DEAR DR. GOTT: I have read several recent columns of yours regarding hot flashes of unknown cause. Several years ago, I had an operation and took Tylenol for pain for about 10 days. I experienced severe night sweats at the time. My wife happened to read an article in a magazine that stated that taking acetaminophen can cause night sweats in some people.
I had undergone many expensive tests to try to determine the cause of my night sweats. When I stopped taking the acetaminophen, the sweats stopped. It might be a good idea for you to mention that Tylenol (acetaminophen) is sometimes the cause.
DEAR READER: Sadly, even over-the-counters cannot be taken by some people without unwanted side effects. Tylenol is used for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains commonly associated with back pain, toothache or headache, arthritis, menstrual cramps and fever. While uncommon, reports confirm the product can cause night sweats.
Fortunately, your doctor put you through appropriate testing in an attempt to find the cause. He should have ruled out hypoglycemia, hormone disorders, neurological conditions, infection and more. Once other physical symptoms are ruled out, medication is often the culprit. Sweats are fairly uncommon for people taking Tylenol.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 34-year-old male and, to my knowledge, I am healthy. I have smoked for 18 years. My problem now is I feel sick to my stomach and vomit every morning when I get up. This has been going on for eight years, and my doctor can't find anything wrong with me.
I have had a scope and upper GI done, both of which were normal. I have a hiatal hernia and ulcer. I've been on Prevacid daily for acid reflux disease, and that seems to help sometimes, but not always. Maybe you can help me figure out what is wrong and why I feel this way.
DEAR READER: Let me start by saying that your scope and upper GI could not have been normal if you have an ulcer and a hiatal hernia.
Hiatal hernia refers to a defect in the middle of the diaphragm (the muscle that allows the foods we eat to leave the esophagus and enter the stomach). Rather than keeping the stomach in place, the defect allows it to slip through into the esophagus. Severe cases result in heartburn, indigestion, belching, bloating, nausea, chest pain and difficulty swallowing. Similar symptoms also present in people with acid reflux disease.
An ulcer is the result of stomach acid wearing a hole in the lining of the stomach. It can be very painful and may cause internal bleeding.
Your 18-year smoking habit can cause (or worsen) your symptoms. Kick the habit for a month or two and, if there's no change, return to your doctor to determine whether he or she will provide a stronger prescription medication for symptom control. Following that, a referral to a gastroenterologist is in order.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Hiatal Hernia, Acid Reflux and Indigestion."
I had undergone many expensive tests to try to determine the cause of my night sweats. When I stopped taking the acetaminophen, the sweats stopped. It might be a good idea for you to mention that Tylenol (acetaminophen) is sometimes the cause.
DEAR READER: Sadly, even over-the-counters cannot be taken by some people without unwanted side effects. Tylenol is used for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains commonly associated with back pain, toothache or headache, arthritis, menstrual cramps and fever. While uncommon, reports confirm the product can cause night sweats.
Fortunately, your doctor put you through appropriate testing in an attempt to find the cause. He should have ruled out hypoglycemia, hormone disorders, neurological conditions, infection and more. Once other physical symptoms are ruled out, medication is often the culprit. Sweats are fairly uncommon for people taking Tylenol.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 34-year-old male and, to my knowledge, I am healthy. I have smoked for 18 years. My problem now is I feel sick to my stomach and vomit every morning when I get up. This has been going on for eight years, and my doctor can't find anything wrong with me.
I have had a scope and upper GI done, both of which were normal. I have a hiatal hernia and ulcer. I've been on Prevacid daily for acid reflux disease, and that seems to help sometimes, but not always. Maybe you can help me figure out what is wrong and why I feel this way.
DEAR READER: Let me start by saying that your scope and upper GI could not have been normal if you have an ulcer and a hiatal hernia.
Hiatal hernia refers to a defect in the middle of the diaphragm (the muscle that allows the foods we eat to leave the esophagus and enter the stomach). Rather than keeping the stomach in place, the defect allows it to slip through into the esophagus. Severe cases result in heartburn, indigestion, belching, bloating, nausea, chest pain and difficulty swallowing. Similar symptoms also present in people with acid reflux disease.
An ulcer is the result of stomach acid wearing a hole in the lining of the stomach. It can be very painful and may cause internal bleeding.
Your 18-year smoking habit can cause (or worsen) your symptoms. Kick the habit for a month or two and, if there's no change, return to your doctor to determine whether he or she will provide a stronger prescription medication for symptom control. Following that, a referral to a gastroenterologist is in order.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Hiatal Hernia, Acid Reflux and Indigestion."