Not sweating...do any medicines help one to sweat again?

[Jennifer1974]

 I've been sick with sjogrens since I was 32 (I'm now 42) but was diagnosed at the age of 20 or 21 with positive blood RA factors..

The past 7 years I have become intolerant of warm and especially hot weather. I no longer sweat at all and a, basically homebound almost 4 months out of the year about 80% of the time..my rheumatologist keeps telling me it's from the sjogrens but she offers no solutions. I was in the hospital for heat exhaustion several years ago when I didn't realize I wasn't able to sweat.

My doctor is finally trying to get me to see a rheumatologist in a bigger city , but she's having me do all the research. I'm behind stressed ...ahhhh..my town is  120,000 people and only 6 rheumatologists...

Is there any help To make us sweat again ? It's very scary . Unfortunately I live in a very hot and humid climate and already had issues Thursday morning an dit was only 79 but muggy..

I took plaqunil for about 5 years and was taken off of it due to side effects and my doctor said it wasn't helping me..I stopped sweating while on the plaquenil.  I wonder if an immunosuppressive drug would help?

Thanks so much to anyone who can help.

Jennifer 😍

[Rachel F]

Hello!
This sounds difficult. I also have trouble sweating and problems in the heat. Not sure if immuno-suppression would help. What I have learned is that sweating is part of the autonomic nervous system. Maybe look into an autonomic disorders person? I cope by using the Frogg Togg's towels.  I know that some people with MS use vests with ice packs in them. There similar products like that that. Your situation sounds pretty awful!If you haven't been on an immuno-suppressant that might be worth a try. All the best-
Rachel

[sixty]

I've been offered meds to help my saliva production and always have to stop taking them because they make me sweat too much and I can't stand it.  Don't know if those meds might help you.

[DarleneB]

Jennifer. ..evoxac gives me saliva and does make me.sweat.again.

[Jennifer1974]

Thanks for the replies..
I take evoxac too but it jut makes me feel really hot for a bit, as does my thyroid meds...
I'll look into the autonomic thing...appreciate all the replies.😘

[irish]

The exovac and pilocarpine are 2 meds that help increase saliva and also help increase sweating.

I am amazed that you have 6 rheumatologists in your town. That is downright amazing as there is such a shortage of rheumatologists. Also, it does help us to do research on our autoimmune issues as when we do that we learn a lot plus it helps us to be able to sort symptoms out and also makes us aware of other things that can be going on with us. Most of us on this site do a lot of research. Once you put down a few words that start a search you will learn to keep notes and write down other links or sites that you can visit. It is sort of an unending circle and we just keep on learning more and more.

I was going to tell you a little tip to help cool off your brain when it is so hot. Take a cool wet washcloth wrung out some and just place it around the back of your neck. You will have a wet shirt but actually, it doesn't make much difference as this also helps keep you cool and will dry soon when you take the wash cloth off. I am a nurse and I got so overheated at work that I thought I would pass out. I did this out of desperation and pretty soon all the other staff were doing it also. You will have to rewet the cloth every so often, but this cools the blood that goes to your brain and help to keep your body temp more under control. Cheap and messy but it works. Good luck. Irish

[Joe S.]

On a recent trip a new medication sent me to the ER because I could not sweat. I hid from the sun under a blanket and dropped the temp on my side to 67 degrees to cool down. I spent 1/2 day in ER until it wore off.

[Jennifer1974]

Thanks again everyone...I've been on evoxac and salagan for years and it doesn't make me sweat..jut makes me hot..I do use a spray bottle and cold towels but once it gets so hot I black out...it's gotten really bad. ...I'll be ho,e most of this summer ..I miss a lot of appointments as it's too hot and humid for me last 7 am...

Thanks for the advice..
I'll update in the future if I find any relief.