After Mini-Whipple - Night Sweating And Continuing Drainage

My son-in-law (he's 46) had mini-Whipple surgery 5 weeks ago, and while the initial recovery from the surgery was difficult (two weeks in the hospital) he is now struggling with night time (only) sweating that's like a bucket of water has been poured over him - 2 to 4 times a night.  Additionally he still has the drain in and while for the most part there isn't too much draining (less than 100 cc a day) sometimes he does generate 150 or so cc's particularly when he gets upset or frustrated with the speed of his recovery.

On the drain, I've read some articules which talk about leakage of the pancreatic anastomosis, so I'm concerned that it may be taking too long to heal?

His insulin levels are starting to stabilize (he is on supplemental insulin) and while the endocrinologist thought the sweating was do to his glucose numbers, he's not sure now.

His blood pressure and temperature are normal, so there are no signs of infection.

So, could you share any of your experiences with night time sweating or with the duration of the inserted drain?  I would be most appreciative of your thoughts.

I've read some of the postings and now know how difficult the surgery is, and how difficult the recovery can be, and that so many have lost love ones and friends.

Please accept my prayers for all who have suffered from this terrible disease and for strength and comfort for all caregivers and their families.

When I was in hospital recovering from Whipple surgery, there was a couple of nights that I had terrible sweating.  To the point my cloths were damp, and it was miserable.  The surgeon told me it was most likely "dumping syndrome", which would get better with time.  I had just started eating solid food again.  The surgeon was right, after a few light episodes of it after returning home, I stopped having the problem.  I think it was mostly that I learned how to eat, how much, what foods, when etc. with my new digestive plumbing.  I was sent home with drains still in also.  They were removed within 10 or so days (can't remember exactly).  I don't think the drains had anything to do with the sweating.  They were uncomfortable and awkward though, and I was glad when they were removed. 

Hope your son sees improvement soon. 

My husband had the whipple also. He has went thru the same things like the sweating. No one could believe how much a person could sweat. We have solved his problem of that. He is also on insulin . But he now eats something sweat like a 1/2 of a candy bar or a small bowl of ice cream before going to bed. After the whipple the drs. Say your sugar should get worse but his is much better. Uses less insulin and as he tries to sleep his sugar will drop and he would sweat and when he would wake soaked, he was weak of shaking. Now no matter how his sugar is before going to bed he eats sugar and if he happens not to eat sugar and has sweats ,he wakes and eats something with sugar and he calms down and go back to another bed. I know what u are goin thru.we have been thru it all.