Night Sweats

I think I've always had these to a small degree here and there but the
last week has been something different...totoally drenched requiring a
changing of clothes in order to go back to bed/sleep. Can't change the
sheet in the middle of the night but it needs it.
Usually the upper part of my body is drenched and the lower part is
somewhat normal.
Is this related to the RP or are things advancing along?
On the other hand, the constant low grade fever seems to have subsided
(I have been taking handfuls of tylenol for it...maybe related?)

I do not know what kind of medicine you are taking right after RP, I had
same problem years ago: the cause of my night sweats were due to a medicine
called Plavix. When I quitted the sweats disappeared.
Gook luck
Colophony
"skeptic" <ribrass@aol.com> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:c8a01059-aa9e-4185-82e0-e259429d167a@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>I think I've always had these to a small degree here and there but the
> last week has been something different...totoally drenched requiring a
> changing of clothes in order to go back to bed/sleep. Can't change the
> sheet in the middle of the night but it needs it.
> Usually the upper part of my body is drenched and the lower part is
> somewhat normal.
> Is this related to the RP or are things advancing along?
> On the other hand, the constant low grade fever seems to have subsided
> (I have been taking handfuls of tylenol for it...maybe related?)

That is an excellent description of the night sweats menopausal women
get. Both of my sisters drenched their bedclothes. I was either the
lucky one, or adopted, grin. I had one mild hot flash, I think.

Are you on any sort of hormone therapy?? That would most likely be the
cause. And there is medication for that.

Heather

"skeptic" <ribrass@aol.com> wrote in message
news:c8a01059-aa9e-4185-82e0-e259429d167a@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>I think I've always had these to a small degree here and there but the
> last week has been something different...totoally drenched requiring a
> changing of clothes in order to go back to bed/sleep. Can't change the
> sheet in the middle of the night but it needs it.
> Usually the upper part of my body is drenched and the lower part is
> somewhat normal.
> Is this related to the RP or are things advancing along?
> On the other hand, the constant low grade fever seems to have subsided
> (I have been taking handfuls of tylenol for it...maybe related?)

On Feb 18, 12:18�pm, "Heather" <no....@home.invalid> wrote:
> That is an excellent description of the night sweats menopausal women
> get. �Both of my sisters drenched their bedclothes. �I waseither the
> lucky one, or adopted, grin. �I had one mild hot flash, I think.
>
> Are you on any sort of hormone therapy?? �That would most likely be the
> cause. �And there is medication for that.
>
> Heather
>
> "skeptic" <ribr...@aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:c8a01059-aa9e-4185-82e0-e259429d167a@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> >I think I've always had these to a small degree here and there but the
> > last week has been something different...totoally drenched requiring a
> > changing of clothes in order to go back to bed/sleep. Can't change the
> > sheet in the middle of the night but it needs it.
> > Usually the upper part of my body is drenched and the lower part is
> > somewhat normal.
> > Is this related to the RP or are things advancing along? �
> > On the other hand, the constant low grade fever seems to have subsided
> > (I have been taking handfuls of tylenol for it...maybe related?)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

No., nothing yet, although it looks like that is where things are
headed.
In the meantime I googled acetaminiphen and night sweats and they are
related, so maybe all the tylenol I was taking for the low grade fever
was to blame. And, yes, I empathathize with menopausal women now
very much!

skeptic wrote:
> I think I've always had these to a small degree here and there but the
> last week has been something different...totoally drenched requiring a
> changing of clothes in order to go back to bed/sleep. Can't change the
> sheet in the middle of the night but it needs it.
> Usually the upper part of my body is drenched and the lower part is
> somewhat normal.
> Is this related to the RP or are things advancing along?
> On the other hand, the constant low grade fever seems to have subsided
> (I have been taking handfuls of tylenol for it...maybe related?)

I hope you're aware that Tylenol and alcohol overtax the kidneys, to
severe levels if overdone.

And be aware that hot flashes are also a symptom of carcinoid syndrome,
caused by carcinoid colon cancer, which is a far more immediate and
grave threat than some little old case of Gleason 10 prostate cancer. I
got lucky and arrested my carcinoid-induced hot flashes before my
carcinoid colon cancer evolved into the full-blown carcinoid syndrome.
Don't worry, because I think carcinoid-induced hot flashes are far more
likely to be a day-time, activity-triggered event, but also do not just
assume they are harmless nuisance. Find out what's causing them.

I.P.

I.P. Freely wrote:

> I hope you're aware that Tylenol and alcohol overtax the kidneys, to
> severe levels if overdone.

Oops, I just noticed your "handfuls" comment. You *are* joking, right?
Jeez, man, drinking to much *water* can kill us. The max daily dose of
Tylenol is a limit to be taken seriously and for only for a few days; it
ain't candy.

I.P.

And don't forget that fever is an important weapon in our anti-infection
armory. Last I heard, we're supposed to let mild fevers do their thing
.... baking germs and viruses. Suppressing them with drugs isn't always
wise.

I.P.

On Feb 18, 5:25�pm, "I.P. Freely" <fuhgheddabou...@noway.nohow> wrote:
> And don't forget that fever is an important weapon in our anti-infection
> � armory. Last I heard, we're supposed to let mild fevers do theirthing
> ... baking germs and viruses. Suppressing them with drugs isn't always
> wise.
>
> I.P.

The fever is mostly under control. I haven't taken any tylenol or
anything else today.
I'll give it a shot and let you know if tonight's any different.
(I do take a sleeping pill, tho....ambien)
And yes, I was probably taking about 12-15 (reg strgth) tylenol a day.

skeptic wrote:

> And yes, I was probably taking about 12-15 (reg strgth) tylenol a day.

You are asking for permanent kidney and/or liver failure, and
exacerbating the threat with any other kidney or liver stressors,
including alcohol and many common prescription and OTC drugs,
supplements, etc. Tylenol/ Acetaminophen poisoning is now the most
common cause of acute liver failure in the United States.

Quick cut and paste from Google:
Some scientists warn that even taking the maximum safe dose for a long
period, instead of the recommended day or two, may be risky. An FDA
review found that there were more than 56,000 emergency room visits a
year due to acetaminophen overdoses, about a quarter of them
unintentional. Additionally they found that there were about 100 deaths
associated with acetaminophen [it can kill in just days]. However, Sarah
Erush, a University of Pennsylvania pharmacist states that those figures
are a severe underestimate of deaths because many hospitals don't report
unintentional poisonings.

Dr. William Lee of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center,
contends that acetaminophen appears to be the leading single cause of
acute liver failure, the most severe type of liver damage. His database
of 395 patients linked 40 percent to the painkiller, more than any other
liver-harming medication or disease. Additionally, some babies die
every year when parents mix up doses of infant acetaminophen drops with
children's liquid acetaminophen, despite warnings on the bottles that
the products aren't interchangeable.

Presently acetaminophen packages are required to warn consumers not to
use it if they consume more than three alcoholic drinks, because the
combination can harm the liver. Many are calling for more harsh warnings
to help protect the public.

None of this is news. Tylenol over-use risk was researched, established,
and announced almost 20 years ago. Surely your doctor wasn't in this
loop ...

I.P.

skeptic wrote:

> On Feb 18, 5:25�pm, "I.P. Freely" <fuhgheddabou...@noway.nohow> wrote:
> > And don't forget that fever is an important weapon in our anti-infection
> > � armory. Last I heard, we're supposed to let mild fevers do their thing
> > ... baking germs and viruses. Suppressing them with drugs isn't always
> > wise.
> >
> > I.P.
>
> The fever is mostly under control. I haven't taken any tylenol or
> anything else today.
> I'll give it a shot and let you know if tonight's any different.
> (I do take a sleeping pill, tho....ambien)
> And yes, I was probably taking about 12-15 (reg strgth) tylenol a day.

Skip the wine and chocolate or anything else sweet.
On the 10th you reported pain when breathing, pain on the left side and
temperature of 100.
100 is okay, unless you were taking tylenols at the time. Temperature increases
at night.

If you aren't better tomorrow,
1) call the radiation oncologist - seems to me that the radiation oncologist on
sci.med.diseases.cancer told us fevers aren't uncommon after RT. It's too
complicated to get you over there and I haven't seen him posting for quite a
while anyway.

2) see your primary care physician and ask for bloodwork and chest x-ray to look
for infection (and/or pneumonia) since you've had surgery and had lymph nodes
removed and hospital-acquired infections happen. Get your blood sugars checked
as well.

The most likely cause is anxiety, diet and GERD. (which can cause left-sided
pain and breathing problems)
Spicy foods have also been linked to the occurrence of night sweats, so abstain
from eating hard to digest foods near bedtime. There's medicines for GERD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_hyperhidrosis
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/night-sweats/AN01042
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/ma...ticlekey=57394
http://www.medopedia.com/night-sweats

There's other potential causes on these webpages. Some causes are duplicated.
Make a list of each (without duplications).
Take you medicines, herbals, vitamins (etc) and results of any tests you've had
since the RT/surgery with you and go through the list with the physician.
Doctor will help you cross off the ones that have been ruled out or (nigh)
impossible.

I hope to hear from you soon, that you feel better.
Best wishes
J

Hi Skeptic,

I hope you are also asking for information from Dr. S. I felt comfortable
getting answers to many questions from "Ann" at his office. If it was beyond
her she would question the Dr. and get back to you. I also used the text box
on the Dr.'s web page and questioned him, he responded very promptly.
Good luck,
Peter
"skeptic" <ribrass@aol.com> wrote in message
news:c8a01059-aa9e-4185-82e0-e259429d167a@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>I think I've always had these to a small degree here and there but the
> last week has been something different...totoally drenched requiring a
> changing of clothes in order to go back to bed/sleep. Can't change the
> sheet in the middle of the night but it needs it.
> Usually the upper part of my body is drenched and the lower part is
> somewhat normal.
> Is this related to the RP or are things advancing along?
> On the other hand, the constant low grade fever seems to have subsided
> (I have been taking handfuls of tylenol for it...maybe related?)

On Feb 18, 7:45�pm, "Peter" <plangh...@verizon.net> wrote:
> Hi Skeptic,
>
> I hope you are also asking for information from Dr. S. I felt comfortable
> getting answers to many questions from "Ann" at his office. If it was beyond
> her she would question the Dr. and get back to you. I also used the text box
> on the Dr.'s web page and questioned him, he responded very promptly.
> Good luck,
> Peter"skeptic" <ribr...@aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:c8a01059-aa9e-4185-82e0-e259429d167a@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> >I think I've always had these to a small degree here and there but the
> > last week has been something different...totoally drenched requiring a
> > changing of clothes in order to go back to bed/sleep. Can't change the
> > sheet in the middle of the night but it needs it.
> > Usually the upper part of my body is drenched and the lower part is
> > somewhat normal.
> > Is this related to the RP or are things advancing along? �
> > On the other hand, the constant low grade fever seems to have subsided
> > (I have been taking handfuls of tylenol for it...maybe related?)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I'm glad to report the night sweats are gone (two nights in a row) and
I've stopped all the tylenol. I used to be a daily drinker but have
essentially eliminated that completely (only 3 drinks in the last 25
days post RP). Still got a huge sweet tooth, so will have to work on
that but otherwise, my fever has been gone almost a week now and the
night sweats have stopped, so I guess I just have to give my body time
to heal...without running to my usual crutches of drugs, alcohol and
sugar. So far, so good. Maybe I'll develop a permenent, new life
style.

Hello Skeptic,

I am glad that your night sweats are gone! It is tough enough having to deal
with all of the other effects of the surgery but the additional wetness from
sweating is not needed. Hope that it was the stopping of the Tylenol or just
the fact that you are healing but this change is good either way.

You wrote " guess I just have to give my body time
to heal...without running to my usual crutches of drugs, alcohol and
sugar. So far, so good. Maybe I'll develop a permanent, new life
style."

Maybe that will be a good side effect of this PCa involvement. Hope the
change goes easy and that it makes your whole life better.

Good luck,
Peter
"skeptic" <ribrass@aol.com> wrote in message
news:ea75b289-7554-47ec-874c-c3d0996b2246@60g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...
On Feb 18, 7:45�pm, "Peter" <plangh...@verizon.net> wrote:
> Hi Skeptic,
>
> I hope you are also asking for information from Dr. S. I felt comfortable
> getting answers to many questions from "Ann" at his office. If it was
> beyond
> her she would question the Dr. and get back to you. I also used the text
> box
> on the Dr.'s web page and questioned him, he responded very promptly.
> Good luck,
> Peter"skeptic" <ribr...@aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:c8a01059-aa9e-4185-82e0-e259429d167a@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> >I think I've always had these to a small degree here and there but the
> > last week has been something different...totoally drenched requiring a
> > changing of clothes in order to go back to bed/sleep. Can't change the
> > sheet in the middle of the night but it needs it.
> > Usually the upper part of my body is drenched and the lower part is
> > somewhat normal.
> > Is this related to the RP or are things advancing along? �
> > On the other hand, the constant low grade fever seems to have subsided
> > (I have been taking handfuls of tylenol for it...maybe related?)- Hide
> > quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I'm glad to report the night sweats are gone (two nights in a row) and
I've stopped all the tylenol. I used to be a daily drinker but have
essentially eliminated that completely (only 3 drinks in the last 25
days post RP). Still got a huge sweet tooth, so will have to work on
that but otherwise, my fever has been gone almost a week now and the
night sweats have stopped, so I guess I just have to give my body time
to heal...without running to my usual crutches of drugs, alcohol and
sugar. So far, so good. Maybe I'll develop a permenent, new life
style.