I visited a naturopath a few months ago, for help with these night sweats and with diminished sex drive. She performed an eye test to check my adrenal function, said that I probably had adrenal fatigue syndrome and sent me home with a saliva test kit for to check cortisol levels (low cortisol is a measure of adrenal fatigue).
My cortisol production came out within normal levels, but the pattern of highs and lows is reversed. Cortisol levels should start out high in the morning and gradually drop to a low at night. Mine are opposite...low in the morning climbing to high at night. From what I can see, nothing really to worry about, its just a circadian rhythm thing that is a bit off.
However, this lead to a search for any connection between night sweats and cortisol. Turns out that night sweats are one of the (many) listed symptoms of adrenal depletion, although my naturopath said that it wasn't really a typical presentation. Also, apparently high cortisol and/or testosterone levels is the cause of MALE night sweats. And lastly, the drug 'Predisone', which is a corticosteroid, also causes night sweats as a side effect. I'm kind of reaching for straws on that last one...
So I'm taking the adrenal stress end, which should help the adrenals regulate cortisol. We'll see how it does.
I'm wondering though if there is anything that can be done to help the cortisol patterns...something that aids in cortisol production that can be taken in the morning and something that lowers it taken at night?
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OMG Maria. I just started having symptoms. I am 33, have been off BC for over a year, and have no kids. I am combing the "interweb" for answers. The last time I went to the Dr. concerned about my weight she ran some thyroid tests on me which she said were "within the normal range" but she mentioned my cortisol levels were high. She sent me to a specialist to rule out Cushing's Syndrome. So hat being done I kind of forgot about it. Fast-forward to today when I came across your blog.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it is connected. I think it is time I go back for more tests. It is SO frustrating that they never lead to anything though.
I am beginning to wonder if its not a circadian rhythm thing. I don't think that's what actually causes the nightsweats, but maybe when our internal clocks are more 'off' than normal the sweats are worsened. I've noticed that when I stay up too late, past regular bedtime and then become too tired to sleep (I think that's the feeling of too high cortisol?) sweats are somewhat worse (I think..but honestly its a little hard to tell.
ReplyDeleteThere was an idea that I came across on Dr Mercola's website. That the light from computer and tv screens mimics natural daylight so your brain gets confused when you sit behind screens after dark. We should generally just wake when its light and sleep when its dark. I did try my best for a week and just read books in the evening, but didn't really notice any difference. Could be that it is needed to do it for longer, or that even the light for reading should be turned out. I'll try again in the summer months when it stays lighter for longer...
Hi Maria, I just wanted to add my 2 cents though I know you haven't updated this in quite awhile. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have helped me greatly with issues surrounding my cycle. Waking in the middle of the night, night sweats, and signs of dryness in the body can be symptoms of what is called Yin Deficiency. Though Yin Deficiency is common during menopause, you can experience it at any point in time. If your nightsweats have not abated, I highly recommend seeking treatment from a qualified LAc. I hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteReversed circadian rhythm and excess night time cortisol----symptoms of either Cushing's Syndrome or Cyclical Cushing's Syndrome. There's a wealth of information on the internet, and many patient support groups are found there as well. It's best to be as informed as you can and to get started as soon as you can. I have Cyclical Cushing's and am in the process of testing to find the location of my ACTH producing tumor, which messages the adrenal glands to overproduce cortisol.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very serious disease with devastating system-wide consequences that lead to long term damage to the body. Don't blow it off and don't let the doctors blow you off. It takes years to get a proper diagnosis, and most likely you'll go from doctor to doctor who won't believe anything you say. They will scream at you and tell you "You do NOT have Cushing's because it's too rare!" (Which is not true.) I've been sick for ten years.
Be persistent and persevere---you must insist on full lab testing, not just screening tests. For example, if your doc orders a TSH test for the thyroid, that's not good enough, you must have the full thyroid panel done---TSH, T4, Free T4, T3, Free T3, etc. If the doc does just one morning cortisol test and when/if it come back "normal," you must demand midnight cortisol tests and repeats of the morning cortisols. Same goes for the 24 hour Urine Free Cortisol tests. Keep repeating all tests until your diagnosis is confirmed.
A good place to read testimonials from Cushing's patients: http://www.cushings-help.com/toc.htm
There are several categories under the testimonials, so you could read some bios by patients who are still undiagnosed to see what their symptoms are like, and to hear their frustrations of dealing with doctors who don't believe them.
Good luck and don't give up.
Hi. I am from NZ.I started having night sweats about 3 years ago. I had the past 10 months(-ish) off and they have only just started again. I am just 35 - too young for anything related to menopause as my cycle is super regular and I monitor my cycle to the absolute letter through being trained in Natural Fertility/Contraception. It's just these 'sodden' night sweats.
ReplyDeleteMy naturopath and I have narrowed it down to the Phase 2 of the Liver; that it is not processing the body's estrogen properly (because my cycle is running like clockwork, it's producing correct amounts of estrogen, just not getting rid of it correctly). Also we had to do a rather expensive hormonal test (saliva test) to get a tally of all hormones in the body, thus see what was out of synch.
So what I am on: An exceptional tea called "Liver Detox Tea" (from a NZ company called Artemis, made from a wonderful Medical Herbalist, based in Dunedin, NZ - I have contact through my small online natural health consultancy business) - I take this twice a day, before breakfast and before dinner; & a practitioner-only product called "P2 Detox" (a powder taken upon rising-it helps the liver with the Phase 2 processing).
As I said this help get rid of my night sweats about 10-ish months ago; so I stoppped the 2 doses of the tea and the P2 Detox, but because of the onset of the sweats again (not sure why right now), I am back on that initial dose rate for both.
Please contact me of you want further advice or info regarding what I'm on etc. Happy to help.