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Monday, February 17, 2014

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

One of the latest non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease I have been experiencing are hot flashes. They start with my face or neck and spread downward. Thankfully, they only last a minute or two, so I don't end up drenched in sweat like some other Parkies I know. When I am with friends and take my jacket off, then put it back on again, then take it off, and put it on again (sometimes within twenty minutes and when the temperature is actually cold), I use my sense of humor and just say, "Guess I'm still a Hot Mama!"


YumaBev as a Hot Mama

I have them multiple times during the day, but I always having one as soon as I lie down to go to sleep. It doesn't matter whether I am taking a nap or going to sleep for the night. Within two minutes of becoming prone, the heat starts.

These night time hot flashes are irritating. I kick off the covers, then become chilled, so I pull the covers back up, then I get hot again, then chilled and finally go to sleep. If I get up in the night to go to the bathroom, as soon as I lie down again, another one happens. Hot, cold, hot, cold. It's a wonder I get any sleep at all (and I feel sorry for my Wonderful Husband who sleeps next to me.)

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates the functions of our internal organs and controls such things as heart rate, digestion, breathing, salivation, urination, blood pressure, sexual arousal and perspiration. Parkinson's and lack of dopamine affects our ANS and is probably what screws up our internal temperature gauges.



Females have similar hot flashes during menopause, but I went through that several years ago. In my research for this story, I had one gentleman tell me he was going through "MAN-opause," and another fellow wondered why he never gets hot flashes when he's outside shoveling snow and could use the extra warmth?

What can be done about it? Not much, apparently, so I just adapt and try to laugh about it.

35 comments:

  1. I can totally relate to what you are saying. Hot and then cold, several times a night. It's enough to drive one up the wall. Whether it's menopausal or down to PD - who knows. But it sure is irritating!

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  2. Thank you Bev!! I was just wondering the other night why you lay down, get snuggled under the covers, relax, and..wham..you start melting. I wonder what it is about lying down??? Is it a reverse of the problem some people have where when they stand their blood pressure drops?

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  3. I have these hot spells too - especially bad for sleeping. Have had some success with anti-depressants

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  4. Yes i have really bad hot, hot flashes. Started 3 years ago. Its unbleiveable to. Much sweat. Sweat dripping all over my fore head down to my face back of my neck.

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  5. Sounds like me, but I also have osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia too; I bought a heated mattress cover so I don't get too cold. I don't sleep hardly at all for a couple of days and sometimes when I am tired enough I take a nap. PD is surely a very trying thing to live with.

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  6. Thank you for another beautiful and candid blog. It was very interesting to hear your point of view about sweating and PD and to hear what some men have shared with you about sweating and PD. As always, you have an amazing gift to find humor and I feel so blessed that you share it with me, as well as others. Anna @ NPF

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  7. Before I was diagnosed with PD I began to notice one side of my body could feel very cold while the other felt normal. I am now very sensitive to cold and am contentious when choosing what clothing wear. A mild chill can stiffen my neck and shoulders immediately, so when I go outside I wear hoodies, beanies, scarf and dress in layers. My wife said I look like a bugler and the local police have slowed to take a closer look at me when driving by, I just smile and wave to them. On top of that I sweat when I'm cold. PD, go figure.

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  8. Right before I was first diagnosed I also experienced extreme coldness in my arm and hand on my side with symptoms. Now I am always hot. If the thermostat is above 64 I am uncomfortable. I was diagnosed at 29 and am 35 now. If I was having hot flashes I would presume it to be caused by menopause but I'm just always hot. Anybody else have this?

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    1. Yes, I was just diagnosed 1 1/2 yrs ago and I have the hot flashes during the day but mostly at night. It’s very hard to sleep. Your hot like on fire and then cold. My doctor said I’m well past menopause and I didn’t have this during that phase. I don’t have any answers but would love a solution so I can sleep.

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  9. I don't have Parkinson's but have gone through menopause. I started menopause just before my 47th birthday (I am 57 now). Fortunately I didn't go through the hot flashes. Nice finding your blog and love your humour and outlook.

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  10. Yes. I get so hot I cant stand clothes or anything on me. And I soak everything Keith

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  11. I think I'm getting a double whammy, Parkinson's and menopause, my nights pretty much echo yours. Drives me nuts!

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  12. Brilliant blog again I get exactly that at night time. . . Covers on, covers off, covers on, covers off and so it goes on!! So frustrating first time it happened I thought I'd eaten something dodgy as the hot flash felt the same. . Hate it!! Heidi

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  13. Happens to me when I'm relaxing, so to speak, I first feel chilled to the bone, followed by extreme swaddling, then about twenty minutes of bliss before I need to pee which means getting myself unswaddled at breakneck speed. By the time I've redressed and reswaddled, the heat begins!

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  14. This is very timely. NYC has a really cold spell now so I turned on the radiator in the bedroom because really cold and drafty next to bed. But then I wake up feeling like a piece of jerky after 2 hours sleep and can't get back to sleep. Tonight--radiator off!

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  15. I am always cold right after taking medicine. I need wool socks even in the summer time.
    Steve

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  16. Just being diagnosed, I am still learning. This might explain why I have been having hot flashes again at night after all these years.
    Sandy

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  17. I started with hot flashes from morning till night. No night sweats. I was put on hormones to help since the hot flashes were aggravating the muscle pain even worse when they didn't know it was PD. Now I'm always cold since on Requip and the hormones. Going to discuss with Dr about getting off the hormones next month.
    Georgette

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  18. I have my fan on high all night long

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  19. The first thing I noticed about my husband before he was diagnosed he was always cold. This had never been the case. On the same note I don't have Parkinson and at 72 still have hot flashes. I know they are very annoying. :)

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  20. Finely an answer to this it has been driving me crazy (my husband says a short putt) Thank you.
    Frances

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  21. When I first started having these night sweats I was only 32 and I asked the doctor if it was menopause so he tested and said no. Then I was diagnosed with Parkinsons and he said it explained everything. I struggle to cool myself when it's hot and I freeze when it's cold. Our thermostat is broken.

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  22. Great article ...Thanks for your great information, the contents are quiet interesting. I will be waiting for your next post. menosmart plus

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  23. Yep, I know just what you're saying here! Had several operations for an accident a few years ago. Even under general anesthetic the surgeon & nurse said they'd never seen someone sweat like me. Jon

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  24. I keep a fan blowing gentle towards me from an open window every night, only exception is maybe temp below 40f
    Not hot flashes. Always have had a high idle.
    That's why I live by the coast. But more so now with PD.
    Take care.
    Be safe out there.
    Stay cool~~~~~~~~~~~~

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  25. Thank Bev Been a heck of a summer so far. My head is always wet. I can not sleep and the coat on coat off. Love your writing. You say what so many of are going through PD woof.

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  26. YumaBev, I have exactly same experience and have seen other Parkies report the same. The other one I have everyday is morning nausea - as if I were pregnant. ANS symptoms are my worst issues.

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  27. Thank you, I have told my Dr. this and he thinks I am crazy. You have helped more than he has so many times. Bless you
    Frances

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  28. Funny that doctors don't know about this... a common PD symptom. Tine

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  29. I've had them quite a few times, usually after a walk or my backwards walking in the pool. I just figured it was my sketchy ANS not slowing down to match my new pace after exercising. And yeah, getting one WHILE shoveling snow in 30 below weather would definitely be nice. Scott

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  30. Thanks for this post. I care for my mother who has PD, and she goes from hot to cold at least 3 times an hour sometimes. Good to hear she is not alone or crazy!

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