How do you sleep at night? I’m definitely a fidgety sleeper if my headscarf is anything to go by. It is off my head and halfway down my body by the time I open my eyes.
Some nights I move so much that when my dog Jarvis attempts to sleep next to me, he ends up storming off in a haze of growls and floating fur, severely annoyed. And now, in addition to being a restless sleeper, I suffer from night sweats. Is it any surprise I’m single?
In the last few months, I have been waking up with my pajamas stuck to my body like a second skin. My hair is plastered all over my face, and my entire body feels like it’s been dunked in a water trough. I wish this “wet look” had me channeling Kim Kardashian when she wore that Mugler dress to the Met Gala, like a goddess of moisture. Instead, I am more a creature of the swamp.
Suffering from night sweats can be dispiriting.
As the curious badger that I am, my immediate reaction was figuring out why was I waking up in such a humidified state. I discovered that night sweats can be caused by hormonal imbalance or medications that affect the hormones. Because I have endometriosis, my hormones are set to misbehave, and if we add the hormonal therapy I’m on, these overactive molecules could be behind my nighttime sweats.
Another possible culprit is my anxiety, which has been intermittently disrupting me in recent months. Having to travel across Europe in the middle of a pandemic to reach my homeland was troubling enough. Currently, I don’t have a place of my own, and I’m on a tight budget. This has my emotions bouncing around like one of those squeaky balls Jarvis loves to chew on.
How does one manage night sweats?
In my case, by washing my bedsheets and pajamas. A LOT. I also wear cotton-based clothing to bed, as this fabric is absorbent and easier to peel off my skin in the morning. Sadly, this is not the time to wear any of the faux-silk pajamas I own.
I also leave the window open, even if it’s cold during the night. This may become an issue when the colder months arrive, especially because the foxes that live around me scream like mad into the early hours. To fall asleep, I use a diffuser with a lavender scent to help me relax.
Staying clean and refreshed makes a world of difference, too. I have a lovely flatmate now, and I’d rather she kept liking me. To spare her from seeing my sweaty self, teeth-guard included, I shower as soon as I get up. If my hair was clean when I went to bed, it won’t be when I wake up. Since I can’t wash my unruly mane daily, a dry shampoo with a lemony scent helps.
Like my endometriosis, night sweats are truly a drag.
This is where I’m glad to be single. The idea of someone else being in my bed while I become a sweaty mess is a nightmare of its own. I don’t mind the extra laundry or the early morning self-care routine, but I honestly could do without the sweats. I will mention them to my doctor during my next appointment, but I’m not sure I am ready to alter the cocktail of hormones I’m on.
Fortunately, they don’t happen every night. Every so often, I am cuddly — albeit slightly fidgety — and wake up somewhat renewed, glowing from a good rest. Just don’t speak to me before I’ve had that coffee.
***
Note: Endometriosis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Endometriosis News or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to endometriosis.