Night sweats are ruining my life

[bookworm1982]

I’ve had them for about 10 years as a side effect to my antidepressants, but it’s always been sporadic and not that bad. I’ve got on with it as needed to be on the medication. However past few years it’s been awful, happens four to five times a week (so not every night), and I have to change my clothes twice in that night. My sleep is awful, bed covers must be changed the next day. It’s not every single night, but even on the nights when I don’t sweat I go to bed miserable not knowing if I will or not. There’s no pattern, no link to my cycle, no change in what I wear or what covers I use.

I suffer from depression anyway and this is really bringing me down. If it is a perimenopause symptom then what can I do about it? I can’t go on HRT as my mum and grandmother had breast cancer, this always makes me feel so low that that option has been taken away from me. I know from friends how life-changing HRT can be.

I am also losing my hair, guessing this is also down to peri :(

anyone know how to treat the nightsweats?

I am 43 BTW xxx

I dont think a familial history of breast cancer precludes hrt.

I think you need to go and see a GP about HRT, things have changed a lot in the last few years and the BC history may not preclude you from it, there is always a balance of risks and benefits.

I'm through the menopause now but couldn't have HRT either. I found red clover quite helpful.

I think you need to see your GP for a full health screening, yes it could be peri but make sure they rule later stuff out. With regard to HRT you should chat to a specialist about the risks and benefits, family history doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t take it.

could you try a different antidepressant?

other thoughts - cool bedding and nightwear, there are specific ones marketed towards menopause. Could you put on an extra top and bottom sheet so that these can be changed and the duvet doesn’t? Might be easier on laundry.

im sorry it does sound miserable.

I read only yesterday that a history of breast cancer et doesn’t automatically preclude someone from HRT. Do you have a menopause “champion” at your surgery?

I have quite bad ones.

speak to a menopause specialist about HRT.

i still get them sometimes, usually when I have an infection.

what I do:

I have a plastic cover on the mattress. The cheap ones rip and also make it worse so get a more expensive one.
I have multiple pairs of cotton pjs. I have tried bamboo but honestly for me they just soak up the sweat and you wake up and it feels worse.

sleeping naked helps me. What tends to wake me up is when the sweat has soaked my PJs and then cooled off.

you can also buy cooling pillows and blankets - O have this one while helps me and in the sort of heat we’ve had recently they’re useful anyway!

https://amzn.eu/d/bbEvVMx

also sleeping on a towel. Then when you wake up just pull it out and go back to sleep.

On cancer front you are eligible to be referred for genetic counselling to see if you have inherited one of the faulty genes.

Which SSRI are you on? Some are more prone to night sweats as a side effect than others. If you've been having sweats for 10 years since aged 32 then it does seem to be the anti-depressant causing it.

Guidelines have changed and a family history of breast cancer should not stop you having modern forms of HRT if you wish to try it. If your GP won’t help ask for a referral to a menopause specialist- usually a gynaecologist in the NHS.