excessive sweating after surgery?

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suebean123
suebean123 Member Posts: 8
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Hi everyone,  I cannot find any information about this issue I'm having anywhere other than other women say they too had this.   I had a lumpectomy May 7th, where they also removed 16 lymph nodes.  I had a longer time than I thought recovering from this and just in the last couple days has the range of movement returned in that arm even though I did the exercises.  I did experience some swelling in my arm, underarm area and the breast and thought I was going to be dealing with lymphedema forever.  But the only side effect so far from this whole thing is this excessive "glistening" as I like to put it politely.  I can go outside in the sun for 5 minutes and literally feel like I"m melting.  My hair becomes drenched and sweat saturates my shirt within 10 minutes.  It is so gross.  Has anyone else experenced this?  I'm at my wit's end not wanting to leave the house because I feel so gross. 

I did, however, get good news last week that my Oncotype test was low and it's not feasible to put myself thru chemo.  What a huge relief that was.

 Anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated.

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  • suebean123
    suebean123 Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2010

    alrighty then,  no one else???   I must be a freak.. 

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  • bomber410
    bomber410 Member Posts: 564
    edited June 2010

    It's been 3 years.  I don't remember. 

    I did have the axillary dissection and a total of 10 nodes removed.  The time of year was the same as yours and I'm here in the northeast.  I assume weather patterns would be similar. 

    Wish I could be more helpful. 

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  • BoobsinaBox
    BoobsinaBox Member Posts: 550
    edited June 2010

    Sounds like when I hit menopause with a big wham in 1994.  The huge sweats just started one day about 3 in the afternoon and have continued, though not as often or as severe most of the time now.  Sorry you are not getting the response you hoped for.  Some days are busier here than others, and weekends are often slow.

    Dawn 

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  • BetsyP
    BetsyP Member Posts: 79
    edited June 2010

    Hi Sue,

      I had a lump removed last Thursday and am seeing my Dr on Wed so i don't know where i stand in my dx but one thing i do know is i am sweating like a pig!! I think i was in perimenopause when this all started 2 weeks ago but put that in the back of mind. I don't know about my receptor's or if my stage changed from 1. Will this affect my 'change"? I'm thinking this is all i need to add to this cluster of sh*t.

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  • patty1
    patty1 Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2010

    Sue,

    I had a bi-lateral mastectomy in February with tissue expander reconstruction. I am having excessive underarm sweating. My doctor didn't really have an answer. I'm sittng inside with the A/C running and sweating like crazy.

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  • kane744
    kane744 Member Posts: 461
    edited June 2010

    Suebean, I had done almost exactly what you did, only I had to go through chemo and rads.  I did not have your particular sweating problems though, but my treatment was fall/winter/spring.  I am wondering if it could be a residual effect from anethesia.  Also, since you had 16 nodes removed, I suggest you go to Step Up-Speak Out,com and read up on precautions you can take to avoid getting lymphedema.  I do have that, and it's something you do not want in your life.  You are not a freak!!  You're going through a trying time in your life and I believe that any major health issue can cause reactions we would never have anticipated.  Mine sure did!!  Be strong!    

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  • gale1525
    gale1525 Member Posts: 232
    edited June 2010

    Right after surgery and for at least 4 to 6 weeks, I was a greasy mess, my skin and my hair. my hair was so gross it always looked oily even after washing it I tried every thing to get it looking normal, nothing worked it was so embarrassing I looked like I didn't bathe. I think what finally solved it was chemo when my hair fell out.

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  • di431
    di431 Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2010

    After my mastectomy for about 3 weeks I have hot flashes/sweating like crazy. Like I would be in the middle of a store and my face and hair would be soaked.  I think it had more to do with stopping hormones but I had stopped them about 2 months before surgery and didn't have problems when I first stopped them. I was worried about going back to work, but it slowed down and I was tying some prescriptions to stop the hot flashes. I had other problems when I went back to work with my feet/ankles swelling, that stopped after awhile also. I'm still having problems with night sweats.

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  • hopeful34
    hopeful34 Member Posts: 1,569
    edited June 2010

    I am having the same sweating problems.  I looked up the side effects for pain meds and antibiotics I've been taking in my PDR and none of them say anything about sweating.  I had a bilat mast w/ immed recon three weeks ago and I have been sweating like a man.  My hair is soaked and I go from being hot to cold in an instant.  I don't have a fever either.  The only thing I can think of is our body has fluid build up and this is the only way to get rid of it.  Have you had frequent urination also?  I have, and I assume that too is associated with all the fluid build up from surgery.  I go to the doctor Friday, so I will ask, but I don't think it is anything to be worried about.  Hope you start feeling better.  Take Care.  Allison

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  • suebean123
    suebean123 Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2010

    Thank YOU!  I gotta believe that there is something to this even though the doctors just shrug their shoulders at me.  I too was perimenopausal.  It's absolutely absurd how much I "glisten."  I was experiencing some of the symptoms of lymphedema but I went to a clinic that showed me some massage techniques and with doing those often, my arm started to calm down.  I think this is the way my body decided to eliminate the excess fluid.  It's funny that you mentioned the increased urination.  I didn't even think about that but I do have to get up in the middle of the night now where I never did before.  (hmm, things that make you go hmmm)

    I do  wear a compression sleeve while at work just to be safe.  I am driving my poor husband crazy the hotness, and turning the AC down to 68.  We sit and watch TV at night and he's covered up with quilts and I'm sitting there with a sweat rag.  I have to laugh at us, like "old people" before our time.

    Hopefully this is a temporary thing until the body figures out what it's supposed to do.  It is just embarrassing and almost makes me not want to leave the house right now.

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  • joanna_rudnicki
    joanna_rudnicki Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2012

    Yes, I am the sweaty one as well!!!

    I had a left breast mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on May 17, 2012. Two lymph nodes were removed, fortunately negative. The sweating started after the surgery and continues to this very day. I am post menopausal for 10 years and havent' had hot flashes for ages and now this...My doctors also seem buffled or non-responsive on the issue and like you, I also have quite a lot of edema. I hope it will go away soon!

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  • cher1
    cher1 Member Posts: 10
    edited September 2013

    Hi Sue,

    I am having a terrible time with heavy sweating.  It starts with my head, absolutely dripping sweat all over, then the rest of me gets in on it.  

    I had lumpectomy and radiation the Summer of 2012.  By the following winter, I noticed I was sweating profusely just by doing some light house cleaning.  THEN, this summer, I couldn't be outside pulling a few weeds without getting drenched.  It's awful!  I get soaked in 5 minutes and have to change my clothes. I love gardeining.  I love being outside but 30 minutes is all I can stand. I love biking and can manage that without problems until I stop.  Then it's like having water dumped on me.

    I am taking Tamoxifen.  I stopped for 6 weeks to see if that was the cause.  I don't believe it was.  My Dr. put me on Effexor for possible hot flashes.  I had hotflashes once in a while but nothing to cause the amount of sweat I produce.  Effexor helps with the minimal HF I have.  So....I don't know.  I told my Internist and my Med. Onco.  I'm still waiting to see if anyone can help.

    By the way, my sister was diag. a month earlier than I.  She went through lumpectomy, Chemo, HER2 treatment and radiation.  She's having a terrible time with sweating too.

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  • sheshe48
    sheshe48 Member Posts: 338
    edited September 2013

    Hi Cher1, I'm having the same problem. I also sweat profusely. I had a Total Hysterectomy 22 yrs ago. So i am not menopausal. In 2008 after chemo anf rads i noticed i was sweating bad. I have talked to Dr, he said u don't havd high bood pressure and your heart sounds good. So i just don't know. My weight?

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  • cher1
    cher1 Member Posts: 10
    edited September 2013

    Hi Sheshe48,

    This problem certainly is a bother.  I had an oopherectomy in the mid 80's and then a hysterectomy in the 90's.  I was only in my early 40's at that time.  If I went through menopause, it was very mild. 

    Tamoxifen, which I'm on, does block all estrogen but I don't seem to have a problem with that. 

    I've read that radiation might cause sweats but that's what I've read on the internet, so not sure if it's true. 

    My thyroid was removed 2005 because it was precancerous.  A thyroid that is not working properly does cause all sorts of issues.  My BP went up; my cholesterol went up; I gained weight, and this was all before I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem. Never had sweats though. 

    So we still have not figured out the cause.  I see my med onco in October.  She is aware of this problem so I guess I will be having another conversation with her.  When I'm working out in my yard, I just hope no one will come over to chat.  The sweat is usually dripping profusely.  Ugh!

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  • sheshe48
    sheshe48 Member Posts: 338
    edited September 2013

    Hi cher1

    The sweating sucks!!! I have underactive thyroid disease, right now my thyroid is on the Fritz and my dr inc the dose. I have also gained weight, it bites!!

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  • TNNurse
    TNNurse Member Posts: 58
    edited September 2013

    Well, I had a mastectomy, chemo and radiation and am taking Arimidex...have moderate lymphedema.  I have massive night sweats....wake me up 1-10 times a night.  I have a few "flashes" in the daytime and cannot tolerate being out in the heat much.  I have never looked forward to Fall this much.

    A coworker going through normal menopause asked the other day if you could die from hot flashes....you know, just burst into flames.  I assured her that if I had not done so yet, there was not a possiblilty.

    Last summer when I was getting chemo and my white count would drop, I had "drenching night sweats"...they were incredible, I would wake up literally dripping with a  puddle under and around me.  These are a little more manageable.

    It all pretty much sucks......

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