Temperature sensitivity affects many women with fibromyalgia, myself included. You can be cold all the time or hot all the time or alternate between being hot or cold.
For over twenty-five years I had hot flashes and night sweats. I can’t tell you how many times I was totally embarrassed because I could not stop sweating. My hair and clothes would be drenched regardless of the outside temperature. Now I am freezing all the time.
Research shows that people with fibromyalgia have an inability to adapt to changes in temperature along with a lower pain threshold to both hot and cold stimuli. Julie at Counting My Spoons wrote about a study that examined the temperature thresholds for heat and cold in women with fibromyalgia compared to healthy women.
What Causes Temperature Sensitivity
Body temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a section of the brain responsible for hormone production. It is considered the link between the nervous system and the endocrine system.
The hypothalamus not only controls body temperature. It controls energy levels, the sleep cycle, muscular function, circulation, the gut and defense against infection.
Most fibromyalgia symptoms seem to be due to imbalances in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). These three glands work together to control hormone levels. Disruptions in the HPA axis seem to be at the core of fibromyalgia.
Thyroid hormones also play a role in regulating body temperature. An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can cause a person to feel too hot, while an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can cause a person to feel too cold.
The thyroid gland is under the control of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland itself is regulated by the hypothalamus. Anything that disrupts the HPA axis will also suppress thyroid function.
Certain medications interfere with the regulation of body temperature. Some drugs make you sensitive to heat, increasing the risk of heat stroke and some can lower body temperature.
Heat Sensitivity
Some heat sensitive people feel all-over heat sensations that seem to come from within their own body. Along with hot flashes, some people have problems with excessive sweating. Others may only have problems in their hands and feet, including puffiness and aching. Warm or hot weather can be unbearable with heat sensitivity.
To avoid getting overheated:
- Keep your environment cool.
- Wear soft, lightweight clothing that fits loosely. Stick to light colors in warm weather because dark colors absorb heat.
- Stay hydrated. Make sure you always have a cold drink (water is best) to sip on.
- Take a cool bath or shower. Sometimes just soaking your feet in cool water can help cool your body down.
- Use cooling products such as a cold pack or fan. Carry a small, hand-held, battery operated fan with you when you go out.
When the weather gets warm, heat sensitive people with fibromyalgia often experience symptom flare-ups. Research has found that people with fibromyalgia exposed to hot temperatures report increases in: pain, headaches, fatigue, anxiety and depression. They are also more likely to have heat rashes and heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs of heat stroke and immediate action to cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency treatment can be found on the Mayo Clinic website.
Cold Sensitivity
People who are cold sensitive often feel chilled to the bone and have a hard time warming up. The cold can be all over or just in your hands and feet. This symptom is usually worse during cold weather, but can occur at any time.
To prevent problems with cold:
- Keep your environment warm.
- Dress warmly, especially in cold weather. Keep your feet covered, wear socks and slippers.
- Drink hot liquids and eat hot meals like soup and oatmeal.
- Take warm baths or showers.
- Keep a blanket handy or use a heating pad or similar microwave products.
An unusual sensitivity to cold in the hands and feet with color changes in the skin sometimes occur in people with fibromyalgia. This condition is called Raynaud’s syndrome, also known as Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Sensitive To Both, Heat and Cold
Some people fluctuate between being hot and being cold. One minute you can be sweating with hot flashes and freezing the next. This can be very challenging. You have to be prepared for either scenario.
- Dress in layers or have extra layers available.
- For night sweats, wear moisture wicking sleepwear or use temperature regulating sheets.
Fluctuations in temperature can make your fibromyalgia feel worse. It’s important to plan ahead. You may have to spend most of your time indoors where you can better control the conditions.
Conclusion
Temperature sensitivity is a common fibromyalgia symptom. Most women with fibromyalgia report being extremely sensitive to cold and/or heat. Essentially, temperature sensitivity may be due to hormonal imbalances in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Medications can also interfere with the regulation of body temperature.
For many years, I was hot all the time. The warm and hot weather was unbearable so I preferred cold weather. Now it seems as if the switch has been flipped and I am always cold. The hot flashes stopped when I stopped taking antidepressants and Lyrica. So either it was the medications or I made it through menopause. Now, if I could just get warm.
I’d like to hear from you. If you have fibromyalgia, are you sensitive to heat, cold or both? If so, do you have any tips that help? Please leave a comment below to share.
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I just found this column and I feel as if it is a gift from Heaven!!! I have been suffering with Fibromyalgia for years, with all its “lovely” pain, brain fog, and other symptoms, but for the past 3 years, the sweating has been my constant companion and foe. Any time there is the slightest external or internal body heat change, such as a warm room, exerting effort in completing a simple task or chore, or any heat source directed at my body (slightly warm shower, drying hair, similar tasks), my body goes into what I call heat mode. My hair becomes tatally soaked to the point that I look as if I have just stepped out of the shower, my upper body clothing and undergarments become soaked to the point that I could literally squeeze water out of them, and my upper body skin is so wet that huge drops of sweat pour and drip down on anything that is below, especially when I bend to do a t ask, Cook, etc. if I am cooking, I am forced to keep a towel around my neck to wipe the huge sweat drops, so that they don’t drip into my food. So gross!!!! In short, my life is totally miserable and utterly embarrassing, when this happens, which unfortunately is quite often. Yes, I fan, have a portable fan turned on me, and so on, but nothing helps. NOTHING!!!!
As far as other issues I deal with, I have Sjogren’s Syndrome, Raynaud’s Syndrome, has my right Thyroid removed and take medication to replace those hormones, Postural Othostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (a form of Dysautonoma),be Connective Tissue Disease, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Ischemic Stroke in 2008, IBS, GERDS, Osteoarthritis, Myositis, Interstitial Cystitis, and I am not sure this is all, but I am tired of listing them. You can see from this extensive list that I suffer from many problems, but one of the very worse issues is this horrific sweating problem. My Rheumatologist doesn’t know what to try, and the Endocrinologist has tried everything he knows to try, but had no luck even lessening the severity of it, thus far. In short, it seems as if nothing can be done for this. My hubby is so supportive and caring. He tenderly holds me, even though I am drenched with sweat, tells me I am beautiful as we are walking down the mall or grocery shopping and I start crying because I feel so embarrassed because my hair looks as if I have just stepped out of the shower, and he never seems to change his respect and admiration for me, even though I have to wipe the drenching sweat away as we do this or that light chore. If it weren’t for him, I would not care to go on and face this each day. This is an awful way to live, but I do know there are people far worse off than I am. People who don’t have this wonderful support that I do. I cannot imagine doing it without that support.
That being said, that is what this blog is so very important. I admire you for working so hard to write these words of encouragement for all. Showing others your love, concern, and care, had to make it not only easier for you, but to all of us who read these words. Thank you for your care, and thank you for doing this wonderful work. Please keep on, keeping on, and to all who read these words, may we do the same. TOGETHER, WE CAN DO IT! WE CAN WIN THE WAR OVER THIS DISEASE!!!!
Hi, Cindi. I am also grateful to have a supportive husband. We are both very lucky in that respect. I know how embarrassing the sweating can be. I didn’t want to go anywhere because of it, especially in the summertime. I never found anything that would stop the sweating. I am optimistic that researchers are getting closer to figuring out fibromyalgia. We will win this war. Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. My brain is mush today so I can’t find the words to describe how much it means to me. You all keep me going and more determined than ever. 🙂
Know all about the sweating. I to have had fibromyalgia for 45 years. I am hot all the time worse in summer. No matter what chore I do sweat rolls down my face. I am 65 years old cannot take hormone pills my mother lost a.breast to cancer. I have been doing water aerobics for 2 years now does help with pain. I have had so many different problems associate with the fibro. To look at me I look fine. I well relate to your condition. My husband also knows what I deal with. If I overdo I pay for it 2 or 3 days. Keep your eyes on JESUS for one day in HEAVEN there will b no pain.
I have fibromyalgia and I have days I’m cold and then I sweat like anything I’ve seen me have to strip of as my clothes are really wet ,nothing really helps ,it’s so annoying as I just don’t know what to do
Hi, Elizabeth. I know how you feel. It’s frustrating. It’s one of those symptoms that there doesn’t seem to be anything we can do.
A few years ago I suddenly became extremely oversensitive to heat. Any time in direct sunlight over 80 degrees can become an emergency. The strangest thing is that a few hours after cooling down, I will always start freezing and nothing can warm me up! Has this happened to anyone else?
Hi, Susan. Yes, this has happened to me and sometimes the freezing comes shortly after feeling overheated.
I have fibromyalgia and I suffer from both heat and cold sensitivity it’s horrible. I feel crazy sometimes and I’m sure ppl around me think so, it can be hot outside and I’m in a hoodie. Not to mention the skin sensitivity I suffer from clothes, touch , my skin feels like it’s on fire and is so painful I went to take a shower and it felt like hot razors cutting through me, then I always feel like I’m at the start of a cold but nothing ever happens. I’m always congested and stomach issues all the time I can’t ever seem to really lose the weight, I feel like if I could lose weight my fibromyalgia won’t bother me so much. I never can get on a regular sleep schedule cuz even when I try I hurt to much . I just wish there was someone I could talk to who understands what I’m going through. I feel alone sometimes about a month ago my fibromyalgia flared up with a vengeance I have new pains in new places I just feel lost sometimes I’m always reading about to learn more. I felt so good for a long time and then it’s back and worse then ever. I do work full time cuz in my state I was told I’m not disabled enough. Anyway thank you for listening
Tammy
Hi, Tammy. I am so sorry you are struggling. I have a lot of these symptoms so I completely understand. It is much harder to deal with fibro while working, especially if you are not getting quality sleep. I also know what it is like to feel good for a long time and then for it to come back worse than ever. It is discouraging, to say the least. Having someone to talk to can make a big difference. I recommend My Fibro Team, it is a good place to find other people with fibromyalgia in your area. You can also search for support groups in your area here. Please keep in touch.
I have had fibromyalgia for decades now, but I would like to address an issue…i also have severe temperature sensitivity, but i am hot AND cold almost ALL the time. It’s bad enough i’ve actually thought about suicide here and there. I have meds for pain (that kind-of work) but i’d rather have the full physical pain than the CONSTANT hot-AND-cold mess at the same time! I’m hoping that one day (soon, hopefully!) i will find a doctor who’s familiar with this aspect of fibro and knows how to treat it (if there IS a way!) so i can resume being a somewhat productive person again. PLEASE let people know that it IS possible to be hot and cold at the same time! I’ve been suffering from this component of fibro for over four years now. (And i was well over menopause by that time, too.)
Thank you!
I, too, have fibromyalgia. Was diagnosed in 1992. As long as I was on HRT the constituent feel of being hot was liveable. After I had to quit taking HRT, the feeling of constituently be hot has come back, I have a hard time shopping as the air conditioning isn’t low enough. I’m having a hard time telling my doctor about it as she thinks that I want to go back on HRT which I don’t. All I want is to do is get rid of the feeling of being hot all the time. Can you help?
Hi, Minnie. I can sympathize with feeling hot all the time but I am sorry to say I don’t have any answers. I had hot flashes and excessive sweating for years. It was so unbearable, not to mention embarrassing. I lost my health insurance in 2012 and I had to stop taking most of the medications I was on and the sweaty hot flashes stopped. The heat and humidity in the summer are still hard to tolerate but now instead of sweating my skin stings. But at least it is only in the summer.