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Night Sweats Post Op

Posted , 6 users are following.

susie74530
susie74530

There has been a rash of posts about post op patients waking up soaked through with night sweats.  I am wondering how common this is?  Is it related to the medication that is being prescribed post op, or the after effects of the anaesthesia that was used?  

It is as well to be well prepared for these types of symptoms so that preparations can be put in place, such as towels to sleep on and towelling robes and "smock" type towelling (beach wear, possibly).  ##I am figuring that my surgery will take place May/June, just about the worst time of year for me, as I do not do well in humid, hot weather.

I will be doing a search for supplements that can be taken to replace the salt levels, etc., that will be lost as a result of the loss of fluids.  If I find aything, I will post it on the Forum.    

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • ian97093
    ian97093 susie74530

    Posted

    Hi Susie, yes that is true, trouble is they give you all the meds at once , then wonder why your temperature spikes....All meds all at once....I questioned it and the nurse felt like a Derrrrrr....said I was probably right but they dont have time to dish them out correctly...Hmmmm
    • susie74530
      susie74530 ian97093

      Posted

      Hi Ian.  I have been doing some research into all this, and have posted a very simple remedy.  It is quite harmless - simply run the wrists under cold water, and if practicable, keep a bowl of iced water with a wash cloth next to the bed, so that it can be wrung out and held over the wrists.  This should cool the entire circulatory system. 

      I do not like what your nurse has said about dishing out the medication correctly.  This is causing unnecessary suffering to patients, whose bodies are already suffering trauma from the surgery.  It would be far better to give the patient the medication with a leaflet explaining how, when and what dosage should be taken.  In the case of the very elderly, who are vulnerable to mistakes, it should be given to the care giver/s.  

      It really is so simple, and these flakey short cuts are so unnecessary!

    • ian97093
      ian97093 susie74530

      Posted

      It was just a little uncomfortable and they changed the bed later, I slept so long on the first one the guys in the ward thought I was dead....Had sweats both stays and a few in the first week...once I was off the Big Guns 500mgs every 12 hours.....Forgotten the name now....with Omeprizone...I was fine...Just a few Tramies now whenever the pain comes through, not even twice a week now.   cool

       

  • susie74530
    susie74530

    Posted

    Apparently night sweats are caused by epidural and anaesthesia.  Other than what I have already posted, it is best to flush the system by drinking plenty of water.  I think salt tablets may be a good idea, too, but clear that with the GP.  When you sweat, you do lose salt.
  • annedi
    annedi susie74530

    Posted

    It didn't happen to me!
    • susie74530
      susie74530 annedi

      Posted

      I am sure that not everyone is going to have the same reactions.  I am just trying to make suggestions for those who do have this reaction.  

      You are one of the lucky ones.  I will probably suffer from this as I will probably have my op around May/June, and I don't do well in humidity.  So, it is in my best interests to try to help myself and if possible, others, is it not?

    • annedi
      annedi susie74530

      Posted

      Certainly is. I had one op in may and the other in june. At home this time I had paracetomol and separate codeine tablets for the pain, dispersible aspirin for the blood thinning and lanzaprozole to protect the stomach. the previous time all I had was cocodomol no blood thinners at all.
  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK susie74530

    Posted

    I had it last time, and put it down to other things, and I'm getting it again now .... so it looks like it is related to the drugs, possibly the blood thinner Rivaroxaban?

    Graham - 🚀💃

    • susie74530
      susie74530 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Hi Graham,  Ian thinks it may be related to the fact that the meds are all dished out at once.  I have replied to Ian on this.  It could be down to an epidural and the anaesthetics.  There is one very simple solution that may help reducethis  symptom:  run both wrists under cold water for a few minutes.  Reason for this is that the blood passes through the wrists and then circulates through the rest of the system.  So, the cold water, will cool the blood and help prevent this unpleasant sweating.  Maybe a good idea to do this before going to bed, as it may delay the night sweats.  I have also suggested a bowl of iced water and a wash cloth close to the bed, so that the cloth can be wrung out and applied to the wrists without getting out of bed, but that is an accident waiting to happen.  If you are wringing wet, you will probably get out of bed anyway, so a repeat of the above is best.

      I have suggested putting a bath towel on top of the sheets and pillow to absorb most of the moisture.  When you get up, you just change the towels.

      Drink plenty of water to flush the system, and ask your GP if you can take salt tablets to replace the salt that is lost when you sweat.  GP may say not necessary, though. I only cook with sea salt.

      I have been researching this, but a lot of what is on line is related to menopausal women.  

      Hope some of this is of help to you.

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK susie74530

      Posted

      Well that is one thing I don't have to worry about - being menopausal 

      According to Vicki, getting hot is as a result of major surgery, not the drugs.

      Graham - 🚀💃

  • vicki00016
    vicki00016 susie74530

    Posted

    The night sweats are as a result if the body recovering from major surgery. The blood thinners don't cause them. The painkillers given hospital are usually given at the same time as each other as that is how they are prescribed and can be more effective this way. There are are usually other analgesics prescribed for break through pain in between the Medication rounds. in this way medication is given regularly and dosages are not missed. Once you are home you can play around with the meds a little if you prefer to space them out more or take one without the other, as long as not outside of the prescribed dosage or timeframe.

    • vicki00016
      vicki00016

      Posted

      Sorry Susie, meant to post this as a general point on the discussion, not directly to you.
    • susie74530
      susie74530 vicki00016

      Posted

      That's OK.  I wasn't really pursuing the medication line.  Just looking around for relief for those that have these symptoms, but it seems that not everyone does.  So, it may be down to any number of things, including medication, anaesthesia reaction and possibly epidurals!

      There must be something online somewhere that addresses  this syndrome, and gives the cause.  I will do a reccy tomorrow, but so far, I haven't found anything much, other than the all to frequent references to menopausal women!

      I have come up with one very simple remedy that is about as safe as possible.

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK vicki00016

      Posted

      Vicki - that makes sense, it being as a result of a major surgery.

      Many thanks for clearing that one up.

      Graham - 🚀💃

  • Joycy
    Joycy susie74530

    Posted

    Hi Susie and happy new year!

    I'm 55 years old, LTHR five months ago on Monday. Things much better with operated leg although not back to full mobility yet, eg can't quite bend sufficiently to put sock on op side but getting there and still soreness around knee but now glad I've had it done.

    On the point about hot flushes at night, I was suffering these pre-op from menopause but not too bad and getting less and less. However, since surgery and increasing they have returned. I asked my GP and surgeon if this was simply return of the menopausal symptoms or an after effect of surgery and was told that this is a common phenomena, not only with women of a certain age but others and some men? They both hypothesised that the symptoms I described were related to my body's response to the major 'assault' on it from surgery. I think the reason you've struggled to find much info is because there isn't sufficient evidence in the medical literature, albeit there is a growing population of people who are suffering this.

    I'm not taking any meds at all, not in HRT or anything else. It is troublesome, mainly because it disturbs my sleep, but I'm just hoping it will eventually settle. I think what is a shame is that people are unaware pre-op that this may happen and are therefore unprepared.

    Wishing you well.

    Jo X

    • susie74530
      susie74530 Joycy

      Posted

      Hi Jo:

      A Happy New Year, to you too.  How was your Christmas?

      I know all about the menopause, although I did not have as much trouble with it as a lot of women.  Mainly fatigue, and the occasional hot flush.  Do not remember about night time sweats, so they could not have been that troublesome.  My daughter is going through menopause, right now.

      I have posted advice on how to deal with it before you go to bed and when and if it occurs during the night.  My daughter is following this routine, and says that sometimes she is able to sleep through.

      All the best,

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