No Sweat

One of the useful aspects of trolling the Internet about this topic is discovering yet another symptom that others share with you. It is good to know that you are not alone. Here is another in the long list of odd symptoms that is seldom mentioned in the larger lists of symptoms.

I have a friend who has no sweat glands. She does not sweat. It can be a real problem on hot days as she can easily get overheated.

There are times when I would not mind her condition, though. Guess what? Another of the weird and often inexplicable symptoms of fibromyalgia is excessive sweating.

I try to act normal around other people. I try not to wince at the pain. I try to stay focused on the conversation. And then, for no reason, it feels like the entire inside of my head heats up. Sweat begins dripping from my forehead. I can't hide it. Its just embarrassing. It seems like FM just does not want to leave me with even a little dignity.

As with pretty much everything else with fibromyalgia, there is no real explanation for this. Excessive sweating is technically called hyperhidrosis. It is random and not related to the temperature of the room. Most people with hyperhidrosis do not have excessive sweating when they sleep. Interestingly, like so many of the symptoms related to fibromyalgia that can also be stand alone conditions, the cause of primary hyperhidrosis is not understood.

I am unaware of any particular trigger for me. In general, though, many things seem to trigger hyperhidrosis in people. Certain foods and drinks, nicotine, caffeine, smells, as well as nervousness and excitement can trigger a case of extreme sweating.

For me, it usually tends to affect my head and face rather than my whole body. It is common for it to be localized, including the face, armpits, feet, and the palms of the hands.

I've read of some women describing it like having a hot flash. From reading descriptions of hot flashes, that does seem to describe the sensation.