Sweating At Night

[Nic]

My son is not yet diagnosed Celiac (he is 4) because his blood work for the antibodies came back negative. He has always had medical problems that no one could figure out. Developmentally delayed, hypotonia, as an infant the soft spot on his head would not close. It was wide open until he was over 2. He has always been on the heavier side (currently 58 pounds) even though he barely eats. These syptoms have led most doctors to look for thyroid disease or diabetes but he has tested negative. Starting about a year ago he has begun to go through terrible night sweats where his hair and clothes are soaked as well as his bedding. We actually sit him up and change his shirt while he sleeps. Well twice in the past month (once being last night) he was up every hour through the night crying that he is hot. I had the heat turned off, the window open, and him in just a tee shirt and underwear. He was so sweaty that I had to change his shirt 2 times. At one point he called me in complaining that his legs were stuck to his blanket and when I checked they were completely soaked. How odd that his legs would be so sweaty. Over the weekend when I changed his sheets I noticed that his matress cover is sweat stained. This seems very odd to me for a 4 year old. I will be calling to doctor tomorrow but in the mean time, has anyone ever seen this before or had it happen? Is it possible that it is Celiac related or autoimmune related? I feel deep down they are missing something important with him. I also didn't mention he is a big drinker and a very heavy urinater. Like I said, diabetes was ruled a negative (if you trust my lab which is questionable). Any help please would be great.

Nicole

[Ursa Major]

Nicole, have you tried him on the gluten-free diet? The only way to find out if it would help, would be to do it. Something is obviously wrong, he sounds like me, and I am going through menopause!

[aikiducky]

Well, obviously I'm not four, but I used to have night sweats before I went gluten free. So I guess it could be a symptom.

Since he's already had blood tests, there's nothing to stop you from trying the diet. Although I'd also contact his doctor.

Is there celiac in the family?

Pauliina

[Nic]

Well, obviously I'm not four, but I used to have night sweats before I went gluten free. So I guess it could be a symptom.

Since he's already had blood tests, there's nothing to stop you from trying the diet. Although I'd also contact his doctor.

Is there celiac in the family?

Pauliina

Yes, my older son (6) and my father both have Celiac. As well as my aunt and 3 cousins. I was unaware that night sweats were a symptom of Celiac. I had read today that it could be connected to hypothyroidism. He is gluten light as the only meal he eats with gluten is lunch but I will have to make him completely gluten free. Thanks for the advice.

Nicole

Something is obviously wrong, he sounds like me, and I am going through menopause!

Thank you Ursula for saying that. I was afraid I was over reacting. Now a days, you feel nervous to keep going back to the doctor with more symptoms when nothing seems to be panning out. Thanks for the validation .

Nicole

[aikiducky]

Yes, my older son (6) and my father both have Celiac. As well as my aunt and 3 cousins. I was unaware that night sweats were a symptom of Celiac. I had read today that it could be connected to hypothyroidism. He is gluten light as the only meal he eats with gluten is lunch but I will have to make him completely gluten free. Thanks for the advice.

As I said, I don't know for sure that it's a symptom of celiac, but mine went away on the diet. If he's already gluten light it shouldn't be too hard to go completely gluten free. But I'd let his doctor know anyway just in case, don't you think?

Pauliina

[jerseyangel]

I believe night sweats are a symptom of Celiac. I had them for years--always worse when I was "sick". Since I was undiagnosed for 20 years, I can look back now and see it clearly.

I'm going through menopause now (have had the blood tests) and my hot flashes and night sweats are different than the ones I used to get due to Celiac.

[Guest nini]

something is def. wrong... I also had night sweats before going gluten-free and they have stopped, but I hadn't really made the connection that it might have been a symptom of Celiac.

What have you got to lose by trying the gluten-free diet 100% and then if that doesn't help, keep searching for answers because that isn't normal for a 4 year old (or anyone for that matter)

Good luck with it all

[Sweetfudge]

before i went gluten free i had horrible night sweats! it was very annoying, and my husband complained too. i don't think i sweat anymore at night. at least, i haven't noticed. maybe it did have something to do with the diet change.

[Nic]

I took him to the doctors yesterday and they are running blood for diabetes, thyroid, celiac, and whatever else. I am more nervous than ever because they are confirming my fear that something seems to be wrong. He has gained 5 pounds according to their scale since July. Pretty scary because if he keeps going he could potentionally gain 12 pounds in a year (since he seems to be gaining a pound a month). Has anyone had weight gain as a symptom?

Nicole

[Guest nini]

I took him to the doctors yesterday and they are running blood for diabetes, thyroid, celiac, and whatever else. I am more nervous than ever because they are confirming my fear that something seems to be wrong. He has gained 5 pounds according to their scale since July. Pretty scary because if he keeps going he could potentionally gain 12 pounds in a year (since he seems to be gaining a pound a month). Has anyone had weight gain as a symptom?

Nicole

I was skinny as a child, but as an adult I couldn't stop gaining... no matter how little I ate. I was dx'ed morbidly obese prior to my Celiac dx. Since then (3+ years) I've lost 110 pounds.

[Nic]

I was skinny as a child, but as an adult I couldn't stop gaining... no matter how little I ate. I was dx'ed morbidly obese prior to my Celiac dx. Since then (3+ years) I've lost 110 pounds.

Hi Nini, thanks for the response. Did you actually have to diet to loose the weight or just eating the gluten free diet helped you loose the weight? It is like everyday I hear of new symptoms to this disease that I did not were connected. And I thought I had done all my homework .

Nicole

[maribeth]

Yes Nicole I had weight gain as a symptom. It took almost 2 years of telling my dr that I was gaining about a pound a month for her to 2 and 2 together with the other symptoms and send m e for a blood test which came back positives for celiac.

Has anyone had weight gain as a symptom?

[Guest nini]

Hi Nini, thanks for the response. Did you actually have to diet to loose the weight or just eating the gluten free diet helped you loose the weight? It is like everyday I hear of new symptoms to this disease that I did not were connected. And I thought I had done all my homework .

Nicole

no I did not have to diet to lose the weight. I simply stopped eating gluten. I did adopt a better "plan" of eating but it was MORE food than I ate prior to my dx. It was just the right kinds of food... not junk food, healthy food that was naturally gluten-free, but I allowed myself to have treats whenever I wanted them it just wasn't a mainstay of my diet.

[Nic]

So basically if the blood work comes back negative for everything including the gluten antibodies than I will have his genes tested through enterolab. If he is positive for the genes than I will make him 100% gluten free and see how we end up from there. I can't believe I had no idea weight gain was a symptom. I have complaining about his weight gain his whole life because he doesn't seem to eat enough to maintain the amount of weight he is. He is only 4 and he is 57 pounds. His eight year old cousin is only 62 pounds. Thanks everyone for the input.

Nicole