Fibromyalgia Support Group

You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.

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Muscles & Bones
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Freezing or Burning Up?

FIC
FIC
OK, what's the deal??? Is the body's ability to regulate temperature part of FM?

If I take a hot shower to make my muscles/back relax & feel better, then I sweat like a pig and can't cool down.

If I get a cold draft down my neck, I freeze & lock up like I've been thrown in ice!

OK, so what it going on and how do I stop it???

Thanks
FIC
FIC
Dear SHELL SEEKER - Yes, the more I study FM, it is so similar to MS it isn't funny. If you will read the symptomatology of MS, their almost identical except we do not have mylen sheath damage.
FIC
FIC
Dear 2PUPPIES - I'm with you. My husband and I have 2 control electric blanket and mine is on 8 or 9 while his is off.

He complains "HOW CAN YOU BE COLD? Your skin is actually hot to touch. Sometimes you are so hot, I can't get near you. At least in the winter I won't freeze to death." He just chuckles but it is true.

I'm bone cold and my body is burning hot to the touch. Go figure.....
FIC
FIC
Dear FIERY PRINCESS - Yep, I am the answer to lowering the thermostat. ROFLOL Hubby says I keep the bed so warm he will never freeze to death.
FIC
FIC
Dear MISUNSHINE - Yes, I say my thermostat is broken too. I do not feel warm unless it's 85 and prefer 90's Even 85 if there is a breeze (light!), I freeze like I'm in a bucket of ice water!
FIC
FIC
Dear NYCTWINMOM, LEOX3, and SUSANBANTHONY -
All of you confirm what I am living with and have forever! From what I have studied, FM is listed as an "autoimmune disease". Keeping this in mind, the body's defense system is to raise the body's temp to kill the germ/bacteria/virus. Well, then the body's system is to sweat to cool the over-heated body down. Therefore, we get the lovely wacko junk of HOTTER than HOT and COLDER than COLD.

Now I have to have blankets on me but must put at least one foot out to "breathe". Go figure that one! LOL
deleted_user
deleted_user
I knew I wasn't losing my mind....
it seems to be my hands and feet affected the most. when their hot their hot, and red, and when they are cold they freeze and are stiff and HURT.
I was just asking my neuro about this, he had no answers!

Let me know if you figure out how to remedy the problem!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Bobbijo329 - Neurologists aren't great (from my personal experience) with Fibro but, rheumatologists are. My rheum always looked at my hands and nails at the beginning of each appt. It's not uncommon to find very cold hands and feet in Fibro patients. My nails sometimes get a dark blue hue when it's cold out (even when the rest of me is in a sweat).

I wear socks to bed now and that helps a bit. Make sure you wear gloves as the weather gets colder because the extremities are particularly susceptible to the cold.

Also - you're def not losing your mind. I'm happy FIC started this discussion because it seems to have helped a lot of people. Fibro patients spend a great deal of time feeling alone because our symptoms can be bizarre and we rarely look sick (even when we're REALLY sick). It helps us feel less alone when we see that there are others of us out there experiencing some of the same things. Finding ways to be part of a community is a piece of the puzzle needed to help lessen or prevent depression (something else a lot of us suffer from thanks to this illness).