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Night sweats- New symptom

Seven7

Seven
Messages
3,444
Location
USA
So I have been having night sweats for the last 5 days or so. That is new for me and I don't know if it is a good thing or what does it mean.

I didn't used to sweat even on a sauna. Usually, before if I sweat (like 3 times in the last 5 years) meant the end of a relapse but it was when I did something like a long walk, not just by sleeping.

The sweat is weird doesn't smell like sweat and when I wake up I do not feel hot. Please advice.
 

AFCFS

Senior Member
Messages
312
Location
NC
I have had these on occasion and included it in symptom check with doctors. I think they normally may be most interested when they are exhibited in the context of other symptoms. Like if there was night sweats an fever or night sweats and weight loss.

Here is a WebMD article that makes them sound a little concerning: Eight Causes of Night Sweats: Is it Menopause -- Or Something Else?
Doctors in primary care fields often hear their patients complain of night sweats. Night sweats refer to any excess sweating occurring during the night. However, if your bedroom is unusually hot or you are using too many bedclothes, you may begin to sweat during sleep -- and this is normal. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment.

In one study of 2,267 patients visiting a primary care physician, 41% reported experiencing night sweats during the previous month, so the perception of excessive sweating at night is fairly common. It is important to note that flushing (a warmth and redness of the face or trunk) may also be hard to distinguish from true night sweats.

There are many different causes of night sweats. To determine what is causing night sweats in a particular individual, a doctor must obtain a detailed medical history and order tests to decide if an underlying medical condition is responsible for the night sweats. Some of the known conditions that can cause night sweats are:

1. Menopause -- The hot flashes that accompany the menopausal transition can occur at night and cause sweating. This is a very common cause of night sweats in women around the time of menopause.

2. Idiopathic hyperhidrosis -- Idiopathic hyperhidrosis is a condition in which the body chronically produces too much sweat without any identifiable medical cause.

3. Infections -- Classically, tuberculosis is the infection most commonly associated with night sweats. However, bacterial infections, such as endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valves), osteomyelitis (inflammation within the bones), and abscesses all may result in night sweats. Night sweats are also a symptom of AIDS virus (HIV) infection.

4. Cancers -- Night sweats are an early symptom of some cancers. The most common type of cancer associated with night sweats is lymphoma. However, people who have an undiagnosed cancer frequently have other symptoms as well, such as unexplained weight loss and fevers.

5. Medications -- Taking certain medications can lead to night sweats. In cases without other physical symptoms or signs of tumor or infection, drug side effects are often determined to be the cause of night sweats. Antidepressant medications are a common type of drug that can lead to night sweats. All types of antidepressants can cause night sweats as a side effect, with a range in incidence from 8% to 22% of persons taking antidepressant drugs. Other psychiatric drugs have also been associated with night sweats. Medicines taken to lower fever such as aspirin and acetaminophen can sometimes lead to sweating. Other types of drugs can cause flushing, which, as mentioned above, may be confused with night sweats. Some of the many drugs that can cause flushing include:
  • niacin (taken in the higher doses used for lipid disorders)
  • tamoxifen
  • hydralazine
  • nitroglycerine
  • Viagra.
Many other drugs not mentioned above, including cortisone medications such as prednisone and prednisolone, may also be associated with flushing or night sweats.

1. Hypoglycemia -- Low blood sugar can cause sweating. People who are taking insulin or oral anti-diabetic medications may experience hypoglycemia at night that is accompanied by sweating.

2. Hormone disorders -- Sweating or flushing can be seen with several hormone disorders, including pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome, and hyperthyroidism.

3. Neurologic conditions -- Uncommonly, neurologic conditions including autonomic dysreflexia, post-traumatic syringomyelia, stroke, and autonomic neuropathy may cause increased sweating and possibly lead to night sweats.
Then you have the short version from mayoclinic.com:
Night sweats are episodes of nighttime sweating that soak your nightclothes or bedding even when your bedroom isn't excessively hot. Night sweats are a common problem many people experience from time to time. Although uncomfortable, night sweats typically aren't a sign of a medical problem
So what to do? Well, as a man, I can eliminate menopause, but after that would have to present to a doc and try to have a pretty comprehensive list of "goings on" so he could make a better determination.
 

maryb

iherb code TAK122
Messages
3,602
Location
UK
The Mayo Clinic:rolleyes::rolleyes:I suppose if any of them had ever experienced a true night sweat that soaked all your night clothes and sheets they may think differently.
I have had them on and off (more on) since becoming ill, I put it down to viral infections, sometimes make me feel very wiped out, I think you lose a lot of minerals when you sweat too much like this. I can have one every hour or two some nights, its exhausting. For me and others I have read about seems to be a typical ME symptom.

But you need to get some tests done I would say, maybe start with viral/bacterial infections.
 

taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
I had sudden night sweats (having to get up to change both my clothes and the bedding) in the first years of the ME when I had all the virally symptoms. So I equate it to maybe reactiving viral issue in ME. I never found anything to help it and the doctors werent at all interested in any of my ME symptoms including this.
 

arx

Senior Member
Messages
532
I had this too,but it was one year back when I crashed. It was really weird because it was winter. I was getting up 2-3 times per night to change my clothes. It was really annoying.

Now when I think of it, I related my case to neuropathy. I was on several medications also. How are you feeling during the day? I was quite agitated and hyper when I was getting night sweats.

The info AFCFS has shared is quite good.
 

Seven7

Seven
Messages
3,444
Location
USA
I feel ok during the day. The weird thing is I am not hot or warm even when this happens. Some days I am wet enough to be bothersome, But most time is so gentle (like only top wet) that I can just go back to sleep.

Another thing is that the sweat is localized, I am completely dry in my back and My underarms (Only places I get wet when hot), but during the night I only get wet on the chest, right where the breast ends. In the neck where my lymph nodes usually hurts. So the sweat is coming from where my lymph nodes hurts the most. Also, My lymph pain increases the next day I have this.