Night Sweats

[roundtuit]

Does anyone have any helpful hints on dealing with night sweats? I have the night time pain under control enough, but now the night sweats are waking me multiple times at night. I am cold and hot at the same time and either freezing or hotter than Hades. When it is time to get up for work I am exhausted, needing a shower, and a bedding change. I am wondering if I may be getting another abcess, or infection? or if the crohns is just getting worse?
Joni O

 

[InkyStinky]

Wow, no fun. Do you know if you're running a fever?

 

[Lisa]

I get them when I am starting a flare or in one....not a good sign usually.....

 

[Poppysocks]

I have night sweats all the time, probably not very good but I don't know what to do.

 

[InkyStinky]

Yeah, I don't think they're a good sign, either. Have you called your doc? If not, do it today. And keep a thermometer by your bed with a notebook, and every time you wake up take your temp and record it.

 

[glum chump]

I get night sweats all the time as well. My GI says that, in part, it's a sign that Crohn's is active, but it can also point to a specific infection that's going on. Usually, there's an internal fistula, abscess or some other infection that needs to be brought under control. When I'm having pretty bad night sweats, the GI usually puts me on antibiotics for 10 days (Cipro and Flagyl combo). InkyStinky's suggestion of taking your temperature and recording it is a really good idea.

On a 'coping' level, I make my bed with a fitted sheet, and I then put a large soft towel around the spot I usually sleep on. I then put another fitted sheet on top of that and then make my bed the way I always do. If I wake up at night and I've soaked my sheet, I take off the top fitted sheet, and then sleep on the fluffy towel for the rest of the night and the bottom fitted sheet doesn't get affected. Yeah, it's still a pain since there's still a lot of laundry to do, but at least I don't have to change my sheets in the middle of the night (the first time I had to do it, I stepped on the dog on the way to find my sheets, and it was a lot of mayhem at 3am!). I also keep another towel close by to wipe off my body/hair during the night.

I would definitely echo others' suggestions to call your doctor.

Good luck, Joni O.

 

[teeny5]

I get night sweats a lot. My GI said it is due to the underlying infection in the body.

 

[scifi-enthusiast]

I'll get them lightly when I'm flaring, and then my doctor puts me on Flagyl during the flare, then I get them heavily until I've been done with the flagyl for several days.

 

[CrohnsHobo]

I get them when I am in a flare also. Very uncomfortable, and never really found an easy solution.

 

[ameslouise]

I blame everything on the Prednisone. I only ever started having them since I've been on pred. Crank the a/c and then activate the temperature leg. Leg goes under the covers, leg goes out of the covers, under, out, under, out, etc etc etc all night long.

Can't offer any advice for combatting this problem, just commiserating.

- Amy

 

[CDDad]

My night sweats were cured - I hope for good. I was having them often before my surgery. Have not had one since. Pretty radical cure but effective. Inflamation / infection gone - no more sweats.

 

[dreamintwilight]

I had night sweats right before I went into the hospital and found out I had an abscess and was diagnosed with Crohn's.

Definitely keep track of your temperature, like Sabrina said. but, if this is not "normal" for you when you flare I would definitely phone the doctor ASAP.

 

[Gibby87]

I have night sweats nearly all the time. I even had them when I was awake and at work. But no fever....

 

[roundtuit]

Wow...tons of info thanks everyone!
I am not alone!
I took my temperature and it appears thay my thermometer is not working properly. I am ususally a little below normal, but 96 has to be wrong. I will go buy one tomorrow.
I am going to my first visit with my new Primary on Monday, so will discuss fears of another possible infection and the night sweats. Past experiences are making for a sense of foreboding though as my past bouts with night sweats have also been accompanied with surgery of some sort. I was kinda hoping to hear the sweating is just part of Crohns... sort of like having to deal with rashes or tummy aches. I can dream can't I?
Haha... Ameslouise!!! I have used the "temperature leg" before, but have never heard that name put to it. My temperature leg is unfortunately ineffective in this case. At this point I am tearing off clothing!!!
Thanks for the bed making hint glum chump. I thought about making the bed with multiple sheets so I can just strip one off as needed, but the added towel just might do the trick...comfortwise anyway. Making the bed over in the middle of the night would not be condusive to a good nights sleep for my hubby whom I adore. he suffers enough because of my night time chrohns antics lol.

 

[Chris1984]

i also get night sweats at times. havent told my doctor though cuz ive been afraid to add more symptoms to the very long list lol, good to see its not just me...maybe ill bring it up with him next appt.

 

[roundtuit]

I used to feel the same way about talking about all the symptoms. I was in fear of telling the whole story for fear they wouldn't believe me or they would label me a whiner or a hypochondriac. I think that is sort of what happened to me anyway and it wasn't until I explored my options in another city that I was able to find not 1, but 4 physicians that actually listened to me. (Gyno, Gastro, Surgeon, and Derm) They actually figured out what was wrong with me too, not that I am thrilled with a crohn's diagnosis. I am shooting for #5 with a new primary on Monday.

 

[Chris1984]

the last time i added symptoms to the list i was sent to an oncologist and hemotologist cuz they thought it might have been cancer...which thankfully it wasnt.

i know what you mean. i went thru 3 gastro's and 2 cardio's before they took me seriously, now i have a great team of doctors (primary, gastro, cardio, rheumatologist) that im very thankful for.

 

[roundtuit]

Gosh...a great team of doctors.
Never in a million years did I think I would have a "great team of doctors", but I guess that is what I got. I am not entirely sure the act as a team though. I am constantly getting requests from one that another one is not sharing, lol.
Are there crohn's doctors or IBD doctors out there anywhere?... Doctors that treat the whole person?

 

[wolfem]

I had night sweats and then they found out I had an abscess... well, I told them I might so they looked into it. Thank god I vouched for myself!

So, I would check to see if you have a fever.


Team of doctors? That's exactly what is needed for crohn's!



____________________________
Diagnosed: Crohn’s December ‘09
Gastritis August ’09, TMJD 1992
Surgeries: 1-terminal ileum removal
Treatments: Current- pentasa
Past- pred.:thumbdown:aciphex, ranitidine
Other: Multi-vitamin, calcium,
digestive enzymes, probiotics,
and fish oil

 

[need2heal]

I have them when I am on high dosage of prednison.. nothing helps I just have to sweat it out
Good luck!

 

[Sue-2009]

I get themn all the time...I thought it was normal to have them when you have crohns? Mmmm....I am going to mention it when I am in for my next appointment.

 

[roundtuit]

I have come to believe I am fightning some sort of infection/flare. I had a bad week last week, nausea, extreme fatigue, night sweats and day sweats, and orange(?) diarreah. Yuk. 4 days off work and lots of sleep seems to have improved things, although I still feel a little punk and still have orange D. My temp is still flucuating between 95.2 and 98.4, which of course is normal in a Drs eyes, so no point in going until I am really sick.
So...still sweating and still here LOL!!!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I get night sweats too - both hot sweats and cold sweats - when I'm in a flare. I started a flare just about a week ago, and although it's been relatively mild as far as pain & d, I have been sweating much more and not just at night this time. I've been sweating all day too - it's gross! I am not running a temperature, though. Every time I check my temp, which has been multiple times a day, it's always between 97 and 98. So I don't know why that is, but from the rest of the posts on this thread, it sounds relatively normal and just another indicator of a flare.

 

[kenny]

My night sweats were cured - I hope for good. I was having them often before my surgery. Have not had one since. Pretty radical cure but effective. Inflamation / infection gone - no more sweats.

Same here man. Once they cut out all the leaking broken pipes and fixed the internal abscess the sweats went away. It is always the first thing they ask me at my appointments. For me Night sweats = proof of active disease that has lead to internal infection. It is a 100% guaranteed call to the GI clinic for this fella.

 

[roundtuit]

And I too have started a full blown flair.:ymad: Missed 4 out of 5 days last week and 3 this week. Had an embarrasing explosion at my sister in laws house that brought on the tears. I cannot help but think I will get looked at cross-eyed if go to the Dr and the only symptom is sweating....I am probably basing that on previous experience with my old Drs. though, and need to stop that.:ybatty: I am off for blood work tomorrow and I will see the PA at my Gastro's office on the 8th. My gastro is booked way out cause he just had vacation. Figures.
By the way, after taking my temperature to see if I am running one, it appears it is always below normal...anywhere from 95.2 to 98, usually in the. It was 98.6 once when I was feeling really bad. I even bought a new thermometer. I am wondering how someone with a below normal temp knows when they have a temperature.
Thanks all.
Joni O

 

[kenny]

Oh I did find that Tylenol helps to break the spell but that is definitely no reason not to let the treatment clinic know asap either. Guess it depends on the relation you have with your treatment team?

 

[roundtuit]

Thanks for the advice....I am kinda new to this. I am used to medical professionals in my area poo-pooping my many bizarre symptoms, which have been going on for more than 10 years. It wasn't until I sought medical attention in a larger city two hour away that many of my health issues were finally identified and dealt with. Past experiences have left me with little trouble being my own advocate. I love my gastro...he has a great sense of humor. He told me he thought of a Gastro bumper sticker... "your crap is my bread and butter". Haha...sick but right up my alley in the humor department.
I can always shoot the nurses an email at this office though and must train myself to do that cause it goes into my file. I guess I need to get used to good care for a change.
I have trouble with tylenol. I have trouble with pretty much everything I take for very long.

 

[acg101]

Does anyone have any helpful hints on dealing with night sweats? I have the night time pain under control enough, but now the night sweats are waking me multiple times at night. I am cold and hot at the same time and either freezing or hotter than Hades. When it is time to get up for work I am exhausted, needing a shower, and a bedding change. I am wondering if I may be getting another abcess, or infection? or if the crohns is just getting worse?
Joni O

In my case, the Night sweats were always accompanied by some sort of a flareup and/or side effect of the tons of meds I was on. After my surgery all the symptoms are gone (for good I hope).