DH - drenching night sweats - help

[Chroniclesofstress]

DH has been experiencing drenching night sweats for (what we think) is a few months now. I say ‘think’ as we’ve been sleeping separately for a couple of years and recently he’s had to sleep in with me and I noticed he is soaked through in the middle of the night - his t-shirt is soaked through and even the sheets and pillow covers around him feel wet to the touch. Our DC has also mentioned it a few times as they sometimes get into our bed at night after waking / nightmare etc.. They’ve mentioned it a few times in passing but I don’t realise how bad it was till he was in with me. He has also lost some weight, but we thought that was due to intermittent fasting (he’s always been slim).

He’s been to the GP today and they have taken it quite seriously and are now sending him for blood tests, US scan and a chest x-ray, which has us both worried!

Has anyone else has this and found a reason?

Yes, and it was treatable. It's good he's been taken seriously and investigated.

Glad they are taking it seriously. It could be Lymphoma. It's treatable but serious.

Signs and symptoms of lymphoma may include:

• Fever.
• Night sweats.
• Fatigue.
• Itchy skin.
• Painless swelling of lymph nodes in the belly, neck, armpits or groin.
• Pain in chest, abdomen or bones.
• Losing weight without trying.

Hope you get the answers you need x

Thanks for the replies.

The good news (I hope!) is that he doesn’t have many of those symptoms @Ifyouarehappyandyouknowitshout . ‘Just’ the night sweats and weight loss, although he thinks the latter is from intermittent fasting - I bloody hope so.

When you say yes, do you mean your DH has had these symptoms?

Yep. An ex had them.

It was alcohol withdrawal.

Weight loss and night sweats together are a red flag so it's great that he is being properly and fully assessed.
Try not to worry until the doctors are able to give more of an indication of what's going on.

I had those symptoms, along with a worsening cough.
It was investigated very quickly, within two weeks I was in for CT scans, and had a mediastinoscopy to check my lungs and lymph nodes.
It turned out to be sarcoidosis, a much less scary outcome to where my mind had been going

My DP had night sweats and it turned out to be lymphoma - it was scary to start with but it’s really treatable and he is very well.

These are red flag symptoms that have to be taken seriously but I do hope it’s nothing major and you get positive news

Lymphoma is very rare though in people over 25.

I don't think that's true at all . Are you sure ?

Yes, pretty much.
Lots of other reasons than lymphoma, I'd say.

Lymphoma is not rare. It's the 7th most common cancer in the UK and the most common type of blood cancer.

A member of my wider family had this and other symptoms. It is important to rule out assorted blood anomalies, including various cancers - which it sounds like is happening.

My sister had this and it was Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Very very scary at first. The chest X-ray is to check for tumours relating to Hodgkin’s. My sister had a tumour in her chest the size of a rugby ball. Get him to feel around his neck for any hard lymph nodes as that is another sign. My sister was diagnosed as stage 4 with 6 months to live without treatment. She had 6 months of chemo ( didn’t knock her around too much, she didn’t lose her hair) and she was in remission. Has been now for 20 years and went on to have 2 children naturally. If it turns out to be lymphoma then it is one of the more treatable cancers. Best of luck with it all. Hopefully it is something simple!

Gosh, this is quite scary and what I am worried about. One of my other close (older) relatives has just been diagnosed with lymphoma, this week. God, what a rubbish time, I really hope DH is okay😵‍💫

Dh had these although not every night. In his case (we think) it was when he was super stressed, he's also type 2 diabetic and possibly his sugar was dropping too low. The (work) issue that was bothering him got resolved and they've never returned

My DH had this and it was a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, although I would expect your DH to have other symptoms such as joint pain and fatigue.
This would be picked up by his blood test anyway if it's that.

I used to have really bad night sweats. For me they were caused by sleep apnea. Haven't had any since starting treatment.

An old boyfriend of mine started having bad night sweats and lost weight but had no other symptoms. The doctors initially suspected TB, but it turned out to be Hodgkins Lymphoma. Obviously a massive shock, but very responsive to treatment. He's been cancer free for many years now. Hope your DH is ok, whatever it is it's best to get a diagnosis early if at all possible.

I know it’s easy to say but try not to worry, things will work out. My DP’s lymphoma journey has been a bit scary at times and life looks a bit different now but it really is manageable especially if found quickly and sounds like your GP is on the ball.

He'll be tested for TB as well. Any recent foreign travel?
Does he work closely in soup kitchens, night shelters, for the homeless?
Is he a farmer or work with cattle?
Badgers can carry TB too.

Fwiw, DH had drenching night sweats after a trip to France, 30 years ago; found to have an enlarged spleen, it was Toxoplasmosis. Complete and total recovery.

He's being swiftly and competently investigated, as is right, but it may well not be anything too sinister. Worrying time for you, though OP🌷

When are the tests, OP?