Tips for Managing Night Sweats

I am three weeks out from my last chemo tx and have started having really heavy night sweats.  No period since my dx in May so am assuming this is menopausal sympton.  It is very disruptive to a night's sleep - any tips to manage would be appreciated.

Tamara

Comments

  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited November 2008

    I had the identical symptoms and would wear minimal sleep atire. Blankets got tossed around lot.  I know some ladies mentioned purchasing a 'chill pillow'.  You may try a search for more details.  Melatonin supplement is helping me with my sleep and over time the heavy sweats also decreased. 

  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited November 2008

    An icy cold room.  Open the windows if it's cold where you are, and if not, invest in a room air conditioner that you can install in the bedroom and turn way down to cold.  Also, a ceiling fan with a remote that you can keep by your bed so you can turn it up to high when you need to.    

    And a lot of blankets for your poor dh! 

  • Deb-from-Ohio
    Deb-from-Ohio Member Posts: 1,140
    edited November 2008

    You would need to talk to your oncologist first, but back about 10 yrs ago when I had my hysterectomy (before I went on the hormone pills that most likely caused my bc) I had severe hotflashes...my gyn advised me to take 1000 IU's of Vitamin E and it worked great....but like I said, I would talk to the doctor first......

    Love and prayers

    Deb

  • lisa39
    lisa39 Member Posts: 255
    edited November 2008

    You could get a prescription for Effexor.  It's an anti-depressant.  But at low doses (i.e. low enough not to impact your mood) it greatly reduces hot flashes and night sweats.  I took it and noticed a dramatic reduction.  I went from about 15 hot flashes a day (and night) to about 3 or 4.  I have since stopped taking it, as my period came back, but it did help me a lot.

  • smithlme
    smithlme Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2008

    My oncologist recommended no caffeine and no sugar before bed. I had a fan blowing on me all night while the blankets were tossed off and dragged back on.

    Linda

  • DiamondJAL
    DiamondJAL Member Posts: 51
    edited November 2008

    I was thrown into pre-mature menopause at 42 due to the chemo stopping my periods and they did not come back, I just turned 46.  I am on wellbutrin to control the hot flashes, they work wonderfully.  It is an anti-depressant but they found that these pills control hot flashes.  I tried the effexor but could not adapt to them, along with some others.  For me, the Wellbutrin worked the best and I didn't suffer the tremors that most anti-depressants cause.  Also, if you are looking for minimal side effects, especially if you are young, the Wellbutrin does not affect the sex drive.  It's hard enough not feeling like a woman some days but you don't want that drive to dissappear also when you do start feeling normal again.  Laughing

    My night sweats were horrible, wake up in the middle of the night will pillow drenched, clothes coming off flying across the room.  I"d be at work and break out into a sweat with it dripping down my face.....stress and anxiety do not help either.  These pills for me have been a life saver and don't be one of those people that says I don't want to take anything.  They are there to help and since we can't take hormone therapy, it's a wonderful alternative.

  • carolynf
    carolynf Member Posts: 262
    edited December 2008

    I'd have to agree w/Lisa39 and DiamondJAL.  I am taking the Effexor.  It has worked great since my onc put me on it.  I was a mess w/hotflashes all the time.  I hope to be able to go off at some point in time but for right now they are working.  I am curious about the wellbutrin though.  Is it a new ad drug? Are the SE's the same as the Effexor?  Just curious as my sex drive hasn't made it up the road in a while!  I just finished my last chemo (avastin) on 21 Nov and am not sure if that has anything to do with anything.

    Carolyn

  • mawhinney
    mawhinney Member Posts: 1,377
    edited December 2008

    I keep a fan in my bath and stand in front of it when the hot flashes get unbearable.  If men had hot flashes, you can be certain there would already be a cure!

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