Night sweats driving me crazy

hope2

Hi ladies,

it is a lovely day here today, frosty but the sun is shining and it is dry. I was on the stage one stage two forum as i dont know what stage my cancer was. i had a modified radical mascetomy on the 11th of may 2009, still on avastin every three weeks till june, 10 done 7 to go. Chemo was tc *4 and then 33 rads. the scans showed the cancer was worse than the histology report, the scans showed node involment but the histology showed the two lumps were one large lump just over 8cm tumour, that was on the move, they got clear margins but was so small at the chest wall that it could not be measured < 0.5mm. the tumour grew along the chest wall eventhough 70 of my breast was a lumo at the end.

at my initial diganosis i was told stage three grade 3, but now i think i was stage ii (b) or iii (a), not that i am too hung up on staging really, as i was very very lucky that bones and organs were clear. My question is i just turned 36 and am suffering awful night sweats to the point i can't sleep as i wake up like i have a flu after an hr or two and then am restless for the rest of the night, i have tried a number of things like cotton pj's, light bed clothes, only a duvet, cold drink, eating nothing spicy, drinking nothing hot but so far they have not worked. Half the problem may be that my ovaries are trying to kick in again but i could so do with a good night sleep.

i worked 2 days a week from last July and then 3 days a week until xmas but am now back on full time so very hard to get up in the morning when i dont sleep till 1 and am awake at 5. I am so lucky to have a good bit of my old energy back and even have hair again but i would love a sound sleep.

Let-It-Be

Hi Hope2:

I had the wicked sweats during chemo, and now I get periodically hot through the night.  It's not as bad, but it still wakes me up.  I usually kick off the covers until I get cold again.  Hoping things improve for you!  Maybe someone will hop in here soon with some advice that will work for us both!

Anonymous

I'vae noticed the hot flashes I had during chemo, have disappered for the most part as long as I take low dose effexor.  That keeps them away.

Macc

I have been taking Femicin which has Black Cohosh as the main ingredient. This has reduced the frequency of the night sweats considerably.

Hope you find something that helps.

Macc

jenn3

I'm almost 4 weeks PFC and am still having hotflashes.  I thought about calling the onc about them, but not sure what can be done.  Like you I just use light weight blankets, light cotton PJ's and have a glass of cold water at the bedside.  Sometimes I'll get up and move around the house, then get back in bed. 

karen1956

I had horrible night sweats....one time DH touched me and commented that he did not sweat that bad after a hard workout!!!!  Gabapentin  (Neurontin) is helpful for night sweats as well as joint pain.  I keep my window open most of the year, and in the summer have a fan blowing on me....I don't wear anything to sleep, keep a water bottle by the bed and only have a sheet and comforter on my bed, and I generally just use the sheet.  I also take Ambian most nights to sleep.....lately as it hasn't been as cold out the night sweats are worse again!!!  oh the wonders of no estrogen in my body!!!!

lvtwoqlt

I was on Tamox for 6 months (after 2nd abnormal biopsy), and had terrible hot flashes and night sweats. My doctor took me off the tamox after my dx of DCIS and my decision for bilat mast. I however am now going through natural menopause. I wonder if the effexor has any effect on the natural night sweats?

Sheila

HairSprayMom

I had terrible chemopause symptoms as well. Hot flashes every 20 min and awful night sweats. I tried effexor and it was great to control the symptoms, but made me very despondant about everything. Had to kick that to the curb and coming off of it was TERRIBLE! My onc gave me a prescription for Bellergril a compounded prescription and it is a God Send. No side effects at all and I am the side effect Queen. LOL This drug has nothing that is bad for us BC gals and it really works! Don't suffer if you don't have to get something for it.

Sending Cooling Breezes~~~

Regina

hope2

Hi ladies,

thanks so much for your replies, i am not familar with these products as live in ireland but i will look them up on the net and try to get a name of similar product here, did any of ye try evening primrose with fish oils, the nurse thought these would be good but take three months to work. i have avastin on monday so another one down and only a few left.

i am really in menopause as my periods are not expected to return at all, i had wonky ovaries to begin with and could not have children, just a blimp of nature, had a regular period but no eggs released. i was triple negative so i wonder if black chosh is o.k. for me. On a lighter note my hair is like Jedwards, (xfactor in britain this year, twins that could not sing but got to final few), like the 80's mohickan, it is growing up not down.

have a lovely weekend, it was a long busy week.

carolehalston

Night sweats are the pits.  I take 75 mg. Effexor generic and the hot flashes are mild.  Good luck!

BooBee

I take Effexor and Clonodine but nothing seems to be helping.  I'm going to order the Chillow Pillow this weekend and I swear by moisture wicking material.  It really helps.  You don't have to spend a fortune on the pajamas.  Just find some shirts with the moisture wicking material.

I would love to hear other suggestions.  I finally fell asleep at 4:00 this morning.  I no longer make my side of the bed because it's always wet.

This is from my Caringbridge site. 

Preparation

Hand towel. Check.

Two dry pillows. Check.

Fresh glass of cold water. Check.

Roll heavy bedspread to foot of bed. Check.

Window opened as wide as it can go.  Check.

Open tacky Japanese paper fan found at a garage sale.  Check.

Take hand full of pills some of which I have no idea what they do.  Check

11:00 PM -  Sleeping aid kicks in.

11:46 PM   Wipe off sweat from furry head.

12:13 AM  Flip off blankets and grab tacky fan.

1:05 AM  Sweat some more. Change cotton t-shirt and flip over pillow #1.

2:16 AM  Nocturnal bladder calls.  More fluid exists the body.  Drink from glass of water in hopes of preventing dehydration.

2:30 AM  Attempt to go back to sleep.

2:55 AM  Scoot over closer to husband to get out of the puddle of sweat.  10 minutes later - body heat causes husband to sweat.  Move back to wet spot.  Drink more water.

4:17 AM  Wipe of head and face with hand towel.  Swing wet towel at daughter's cat drinking out of glass of water.  Vow to only drink from bottle with a lid.  Try to shut out image of cat cleaning self the day before.

5:33 AM  Accidently wake husband up while changing to pillow #2. Ask husband to feel how wet pillow number one is.  Watch husband grimace.  Hope husband isn't thoroughly disgusted by soaker hose wife.  Note to self....Don't mention this to husband again for fear of disgusting said spouse and encouraging his dreams of younger dry female.

6:00ish AM -  Finally fall asleep and dream about beautiful waterfalls.  Oops...that's me sweating again. 

8:00 - 8:30 AMTime to get up.  Change to dry clothing.  Fake laugh at stupid husband's recommendation to sleep on a shower Curtin.  Have coffee, read paper, add the following to my list of things to do:

1. Research: moisture wicking pajamas and herbal remedies sure to be found in our tie die wearing, hairy legged community. 
2. Add grapefruit to shopping list in hopes of having a short reprieve from hot flashes.  (Grapefruit prevents Tamoxifin from working for 48 hours) Recall chemo.....scratch grapefruit off list.

 10:30 AM Doctor returns phone call regarding relief from Mount Saint Helen hot flashes.  Only option.....hormones.  Weigh death over hot flashes.  Quickly choose hot flashes.

Sound like fun?  My savings grace is that I'm not moody or emotional as I had anticipated.  RIGHT MIKE?  He's shaking his head yes.  Or maybe he's just shaking.

jenn3

Rene - LMAO

AzKim

Renee-ROFLMAO!!!!

lvtwoqlt

Rene, if I hadn't done some of the same things I would think you were making this up.  Fortunately my husband is a long haul trucker and only home weekends so I have his side of the bed I can go to when I want to cool off. And I am off the tamox, now it is natural menopause.

Sheila

AnacortesGirl

Oh wow -  that was a great post!  Soon as my husband wakes up I gotta drag him in here to read it!

BooBee

Prior to spending 39.00 on a Chillow Pillow, I decided to try a homemade one.  I put a cup and a half of water in a 1 gallon Zip-lock freezer bag.  I then put it in another just in case in leaked.  Slide it under the pillow case and viola.  It worked wonderfully.  I had several glasses of wine last night, which I always pay for in sweat when I go to bed.   I didn't sweat at all.  It wasn't very cold when I got up but it did the job.  The Chillow is twice the size so I'm guessing it stays cooler.

This is the best price I could find on line for the Chillow Pillow.

Chillow Pillow from DrugStore.com $39.99

Chillow Pillow from DrugStore.com $29.99

If anyone else tries this let me know.

Hugs

karen1956

Renee....love your post....have you tried gabapentin?  I started taking it for joint pain and a nice thing was it helped with the night sweats.  May try a chillow pillow....never thought of that....don't wear jammies.....there was a period of time that I kept a towel on my pillow to soak up the sweat...

BooBee

Thank you Karen.  I'll research that one.  I also have joint pain and problems with my feet PFC.  Clonidine doesn't seem to be helping. 

I hope the Chillow is the key to my night sweats but I can't wear it during the day.  It's so embarrassing to meet with clients and sweat profusely from my face.  I go as far as put a pantie liner in the back of my sports bra when I meet with clients. (A sports bra soaks up more sweat.) Then I stress about the pantie liner coming loose and the sweating that I have hot flashes.  I'm not kidding.  It's bad.

BooBee

I'll ask my onco the next time I see him but it doesn't look like Gabapentin is an option for me.  I take anti depressants and Gabapentin has several possible psychological side effects.  I gained 30 LBS durring treatment so I think weight loss is my next rout.

jenn3

I think I need to try the Chillow - I am so tired of the night sweats!