Need Advice, Please! - Lymphomas Message Board

RS1 · 03-03-2005, 04:10 PM

I've posted once before but really could use some advice. I've been having night sweats for the last 3 months. Most of the time its just my neck that is sweaty but sometimes my whole shirt gets pretty damp. I wouldn't call them "drenching" but the fact that they are persisting is really worrying me. I really don't have any other symptoms to speak of... I've just had a couple of minor colds this winter. My doctor (who I really like) says not to worry about the sweats but sent me for a chest x-ray, which came out normal. I do not have any swollen nodes and actually also had an abdominal CT scan right before the sweats started (I had a flare up of Crohn's at the time) and the scan was normal (this was 3 months ago).
My 2 questions are: Are lymphoma night sweats always drenching or can they be characterized as just getting a little damp? Also, how far should I go in pursuing what is causing the sweats based on not having many other symptoms and also based on having had a chest x-ray and abdominal scan? I know the disease can originate anywhere and I know night sweats are a major symptom of the disease. I just don't know if and how I should pursue an explanation of them.
I really appreciate any advice or information.

Marimac · 03-03-2005, 05:20 PM

There are so many reasons for nightsweats from temperature variations, to caffiene withdrawals. Since it is not apparent whether you are male or female, by your letter, it is not possible to answer your question other than to give general information about night sweats.
Night sweats can be caused by aspirin, or other arthritis medications, it can be caused by too much caffiene during the day, by alcoholic beverages, by hidden minor infections. Nightsweats can be associated with fever, anxiety reactions, and estrogen or testosterone fluctuations. The main thing about nightsweats is that it is not a stand alone diagnostic symptom. You can be extremely ill and have no nightsweats or have a minor tooth cavity and sweat off fever. So, the doctor xrays the chest first looking for heart valve problems, evidence of respiratory infections, or Bronchitis, or Tuberculosis. If you have had any urinalysis for urinary tract infections etc, and there have been no conclusive results, then the diagnosis may be Fever of unknown origin. Which is a stand alone diagnosis. IT simply means that "yep, there is a fever and we don't know why, and may never know.