Night sweats, I'm totally desperate...

[Mrsmorton]

I've been having them for years, at least ten years but they are getting so bad lately that I'm worried I'll have to take time off work because I'm exhausted.

I'm early 30's very fit and well, no children (my boyfriend's daughter is 10), I don't smoke or take any meds other than depo (been having this for 1 year and it's made no difference).

Essentially, I take about an hour to get off to sleep at my estimate. I live in London and can hear several clocks bonging outside so that's how I work that out! About an hour later I will wake absolutely drenched in sweat, it runs off me and makes it look like I've wet the bed. My hair is soaked and there are literally rivers running off my body.

The thing is, I'm not hot I'm actually cold so I will need to get up and wrap a sheet around me to keep the bedsheets off my skin and try to warm up- when it's really bad I might sleep on the floor on a spare duvet but these sweats go on all night so I just keep turning the duvet round or over to get a dry spot.

If I could sleep through them, they wouldn't actually bother me but I can't unless I've been drinking. I drink possibly a bottle of wine and maybe 3-4 G&T's over the space of a weekend which I know is over the recommended limit but not by much... I sleep better on weekends though...

I did dry January and it made no difference so I don't think it's alcohol related, I don't drink during the week and still get them. I get them in any bed (hotel, parent's house boyfriend's house etc).

I'm just exhausted but I don't want to go to bed because it's so fucking grim.

I've also got vulvar eczema (I'm a total princess) which itches like a motherfucker when I'm sweating.

I've had blood tests for hormones, white cells and so on, also chest x ray for TB (as I've got a bit of a cough). Oddly, I had a dream that they linked it to palpitations (which I get occasionally) and I was so excited when I woke up that I googled it and nada.

Form an orderly queue to help me!!

Sorry for length of post, I just wanted to get it all out.

MrsM

[FlabbyFlabbyBits]

The only time I've had sweats like that is recently with perimenopause. You sound a bit young for that - especially if they started 10 years ago (ie. your early 20's). Are your periods regular/normal?

[FlabbyFlabbyBits]

Oh, and although I'm now on HRT, I took Black Cohosh Menopause Relief (from Higher Nature) for the horrible night sweats and they stopped after a few days of taking the tablets and never returned. No idea if tablets work or they were going to stop anyway!
I have to say that the 3 weeks of the night sweats destroyed me, it was the worst thing I've ever gone through - no idea how you've coped/put up with it for so long. I'd go back to the doctors and ask for help.

[Mrsmorton]

Thanks flabby, Im pretty sure they ruled out perimenopause. I don't really have periods now bcse of the depo but I'll make a drs appointment and also google that supplement desperate

[FlabbyFlabbyBits]

If they ruled out perimenopause by blood test then that's rubbish - especially if you're taking something that might regulate/change hormone levels! They ruled out my perimenopause for 6 years by random blood tests and saying I was too young (late 30's). Blood tests check your hormones on a particular day. That's it. I was lucky the last doctor I saw listened to my symptoms. Not that I think HRT has made me any different - but I'm apparently too young NOT to take it. Do try the Black Cohosh though - you never know, it might help.

[BiscuitMillionaire]

Do you drink a lot of coffee or tea? Just wondering if caffeine was a factor (as you said you sleep better at weekends).

[Mrsmorton]

I do but stop at about 2pm, I've had weeks this year with none at all and no change. I've literally looked everywhere for a pattern!!

Interesting about perimenopause, I will ask specifically about that.

Thank you for replying.

[StandoutMop]

I had this in my late 20s, never had definitive reason - all medical tests came back clear. As well as bloods and chest xray I also had an abdominal ultrasound, not sure what it was to rule out though.

Personally I think mine was stress related. Various work and family stuff was happening and although I didn't feel stressed, I think it came out when I was sleeping. A holiday and change of job got rid of them, although they returned briefly last year when house move and parental death coincided.

[Rivercam]

Try taking evening primrose oil. That can help.

[DaysAreWhereWeLive]

Acupuncture cured it for me in about 8 seasons. After 5 years it reappeared so I did the same again. Can't recommend it enough.

[Mammicar]

I'm so glad I've come across this! I have mirena fitted and was putting it down to that! It's horrible. I'm 33!

[Mrsmorton]

How did you get acupuncture days

Did you just tip up to one and asks them to fix your sweats?

Standout, I've been a dentist for ten years, I hate it. You may be onto something there... How long did it take for them to resolve after stress went away? I'm having a break from the profession next year so that could be interesting. It's not been stressful for ten years btw, I just don't like it very much.

[Mrsmorton]

Mammi, let's pool
Our resources!!

Will you have the mirena removed?

[Mammicar]

I don't think so! It's not every night for me thankfully more like every other!

I also wonder if it's down to not having periods? I haven't had them since the cool was fitted.

I am also on naproxen omeprazole and fluoxetine.

[Mammicar]

Could be stress related I'm doing a nursing degree! Though I don't feel stressed with it as I'm enjoying it!

Ps my mum is actually called Mrsmorton

[NoNoNoMYDoIt]

I had night sweats for years. All the investigations and nada. I gave up alcohol for January. That then rolled on into feb and March. It was some time late feb that I realised the sweats had stopped. It is one of the reasons I am still not drinking. Looks like I need to be alcohol free. Maybe dry jan wasn't quite long enough for your body if it is to do with alcohol?

[OttiliaVonBCup]

Beta blockers help with excessive sweating, it's a side effect.
So it might be using a cannon to kill a fly.

Ask your GP?

[CalmYoBadSelf]

Could it be a possible side-effect to the Depo as I've think I've heard something about this before. This site lists sudden sweating

FWIW I was having night sweats as part of perimenopause but they have gone completely since cutting down carbs to try to lose weight. I'm still fat but not as sweaty!

[Mrsmorton]

Thanks NoNo. That would make me a little sad because I do enjoy a glass of Merlot but not as much as I hate the sweats. I'm doing dry June so will go from there.

Thanks for all advice! I feel excited at the thought of sleeping.

What a lovely name your mum has!

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Night sweats are pants. Hate them. You have my sympathy.

[StandoutMop]

Re stress - I never felt stressed, I rarely do. But I do suppress things, so I think it was my body's reaction to what was going on.

From what I recall, they disappeared on the holiday and never returned.

Oh, another thought - I was on pill but came off so Dr could do bloods for hormones etc. It was months later the sweats stopped but maybe pill hormones took time to clear system and my stress theory is bollocks

[Wolfiefan]

Does anyone get night sweats related to diet? I'm thinking sugar may be a trigger.

[Mrsmorton]

I "eat clean" about 90% of the time and can't see a pattern when I don't. Certainly I don't eat much sugar but there are sure to be others possible dietary triggers.

Lots of things to consider here!!!

[DaysAreWhereWeLive]

MrsMorton yes, just phoned up an acupuncturist local to me. She was fantastic, totally destressed me - it was a little like therapy actually, with added extra needles!

[Moonagedaydreamer]

I have found sage tablets (bought cheaply off ebay) have done the trick for me and started working within a couple of days.

www.smartlivingnetwork.com/menopause/b/sage-leaf-a-natural-menopause-relief-levels-mood-swings/