Hello,
I am a 60-year-old female, post menopausal, and have been smoldering for 14 months now. Just wondering if others -- male and female -- have experienced night sweats since their diagnosis? This happens to me several times a night, with some nights worse than others.
Is this indicative of progression to symptomatic myeloma?
My next blood and urine tests are scheduled for December.
Thanks for your feedback.
Forums
Re: Smoldering myeloma and night sweats
Hi Sue.
I have not heard of night sweats being a symptom of progression in the disease. I think difficulty sleeping, in general, might be caused by anxiety.
I have not heard of night sweats being a symptom of progression in the disease. I think difficulty sleeping, in general, might be caused by anxiety.
-
antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Smoldering myeloma and night sweats
Dear Sue T.,
Night sweats are not typical of smoldering multiple myeloma. I would look into other causes first (for example, overactive thyroid gland, medication side effects). I would be a bit surprised if this represents symptomatic multiple myeloma. Also, sweats can certainly occur as a result of being in a post menopausal state. Do your sweats coincide with the onset of menopause? If they do and they have not worsened in frequency or severity, this may just reflect menopausal symptoms, which can be treated. If the sweats have worsened since entering menopause, further evaluation is warranted.
Typically, sweats associated with symptomatic multiple myeloma occur with advanced disease (large disease burden, highly proliferative, rapidly growing disease). If your myeloma labs have not been checked in a while, it would be worth taking a new look to make sure everything is OK. I would also make sure you have had a comprehensive evaluation of your smoldering myeloma, including consideration of more advanced imaging (MRI or PET-CT), especially if a cause for the sweats cannot be ascertained otherwise.
Thanks!
Pete V.
Night sweats are not typical of smoldering multiple myeloma. I would look into other causes first (for example, overactive thyroid gland, medication side effects). I would be a bit surprised if this represents symptomatic multiple myeloma. Also, sweats can certainly occur as a result of being in a post menopausal state. Do your sweats coincide with the onset of menopause? If they do and they have not worsened in frequency or severity, this may just reflect menopausal symptoms, which can be treated. If the sweats have worsened since entering menopause, further evaluation is warranted.
Typically, sweats associated with symptomatic multiple myeloma occur with advanced disease (large disease burden, highly proliferative, rapidly growing disease). If your myeloma labs have not been checked in a while, it would be worth taking a new look to make sure everything is OK. I would also make sure you have had a comprehensive evaluation of your smoldering myeloma, including consideration of more advanced imaging (MRI or PET-CT), especially if a cause for the sweats cannot be ascertained otherwise.
Thanks!
Pete V.
-
Dr. Peter Voorhees - Name: Peter Voorhees, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Smoldering myeloma and night sweats
Thank you, Dr. Voorhees, for your insights.
Yes, my night sweats commenced at menopause – about 8-9 years ago – and have occurred sporadically since then. However, since my smoldering diagnosis 14 months ago, this is an almost nightly occurrence. I am not on any regular medication and I don't believe I have an overactive thyroid as I have no other symptoms, so this will remain a mystery. I will ask for advanced imaging when I see my myeloma specialist in December.
Antelope1225, thanks for the suggestion of anxiety. I'm not an overtly anxious person and have come to terms with my diagnosis. so if anxiety is the trigger. it must be from a subconscious level.
Yes, my night sweats commenced at menopause – about 8-9 years ago – and have occurred sporadically since then. However, since my smoldering diagnosis 14 months ago, this is an almost nightly occurrence. I am not on any regular medication and I don't believe I have an overactive thyroid as I have no other symptoms, so this will remain a mystery. I will ask for advanced imaging when I see my myeloma specialist in December.
Antelope1225, thanks for the suggestion of anxiety. I'm not an overtly anxious person and have come to terms with my diagnosis. so if anxiety is the trigger. it must be from a subconscious level.
-
Sue T.
Re: Smoldering myeloma and night sweats
Hi Sue T,
I have had a similiar situation and have also wondered if the night-time hot flashes / sweating could be related to the disease process.
I am 63 years old and I had been on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) from about age 55 to age 61 because of hot flashes that interfered with my sleep. HRT was extremely effective in stopping the hot flashes and improving my sleep. My gynecologist suggested that I stop HRT in fall 2012. Within a few months, I developed hot flashes again, which worsened gradually. I hoped that they would eventually go away.
I was diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma about a year later, in fall 2013, at age 62. I have continued to struggle with severe hot flashes, especially at night. I have had some improvement using micronized progesterone cream 40 mg applied to my forearms at night. (This is a low dose progesterone prescription that is available at compounding pharmacies.)
I was interested to learn recently that women on HRT seem to have a lower risk of developing multiple myeloma, and that 2-methoxyestradiol has seemed to have action against multiple myeloma in some patients. Cheryl G has referenced the articles in her Oct 1st post under "Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe?".
I have been wondering about resuming HRT, and plan to talk with my gynecologist and my oncologist about this. I do hope things improve for you.
Ciro
I have had a similiar situation and have also wondered if the night-time hot flashes / sweating could be related to the disease process.
I am 63 years old and I had been on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) from about age 55 to age 61 because of hot flashes that interfered with my sleep. HRT was extremely effective in stopping the hot flashes and improving my sleep. My gynecologist suggested that I stop HRT in fall 2012. Within a few months, I developed hot flashes again, which worsened gradually. I hoped that they would eventually go away.
I was diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma about a year later, in fall 2013, at age 62. I have continued to struggle with severe hot flashes, especially at night. I have had some improvement using micronized progesterone cream 40 mg applied to my forearms at night. (This is a low dose progesterone prescription that is available at compounding pharmacies.)
I was interested to learn recently that women on HRT seem to have a lower risk of developing multiple myeloma, and that 2-methoxyestradiol has seemed to have action against multiple myeloma in some patients. Cheryl G has referenced the articles in her Oct 1st post under "Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe?".
I have been wondering about resuming HRT, and plan to talk with my gynecologist and my oncologist about this. I do hope things improve for you.
Ciro
-
ciro - Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: MGUS 2013, SMM Feb 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Smoldering myeloma and night sweats
I was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma over 1 year ago and I experience sweats most nights. My thyroid levels are with in normal range and, after testing, doctor's have found nothing other than smoldering multiple myeloma. I think it may have to do with low grade fevers I've been experiencing.
-
Michelle007
Re: Smoldering myeloma and night sweats
Hi to Sue T and Michelle007,
I am wondering what type of monoclonal protein you have. I have a biclonal gammopathy, with an IgA lambda protein predominant, and a small amount of IgG kappa. My lambda free light chains are also elevated. I was just curious as to whether we might have a subtype of this illness that has not yet been recognised.
I am wondering what type of monoclonal protein you have. I have a biclonal gammopathy, with an IgA lambda protein predominant, and a small amount of IgG kappa. My lambda free light chains are also elevated. I was just curious as to whether we might have a subtype of this illness that has not yet been recognised.
-
ciro - Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: MGUS 2013, SMM Feb 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Smoldering myeloma and night sweats
Hello All,
I went from MGUS to smoldering 2 months ago. I also experience night sweats. Sometimes drenching. I keep a towel next to my pillow to wipe my face, and sometimes have to change my night shirt.. Hormone / thyroid panels normal. I have slight anemia (found two months ago), so I kind of find the sweating odd. But, as Michelle stated, it could be the low grade fevers. I am a 42.
Thank you for posting the question as I was wondering the same thing. Your not alone
Sammie
I went from MGUS to smoldering 2 months ago. I also experience night sweats. Sometimes drenching. I keep a towel next to my pillow to wipe my face, and sometimes have to change my night shirt.. Hormone / thyroid panels normal. I have slight anemia (found two months ago), so I kind of find the sweating odd. But, as Michelle stated, it could be the low grade fevers. I am a 42.
Thank you for posting the question as I was wondering the same thing. Your not alone
Sammie
Re: Smoldering myeloma and night sweats
Hello all,
I'm sorry to hear there are others who suffer from this irritating problem. Sleep is precious enough without this. I don't have these sweats during the day, only at night. I continue to wonder if there is an association with myeloma, as I never had this problem before my diagnosis, not even during menopause.
Ciro, I have IgG Lambda monoclonal immunoglobulin, and my M-spike has ranged from 1.3 to 2.2 g/dL over the past 14 months.
Sue
I'm sorry to hear there are others who suffer from this irritating problem. Sleep is precious enough without this. I don't have these sweats during the day, only at night. I continue to wonder if there is an association with myeloma, as I never had this problem before my diagnosis, not even during menopause.
Ciro, I have IgG Lambda monoclonal immunoglobulin, and my M-spike has ranged from 1.3 to 2.2 g/dL over the past 14 months.
Sue
-
Sue T.
Re: Smoldering myeloma and night sweats
I have been having night sweats also for the last several months, but at first just thought they may be related to pre-menopause except for the fact I have them every night.
Just within the last 4 weeks, I have developed severe right shoulder and elbow pain. MRI shows red marrow conversion changes and marrow edema. Will have a bone marrow biopsy within the next 2 weeks.
I can't help but believe that somehow the never ending night sweats are related.
Just within the last 4 weeks, I have developed severe right shoulder and elbow pain. MRI shows red marrow conversion changes and marrow edema. Will have a bone marrow biopsy within the next 2 weeks.
I can't help but believe that somehow the never ending night sweats are related.
-
brigid430 - Name: Susan Price
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 48
16 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2