Symptom 17. Night Sweats: The Disruptive Sleep Experience of Diverticulitis
Night sweats are a less common, but not unheard of, symptom of diverticulitis. They are refer to excessive sweating during sleep, enough to soak through your pajamas and bedding. With diverticulitis, night sweats typically coincide with bouts of fever as part of the body’s attempt to fight off the infection.
Experiencing night sweats can be an unnerving experience, impacting the quality of sleep and overall wellbeing. It’s a signal that the body is working overtime to combat something abnormal – in this case, an infection in the diverticula.
When experiencing night sweats, it’s not just the excess perspiration that can be bothersome. The cycles of being cold, then hot, and then cold again can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to feelings of fatigue or exhaustion during the daytime.
Furthermore, the disruption of sleep and the associated fatigue can lead to an overall sense of malaise, impacting one’s mood, cognitive functioning, and general sense of wellbeing. This is why, despite being a less typical symptom of diverticulitis, night sweats should not be overlooked.
In addition to being a symptom of diverticulitis, night sweats can also be a side effect of certain medications used to treat the condition. Therefore, if you’ve been prescribed medication for diverticulitis and begin experiencing night sweats, it’s worth discussing this with your healthcare provider. (17)
