Any ideas?

[ruby52]

Hi all,I'm having a problem regulating my body temp. more then usual for the last month.I'm 55yrs. went through menopause at 48.I stayed on a low dose of Premarin up until 4wks.ago.On Evoxac so I get mild hot flashes as a side effect.I stopped the Evoxac until I figure this out because I don't need any extra moisture right now.I can't sleep waking up every couple hrs. sweating so bad.It's so strong I feel an anxiety attack occurring at the start of each flash.It's a little better last couple of days off Evoxac but my mouth is pretty dry.I'm either freezing or roasting no inbetween right now.I see GP and Rheumy this month so I hope to figure it out.I thought menopause was over and docs don't like you to stay on replacements much anymore.I will beg,borrow and plead to end this though.any thoughts anyone?
                                                                     Ruby

[Scottietottie]

Hi Ruby 

I don't know how long it would take hrt  to leave the system and for your system to adjust. I know that menopausal symptoms can go on for several years after the periods have stopped.

You may have read in here about autonomic nervous system disfunction. That can cause sweats and chills too. You need to discuss it with your rheumy when you see him.

A common SjS complaint is "I feel like my thermostat's broken!"

Take care - Scottie 

[Dolly Dimples]

 Snap Ruby, I too have this problem badly..

I think my thermostat has given up altogether.. I have just spent the coldest winter, and was waiting for Summer ,

It came, and now I can't tolerate the sun,  yet  I am still cold without heating,  especially while  sitting around!
  If I do anything energetic I am on the boil

  It's driving me crazy and it seems there is little to be done about it.
                                                       In sympathy Dolly

[ohiolady]

Ruby,

I would bet money on the withdrawal of Premarin.  What you have described is exactly what I go thru when I cut back on my HRT.  I had a hysterectomy years ago.  Did you just stop your Premarin?  It is best to try and wean off.  You may want to try taking every other day for several months and then take twice a week, ect.   I wear an estrogen patch and when I don't get enough, you can add migraines, no sleep, fatigue and extreme irritability along with the anxiety hot flashes.  I was going through all that when I came down with Sjogrens.  I've since continued on my full dose of HRT for now.

Anna

[ruby52]

Oh, I love quick answers!Scottie-It could be the Hrt,I didn't consider that.I 'm aware some of it comes with Sjogren's and have had a bit of these symptoms awhile.I get confused and frustrated when symptoms like this come on full throttle all of a sudden.I start to wonder what is going on.It's hard to adjust to.
Dolly-It keeps life interesting huh?Clothes on clothes off I can't make up my mind!
Anna-It was the lowest dose HRT too.I took myself off really slow.I had a hysterectomy yrs. ago but still had an overy.I can't believe that little dose was making such a difference.To be honest I didn't ask for a refill because I wanted to save the copay on yet another med.I wanted to cut back on all the pills I take.I figured the GP would give me flack about still being on it anyway.
One last thing,I quit the 20mg of Paxil a couple weeks ago too.Slowly.I plan on admitting it to GP.When he put me on it two yrs. ago after a bout with depression I said yes I'ld been depressed longer then a yr.Well I was depressed and not myself when I said that.I had lost 40lbs.,been sick as a dog and it seemed like forever.Turned out to have been the Lyrica making me sick.Now 2yrs. later I'm thinking do I need to be on this forever?I feel better and I have not been depressed except for the 6mos. of med allergy .He had said if I hadn't been depressed for longer then 6mos.we could stop therapy of Paxil.I don't know he may lecture me but that's ok.We'll see but I do appreciate everyone's input so thank-you.

[Billydude]

Ruby!   You are describing me to a tee!  I'm a man so don't blame it on menopause.   Thats just one of the things this gift gives us.  When it effects our autonomic nervous system we have trouble regulating our ability to process heat.    So,  not menopause or that drug that you all talked about.   Its good ole Sjogrens!

[ruby52]

Oh great,not something I can fix then with a women's pill then.I just wonder why it worsened so bad.Maybe the hotter weather.I've caught DH cold so I'm becoming more miserable.Boo hoo
                                                                           Ruby

[JJ]

Well Ruby,

   LOL...i do know it is Sjogrens...however Billydude may just have it a bit easier than the Menopausal

SJS group....think it does take it to another level of discomfort...Billydude...now you should feel a little

better about being a man with SJS....no menopausal octane boost on symptoms for you!

JJ

[comanchesue]

Premarin et all just delay menopause symptoms-once you stop the hormone you'll have the symptoms.  I think that if you gradually reduce the HRT then the symptoms are minimal.  Maybe you could go back on and reduce the dose every week or so?

[Billydude]

Well....I do have it pretty bad...was even hospitalized for it last summer.   In the summer my face is constantly sweating,  my heat beat increases along with my pulse.   I get chest pain and discomfort and flutters....all from the heat.    Men do get a type of menopause which is based on low testosterone levels but mine are checked and they are fine.     I saw an interview with Montel Williams who has MS and he describes the same exact thing as one of his problems.     
Steve

[DragonflyC]

Have you had your thyroid tested?  It's pretty common for menopausal and post-menopausal women to have thyroid issues (not to mention those of us w/ autoimmune conditions), and they certainly do mess with one's internal thermostat.  People with autoimmune diseases are also more sensitive to changes in thyroid hormone levels, so most of us need to have a lower TSH than what most doctors label "normal."

I have Hashimoto's (autoimmune hypo), and I'm usually cold.  I also get night sweats; while I'm not actually hot, you would think I was.  Sometimes, people with thyroid issues swing back and forth between hyper (making them hot) and hypo (making them cold).  Anxiety is a symptom of both.  How often does your body switch between hot and cold? 

I don't get hot flashes from Evoxac, but I do sometimes get a nasty, clammy feeling from it.

Of course, it could all just be more of the joys of SJS. 

[JJ]

Hiya Steve,

   I didn't mean to minimize what you are going through...I don't take any meds for all this mess with

the exception of BP and Thyroid....but the rest i wing it and since I've started getting into this

Menopause seems my symptoms have done a big boost on the pain part. No one would or should

be glad to have SJS and that isn't exactly what I meant...now I being a woman can possibly say

this without to much blow back...but I think we menopausal women go a little bonkers...and not

sure if menopausal men get as  nuts as we do. The crazy thoughts and emotions just run wild, I guess

as I do not hear a whole lot about Menopause in men I should read up on it...so I apologize for

my lack of knowledge...and Ruby...I know the thermostat has always been very strange for me but now

it has gone crazy like it can switch from one to the other in less than a second. Was a bit more predictable

but know just zip and temp change.

JJ

[ruby52]

I read a lot on here about thyroid levels and you know no Dr. has ever mentioned anything about it.I've always assumed it was checked with all the bloodwork but it's on my list to ask about this months appt.
I really thought I was past menopause by now starting at 48 and all.I timed the flashes last week and between 6;30 and 9pm I had four hot flashes that each lasted 4min. It continues through the night.It's got to be because I'm off the HRT.That isn't to say I wasn't having them before,I was and mildly complained 3mos. ago to Rhuemy.It was just mildly annoying then.She smiled and said at least you know the Evoxac is working.Since cutting the Evoxac out and the weather has turned chilly it's back to mildly annoying.

[Billydude]

Some men do experience a form of menopause but its mainly associated with a drop in testosterone.    I've had both that and thyroid checked.    I've done some internet researching and its really part of the autonomic nervous system damage.
This link explains it.   You may have to do a very simple log in to read it.   I'm not saying that woman having menopause do not experience the same thing but just don't be so quick to blame it on that as many of us men do have it.
http://www.medscape.com:80/viewarticle/473206_3

[irish]

Ruby,Sorry to hear of your misery. I am curious about how many months you took to taper off your Paxil. Some of these antidepressants can take a long, long time to taper down. If you taper too fast the body can't adapt to being without the medication---takes time for our body to get used to going without a med.

Many times a doc will say to taper off in a couple of weeks, but I have found that months is sometimes better. Make sure that you tell your doc about the paxil and how long you took to taper off. If you quit cold turkey you could sure have some issues with the sweating, etc. Keep us posted. Irish