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For Most Of The Last Several Nights I Have Been
Question: For most of the last several nights I have been getting sweating episodes around 3am. It's not a drenching sweat, but almost. Some nights it lasts 30 minutes and then it's done, some nights it reoccurs shortly thereafter. Last night it was on and off from 3am. I am awake now and still somewhat clammy. I do have an enlarged lymph node on the left side of my neck, but an occolgist check it out and said it was reactive and nothing to worry about. However, that was two years ago. What complicates things is that a CT from August, 2017 showed very mild bronchiectasis. The CT In July showed no BX, so doctors are not sure if I ever had BX. I do have very mild shortness of breath, but that is very occasional. I will see GP shortly. Any tests I ask for?
Brief Answer:
Please see details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi and Welcome to Ask A Doctor service. Thanks for using this app. I have read your question and here is my advice.
Drenching sweats in the night have many causes and should always be investigate and evaluated. Other symtpoms with it like weight loss , fever , cough etc are important to know about the cause .
Causes may be benign like some drugs but may be serious like infections and even malignancy . Following is a brief description of possible cause.
1.If you are other wise healthy , no significant weight loss , and no high fever : then we can say it may be not a serious issue.this may occur wit drugs like pain killer disprin or paracetamol .
2.Other common cause is infections.Many infection can cause it , tuberculosis on top .TB is genrally associated with fever , cough with phlemn , and if any person in contact who have tuebrclosis or if tuberculosis is common in your locality .Other inection like viral ifection and pnemonia may also cause sweating.Some times this may occur with simple infections like tonsillitis or Pharangitis ;specially if not for long time.
3.Some times night sweats may be causes by some serious things like cancers.But that is mostly associated with other symtpoms like enlarged lymphnodes, weight loss , lumps on body etc.
4 Other causes like hormones , idiopathic , are not common.
So to know early we need to know more about you.If any other symtpoms you have as discussed above.
The investigationswe generally do includes
Blood counts with ESR , chest xray , abdominal ultraosund .further tests may be asked after hsotory and examination.
This would be great if you share more Information with us .If the lymph node you said is till there ,this may need considerations.
Regarding the brochiactatic changes on Ct that might be a temporary infection that might have settled if you are ok now but of still there , and as you said you have some shortness of breath , this may need another CT scan and further work up by a chesr specialist .
Hopes this answer help you understandyour query. Let me know if you any further question .I would be glad to answer
Regards Dr Rahman
Please see details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi and Welcome to Ask A Doctor service. Thanks for using this app. I have read your question and here is my advice.
Drenching sweats in the night have many causes and should always be investigate and evaluated. Other symtpoms with it like weight loss , fever , cough etc are important to know about the cause .
Causes may be benign like some drugs but may be serious like infections and even malignancy . Following is a brief description of possible cause.
1.If you are other wise healthy , no significant weight loss , and no high fever : then we can say it may be not a serious issue.this may occur wit drugs like pain killer disprin or paracetamol .
2.Other common cause is infections.Many infection can cause it , tuberculosis on top .TB is genrally associated with fever , cough with phlemn , and if any person in contact who have tuebrclosis or if tuberculosis is common in your locality .Other inection like viral ifection and pnemonia may also cause sweating.Some times this may occur with simple infections like tonsillitis or Pharangitis ;specially if not for long time.
3.Some times night sweats may be causes by some serious things like cancers.But that is mostly associated with other symtpoms like enlarged lymphnodes, weight loss , lumps on body etc.
4 Other causes like hormones , idiopathic , are not common.
So to know early we need to know more about you.If any other symtpoms you have as discussed above.
The investigationswe generally do includes
Blood counts with ESR , chest xray , abdominal ultraosund .further tests may be asked after hsotory and examination.
This would be great if you share more Information with us .If the lymph node you said is till there ,this may need considerations.
Regarding the brochiactatic changes on Ct that might be a temporary infection that might have settled if you are ok now but of still there , and as you said you have some shortness of breath , this may need another CT scan and further work up by a chesr specialist .
Hopes this answer help you understandyour query. Let me know if you any further question .I would be glad to answer
Regards Dr Rahman
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Some other information-the lymph node is still there and it does get larger, then gets smaller, but I can definitely feel it. I did test positive for parasites, but recently completed a two week course of Flaygyl. I can not blame the sweats on the Flaygyl since i was experiencing them prior to its usage. My pulmonologist does agree with you. He feels the original bronchiectasis diagnosis was probably some infection. I do feel significantly better, although sometimes I have to expel mucus, and the amount of mucus is much lower than it was. Except for the lung and digestive issue, I am in good health. I have weighed the same for last 30 years. (Slightly overweight, could lose 10 lbs). The CT from a few weeks ago showed all was clear with the lungs. I am seeing the GP tomorrow morning, maybe blood tests for low testosterone? Anything else? I will ask for ESR and anything else he can think of.
Brief Answer:
Please see details below
Detailed Answer:
Hi Good day.
Thanks for providing the good details .
The fact that you do not have other symptoms and don't have weight loss is quite reassuring. It indicated the probelm is not a serious one most of the times.
Regarding the lymph node , it may better be examined by your doctor in details .He would also look for any other lymph node .The area of body drained by this lymph node need to be examined as infection in that area may causes enlargement of the lymph node .Infection may also cause sweating besides enlargement of the lymph node.Most of times we give trial of treatment if rest is normal , However if no other reason can be found , and the lymph node is significantly enlarged ie more then 1 cm ( the doctor would see and decide whether it's significant or not ), we may need to excise (remove it surgically ) this and test under microscope ( biospsy )to know the reason.This is mostly the last thing that we do.
Regarding the chest thats very good that it's fine now.
Tests needed would depends after your examination and more history .Your GP would decide it.However few things we do in such patients include
ESR , Blood complete picture , CRP, Urine examination, chest xray , Ultrasound of tummy if needed and tests for any infectiin of suspected like viral infections.
Hopes things get clear after you see you GP and discuss things with him .Wish you all the best .
Please do not hesitate to ask anything else you need to a ask.I will be more then happy if I could help you anyhow
Regards Dr Rahman
Please see details below
Detailed Answer:
Hi Good day.
Thanks for providing the good details .
The fact that you do not have other symptoms and don't have weight loss is quite reassuring. It indicated the probelm is not a serious one most of the times.
Regarding the lymph node , it may better be examined by your doctor in details .He would also look for any other lymph node .The area of body drained by this lymph node need to be examined as infection in that area may causes enlargement of the lymph node .Infection may also cause sweating besides enlargement of the lymph node.Most of times we give trial of treatment if rest is normal , However if no other reason can be found , and the lymph node is significantly enlarged ie more then 1 cm ( the doctor would see and decide whether it's significant or not ), we may need to excise (remove it surgically ) this and test under microscope ( biospsy )to know the reason.This is mostly the last thing that we do.
Regarding the chest thats very good that it's fine now.
Tests needed would depends after your examination and more history .Your GP would decide it.However few things we do in such patients include
ESR , Blood complete picture , CRP, Urine examination, chest xray , Ultrasound of tummy if needed and tests for any infectiin of suspected like viral infections.
Hopes things get clear after you see you GP and discuss things with him .Wish you all the best .
Please do not hesitate to ask anything else you need to a ask.I will be more then happy if I could help you anyhow
Regards Dr Rahman
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
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