Severe Night Neck Sweats

[Mobi]

I have been having severe night neck sweats for quite a while now - certainly several months.

It doesn't happen every night, but probably at least 2 to 3 times a week.

The sweats are so bad that they drench my pillow, and I have to turn it over. Then on some occasions, I drench the other side and have to discard the pillow completely.

Up to recently I have put this problem down to drinking, and since I stopped in January, to the after effects of quitting the booze. But after all this time I don't think alcohol, or the lack of it is causing the problem.

My body doesn't' sweat, just my neck - a lot. I keep the room quite cool with an a/c so I'm certainly not sweating from heat.

Many people tell me that my body is hot during the day time, and they are convinced I am ill but there is no discernible fever.

Any ideas what kind of Doctor I should go to see? What are the possible causes?

[mommysboy]

I have been having severe night neck sweats for quite a while now - certainly several months.

It doesn't happen every night, but probably at least 2 to 3 times a week.

The sweats are so bad that they drench my pillow, and I have to turn it over. Then on some occasions, I drench the other side and have to discard the pillow completely.

Up to recently I have put this problem down to drinking, and since I stopped in January, to the after effects of quitting the booze. But after all this time I don't think alcohol, or the lack of it is causing the problem.

My body doesn't' sweat, just my neck - a lot. I keep the room quite cool with an a/c so I'm certainly not sweating from heat.

Many people tell me that my body is hot during the day time, and they are convinced I am ill but there is no discernible fever.

Any ideas what kind of Doctor I should go to see? What are the possible causes?

Sorry Mobi, I recognise the name, but can you provide some more info: you know age, gender and anything that might be connected. It's so difficult as this is the sort of thing that is difficult to be calm about by it's very nature, but stand back a little and provide as much info as possible even if it seems inconsequential.

Take it easy, most probably it is some form of life change (as in the cold sweat of fear), and it could be that the very condition itself is reinforcing the symptoms. And it might just be cold turkey!

[Mobi]

mommysboy

Sorry Mobi, I recognise the name, but can you provide some more info: you know age, gender and anything that might be connected. It's so difficult as this is the sort of thing that is difficult to be calm about by it's very nature, but stand back a little and provide as much info as possible even if it seems inconsequential.

Take it easy, most probably it is some form of life change (as in the cold sweat of fear), and it could be that the very condition itself is reinforcing the symptoms. And it might just be cold turkey!

I am 63 (almost) and male.

I am an insulin dependant diabetic, but I doubt I am having hypoglycaemic attacks, as those attacks cause my whole body to sweat, and I have other warning symptoms which are not present with these neck sweats.

I also have coronary heart disease, and take a whole range of meds to reduce my blood pressure, slow my heart rate (beta blockers) control my enlarged prostate etc. I have been taking most of these for years, but who knows?

Since I stopped drinking my general health has been a lot better, and I now need less insulin, and my chronic diarrhoea, which I had for years, has more less cleared up.

I have lost a little weight, but people tell me I look very thin. I guess it is because my face looks a lot thinner.

I am actually very relaxed, and happier than I have been for quite a while. I am busy at home sorting out all the chores that I have let slip for so long. I am not particularly worried about these sweats and until a couple of days ago didn't really worry about them at all, as I just assumed it was the after effects of quitting the booze, and my body adjusting. But now I am not so sure.

So if you have any clues as the cause, or even what kind of Doctor I should see,I would be grateful.

[thirdeyedmt]

I have been having severe night neck sweats for quite a while now - certainly several months.

It doesn't happen every night, but probably at least 2 to 3 times a week.

The sweats are so bad that they drench my pillow, and I have to turn it over. Then on some occasions, I drench the other side and have to discard the pillow completely.

Up to recently I have put this problem down to drinking, and since I stopped in January, to the after effects of quitting the booze. But after all this time I don't think alcohol, or the lack of it is causing the problem.

My body doesn't' sweat, just my neck - a lot. I keep the room quite cool with an a/c so I'm certainly not sweating from heat.

Many people tell me that my body is hot during the day time, and they are convinced I am ill but there is no discernible fever.

Any ideas what kind of Doctor I should go to see? What are the possible causes?

What Are Night Sweats?

Night sweats occur frequently in people living with HIV. Simply put, night sweats are profuse sweating that is not related to exercise. As the name implies night sweats occur primarily while you sleep but can occur during the day as well.

What Are the Symptoms of Night Sweats?

For fear of stating the obvious, sweating is the primary symptom of night sweats. Night sweats differ from other sweating in that they:occur without exercise

they occur primarily while sleeping

they can be very profuse; soaking bedclothes, sheets and blankets

occur without exercise

they occur primarily while sleeping

they can be very profuse; soaking bedclothes, sheets and blankets

What Causes Night Sweats?

There are many causes of night sweats including:HIV infection - Night sweats can be just another symptom of HIV infection or they can be a sign of another infection such as the bacterial infection Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and the fungal infection histoplasmosis.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Endocrine disorders such as diabetes and menopause.

Pregnancy

Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

Certain medications such as those used to control fever

alcohol consumption

[Mobi]

I have been having severe night neck sweats for quite a while now - certainly several months.

It doesn't happen every night, but probably at least 2 to 3 times a week.

The sweats are so bad that they drench my pillow, and I have to turn it over. Then on some occasions, I drench the other side and have to discard the pillow completely.

Up to recently I have put this problem down to drinking, and since I stopped in January, to the after effects of quitting the booze. But after all this time I don't think alcohol, or the lack of it is causing the problem.

My body doesn't' sweat, just my neck - a lot. I keep the room quite cool with an a/c so I'm certainly not sweating from heat.

Many people tell me that my body is hot during the day time, and they are convinced I am ill but there is no discernible fever.

Any ideas what kind of Doctor I should go to see? What are the possible causes?

What Are Night Sweats?

Night sweats occur frequently in people living with HIV. Simply put, night sweats are profuse sweating that is not related to exercise. As the name implies night sweats occur primarily while you sleep but can occur during the day as well.

What Are the Symptoms of Night Sweats?

For fear of stating the obvious, sweating is the primary symptom of night sweats. Night sweats differ from other sweating in that they:occur without exercise

they occur primarily while sleeping

they can be very profuse; soaking bedclothes, sheets and blankets

occur without exercise

they occur primarily while sleeping

they can be very profuse; soaking bedclothes, sheets and blankets

What Causes Night Sweats?

There are many causes of night sweats including:HIV infection - Night sweats can be just another symptom of HIV infection or they can be a sign of another infection such as the bacterial infection Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and the fungal infection histoplasmosis.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Endocrine disorders such as diabetes and menopause.

Pregnancy

Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

Certain medications such as those used to control fever

alcohol consumption

Hmm.. yes.. I Googled that myself a few hours ago.

Anything from pregnancy, to HIV to the menopause to TB and just about everything else you can dream of.

Doesn't help much does it?

And mine are not night sweats - they are night NECK sweats. There is a subtle difference. If you Google night NECK sweats you will also find a few pages of suggestions.

Sorry, I don't wish to be rude, but I'm looking for practical suggestions, not just cutting and pasting the first thing you find in Google.

Thanks anyway

[Sheryl]

Mobi: IF your blood sugar is well controlled and you have had a recent thorough physical (including chest film) then it is probably not due to anything important and just look to ways to managhge it like:

- talcum powder on the neck before going to sleep

- change of pillow: look for one that has all cotton cover and soft contents (trial and error may be needed to find the best one for you)

- if above don't do the trick, put a soft and very absorbent towel over the pillow to soak up the sweat so that you can still sleep through the night.

If you haven't had a thorough physical recently then, of coursem you should, being sure to mention this problem.

[MJo]

What Causes Night Sweats?

There are many causes of night sweats including:HIV infection - Night sweats can be just another symptom of HIV infection or they can be a sign of another infection such as the bacterial infection Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and the fungal infection histoplasmosis.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Endocrine disorders such as diabetes and menopause.

Pregnancy

Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

Certain medications such as those used to control fever

alcohol consumption

I agree with Sheryl here. And since it looks like you have done regular medical checks and don't drink i would bet my money on apnea.

I do have them time to time, not whole body but only my head soaking the pillow. Wife tells me that sometimes i have long breaks in my breathing while sleeping. Especially after few beers. Been feeling tired for years and regularly sleep 10 to 12 hrs a night still feeling tired. I guess i should make a trip to sleeping clinic myself...

[Plus]

I think it might have something to do with clothes you are wearing in bed. I found that the lower the neck line, the less sweat there is. Wifebeaters are the best.

For me it's true not only during the night - loosening the necktie works wonders during the day, too. It's like whole body heat escapes through that neck opening.

With a tight neck t-shirts I used to wake up with a wet collar while the rest was perfeclty dry, so I switched to another brand with a really big neck and it's ok now.

I would also like to hear other suggestions.

[Lost in LOS]

I think it might have something to do with clothes you are wearing in bed. I found that the lower the neck line, the less sweat there is. Wifebeaters are the best.

For me it's true not only during the night - loosening the necktie works wonders during the day, too. It's like whole body heat escapes through that neck opening.

With a tight neck t-shirts I used to wake up with a wet collar while the rest was perfeclty dry, so I switched to another brand with a really big neck and it's ok now.

I would also like to hear other suggestions.

mobi, you and i both have apnea, and i see this as one of the possible causes. i have night sweats also

[Plus]

Apnea? Why would you think that?

I don't have night sweats per se, it's just the neck area.

[Lost in LOS]

Apnea? Why would you think that?

I don't have night sweats per se, it's just the neck area.

sorry, i messed up and wanted this to refer to mobi

[Samuian]

Don't really get the "abnormality" about sweating in bed in hot and humid climate?

all natural, cotton fibers bedding, no foam mattresses, non acrylic bed sheets,

good ventilation, cool sleeping room ( non a/c), a cotton towel

on the pillow... this all will help.

I do sweat sometimes in bed like being in a sauna!

[loong]

My brother had a similar problem, but he also suffered from neck cramps at the same time. It was eventually traced to his high intake of caffeine as he drank a lot of ground coffee. He cut out the coffee and the problem went away.

[Mobi]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

As I said before, my bedroom is kept quite cool with an a/c and a ceiling fan, and I only wear underpants in bed so my upper body and neck are bare. If anything, the room is on the cool side and I use a duvet and a wife to keep me warm and snug.

I haven't worn a tie or a suit since I took early retirement in 2000. All my city clothes went into the garbage bag.

These neck sweats are excessive - enough to completely drench my pillow - that's not normal, especially as the rest of my body is quite dry.

It could be connected with my sleep apnea, as I must confess that since I stopped drinking, I stopped using the breathing machine, as I really don't like it much.

I will try using it again and see if it solves the problem.

[coventry]

I had night sweats for years with no apparent cause. Due to having no medical problems I was told to just live with it, even though I had to get up in the night to towel dry myself. I would say I suffered for 20 years or more before it stopped on it's own accord. I suffered no ill affects other that tiredness due to waking up to dry myself during the night.

[Daffy D]

Hi Mobi

Lots of suggestions already so maybe mine is superfluous. Do you have a drink before going to bed not alcohol but water or something else?

Water is supposed to be good for you and you should drink lots of it but I found that if I had a big drink of the stuff before retiring I would sweat a lot during the night. What I do now is just take a mouthful and swill it round my mouth before swallowing. This satisfies the thirst and stops the night sweats.

[MeaMaximaCulpa]

It might be a long shot, but perhaps test for malaria. I have a friend who got it in Africa, and he has similar neck sweats. Malaria symptoms can often be either overlooked or confused with other things. Worth a try methinks.

Good luck!

[Igor]

As a doc, I can tell you positively - nada. You need to make sure you mention the sweating to your endocrinologist or internist at your very next (soon) checkup.

Night sweats can be localized and are not infrequently limited to the head and neck. In most people idiopathic hyperhydrosis (sweating for no appraent cause) is nothing to worry about and will usually resolve itself.

If I may take a guess, though, I'm betting you use Viagra or some such. That can lead to night sweats. Also, you use insulin AND you take beta blockers. B Blockers can hide some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia so it is important to carefully monitor your blood sugar.

Last (and probably least), night sweats CAN be an early symptom of cancer, especially lymphomas. Therefore, I say unto you again: go see your doctor. If you don't have a local doc, then get one. A good internist to manage things overall, an endocrinologist to treat your diabetes and a cardiologist for your, well, cardio. If you don't have a local doc, that means you've been refilling your prescriptions and continuing to take the same course of treatment you've been using for some time. Well, surprise! Sometimes, they need to be changed. So, get thee to a doc.

[Igor]

One more thing.

If you have the a/c turned so low you need a duvet and a woman to keep warm, consider changing to a higher temperature.

[Mobi]

One more thing.

If you have the a/c turned so low you need a duvet and a woman to keep warm, consider changing to a higher temperature.

I like it! You can't beat being snug and cosy under a duvet, with a nice warm body to cuddle up to.

[Mobi]

Igor, and others. Thanks for all the advice, it is appreciated.

To some extent you are correct. I have been largely taking the same meds, around a dozen in all, excluding insulin, for many years.

There is nothing I would like better than to have a GP or some kind of generalist who could monitor and control all my various chronic complaints , and direct me to the appropriate specialists, receive their reports and recommendations, and discuss with me as they used to do in the UK.

It seems such arrangements don't exists out here, and each specialist works more or less in isolation - just treating you for that particular ailment, and in my experience, even at the best hospitals, they take little or no notice oif your other medical problems and your medication.

The specialists, on the whole seem pretty good and highly qualified, but the system just doesn't seem to be set up for patients with a whole raft of illnesses. And believe me, I've been to them all through the years- Samijivej, BNH, Piya Thai, Bumrungrad etc. I have been attending Bumrungrad for quite a few years now, and while I am not over the moon at their overall health care treatment, it is simply too complicated to try again somewhere else, with all my long medical history. At least is all there on their computers if they ever bother to look at it.

I have no less than 5 specialists ; Heart, Diabetes, Digestive, Urology (prostate) and eye (glaucoma). Oh, I forgot the sleep specialist for my apnea, but I don't see her any more - she just did the tests and flogged me an expensive machine. I am a bit overdue to see them all, but in all the years I have been to see them, they have rarely, if ever changed my meds or dosage. Sometimes they tinker a bit, but no more than I would do myself. Occasionally the diabetes specialist adds another drug, but never stops any. I would dearly love to cut back, as I;m sure that I don't need them all, and anyway the cost is horrendous, even buying from a local pharmacy.

So I will go and see them all, maybe next month and see what they have to say but I'm not holding my breath.

Since I went back on the breathing M/c it seem to be a lot better, but it's early days. You could also be right about hypoglycaemia. I've had a number of very scary attacks at night through the years, but i always get the warning signs which wake me up, and my whole body sweats, not just my neck.

I very rarely take viagra, and even rarer at night, so I doubt it is that.

I saw that stuff on lymphoma - is it easy to check on?

Malaria? Who knows/ I had it badly when a young man in West Africa, and it hung around for years. A long shot methinks

Edited June 7, 2009 by Mobi

[Mobi]

Well I thought it was connected with my sleep apnea, but have now ruled that out, as I have been using my machine again but still sweat.

Please note it is not every night. Just sometimes.

Some new symptoms which may or may not be connected.

Several people, including my wife, tell me I sound a bit slurred, or drunk on the phone, but I am perfectly sober. My wife also tells me that my normal breathing sounds very noisy and laboured.

Every few weeks I get this hacking cough which also gives me a slight fever. After a few days it goes away completely. Sometimes it is very bad - like a chest infection and I can't stop coughing - especially at night. I do not smoke.

Any ideas folk?

[Sheryl]

Intermittent cough + fever + night sweats = may need to rule out TB.

When did you last have a chest film? Do you produce any sputum that could be tested?

[ktamp]

If I were you I'd get myself to a doc for a TB test and chest x ray. The prevelance of TB is much higher here in thailand than in the more developed western countries most of us come from. You don't have to feel that sick to have TB and those symptoms are consistent with TB and worth a check. The co morbidity of your other ailments makes you more susceptible to a disease like TB. The good news is that TB is very treatable. You have to be on medication for a long time but it can be cured.

[Mobi]

Intermittent cough + fever + night sweats = may need to rule out TB.

When did you last have a chest film? Do you produce any sputum that could be tested?

Yes I do. Quite a lot, it's there only way I can clear my chest to get some sleep.

I'm going to Bkk on Monday, so I guess it's down to Bumrungrad for some tests.

[Mobi]

Intermittent cough + fever + night sweats = may need to rule out TB.

When did you last have a chest film? Do you produce any sputum that could be tested?

Yes I do. Quite a lot, it's there only way I can clear my chest to get some sleep.

I'm going to Bkk on Monday, so I guess it's down to Bumrungrad for some tests.

Sheryl, sorry to be a pest, but what kind of specialist do I need to see to check if I have TB? Anyone you know there?

Or shall I just see my diabetic specialist but request a test for TB and let her take it from there?

[Sheryl]

Sorry Mobi just saw this so perhaps you have already been.

Pretty much any doctor can order the chest film and do the skin test for you, but if either of these come back suspiciopus then should see a specialist in Infectuious Disease.

[lor]

Hi,

I am also diabetic and have very high blood pressure. Have the air-con on in the bedroom all night and sleep in just shorts with no blankets or quilts.

But I get incredible neck sweats as well. Exactly the same as Mobi. No other part of my body, just my neck. I have to turn over the pillow a couple of times because it gets so wet. I have now started sleeping with a towel over the pillow. Seems to help, probably just by absorbing the sweat!

Never thought about mentioning it to the doctor, but after reading this thread will tell him on the next visit.

Chris

[jaideeguy]

Yeah, I have been getting them as well and they seem to be more often than when I was young. I sweat all over my bod when I exert myself, but at night, it's only the neck. Then I suspected 'global warming' and investigated average mean temps and found them to nearly the same since 1944 [when they started taking temps in CM]. I wrote it off to older age, but they are a nusence because my favorite pillow is a down feather pillow that I smuggled in years ago and not as easy as poly to wash.

One thing that sheryl mentioned is to use powder and it does help, especially the cooling mentholated kind.

Mobi....we haven't heard from you for a while, did you get your physical and what was outcome??

Not to be nosy, but it sounds like a lot of us have the same same.......and I'll bet we're all near the same age.

maybe we should call it 'baby boomer night neck sweat syndrome'

[PicBuddy]

Hope to see an update from Mobi soon as this has been an interesting chain to follow. As mentioned, there's not a whole lot of information to be found on the Internet about "NECK" sweats as opposed to the more common general "night" sweats. I have been looking for months as I have the exact same thing;

Only my neck sweats and it's a lot! Soaks pillows, gotta flip em, etc. Same thing. I sleep with nothing but shorts or nud_e, rarely under blankets fully or at all, AC, ceiling fan and heck, recently I added a direct fan right on my neck which was great but my wife doesn't like that much wind. When we met 3 years ago getting her used to the ceiling fan was tuff enough as they don't use them in Japan.

I'm not really concerned about solving the issue as the sweating doesn't bother either of us other than having to change bedding every day. Also have to bring more water to bed as the sweating makes me wake up thirsty several times a night. I don't think I have diabetes but if I do I don't care to know, but I do have sleep apnea. It can get severe after drinking right before bed, so I cut down on doing that to perhaps two nights a week, less or none at all. Helps cut down on the choking from apnea big time, but I still have the sweaty neck.

The really strange thing about it, is that something in my body is triggering for the neck to start sweating when I sleep, because I can lay down at night or even for a quick nap during the day, start reading a book and as my body starts to go to sleep, even when I am awake, the neck will heat up and start to pour sweat just in the anticipation of sleep. I've had to change a shirt during the day before going somewhere when I didn't actually get to take a nap, my body just thought I was going to.

Will try some cooling talcum powder, but ultimately I'd just like to know what's causing it. I'm a 41 year old male from California and Texas, drink, smoke, just a tad heavy for my age (216lbs for 6" 5' height) yet excercise at least a few hours a week, some of the time much more than that. It seemed when getting a -lot- of excercise like walking 20+ miles a day for a week, both the apnea and sweating went away, but I have not had that much excercise since to be able to double check and see if it really did go away, or if my wife was too deeply asleep to take note of the apnea.... Guess we may have to check again on our next excercise and massive walking vacation...

Edited August 14, 2009 by PicBuddy