Why am I sweating so much?
I don’t have a sweating problem except for when I work. This is a recent development that began last year. I’m a freelance photographer with 35 years experience, so it’s nothing I’m nervous about at all.
But for some strange reason, now when I’m on assignment I break into a vicious hot sweat, feel faint, and completely dehydrated. This is rather embarrassing to do in front of clients. I do a lot of high profile executive portraiture of people in clean modern offices dressed to kill. And there I am sweating like a whore in church.
I assure you it’s not nerves. I’m very comfortable and experienced with what I do, except for the sweating. One of my art directors told me that she thinks I may be getting into the work too intensely, and that brings on a sweat. I’m in The Zone so to speak. Should I slow down the pace? I have very little time with these executives, and their schedules do not permit a leisurely shoot nor a second chance. I actually thrive on the pressure. I like it very much.
I don’t sweat crazy except for these situations. What gives?
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17 Answers
Can coffee make me sweat? I’m sure to drink at least 6 cups in the morning before going on assignment. But it’s decaf, always.
You know what’s funny? My dad was a professional photographer, very good at what he did, and he sweat during jobs also. For that matter, when I’m doing an endoscopy, in a cold operating suite, I’ll sweat. Weird.
Could it be menopausal hot flushes? I might be asking that because I’m dealing with hot flushes myself, dammit!… or perhaps you are male…
What chemicals do you work around, if any?
Perhaps I am @Adagio. Hot flushes yes. Menopausal impossible.
@Rarebear That’s right. It has nothing to do with temperature. It seems more like an intensity thing. I’m really zoned in to what I’m doing. In a different realm actually. I can see the same scenario for your endoscopy. It’s like time ceases.
@CaptainHarley No chemicals, no drugs, no alcohol. Just too much coffee at times, (I think), but it’s decaf. When the shoot is over, the sweating stops, and I feel like I’ve had my ass kicked by a long jog or a workout.
Male, and I really think it has something to do with drinking too much coffee. I’ve also noticed that a few times a month, I’ll have odd headaches in the back of my head that last for days. The only thing that takes them away is a spoon full of sugar in my morning coffee. I don’t typically use sugar in my coffee, except for these headache scenarios. It seems that red GatorAide also causes these headaches, and I have been diagnosed as allergic to iodine. My father was diagnosed as diabetic a few years ago. I’m wondering if I’m exhibiting the very earliest signs of that myself, with the headache/sugar/coffee scenario.
Sorry for sharing so much, but I’m looking at all possibilities.
I’m not a doctor but you should maybe see an endocrinologist if you have good insurance and get blood tests. I used to sweat a ton and was found to have low testosterone at age 30. Very unusual but not unheard of. And my doctor was really apprehensive to test my testosterone at that age, but I’d just read a NYT article about low testosterone in men and thought what the heck. Point is that it’s worth exploring all avenues. In my case, with hormone replacement, I was back in fighting shape.
How interesting. I would never have thought such a thing. Thanks!
I would see a doctor about this if I were you as @pallen123 suggested. Better safe than sorry.
How’s your BMI? The heavier you are, the less heat you can radiate.
And what’s the point of drinking decaf? Coffee’s not that good, is it?
@Nullo
BMI 24.4 (normal high), 5’10’’ 170lbs. The coffee is a cigarette chaser. No, it’s not that good at all.
I walk a brisk mile with the dog every night. I break a sweat and try to make it a workout. But that is a much different sweat than when I’m working for clients.
@rahm_sahriv
I haven’t been to a doctor in 20 years. Might be time for a checkup.
@RealEyesRealizeRealLies
Then I’m all out of causes.
If it’s a short engagement, you could try antiperspirant and doubling up on your undershirts. Keep spares in the car, or somesuch.
I’m thinking the coffee is causing dehydration, in the form of sweating out all the liquid. Perhaps it doesn’t engage while I’m at the studio in front of a computer. But when I’m up and constantly moving with a camera in my hand, that’ just enough movement combined with the pressure of doing the job quickly to bring on a sudden gush of sweating.
I don’t know really. Just thinking out loud. I could easily find out if I just gave up coffee for a couple of days.
Get yourself checked for diabetes. The spoonful of sugar in your coffee combating a headache is a clue. Autonomic neuropathy, one side effect of uncontrolled diabetes will cause sweats, particularly after eating. It interferes with your normal body temperature regulation, it can go both up and down. I am aware of two people who were unaware of diabetes who had no other initial symptom other than beginning to sweat in situations where they had never had a problem before,
sometimes you sweat because you stink and you want others to smell your stench
@RealEyesRealizeRealLies
Then it’s unlikely that there’s any sort of problem connected with it. Are you a perfectionist in your work?
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