. I sweat more when it's cold too. I wondered if this is a symptom of SS. I have been wondering about SS since I have had a lot of dental problems this year but mainly with the same tooth/teeth. This could be to do with the meds I take for HH though, causing dryness of mouth.

This may seem like a contradiction as SS is about dryness and HH about the opposite but on the old thread I read something that might explain this and I also wondered whether in fact dryness in some areas may cause compensatory excessive sweating elsewhere.

Many thanks

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FoggyMoggy profile image
FoggyMoggy
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15 Replies
rosserk profile image
rosserk

I have sjogrens and I have hashimotos. I’m on medication for the thyroid issue and since starting the excess sweating has almost stopped. I’m not taking medication for sjogrens at the moment so I’m guessing the sweating is related to my thyroid and not sjogrens. It will be interesting to see what other sjogrens suffers say. Sjogrens typically causes an excessively dry mouth and eyes. It also causes further issues such as vasculitis and abnormal liver function if your unlucky like me!

Have you had your thyroid checked? 😊

in reply to rosserk

I have hashis too, but mine is controlled with Levothyroxin.. So not caused by the thyroid in my case...

FoggyMoggy profile image
FoggyMoggy in reply to rosserk

Numerous times, rosserk! I have FM which is v similar to hypothyroidism, plus I am menopausal but my sweats are worse in the cold. It is definitely HH.

rosserk profile image
rosserk in reply to FoggyMoggy

Hope you get a resolution soon! 💐

Megansheart profile image
Megansheart

Hello Foggy Moggy,

I have had a confirmed diagnosis of Sjögren's Syndrome and until three years ago never sweated at all....in fact probably more like, hypohidrosis. Then three years ago I started sweating profusely but only in the summer and mostly from the head, neck and upper trunk.

I do not have thyroid disease. So I am nonplussed as to what has caused this turn around from no sweating to excessive sweating.

I'm not really of much help to you apart from suggesting that there are as many variables as there are people.

rosserk profile image
rosserk in reply to Megansheart

Are you having any treatment for sjogrens? Immune suppressants? They may help with your symptoms.

Megansheart profile image
Megansheart in reply to rosserk

For three summers (in fact, any hot day) I have had hyperhidrosis. For two of those summers I have been on Hydroxychloraquine (Plaquenil) and it made no difference. I have recently started Methotrexate, so it will be interesting to see what happens next summer (Dec-Feb).

rosserk profile image
rosserk in reply to Megansheart

I will keep my fingers crossed it works for you 💐

FoggyMoggy profile image
FoggyMoggy in reply to Megansheart

Thanks Megansheart. I have never been a sweater (except hands when anxious) until 3 0r 4 years ago. It may be triggered by menopause but most others going through menopause sweat when hot, I am worse when cold.

Hi FM - I DO have Sjogren's and while my nose and eyes and mouth are dry, I also get HH, in the face and head only for me, so yeah, they occur together. My doc has no explanation except possibly my hormones which makes no sense - hysterectomy 30 years ago almost... I am starting black cohosh to see if that will help...

rosserk profile image
rosserk in reply to

Are you having any treatment for sjogrens? Immune suppressants? They may help with your symptoms.

in reply to rosserk

No, Unfortunately I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and about 4 other autoimmune diseases too. I use minocycline as my DMARD and it has worked really well. I hit remission for the RA in about 8 months and only started flaring with my knee surgery three weeks ago, and my husband's prostate surgery Friday =(

The only thing I take for SS is Pilocarpine HCL, which works really well for the sores I get in my nose...

FoggyMoggy profile image
FoggyMoggy in reply to

Thanks Caeryl. Yes I have dry eyes and mouth (although it could be the Hyperhidrosis meds making my mouth dryer). I don't take them every day for that reason. I've not tried Black Cohosh yet. I tried HRT patches which were rubbish but am going to try the gel after my dental problems are fixed!

Okay here’s my tuppence worth in case it helps. I have Sjögren’s and Hashis - never think about Hashis at all though but I’ve been on various doses of Levothyroxine over the decades - presently 125mcg which seems fine. I briefly tried Lyrothyronine but it gave me awful palpitations.

Anyway re sweats - as a teen I was horribly sweaty and covered in eczema and pompholyx and this state of being continued right through child bearing and up until my menopause started in my early 40s. My hair fell out 3 times - twice as a kid and once after my 3rd child was born. Then I was diagnosed with Hashis.

After that I seemed to a) stop sweating and b) lose my eczema - hooray! The two events seem absolutely connected for me. At around this time both my parents died suddenly and prematurely, my periods completely stopped and I started getting hot flushes but only in patches on my arms. When I exercised I felt like I was going to overheat and die! I had no more sweat related rashes or allergic dermatitis but my previously external problems seemed to hit my joints and tendons. By this time I was told I was post menopausal - in my late 40s.

This carried on for a few years. I was then (mis) diagnosed with RA and my life seemed to turn upside down. I was a lot thinner and had no more IBS having cut out gluten and dairy. But not sweating brought its own problems if I allowed myself to overheat following exercise.

Then out of the blue I started feeling cold all the time, suddenly developed Raynauds and burning feet and my already dry eyes became unbearable. My BP started to fluctuate and my feet then lost sensation.

After 5 years on DMARDs, trying to explain the terrible onset of small fibre neuropathy in my peripheries and mouth - I suddenly started to sweat again - profusely!

And that’s where I’m at now - 2 years rediagnosed with seronegative primary Sjögren’s. The sweats are awful - and it’s not my armpits or feet - it’s my neck, breasts, back and groin which frequently drench. I wake up all through the nights drenched down my back - duvet soaking. It is definitely Sjögren’s for me and I blame the vagus nerve and autonomic dysfunction. I also think my Hashis was caused by Sjogrens and I think I’ve had both since I was a child hence the alopecia aerate - which has at least never returned since I started Levothyroxine. Yay!

These horrible hot and cold sweats come and go suddenly throughout the day and night along with swollen lymph glands in groin and armpits, chronic constipation, bacterial infections and UTIs. 😑. How I loathe Sjogrens with all my heart!

FoggyMoggy profile image
FoggyMoggy in reply to

Thanks Hidden . That's very helpful. You have been through the mill. Thing is, I never sweated much as a teen, well only what you'd expect when going through adolescence. I've not been diagnosed with hashimotos but have had both antibody tests and one came back as 15 but you needed over 30 at least. But when I was a teen and in my 20s I felt as if I was hyperthyroid and now feel hypothyroid. Isn't that one of the things about Hashis? But yes, feeling cold all the time is me now and I sweat more when it's cold and in the same places as you but in the daytime as well as the night. It makes sense to me about autonomic Sjogrens. I would like to know more about the vagus nerve. I also get sweats when have to go out (anxiety about bringing on sweats) and/or exertion. This warm weather in the UK has been great for me. Many people with Hyperhidrosis sweat more in the heat and hate it but I'm one of the few that sweat in the cold. I think it is over and above the menopause which I'm going through at the moment. I have had lumps in the armpits which come and go and always put it down to deodorant intolerance. Plus have constipation on and off although have taken things to counteract that!

I'm not sure what the next step is for me. X

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