Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Waking up with horrible night sweats

10 replies

sabbby82 · 12/01/2013 10:32

My husband was ill between Boxing Day and New Year's Day with what we assumed was norovirus except he had no vomiting but all the other symptoms. Since then he is constantly tired even after a 12 hour sleep. He still has nausea off and on and headaches. Worst of all he keeps having horrible night sweats, all the bedding is absolutley soaking by half way through the night. Has anybody had similar experiences post norovirus and if so how long does it take to go?

OP posts:
dikkertjedap · 12/01/2013 10:35

I think that he needs to go to the GP to exclude things like tuberculosis.

digerd · 12/01/2013 13:40

How old is he?

yani · 12/01/2013 13:51

I'd advise a visit to gp too. It could be symptomatic of something serious.

knackeredoutmum · 12/01/2013 13:54

if there was no vomitting then in my view it wasnt norovirus, norovirus is called the winter vomitting bug for a reason!!

Allinonebucket · 12/01/2013 14:01

Has he been travelling at all recently?

My DD had night sweats and fatigue and they look it very seriously when we saw the doctor, they had to rule out a few nasty things, including TB, as someone mentioned above.

ChunkyChicken · 12/01/2013 14:05

Get him to the GP.

My DD had extremely high temp at night only recently, the GP prescribed antibiotics for a chest infection (she's 2.8yo & didn't have a cough...).

I had night sweats and felt poorly, with a tummy ache. It turned out I had an encapsulated appendicitus. I needed heavy duty iv antibiotics at first and then when it settled, an appendectomy.

It could just mean he needs antibiotics, or be a symptom of something more serious. Either way, the Dr needs to see him.

ChunkyChicken · 12/01/2013 14:07

I was 31yo by the way, so not as a child with mine, and they were checking for things like crohns too.

sabbby82 · 12/01/2013 14:29

He's 36, thanks for responses I think I'll get him to go gp's Monday.

OP posts:
nellyjelly · 12/01/2013 14:33

Still go to GPs but I had horrible flu for over 2 weeks before Xmas. Aching, no energy, exhausted, couldn't eat, headache, a bit of vomiting plus awful night sweats. Still had the sweats even after I felt better. Very bad ones needing a complete change of pajamas, sometimes twice a night.

Probably a similar virus but still worth checking it.

Pip9999 · 20/10/2013 15:29

Having had night sweats after the birth of all my children (I had c- sections) I know how awful it can be! Here is some practical advice on how I coped without going insane and when my mobility was limited...

If you are breastfeeding don't wear a bra and breast pads to bed, put a towel on top of your bed sheet and let this absorb all the milk and sweat during the night, you will be much more comfortable. Throw the towel into the laundry in the morning, or whenever you need to change it, to save you having to strip off and replace the sheet during the night and to avoid excessive laundry when already caring for a newborn. Same goes for a towel over your pillow if you find your hair and neck becoming uncomfortably damp. Obviously you will still need to wear undies at this stage, but I found that wearing anything else (advice is to wear loose cotton clothing) became just another damp thing clinging to you and something else for the laundry.

If you share a bed with your partner I strongly recommend getting two separate single duvets. When you wake up under a soaking duvet flip it over to the dry side and go back to sleep. If you have separate covers it won't disturb them and again it means you don't have to get up and start changing linen or shiver under a damp cover as it quickly gets cold. I found that the wet side was usually dry again by the time I needed to flip it over a second (third, fourth...) time. A single cover also adds to the laundry less than a double or king and if you have had a section a single duvet is less difficult to turn over bleary eyed and sore during the night.

It is helpful to keep a facecloth/small towel next to the bed to grab easily if you are uncomfortable and need to 'mop up' without having to move too much (think under arms, breasts, thighs, behind knees etc) and can make the difference between having to sit up to sort yourself out (not fun after Caesarian) to just stretching your arm out of the side of the bed and grabbing the cloth.

If anyone is reading this, then congratulations on your new bundle and don't worry, the sweats do go away eventually. It is just a shame that it hits you right when sleep is at a premium, but hopefully these few tips might help somebody out there :-)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page