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What Causes Excessive Sweating In A 44 Year Old?
Question: This question is for an endocrinologist. I am a 44 year old female and have also communicated with a GP and OBGYN in the website. I have type 1 Diabetes with 2 insulin injections a day (for over 30 years) and Hashimotos for 4 years in which I take Oroxine now 100mg daily. I also am on the pill Diane 35Ed for approx 4 years but have always been on some contraceptive pill since teen years.
I have contact you and the other doctors because for last 3 months I have started sweating in my armpits and getting slightly clammy neck and chest and hot skin surface. Prior to this I only ever sweated on my chest, back and scalp when it was hot. But now for 3 months in winter too I have began to sweat in underarms and for the first time beginning to produce a mild body odour. No one says they notice but at times I do even thought I can't actually smell the odour on my armpits but it must be somewhere on my upper body. I had blood tests done and TSH is 3.0 (in range) and FT4 is 17 (in range). Serum hormones were done although I wouldn't they would be accurate as I'm on the pill but FSH was 3, LH 2.7, oest2 <70, Prog 1. I am not sure if these can prove menopause if I'm on the pill as I assume the pill lowers eostrogen etc. it is not Diabetes or ketoacidoses as that is sweet breath and this is a body odour. For some reason I seem to be hot in the afternoon then ok again at night. This literally began from nowhere 3 months ago. What else is left to be a cause? I do get anxiety but never in the form of sweat (more palpitations, tight throat, TMJ). The only noted difference which was in May was my Oroxine was increased from initially 50, then 75 and in May 100mg but levels are ok so could the drug itself cause symptoms? I have read hundreds of websites and they are all Diabetes, thyroid, stress, diet and hot flashes. I can't believe after 44 years I could just start sweating in my armpits for the first time for no reason. I have always had 3 showers a day, clean clothes (soaked for hours) and even on the hottest days when my chest and hair has sweat running down my armpits were always dry and no odour. My Drs have no ideas and just assuming menopause but I have been told I can't have menopause on pill, hormones will be low on pill so inaccurate and to test unless off pill for 3 months. Please tell me what else could be the cause of this. I am not vain but have always maintained high hygiene standards and am highly embarrassed and wondering why this could occur out of the blue.
I have contact you and the other doctors because for last 3 months I have started sweating in my armpits and getting slightly clammy neck and chest and hot skin surface. Prior to this I only ever sweated on my chest, back and scalp when it was hot. But now for 3 months in winter too I have began to sweat in underarms and for the first time beginning to produce a mild body odour. No one says they notice but at times I do even thought I can't actually smell the odour on my armpits but it must be somewhere on my upper body. I had blood tests done and TSH is 3.0 (in range) and FT4 is 17 (in range). Serum hormones were done although I wouldn't they would be accurate as I'm on the pill but FSH was 3, LH 2.7, oest2 <70, Prog 1. I am not sure if these can prove menopause if I'm on the pill as I assume the pill lowers eostrogen etc. it is not Diabetes or ketoacidoses as that is sweet breath and this is a body odour. For some reason I seem to be hot in the afternoon then ok again at night. This literally began from nowhere 3 months ago. What else is left to be a cause? I do get anxiety but never in the form of sweat (more palpitations, tight throat, TMJ). The only noted difference which was in May was my Oroxine was increased from initially 50, then 75 and in May 100mg but levels are ok so could the drug itself cause symptoms? I have read hundreds of websites and they are all Diabetes, thyroid, stress, diet and hot flashes. I can't believe after 44 years I could just start sweating in my armpits for the first time for no reason. I have always had 3 showers a day, clean clothes (soaked for hours) and even on the hottest days when my chest and hair has sweat running down my armpits were always dry and no odour. My Drs have no ideas and just assuming menopause but I have been told I can't have menopause on pill, hormones will be low on pill so inaccurate and to test unless off pill for 3 months. Please tell me what else could be the cause of this. I am not vain but have always maintained high hygiene standards and am highly embarrassed and wondering why this could occur out of the blue.
Brief Answer:
About exessive sweating;
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank k you for asking!
I have gone carefully through your concern.
From your description there are two probable causes of exessive sweating;
- The increase of levothyroxine dose (even though TSH and Ft4 are within the normal ranges)
- Your age and the area of sweating you described suggests for menopause flushes.
It is difficult to differentiate at this point.
So I would suggest first to get back to 75 mcg of levothyroxine and if the symptoms persist after one month, stop the contraceptive pills and check FSH 3 months later.
Will be a pleasure to help if you have still queries.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
About exessive sweating;
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank k you for asking!
I have gone carefully through your concern.
From your description there are two probable causes of exessive sweating;
- The increase of levothyroxine dose (even though TSH and Ft4 are within the normal ranges)
- Your age and the area of sweating you described suggests for menopause flushes.
It is difficult to differentiate at this point.
So I would suggest first to get back to 75 mcg of levothyroxine and if the symptoms persist after one month, stop the contraceptive pills and check FSH 3 months later.
Will be a pleasure to help if you have still queries.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Hi, are you saying that sweating in the armpits is menopausal not anxiety? I don't know much about menopause hot flashes but I have read the eccrine sweat is all over the body and apocrine is in armpit caused by anxiety. I always thought women having hot flashes sweated on their body rather than armpits. Please clarify.
Also if currently on the pill would hot flashes and menopause symptoms occur?
Also I believe the pill lowers eostrogen so if low eostrogen during menopause causes hot flashes why wouldn't a person always have hot flashes whilst on the pill.
Can you please advise if my female hormones indicate menopause even though done whilst on the pill?
Could you advise if any other endocrine problems could cause the sudden sweating in armpits alone?
Also if currently on the pill would hot flashes and menopause symptoms occur?
Also I believe the pill lowers eostrogen so if low eostrogen during menopause causes hot flashes why wouldn't a person always have hot flashes whilst on the pill.
Can you please advise if my female hormones indicate menopause even though done whilst on the pill?
Could you advise if any other endocrine problems could cause the sudden sweating in armpits alone?
Brief Answer:
About estrogens in menopause;
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
First you should know that contraceptive pills contains estrogen and progresterone.
So a person taking contraceptive pills, does not have symptoms of menopause because they are taking large doses of estrogen (35 in your case).
It means that the production of estrogen from the ovaries is blocked, but it is offered by the contraceptive pills.
In your case, you are right, even if you were in menopause you are taking estrogen and you shouldn't have symptoms, but anyway a confirmation is needed. In menopause is recommended hormone replacement therapy because the dose of estrogens is adjusted according to clinical symptoms and estrogen level in blood (this is difficult to be done with contraceptive pills).
Hot flushes in menopause are felt usually at the upper part of the body ( neck and face) and in your face it may be a slight estrogen deficiency as you are taking estrogen by mouth.
Hope i have been helpful
Regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
About estrogens in menopause;
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
First you should know that contraceptive pills contains estrogen and progresterone.
So a person taking contraceptive pills, does not have symptoms of menopause because they are taking large doses of estrogen (35 in your case).
It means that the production of estrogen from the ovaries is blocked, but it is offered by the contraceptive pills.
In your case, you are right, even if you were in menopause you are taking estrogen and you shouldn't have symptoms, but anyway a confirmation is needed. In menopause is recommended hormone replacement therapy because the dose of estrogens is adjusted according to clinical symptoms and estrogen level in blood (this is difficult to be done with contraceptive pills).
Hot flushes in menopause are felt usually at the upper part of the body ( neck and face) and in your face it may be a slight estrogen deficiency as you are taking estrogen by mouth.
Hope i have been helpful
Regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
So what hormone tests will confirm if is menopause? And do I need to stop the pill first?
My heating up is in the afternoon and lasts approx 4 hours then stops. Is that hot flashes?
I have been on this Diane 35 for a few years and if you say that is high in eostrogen and therefore the pill would block menopause symptoms so there must be another reason to sudden onset of sweating?
Please advise other causes could be possible other than menopause?
Other than spicy foods which I don't eat can fatty foods cause apocrine sweat?
My heating up is in the afternoon and lasts approx 4 hours then stops. Is that hot flashes?
I have been on this Diane 35 for a few years and if you say that is high in eostrogen and therefore the pill would block menopause symptoms so there must be another reason to sudden onset of sweating?
Please advise other causes could be possible other than menopause?
Other than spicy foods which I don't eat can fatty foods cause apocrine sweat?
Brief Answer:
About hot flashes;
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
As long as you take contraceptive pills, FSH will be suppressed so you need to stop contraceptive pills and check FSH a couple of months later.
If it is elevated ( over 20) menopause is installed and you need to start hormone replacement therapy.
As I mentioned before there may be 2 causes and I think are more likely to be hot flashes, but are lighter due to contraceptive pills.
You should have gained weight to have increased apocrine sweating.
Other rare possible causes of hot flashes may be neuroendocrine tumors, pheochromacitoma, but in most of the cases are associated with other symptoms like diarrhea, palpitations, high blood pressure ect.
Hope i have been helpful.
Best wishes,
Dr.Mirjeta
About hot flashes;
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
As long as you take contraceptive pills, FSH will be suppressed so you need to stop contraceptive pills and check FSH a couple of months later.
If it is elevated ( over 20) menopause is installed and you need to start hormone replacement therapy.
As I mentioned before there may be 2 causes and I think are more likely to be hot flashes, but are lighter due to contraceptive pills.
You should have gained weight to have increased apocrine sweating.
Other rare possible causes of hot flashes may be neuroendocrine tumors, pheochromacitoma, but in most of the cases are associated with other symptoms like diarrhea, palpitations, high blood pressure ect.
Hope i have been helpful.
Best wishes,
Dr.Mirjeta
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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