19 replies to this topic

[ClaraTaylor]

I hope you're sitting comfortably because this is going to be one very confusing post. Before we get carried away I'm a low level incomplete.

There are nights when I over heat when I'm asleep to the point that my boyfriend can't actually touch me and last night had to get out of bed and retreat to the sofa as it was making HIM feel very ill, as though he'd been in a hot bath for hours - This is a chap who is known for his "asbestos hands" when handling hot plates / exhaust pipes). Throughout the night I will knock back at least a pint of water and be thirsty when I wake up (it's not diabetes before you ask, I get checked regularly for that).

Now one thing I've just thought of is that I don't sweat: the sheets (nor my nightdress when I wear it) aren't damp in the morning and Steve has never noticed it (perhaps it boils away!) though he admits the heat coming off my body makes him sweat! I've been trying to work out whether it's worse when I am in (more) pain (than normal) but as I can't tell myself when it's happening I have to rely on Steve waking me as he tries to cool me down when we are together otherwise I think I sleep right through, or at least only ever hit the level of alertness to grope in the dark for my drink. Which confuses me as I only need the cat to sneeze in the next room for me to be fully awake half falling out of the bed expecting it to have vomited across the carpet. So why am I not waking up when Steve is considering frying bacon on me?

I always feel cold - not just at night time but generally throughout the day (anyone else buy shoes based on how many pairs of socks you can fit inside?) and currently have my winter blanket on (the heating is turned off overnight)and I never pull it off or away from me to indicate I was suffering in my sleep. I've more than enough strength to kick the blanket off. I tried the summer blanket but find myself too cold to go to sleep. I think it's the pins and needles especially that make my lower half feel cold but if I increase the Lycra I'm a zombie. I even tried tricking myself by going to sleep with a hot water bottle under a summer blanket so that I'd cool down gradually but I have to fidget so much to get comfortable I just found myself chasing the hot water bottle around the bed.

I've no problems with my B&B, no kidney stones or infection, or anything SCI related or normal illness that I can think would cause me to be like this. I know that I DO get a rise in temperature when I'm having a pain flare up (along with being unable to tolerate meat and a host of other little delights) but not to this extent (at least I thought, maybe I ought pack the thermometer with the pain killers?)

So I'm out of ideas of why it's happening, how to control it or even stop it happening, and no idea if what's happening is dangerous.

Care to enlighten me?

[A trophy guy]

I have the problem of temperature-regulation imbalances, and this REALLY is a problem when I try to sleep. My legs, most notably from the knees down, are ICE cold (and I can feel them completely); while my upper body is like a furnace. Literally, to the touch it is hot and unbearable. It makes sleeping hard, as I can't put covers on because my upper body gets SO hot, while my lower body is like ice. And even if I do put covers on my lower body, it feels like my legs are being suffocated and thy begin to break out in profuse cold sweats. So I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't.

I have had these problems since Day 1 after my accident. No doc has been able to even tell me what's going on, much less offer me any solutions. Needless to say, I have been to hell and back trying to solve this. And what I have found to be a LIFE-SAVER has been marijuana. No joke. Marijuana. Just before bed. That's it.

I can't explain it but a little bit of pot smoking right before I go to bed really does even me out, it calms down my over-heating upper body and takes away the clammy, cold sweats of my lower body; thereby allowing me to get comfortable under my covers and go to sleep. And it really is a life-saver. Without the marijuana, nighttime is hell for me. I can't sleep and I can't even be remotely comfortable.

Weed is great for this for me, too, because it is safe and relatively side effect free. And I just, primarily, use it at night, right before bed. Awesome. Perhaps, if things don't improve, you could consider giving it a try. You have nothing to lose.

[Trinity]

 ClaraTaylor, on 15 January 2012 - 09:44 PM, said:

I hope you're sitting comfortably because this is going to be one very confusing post. Before we get carried away I'm a low level incomplete.

There are nights when I over heat when I'm asleep to the point that my boyfriend can't actually touch me and last night had to get out of bed and retreat to the sofa as it was making HIM feel very ill, as though he'd been in a hot bath for hours - This is a chap who is known for his "asbestos hands" when handling hot plates / exhaust pipes). Throughout the night I will knock back at least a pint of water and be thirsty when I wake up (it's not diabetes before you ask, I get checked regularly for that).

Now one thing I've just thought of is that I don't sweat: the sheets (nor my nightdress when I wear it) aren't damp in the morning and Steve has never noticed it (perhaps it boils away!) though he admits the heat coming off my body makes him sweat! I've been trying to work out whether it's worse when I am in (more) pain (than normal) but as I can't tell myself when it's happening I have to rely on Steve waking me as he tries to cool me down when we are together otherwise I think I sleep right through, or at least only ever hit the level of alertness to grope in the dark for my drink. Which confuses me as I only need the cat to sneeze in the next room for me to be fully awake half falling out of the bed expecting it to have vomited across the carpet. So why am I not waking up when Steve is considering frying bacon on me?

I always feel cold - not just at night time but generally throughout the day (anyone else buy shoes based on how many pairs of socks you can fit inside?) and currently have my winter blanket on (the heating is turned off overnight)and I never pull it off or away from me to indicate I was suffering in my sleep. I've more than enough strength to kick the blanket off. I tried the summer blanket but find myself too cold to go to sleep. I think it's the pins and needles especially that make my lower half feel cold but if I increase the Lycra I'm a zombie. I even tried tricking myself by going to sleep with a hot water bottle under a summer blanket so that I'd cool down gradually but I have to fidget so much to get comfortable I just found myself chasing the hot water bottle around the bed.

I've no problems with my B&B, no kidney stones or infection, or anything SCI related or normal illness that I can think would cause me to be like this. I know that I DO get a rise in temperature when I'm having a pain flare up (along with being unable to tolerate meat and a host of other little delights) but not to this extent (at least I thought, maybe I ought pack the thermometer with the pain killers?)

So I'm out of ideas of why it's happening, how to control it or even stop it happening, and no idea if what's happening is dangerous.

Care to enlighten me?

Do you take any meds for your bladder? Some of the anti spaz drugs I think can stop (or at least reduce) your body sweating which may make you over heat. The only other thing I can think of is hormones!
My only useful suggestion for coping with it is maybe get and electric blanket so you are getting into a toasty warm bed, it'll stay warm for a good while after it's turned off then you may be able to switch to summer duvet (saying that the last couple of nights have been fricking freezing!)

[D. Smith]

Unfortunately Clara I have no idea, but am experiencing something similar. Unfortuntely I do sweat, and it is to the point some days that I am 98% that I've wet the bed... but I didn't. I'm having episodes where I can't sleep because I'm too cold but then wake up five minutes after I fall asleep because I'm soaking in sweat. Sorry I'm of no help.

[ClaraTaylor]

In reply to Trophy Guy:
Unfortunately I can not take such medications as I can be subject to a random drink / drugs test at work.
I'd also have no idea how you go about getting such delights!

Edited by ClaraTaylor, 15 January 2012 - 10:33 PM.

[ClaraTaylor]

 Trinity, on 15 January 2012 - 10:28 PM, said:

 ClaraTaylor, on 15 January 2012 - 09:44 PM, said:

I hope you're sitting comfortably because this is going to be one very confusing post. Before we get carried away I'm a low level incomplete.

There are nights when I over heat when I'm asleep to the point that my boyfriend can't actually touch me and last night had to get out of bed and retreat to the sofa as it was making HIM feel very ill, as though he'd been in a hot bath for hours - This is a chap who is known for his "asbestos hands" when handling hot plates / exhaust pipes). Throughout the night I will knock back at least a pint of water and be thirsty when I wake up (it's not diabetes before you ask, I get checked regularly for that).

Now one thing I've just thought of is that I don't sweat: the sheets (nor my nightdress when I wear it) aren't damp in the morning and Steve has never noticed it (perhaps it boils away!) though he admits the heat coming off my body makes him sweat! I've been trying to work out whether it's worse when I am in (more) pain (than normal) but as I can't tell myself when it's happening I have to rely on Steve waking me as he tries to cool me down when we are together otherwise I think I sleep right through, or at least only ever hit the level of alertness to grope in the dark for my drink. Which confuses me as I only need the cat to sneeze in the next room for me to be fully awake half falling out of the bed expecting it to have vomited across the carpet. So why am I not waking up when Steve is considering frying bacon on me?

I always feel cold - not just at night time but generally throughout the day (anyone else buy shoes based on how many pairs of socks you can fit inside?) and currently have my winter blanket on (the heating is turned off overnight)and I never pull it off or away from me to indicate I was suffering in my sleep. I've more than enough strength to kick the blanket off. I tried the summer blanket but find myself too cold to go to sleep. I think it's the pins and needles especially that make my lower half feel cold but if I increase the Lycra I'm a zombie. I even tried tricking myself by going to sleep with a hot water bottle under a summer blanket so that I'd cool down gradually but I have to fidget so much to get comfortable I just found myself chasing the hot water bottle around the bed.

I've no problems with my B&B, no kidney stones or infection, or anything SCI related or normal illness that I can think would cause me to be like this. I know that I DO get a rise in temperature when I'm having a pain flare up (along with being unable to tolerate meat and a host of other little delights) but not to this extent (at least I thought, maybe I ought pack the thermometer with the pain killers?)

So I'm out of ideas of why it's happening, how to control it or even stop it happening, and no idea if what's happening is dangerous.

Care to enlighten me?

Do you take any meds for your bladder? Some of the anti spaz drugs I think can stop (or at least reduce) your body sweating which may make you over heat. The only other thing I can think of is hormones!
My only useful suggestion for coping with it is maybe get and electric blanket so you are getting into a toasty warm bed, it'll stay warm for a good while after it's turned off then you may be able to switch to summer duvet (saying that the last couple of nights have been fricking freezing!)

I'm only taking Lycra at the moment which I've been on for years and not had this problem so I don't think it's those.

Maybe it is hormones. I'll have to get a diary out I think and try and track everything to see if I can get a better idea. I had an electric blanket but didn't get on with it very well (cat loved it). I'll get it out again and have another go. It was -5'C last night and the night before: maybe I should stick my feet out the window to keep me cool!

[BoyFallDown]

I thought I was the only one with this problem. I sweat through the sheets every night since my accident, and during the day too. I've had to start bringing extra shirts to work so I can change when I sweat through them. The only thing I've found that helps a little is taking a shower at night before bed, and putting a large rotating fan right at the foot of my bed. I also have a fan right behind my chair at work blowing on my back, and under my computer desk at home haha. It's the only way I can get comfortable. I get some strange looks when I have the fan on full blast in the middle of winter though.

I thought maybe it was my medicine for a while, but I've come off all the opiates and nerve pain medicine (I tried lyrica and gabapentin), and still it persists. Right now, I'm only on a regular dose of Cymbalta and some medicine for asthma. I suppose it could be the cymbalta, who knows. I'm thinking about seeing a dermatologist to see what they can do about it.

Edited by BoyFallDown, 15 January 2012 - 11:19 PM.

[wheeliebear75]

Ya know....I know that all the medical journals say that "ONLY higher injuries have trouble with temperature regulation"...but look at how many of us with lower level injuries DO have trouble, myself among them. There has to be "SOMETHING to it". Maybe the medical textbooks in 10yrs will read differently?

[mellowgator]

 ClaraTaylor, on 15 January 2012 - 10:37 PM, said:

 Trinity, on 15 January 2012 - 10:28 PM, said:

 ClaraTaylor, on 15 January 2012 - 09:44 PM, said:

I hope you're sitting comfortably because this is going to be one very confusing post. Before we get carried away I'm a low level incomplete.

There are nights when I over heat when I'm asleep to the point that my boyfriend can't actually touch me and last night had to get out of bed and retreat to the sofa as it was making HIM feel very ill, as though he'd been in a hot bath for hours - This is a chap who is known for his "asbestos hands" when handling hot plates / exhaust pipes). Throughout the night I will knock back at least a pint of water and be thirsty when I wake up (it's not diabetes before you ask, I get checked regularly for that).

Now one thing I've just thought of is that I don't sweat: the sheets (nor my nightdress when I wear it) aren't damp in the morning and Steve has never noticed it (perhaps it boils away!) though he admits the heat coming off my body makes him sweat! I've been trying to work out whether it's worse when I am in (more) pain (than normal) but as I can't tell myself when it's happening I have to rely on Steve waking me as he tries to cool me down when we are together otherwise I think I sleep right through, or at least only ever hit the level of alertness to grope in the dark for my drink. Which confuses me as I only need the cat to sneeze in the next room for me to be fully awake half falling out of the bed expecting it to have vomited across the carpet. So why am I not waking up when Steve is considering frying bacon on me?

I always feel cold - not just at night time but generally throughout the day (anyone else buy shoes based on how many pairs of socks you can fit inside?) and currently have my winter blanket on (the heating is turned off overnight)and I never pull it off or away from me to indicate I was suffering in my sleep. I've more than enough strength to kick the blanket off. I tried the summer blanket but find myself too cold to go to sleep. I think it's the pins and needles especially that make my lower half feel cold but if I increase the Lycra I'm a zombie. I even tried tricking myself by going to sleep with a hot water bottle under a summer blanket so that I'd cool down gradually but I have to fidget so much to get comfortable I just found myself chasing the hot water bottle around the bed.

I've no problems with my B&B, no kidney stones or infection, or anything SCI related or normal illness that I can think would cause me to be like this. I know that I DO get a rise in temperature when I'm having a pain flare up (along with being unable to tolerate meat and a host of other little delights) but not to this extent (at least I thought, maybe I ought pack the thermometer with the pain killers?)

So I'm out of ideas of why it's happening, how to control it or even stop it happening, and no idea if what's happening is dangerous.

Care to enlighten me?

Do you take any meds for your bladder? Some of the anti spaz drugs I think can stop (or at least reduce) your body sweating which may make you over heat. The only other thing I can think of is hormones!
My only useful suggestion for coping with it is maybe get and electric blanket so you are getting into a toasty warm bed, it'll stay warm for a good while after it's turned off then you may be able to switch to summer duvet (saying that the last couple of nights have been fricking freezing!)

I'm only taking Lycra at the moment which I've been on for years and not had this problem so I don't think it's those.

Maybe it is hormones. I'll have to get a diary out I think and try and track everything to see if I can get a better idea. I had an electric blanket but didn't get on with it very well (cat loved it). I'll get it out again and have another go. It was -5'C last night and the night before: maybe I should stick my feet out the window to keep me cool!

clara,

your symptons sound like hot flashes. i'm not sure of your age but it could be premenapausal night sweats. there are supliments that can ease these symptons if this is in fact the cause.


mellowgator

[rue2you]

I wake up sweating when I need to empty my bladder. I know that may sounds too simple but have you tried that?

[Denna]

 rue2you, on 16 January 2012 - 03:57 AM, said:

I wake up sweating when I need to empty my bladder. I know that may sounds too simple but have you tried that?

I have borderline AD when I need to empty my bladder. I get really hot and it makes me feel sick. Like Rue2you said. Cath and wait a min to see if you start to feel better.
My legs sweat when I am late on my bowl program and only during the winter. They are freezing cold pouring sweat. Its weird. I wish they would find something to help with this cause I hate it when they sweat. It makes changing clothes and cathing so much more difficult

[ClaraTaylor]

 rue2you, on 16 January 2012 - 03:57 AM, said:

I wake up sweating when I need to empty my bladder. I know that may sounds too simple but have you tried that?

Thanks! I've never thought about that. Normally I go around midnight and then am good til 07:00 BUT it's always a full bladder come morning so perhaps I'm pushing my limits a little.
I'll give it a go and see if it improves matters. When I woke up last night for my normal roll-over-grope-for-drink-in-darkness-push-cat-off-bed-fall-back-to-sleep I did wake myself up enough and yup - toasty warm! (House temperature had dropped to 9'C)

 mellowgator, on 16 January 2012 - 02:47 AM, said:

clara,

your symptons sound like hot flashes. i'm not sure of your age but it could be premenapausal night sweats. there are supliments that can ease these symptons if this is in fact the cause.


mellowgator

Morning Mellowgater, I'm 26 so hopefully not hitting the hot flushes just yet. BUT I asked my boyfriend last night whether he can remember these happening when I had a mirena coil (removed December 2010) and he says he couldn't so this might be supporting the hormones idea (while on the coil I had no periods or any signs of hormones). I'm on POP pills now and get all the delights of periods and PMT (so much to the relief of everyone am very keen to get another coil!) I'll give the bladder emptying suggestion a go and see if that makes any difference and then I think I will see the nurse about changing the pills and crushes my bodies attempts at hormones.

[lavenderthistle]

I constantly wake up with different parts different temperatures. I sleep in gloves and a scarf. I have 2-3 different pairs of Pj's, I have different blankets. My husband and I can not sleep together. I toss and turn all night.

That said.....I've noticed it's worse with weather changes and aunty flo (hope you get the reference) coming to visit. I haven't found anything to stop it aside from constant Pj changes and covering different parts with different weight covers.

Sorry i'm useless here. There may be something herbal to help. You could do a search or I can consult a book.

Lavi

[Tetracyclone]

Change pills, yes. Also, might have to consider premature menopause. Unlikely, but leave no stone unturned.

[Edinburgh Colin]

Well Clara, I have managed to hold off until post #15 before saying this.


If you really wanted to have us talk about what a hottie you are in bed you just needed to slowly feed us a few of these special photos you seem to have reserved for GB!

Mind you at the same time you need to be careful, if you overcook Mike there could be disastrous consequences!

EC (Extinguisher Carrier!)

[brockit79]

Hey Clara,

One of the causes of this type of thing can be peripheral neuropathy which can be caused by diabetes but not just diabetes alone. I'm not saying that is what you have by any means but the symptoms you describe are characteristic with effects of peripheral nerve damage.

I did a quick google search of factors which can cause this said problem and think it is quite interesting; B12 deficiency and other dietary problems, blood circulation (nerves control this which complicates issues).

Peripheral neuropathy can present as ice cold OR boiling hot which is often worse at night.

The majority of my overheating problems occurred in hospital where I ate next to nothing but I used to sweat. Nerves also control sweating. As for what to do, maybe run the possibility by your doc, if you haven't already of course.

I hope this is of some help to you.
Best wishes,
Broc

[bongorum]

 Denna, on 16 January 2012 - 04:54 AM, said:

 rue2you, on 16 January 2012 - 03:57 AM, said:

I wake up sweating when I need to empty my bladder. I know that may sounds too simple but have you tried that?

I have borderline AD when I need to empty my bladder. I get really hot and it makes me feel sick. Like Rue2you said. Cath and wait a min to see if you start to feel better.
My legs sweat when I am late on my bowl program and only during the winter. They are freezing cold pouring sweat. Its weird. I wish they would find something to help with this cause I hate it when they sweat. It makes changing clothes and cathing so much more difficult

I have a similar problem. What helps me is, believe it or not, Alka-Seltzer. While the aspirin is in my bloodstream I hardly cold-sweat at all, and the quesy feeling associated with constipation becomes hardly noticeable.

[ClaraTaylor]

 Edinburgh Colin, on 16 January 2012 - 03:02 PM, said:

Well Clara, I have managed to hold off until post #15 before saying this.


If you really wanted to have us talk about what a hottie you are in bed you just needed to slowly feed us a few of these special photos you seem to have reserved for GB!

Mind you at the same time you need to be careful, if you overcook Mike there could be disastrous consequences!

EC (Extinguisher Carrier!)

After quite the awful day I just want to thank you for making me laugh out loud

But those photographs are just for GB!

[ClaraTaylor]

 brockit79, on 16 January 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

Hey Clara,

One of the causes of this type of thing can be peripheral neuropathy which can be caused by diabetes but not just diabetes alone. I'm not saying that is what you have by any means but the symptoms you describe are characteristic with effects of peripheral nerve damage.

I did a quick google search of factors which can cause this said problem and think it is quite interesting; B12 deficiency and other dietary problems, blood circulation (nerves control this which complicates issues).

Peripheral neuropathy can present as ice cold OR boiling hot which is often worse at night.

The majority of my overheating problems occurred in hospital where I ate next to nothing but I used to sweat. Nerves also control sweating. As for what to do, maybe run the possibility by your doc, if you haven't already of course.

I hope this is of some help to you.
Best wishes,
Broc

Thanks Broc.I'll definitely mention this to the doctor when I next see him if I haven't worked out what is causing it. I'm just confused as to why I don't sweat. I mean get me swinging hammers around in the workshop and I glow as only a grease monkey can!

[brockit79]

 ClaraTaylor, on 16 January 2012 - 09:04 PM, said:

 brockit79, on 16 January 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

Hey Clara,

One of the causes of this type of thing can be peripheral neuropathy which can be caused by diabetes but not just diabetes alone. I'm not saying that is what you have by any means but the symptoms you describe are characteristic with effects of peripheral nerve damage.

I did a quick google search of factors which can cause this said problem and think it is quite interesting; B12 deficiency and other dietary problems, blood circulation (nerves control this which complicates issues).

Peripheral neuropathy can present as ice cold OR boiling hot which is often worse at night.

The majority of my overheating problems occurred in hospital where I ate next to nothing but I used to sweat. Nerves also control sweating. As for what to do, maybe run the possibility by your doc, if you haven't already of course.

I hope this is of some help to you.
Best wishes,
Broc

Thanks Broc.I'll definitely mention this to the doctor when I next see him if I haven't worked out what is causing it. I'm just confused as to why I don't sweat. I mean get me swinging hammers around in the workshop and I glow as only a grease monkey can!

No probs just hope you get sorted: damn bloody sci eh!