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night sweats?!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/15/2018 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
I used to have these with varying degrees when in a UC flare. So here I am, 2 1/2 weeks post-op, no colon anymore. I keep having night sweats (on some very cold New England nights in a cool bedroom.) I am guessing I have a little fever that comes and goes, though whenever the home care nurse is here in the mornings, my temp is fine, and at the surgeon a few days ago for post-op appt my temp was fine. But I am getting sick of waking in the night to drenched nightgown and sheets. Anyone else have this? And/or I am thinking maybe a UTI, only because I had a catheter in for 4 days at surgery time.....?
(I am remembering that with hip replacement surgery I developed a UTI from the cath and it was in for maybe 24 hours.)

Wondering if I call the Dr, if I can just drop a urine sample at a lab without going out to mingle among the flu-ridden masses.....? I have been hoping it would resolve on its own, but I drenched 2 nightgowns, and my sheets, last night.
Posted 1/15/2018 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
That's weird. I am always hot in bed it seems like, but not drenching PJs. I am sure they can call in a script for labs. If you don't have a fever, or other symptoms, I wonder why it's happening.
Posted 1/15/2018 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
I have the exact same thing except I’m in remission. Sorry I can’t be of help but I hope we can both find the answer
Posted 1/16/2018 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
Four immediate reasons I can think of
- opioid pain killers
- inflammation
- dehydration / electrolyte imbalance
- hormone imbalance

All of these can cause internal heat. When we sleep the body's blood goes from the superficial levels (skin, muscles) to the internal organs for cleaning, recycling and so other co-factors can be added. If you have ongoing heat from cytokines or heat from dehydration (lack of cooling), then your core will get super hot when you sleep and you'll sweat.

If it's hormones then the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is off somehow and is sending improper temperature regulation signals to the rest of the body. This can happen from drugs that mess with the HPA axis (like prednisone), opiates, or is just age related.
Posted 1/18/2018 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Connor is on the right track, I think. Your body chemistry has been upset by all the meds connected with your surgery, including opiates-- plus you got off UC meds-- plus one's hormonal balance can be thrown off by physical stress-- so you mainly need more time to recuperate from all the surgical interventions. Do you take a daily vitamin/mineral supplement? Your stores of those may currently be depleted in one area or another, contributing to the sweats. Maybe a daily Centrum Silver would help, at least 'til you progress to a fuller diet. Continuing best wishes!!!!! / Old Hat (37 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 1/19/2018 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, everyone. You got it, I believe, OH and Connor. My GI actually called out of the blue yesterday and gabbed with me for an hour (!) about anything I wanted related to GI stuff, UC, the surgery, the upcoming chemo, diet, etc.
He told me he thought it was my body's response to the whole trauma. So I am going with that. smile Interestingly, the evening before, I had followed my home nurse's advice and had really pushed water, hydrated, all evening. Other than that I had to get up to pee twice, I had NO sweats. Last evening, time got away from me and although I sipped all day, I didn't drink huge amounts in the evening: one moderate (damp, not drenching) sweat.

I am chugging some water now, will experiment again tonight.
Posted 1/20/2018 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Song how you doing??
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