Bad night sweats

[Hayley_d]

Hi there, I’ve had fibromyalgia for years but only recently got formally diagnosed. Night sweats never used to be a symptom I had until about 4 months ago. They’ve now gotten so bad in the last three weeks that I’m fully soaking through my pyjamas each night. My doctor said it’s not usually a fibromyalgia symptom. Just wondering if anyone else experiences this? I don’t consider myself in a ‘flare up’ during the past three weeks either. Just the regular everyday pains and fatigue. Thank you

 

[SBee]

Hi @Hayley_d
Welcome, hope you can find a lot of information and support within the forum. Regarding night sweats the one thing that immediately sprung to mind was could this be hormonal? Either perimenopause or post menopause can cause pretty awful night sweats - obviously you may not wish to reveal what stage you are in in the hormonal side of things on the forum, ( we should all feel free to offer as much or as little detail as we wish as individuals)
but also I would have hoped your dr would have considered this possibility.

 

[Hayley_d]

@SBee Thanks so much I don’t know anyone else with fibromyalgia, so this forum has already been so helpful to read up on. I’m 32 so have considered the possibility of very early perimenopause but I suppose it’s highly unlikely. I’m just struggling to not let my mind wander into health anxiety territory and assume lots of frightening causes!

 

[SBee]

I never lime to presume anyones age or personal health details unless they like to share @Hayley_d ! Only other thing I can think of is maybe a side affect to any meds you may be on?
Its so very easy to 'blame' a different symptom on fibro, I am very guilty of doing so myself, but more on the hormonal havoc -by the time I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia I had learned my lesson of easily appropriating blame and began to do proper research... This forum has helped me in so many ways and I hope your knowledge will benefit being here and also a supportive place to be.

 

[Frizzybee]

Hi! I have had Fibromyalgia since age 34 and I started having night sweats at age 37. My doctor said I was too young for menopause, but it seems the Fibromyalgia may not have read that book! I suffered until age 44 when the night sweats finally stopped, along with my migraines, and all the weight on my bottom migrated to my waist, suggesting menopause. This prompted the proper blood tests to finally be ordered, which proved I was now all the way through with menopause. So, my night sweats were due to early menopause. I would ask your Gyn for proper testing, just in case. If they are menopausal night sweats, I had a friend who totally controlled hers with a supplement called Black Cohosh.

 

[Ian waxman]

Hi there, I’ve had fibromyalgia for years but only recently got formally diagnosed. Night sweats never used to be a symptom I had until about 4 months ago. They’ve now gotten so bad in the last three weeks that I’m fully soaking through my pyjamas each night. My doctor said it’s not usually a fibromyalgia symptom. Just wondering if anyone else experiences this? I don’t consider myself in a ‘flare up’ during the past three weeks either. Just the regular everyday pains and fatigue. Thank you

What meds are you currently taking?your doctor has not read in depth at all.anxiety or hormonal could be to blame.go back to the docs and get checked and don’t rule out fybro issues.its a minefield.doctors just haven’t got the time or knowledge on this horrendous symptom.hope you get to the bottom of your sweats.i’m currently getting severe sweats on duloxetine.take care x

 

[Carolyn Rhodes]

I am post menopausal and have gotten nights sweats now for several months. I'm miserable until my hubby one week ago bought a cooling mattress topper. OMG, this thing works and brought me so much relief. It also helps with my hips...

 

[Godheads]

Hi there, I’ve had fibromyalgia for years but only recently got formally diagnosed. Night sweats never used to be a symptom I had until about 4 months ago. They’ve now gotten so bad in the last three weeks that I’m fully soaking through my pyjamas each night. My doctor said it’s not usually a fibromyalgia symptom. Just wondering if anyone else experiences this? I don’t consider myself in a ‘flare up’ during the past three weeks either. Just the regular everyday pains and fatigue. Thank you

I have night sweats...the GP told me I can't have night sweats because I am too old for menopause. So discouraged....no family doctor.
I don't look sick so doctors just guess about my health.

 

[sunkacola]

@Godheads .....we hear you on this. This is a problem that many people with fibromyalgia have. We look fine for the most part, and so people don't believe we are having such a hard time.

For a doctor to say you can't have night sweats is ridiculous. They are not only caused by menopause.

All I can say is don't give up. There are doctors who do treat people with fibro, and you may find one if you keep looking. There are also a lot of things you can do for yourself that don't involve doctors, and reading this forum may help you to find some of those things.

 

[bbbarnard]

Hi, I also wake up because I become very hot. I haven’t figured it out yet. But, you’re not alone!

I’m going to add that apparently I always “look” wonderful ! I rarely wear makeup, so it’s not that. People just look at me and assume I am perfectly healthy! I get tired of being told that I don’t look sick. If they only knew !
All the Best, BHB

 

[sunkacola]

Hi, I also wake up because I become very hot. I haven’t figured it out yet. But, you’re not alone!

I’m going to add that apparently I always “look” wonderful ! I rarely wear makeup, so it’s not that. People just look at me and assume I am perfectly healthy! I get tired of being told that I don’t look sick. If they only knew !
All the Best, BHB

I have a slightly different feeling about that. While at times it feels ironic to me when someone says I look fine, and it is most definitely annoying if I tell someone I am in a lot of pain and they say, with a dismissive attitude, "but you don't LOOK sick!", most of the time if I leave my house I try very hard not to look as if anything is wrong with me. I don't want to go around looking ill or appearing to be as depressed as I usually am because somehow that just seems to make me feel worse. So usually if someone tells me I look fine I take it as a compliment.

 

[bbbarnard]

Hi, no disagreement. I also dress nicely, style my hair, and try to look my best when I leave our home. I wasn’t implying that I do not make an effort to present myself well. I simply said I don’t wear makeup often. Not wearing makeup gives me a natural look, and it’s a personal choice. I generally have a smile on my face. My high school students ask me why I’m always smiling. I greet family, friends, and strangers with smiles.

I do not want my family to be aware 24/7, that I’m hurting. There’s no need for everyone in our home to be brought down by my illness. So I smile and speak politely to them. (Earlier I posted that if I’m fussy and don’t realize it, I encourage my family to help me understand that I may be in pain. I stand by that.)

Nurses in the maternity ward at the hospital did not take me seriously when I walked into the hospital without assistance, with contractions 2 1/2 minutes apart. We lived 55 miles from the hospital, and my husband drove as fast as was safe. I simply do not give off an aura of “pain.” But, that doesn’t mean I’m not hurting. My baby was born long before the babies whose mothers were there first. I was definitely experiencing pain; I simply don’t show it.

My point is that, no matter what, people do not believe me when I say that I’m hurting from head to toe. They say that I don’t “look” like I’m hurting. I want them to listen to my words and believe what I am saying. I do get tired of trying to convince someone who needs to believe me, that I am in pain. I do not want to be dismissed by medical personnel because I do not look like I am in pain.
Best wishes on this glorious winter, sunny day. BHB

 

[Frizzybee]

Ian - My sweats stopped completely when I was through menopause at age 44. I am 73 now.