Post-op night sweats

[Bill in Oregon]

For me, this is the third most disagreeable side effect of back surgery, after the pain and the constipation. The latter two are mostly under control, but not the drenching night sweats. You "eech" and "ooch" you way under the covers, dial out the pain and eventually slip into blessed sleep, only to awaken an hour or more later drenched in sweat and shivering -- which also reignites the pain. Only thing for it is a change of bedding or the Band-Aid approach: a clean dry towel below and another above. You creep painfully back into your dry towel sandwich, teeth chattering, and finally go back to sleep.
After doing some online research, it turns out the post-op sweats can be caused in part by the pain killers, but the real culprit appears to be the anesthesia administered during surgery. It apparently interferes with the ability of the hypothalamus to regulate body temperature. The effect can last for days or weeks, and for a few unfortunate souls it can be permanent or nearly so. The same phenomena can explain the bouts of fever and chills some of us suffer after surgery. You are warned to contact your surgeon if post-op temps exceed 100.4, but I have had chill/sweat sessions where my temp went well over 101, only to be back down to 98 or lower five minutes later. It's a little unnerving, as no one wants signs of a post-op infection.
Just a head's up for anyone with surgery in their future. It is odd that this is almost never mentioned in the surgery manuals the doctors and hospitals load you up with in the weeks before your procedure.

[earlmck]

Oh man, that sucks! I keep discovering that there are many things they don't tell you about these surgeries, and night sweats is a new one for me, which I'll add to my "things they don't tell you" list. I fortunately did not suffer those, so didn't get to discover them the hard way like you have, Bill. Other than that?

Friend of mine sent me this the other day which I'll now pass along as it seems so appropro:

maxine12.gif

[Pitchy]

EEEEKKKK sounds terrible Bill, prayers up for a fast recovery.

[marlinman93]

Another fun fact the doctors don't tell you about pre op! Well it wouldn't change your mind about going forward, but at least you'd expect it!

[jeepnik]

Darn, I thought it was only me. I never even bothered to mention it to the doc.

I know that sometime things out of the past will make me wake up sweating. I just figured it was a dream I didn't remember, or didn't want to.

[DadsMod12]

I feel your pain. I've been having night sweats since my knee was replaced two weeks ago. I sleep in a t-shirt now and change it at least once a night and I have to flip the pillow.

[Bill in Oregon]

Only had to change the towel once last night, so hoping this is a welcome trend.