My Mother, 82, Can't Seem to Stop Sweating!
My 82-year-old mother is experiencing relentless sweating, particularly from her head, leaving her completely drenched. Although she has undergone thorough cardiac evaluations and all results came back normal, this exaggerated sweating is alarming. She has always been naturally warmer than others, but this level of perspiration is unprecedented. When she stands in front of a fan, her anxiety worsens, causing her to sweat even more. I can’t help but wonder if her medications are contributing to this issue, though her doctor disagrees with my suspicion. Below is a list of her current prescriptions. Any insights or guidance would be immensely appreciated! - Water pill: taken 1-2 times weekly. - Pantoprazole 40 mg EC tablet. - Dicyclomine 10 mg capsule. - Amitriptyline 25 mg tablet. - Gabapentin 300 mg capsule. - Aspirin 81 mg chewable tablet. - Furosemide 20 mg tablet. - Atorvastatin 40 mg tablet. - Lorazepam 0.5 mg tablet. - Diltiazem CD 120 mg 24 hr capsule. - Nebivolol 10 mg tablet. - Losartan 50 mg tablet. - Hydralazine 25 mg tablet.
Answers (1)
9/4/2025, 6:20:40 PM
OpenHealth AI
Persistent sweating, especially in older adults, can be concerning and may have various causes, even when previous cardiac evaluations are normal. In your mother's case, it sounds like her excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) could potentially be influenced by several factors, including her medications, anxiety, or other underlying conditions.
Explanation
-
Medications: Some of the medications your mother is taking, like amitriptyline and gabapentin, can contribute to sweating as a side effect. Additionally, medications that affect blood pressure, such as diltiazem and hydralazine, can also cause increased sweating in some individuals.
-
Anxiety: You noted that her anxiety increases when she's in front of a fan, which can indeed cause her to sweat more. Anxiety is known to activate the body's stress response, leading to sweating.
-
Age Factors: As people age, their body's ability to regulate temperature can change. Older adults may experience changes in thermoregulation that can cause episodes of excessive sweating.
Next Steps
-
Keep a Symptom Diary: Track her sweating episodes, noting the time of day, any potential triggers (like heat or stress), and duration. This information can be vital for understanding patterns and might help her doctor make more informed decisions.
-
Review Medications: While her doctor disagrees, it's worthwhile to seek a second opinion about her medications. A review by her healthcare provider to consider alternatives that might be less prone to causing sweating can be beneficial.
-
Manage Anxiety: Implement relaxation techniques that may help reduce her anxiety. Simple deep-breathing exercises or mindfulness practices can be useful. Consider a supportive and calm environment when she feels overwhelmed.
-
Stay Cool: Encourage her to wear light, breathable fabrics and to stay in a cool environment. If a fan increases her anxiety, look for alternative ways to stay cool, such as gently applying a cool cloth to her neck.
-
Hydration & Body Temperature: Ensuring she stays well-hydrated is important, especially due to the diuretics she's taking. It's crucial to monitor her fluid intake and balance, making sure she doesn't overly restrict fluids despite sweating.
Understanding her symptoms more clearly will empower you to find effective management strategies. Please keep me posted on her situation if you have more questions or need further assistance!
Related Questions
Navigating Motion Sickness and Cybersickness
Hello everyone! I'm a 16-year-old female, with a height of 162 cm, and I’ve dealt with motion sickness for most of my life. Recently, however, it has worsened significantly, extending to cybersickness as well. Spending more than 25 minutes in front of a screen leads to severe discomfort—something that is particularly challenging since I need to use screens for my schoolwork and beyond. After these episodes, I often find myself unable to do anything but lie in bed for the remainder of the day, wrestling with nausea or even vomiting. This issue doesn’t just arise from screen time; I also experience stomach upset during walks or jogs, which leaves me puzzled about how to alleviate this condition. I frequently rely on over-the-counter travel sickness medication, specifically Avomine, and while it does offer some relief, the effect is minimal. I’m seeking advice or suggestions that might help me regain a sense of normalcy in my daily life. For your reference, I don't smoke and only consume alcohol on very rare occasions. I’m located in the UK! Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Persistent Pain in the Right Flank: Seeking Insights
Greetings, medical professionals. I'm a 38-year-old woman, having recently celebrated my birthday. My daily regimen includes multivitamins with iron, and I occasionally take Valtrex, though it hasn't been necessary for some time. Standing at 5 feet 3 inches and weighing 140 pounds, I have endured this discomfort for the last three to four months, although I've suffered intermittently for approximately five years, with no definitive diagnosis from various doctors. The pain manifests as a sharp sensation near my belly button, resembling a knife stabbing me. In addition, I experience a general ache in the right flank and my lower back. This discomfort ranges from my ribs on the right side right down to my hips and pelvis, affecting areas near my ovaries and the region close to my belly button. I’ve noticed that certain stretches can intensify the pain along the backside of my ribs during movement. I've undergone an abdominal CT scan and a thorough medical examination, revealing no kidney issues, gallstones, appendicitis, or ovarian cysts, and my blood work appears normal. A HIDA scan indicated that my gallbladder operates at merely 23%, but I have not experienced any gallbladder attacks. An endoscopy indicated mild gastritis, but otherwise, the results were acceptable. Does this situation resonate with anyone? I'm puzzled about what could be present near my navel if appendicitis is ruled out. My doctor suggested a connection to my IBS-C, but my bowel movements have been regular, occurring once daily with normal consistency. During my examination, my abdomen was pressed, and she noted tenderness near my belly button, attributing this to local inflammation, as there are no significant organs in that area aside from the small intestine. Any advice or insights would be appreciated, as this has been an ongoing issue since 2020.
Severe Pain in Lower Right Abdomen for Two Weeks
Hello everyone, I am an 18-year-old assigned female at birth, weighing 65 kilograms and standing at 5 feet 3 inches tall. I have been experiencing intense discomfort in my lower right abdomen since January 28th. On that evening, I sought medical attention and was given codeine for the pain before being sent home. However, due to the persistent agony, I returned to the hospital on January 31st, where I was admitted for the night. There, I underwent numerous tests, including blood tests, a CT scan, and two ultrasounds, yet all results appeared normal. Tests confirmed that my kidneys, intestines, ovaries, uterus, and, critically, my appendix were all unaffected. After a night in the hospital, I was discharged once more with codeine to help manage the pain. As of February 7th, the discomfort remains excruciating—so much so that even minor movements are painful without the assistance of codeine. My bowel and urinary habits remain consistent with my normal routine. Yet, I find myself feeling frightened. The level of discomfort I’m experiencing is unlike anything I've endured before, and there's been no improvement. I’m apprehensive about relying on opioid medication due to fears of developing an addiction, but the reality is that I can't manage the pain effectively without them. The symptoms I’m experiencing closely mimic those of appendicitis, except there's no accompanying fever, vomiting, or any indicators of appendicitis from my tests. The pain amplifies with movement and contact, and oddly, when my lower left abdomen is touched, it triggers pain in the lower right. I’m at a loss about what to do next. The possibility of pregnancy and a urinary tract infection have already been ruled out. Should I consult my general practitioner? I hesitate to do so, as I worry about overburdening healthcare resources, but I’m genuinely struggling to live in this state. The side effects from codeine, including severe memory loss and disrupted sleep patterns, only add to my distress—yet it’s the only solution I have that alleviates the pain. What steps should I take next? What might this condition be?
Navigating Iron Levels: A Personal Journey
At 36, I find myself grappling with iron deficiency issues ever since I had a copper IUD placed. Though I had it removed three years ago, my ferritin levels still remain troublingly low; I've seen some progress—up from a previous 5—yet it’s still far from satisfactory. Currently, I take heme optifer iron three times a week to try to boost my levels. During my initial blood test, I was fasting and had halted my iron supplements for a full day prior. The results were perplexing, leading me to pause my iron intake for another two weeks before submitting blood work again. The recent results showed: - Iron: 32.7 umol/L - Transferrin: 1.74 g/L - Transferrin Saturation: 0.74 - TIBC: 44 umol/L - Ferritin: 29 I’m struggling to understand these findings. Is it typical to have such high transferrin saturation whilst my ferritin remains low? More importantly, what strategies can I use to elevate my ferritin levels to the desired range of 50 to 60 given these blood test results?
Swelling and Discoloration at the Tip of My Big Toe
I am a 34-year-old assigned female at birth, standing 6'1" and weighing 225 pounds. I do not smoke and my current medications include Lexapro, Metformin, and Tirzepatide. Recently, I accidentally trimmed my toenail a bit too short, though there was still visible nail left. Initially, I experienced some discomfort accompanied by redness, tightness, and swelling around the toe, but I decided to manage it without seeking immediate attention. However, a few days ago, I began to notice the emergence of purple dots and streaks, which have progressively worsened. Furthermore, I have also detected a painful purple area at the edge of my second toenail, which is surprising as I haven’t trimmed them in several weeks. I would appreciate any insights on this issue, as I’d like to avoid unnecessary expenses for a medical consultation that may lead to a dismissive response like “just let it grow out.”