Drying-off after shower.

[Cobb]

What's up guys?

I've got a question for my fellow methadone users and my good web-friends here at the We Speak community. First and foremost I hope everyone is having a good day and that everyone had a good Halloween last night. I know that I had a pretty good time. I dressed up like a banana and my niece (eleven months old) dressed up like a little monkey and I carried her around. We went to the church and a journalist took about fifteen different pictures of us. So, I'm going to be in the local newspaper going down a big inflatable slid with my niece. It was embarrassing because I was around a lot of beautiful girls my age- but my little niece will appreciate it when shes older. What a better way to remember your first Halloween than having a newspaper picture and article to look back on.

Now... on to the question and problem at hand:

Part I- The Sweating
Yeah, we've talked about it plenty of times. We all know that most of us sweat and that it's a symptom of methadone use. I just want to make sure that what's happening with me is whats happening to everyone else. I'll describe it below and you let me know if this is similar to what happens with you.

I can go outside and do an activity such as moving wood, steel, ect.. Or maybe just recreational things such as playing with my niece of nephew. For ten minutes I'll be fine but then I start sweating. It's like a cold sweat too- to the degree that it makes my shirt wet. If I stay outside for long I'll have to go in and change shirts because it's got so bad. Once, when playing with my little cousin outside- I came in and my shirt looked like someone poured water on me. * The one thing that I wanted to check on is the fact that you can't wipe it away. In the past when I sweated normally, I could come in and wipe the sweat away with a towel and then it would be over. Now, I can wipe the sweat and it keeps coming back, and coming back, and coming back. Sound familiar?

Part II- Drying-off after the shower.

Now, this doesn't happen all the time but it does happen a good majority of the time. I will get into the shower and do my normal routine. Keep in mind, prior to getting into the shower I am not sweating in any manner what so
ever.

Then, I'll get out take my towel and wipe off. However, the wetness/water will not completely go away. I can sit there and run the towel over my back ten time and it still be moist. This is the same with my legs, arms, ect.. I've even tried putting baby powders on my back and arms to stop the moistness but it comes right back. Now, I'm not sure- but do you think this is sweat? Is it because I got in the shower and got hot and the room got so steamy? Is it the steam that made me sweat and that's what I can't wipe away? Because this is what happens when I sweat as well. I mean I can sit there and wipe, and wipe, and wipe only for the moistness to return.

The only way to defeat it is by sitting down and not moving at all. Then, it will seize. This is pretty annoying because sometimes I'm in a rush and have places to go. I really don't like putting my clothes on while I'm soaking wet.

Also, I'm sure it's been mentioned before but what are so ways to stop this outrageous all over body sweating? Before I started taking Methadone I only sweated on my forehead. It's driving me nuts- is there some kind of deodorant, cream, lotion, over-the-counter medication? Anything?

It really blows my mind it's like I can't get dry! Please feel free to use this thread to discuss all types of similar problems. Tell your stories, encounters, and share your solutions.

This is probably one of the more noticeable negative effects of methadone,I mean it's not that bad- I'm just not used to sweating and I'm a hygiene freak- I like to be clean and fresh at all time. That's why I shower three times daily. :]

Thanks everyone!

[OldnWise]

well sound awful, Cobb. I hate to tell you but no I have never had that problem at all from methadone. I sweat now but it's cuz of menopause.

Sounds like you take pretty hot showers..maybe that is part of it, as far as the showering goes. IDK what else to say. I never sweat from H either..
I used to use with this one guy who broke into a severe sweat immediately...some people just do. I guess. I hope someone can offer advice.

Maybe you should try finishing your shower with cold water....it might close up your skin pores a bit. That's what my mom always advised me, b/c it's good for your circulation anyway.

_________________
Tao. Some of us look for the Way in opium and some in God, some of us in whiskey and some in love. It is all the same Way and it leads nowhither.

~ W. Somerset Maugham

[Marot]

Yep Cobb, sounds a lot like I was when I was on Methadone. I even would sweat through my nightshirts and be all shivery and musty under the covers till I changed shirts and covered up with a spare blanket while I folded the comforter down to dry. I would take my bath and by the time I was ready to go out I'd be sweaty again! I don't know any remedies that work though, sorry . Some folks say cinnamon capsules help. One thing I did do everyday though, was to put my Secret antiperspirant on my forehead. I have always worn bangs and it's pretty hard to hide sweaty ones. It worked great! I'm so glad I don't sweat like that anymore. I have read though that as women get older, like past menopause(me), we are only comfortable within a very small range. This is true for me. If it's below 70 in the house I'm putting on a sweater. If it's above around 74 I'm already getting hot. I usually dress in 3 layers, sleeveless tank tops, shirt or blouse over that, and I always bring a sweater or a sweatshirt with me everywhere. It makes my H crazy.

Marot

[recross]

Hey cobb,I understand what ya mean and it seems to me that your body get so hot even though on the outside its cool.It really sucks.I know also what you mean after takingh a shower,I end up going a sitting in front of a fan or something untill I coool down.And its very uncomfortable when its like 30 or 40 degrees and your sweating like a pig for no reason and and freezin at the same time.Ask your dr to prescribe you clonodine patches and or the pillls if your insurance is like mine the patches are expensive put the pills arent.Anyway the do help,the patches will pretty much do away with it but the pills help to.
Its just what some people go through when taking methadone.
gene

_________________
Any society that is willing to give up a little liberty for a little security,Deserve Niether,
and will lose Both!
Ben Franklin

[Ltomczak]

There is a medication that can be prescribed to help with the sweating - I'll have to look up the name for it to give you an absolute answer, but I believe one of the names is Ditropan and is generally used for incontinence.

For those severe cases of sweating it may be really helpful - obviously all medications have side effects so you have to weigh out the benefits vs. the cost and find what works for YOU.

I know we have had numerous posters here over the years that have had to deal with this side effect and I've heard a litany of ways of dealing with it; from carrying a little towel and minifan to medicating for the issue.

I have also heard that soaking in epsom salts can help greatly (it also helps achy muscles and it can pull lactic acid out of the muscles) as well as the tannin found in black tea. (For feet, I would soak SEVERAL tea bags extra strength and then soak my feet in it)

Personally I've been pretty lucky to not have to deal with this too much, aside from when I'm working out at the gym. (Which, of course, most people there are sweating so it's not really noticable!) Strangely enough, my feet seem to perspire more than they ever did before so I wash my feet several times throughout the day.

I hope thi sinformation helps - medication, epsom salts, and soaking in black tea (tannin)!

_________________
lindsaytomcat@yahoo.com

For those in and around the Chicago area - feel free to contact me if you need help with your treatment.

- Lilly

[jeffsgirl32]

yes this is a bad issue for me...I sweat something awful and I freeze everyone in my house to death and I still sweat.

_________________
Methadone saves lives.

[bigjon]

yeah man...same deal here!!! I sweat like a....i dont know what...and the only thing i can do is stay cool.After i leave the clinic,i freeze my girl out in the car because i have to have the AC on or ill just sit and melt!!!YES it is an unfortunate side effect but considering the alternatives ,for me, it is manageable.....dont kinow about medication for that but ill check it out....Big John

[Maronne]

DITTO here! It's now considered a well-known fact that my kids and I joke about, "Mom sweats the most right after she showers!" How INCONVENIENT - right?!

And I'm on a "low dose" too.

It really embarrasses me every time I attend one of my kids' school functions -- I'm always DRENCHED in sweat and cold and clammy. Thank goodness that I don't fuss much with my hair or makeup anyway - because it would be a complete waste of time if I did.


Maronne

[GoldieT]

Wow...seems like you hit a "normal" problem a lot of us seem to share....
I know that I find this issue most troublesome when I have to go out and be "seen" i.e. childs school, shopping with friends...doctor/not MMT doc....the main reason....I feel very self conscience because it looks like either I am realllllly nervous....Look really extra FAT/and feel even MORE self conscience about my extra weight...like I need that????? ..or worse of them all..like I am USING something...like speed or something that would cause extreeme sweating.....I know that when it's hot here...I look normal for awhile..but then after ive been inside for over 15min or so.....and I'm still profusely pouring sweat....then it looks weird....or at a school conference and I NOW bring my own sweat "rag" a little cloth cute napkin....dose wonders...and looks classy too....I use that but after awhile...I know it looks weird.....I normally say something along the lines of "Oh the "CHANGE" is so wonderful...." even though I am a little early in age to experience it......but I feel at least it makes sense....right???
SO>>>>as I said.....this is obviously a HOT TOPIC.......we all seem to understand the pain in the ass that it is.......I do know that JUST RESENTLY it has started to FINALLY GET BETTER...after almost 3 years....it's finally slowing down .....however, I have found that lately I might go into a grocery store and be fine going in....find while shopping in the store....BUT once I am in line, especially if I am standing still for a bit....I will start to litterly POUR sweat....I can feel it coming....my face starts to get hot....turn red....then my hair starts to get all wet and DRIP DRIP DROP....gross......so that is what I have now......but over all...I'll take it over what I was going through before....I guess I have to look at the line before I get into it...LOL

THanks for bringing up a topic so many of us can share our personal insights about.....good or bad....it's just a fact of all our lives that are dealing with it....sucks...but once again....it is worth it.....GOLDIE

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I have lived my life looking through my windows. Moment by moment I am beginning to feel the breeze of the world that has awaited my return. I want to share and learn during this time, so when the doors open and the windows spread I can be ready to fly out the door.

[claudine]

Hi everyone, just passing through quickly and saw the post so wanted to add my 2cts in the hope of helping a bit.
Anyway, YES, a med that doctors frequently prescribe is DITROPAN,like another poster said, i took it for a while at the beginning of my treatment when I was on the liquid syruppy stuff (now that im on pills or rather capsules it seems to have drastically reduced the sweating prob for me,though I only ever had it on my face/head, mostly on my forehead &hair).
Ditropan is mainly given here to small kids who have bed wetting problems at night.
When i took it it definitely helped to reduce sweating BUT it was also really uncomfortable because it gave such a bad case of dry mouth...I ended up having to drink extra water all the time..so it was kinda counter productive. I finally gave up on it entirely and just kept the pills to take on special occasions: like if you know you have to go somewhere to some special function or other just for a few short hours and want to be presentable and NOT sweaty during that time.I felt that it worked well for me in cases like that. For those short periods I just put up with the dry mouth and at least it enabled me to go somewhere special without my hair getting ruined ,looking all sweaty and messed up after 10 minutes when I just spent an hour trying to fix my hair,make-up etc to look nice...May sound trivial but it started to be a problem and make me feel like shit about myself
Anyway, i would suggest getting a batch of those pills from your doctor to use for such "special events", but I dont think its a solution for everyday...
I recall hearing from others who had worse sweating probs that things like deodorants and powders could help quite a bit.After all, alot of people in the "normal" general population suffer from excessive sweating probs on their feet, body, face...everywhere...and it is a problem that gets to be rather embarrassing socially so Im sure there are products out there that can help & that you could maybe try?
Best of luck

claudine

[Marot]

I've had personal experience with Detrol, a med simiar to Ditropan. It was after my hysterectomy and bladder surgery. Well, the bladder surgery was botched by the urologist and I wore a foley bag or had to cath myself for 4 mos untill I found a urologist at U of C who fixed it after 2 more subsequent surgeries. Anyway, during this time I had urinary contractions and was prescribed Detrol. Both these meds are anticholinergics which can cause extreme dry mouth. They use anticholinergics before surgery many times. If anyone of you have ever experienced the dry mouth after being given your pre surgical injection knows what I'm speaking about. Another affect of these types of meds is that they decrease gastric motility and dry out the stools. Constipation is already a side affect of Methadone/opiates, so if this is already a problem, concommitant use with these meds may aggrivate the problem even more. Another consideration for any of us with compromised livers (HepC) is that these meds are not to be used in pts with liver disease. Pts with a personal history or family history of prolonged QT wave would be better not to take these meds either because trials have shown them to exacerbate this condition.

In other words we need to weigh the risks of these and any meds before we ask our physicians for an RX. There are docs out there who will prescribe what a pt asks for in order to keep them happy with little regard for consequences. So please be proactive with your health and educate yourself.

I think the suggestion that you made Claudine is a good one to consider.

Marot

[ancoulter]

Hey Cobb -

You are so right!!! Both my husband and I have the same issues on Methadone.
When I was reading your post, it sounded like I was reading my issues, like I had written it myself.
It's tough so much of the time too.
Especially around other people.

I get so tired of hearing "Are you hot?? You look like your sweating. Are you feeling okay??"
I just want to wear a sign that says I'm on Methadone and that's WHY I'M SWEATING!!!
Ugh. I guess it doesn't work that way though.
As we all know, I'd REALLY get some looks if I did that!!! And the comments would be far worse I"m sure.
They'd go from concern to criticism!!! LOL

I have yet to find anything that really works so if you find out about anything, let me know because I could sure use some help here too!!!

Abby

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Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

[Kriz]

yea.. most definitely. same problem here. only thing that really stops it, is to sit still for awhile, till it 'passes'. not sure what the hell its about, cause it seems like we take in so little of an amount of methadone, to sweat out so much moisture! and.. don't know about you, but sometimes i sweat out 'yellowish' moisture, that ruins a perfectly good t-shirt. gets all yellow, around the collar, especially. thought i was done with that, after using, but sometimes it still happens. peece..

[hitch7]

Ancoulter wrote:

[Kriz]

i think it just goes with the territory..